FISHING-RODS. 205 



This firm was the first to make a specialty of the manu- 

 facture of the split bamboo rod, and was the first to in- 

 troduce the six-section rod, those previously made for 

 them by Phillippi and Murphy being four-section rods. 

 They subsequently trained skilled mechanics to this branch 

 of their business, and until they had made a success of the 

 split bamboo rod, they stood alone in the enterprise, being 

 ridiculed by other manufacturers and dealers for pursuing 

 a phantom and a false idea. 



They persisted in their course, however, in spite of 

 opposition and ridicule, and to-day enjoy the fruits of 

 their devotion to the idea of producing "the best rod 

 in the world." And by their pluck and commenda- 

 ble enterprise and persistent endeavors, notwithstanding 

 the repeated fiiilures and petty annoyances incident to 

 their experiments, they have at last the satisfaction of 

 knowing that their efforts have been appreciated by 

 anglers, and that their large experience has put them 

 far in the advance as manufacturers of this unexcelled 

 rod; and the fact that other manufacturers have since 

 taken up the making of this rod as an important part 

 of their business, proves that the original position and 

 faith of Andrew Clerk & Co., and their successors, 

 Abbey & Imbrie, in regard to the merits of the split 

 bamboo rod, were well founded. 



The best form of the split bamboo rod, as proved by 

 actual service, is the round, six-section rod. Many ex- 

 periments have been made to improve upon this method, 

 but they have resulted in failure. The hexagonal rod is 

 claimed by its supporters to be preferable to the round 

 rod, inasmuch as there is no cutting away of the sur- 

 face enamel or outside siliceous coating, at the angles; 



