46 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



one of the oldest and most reliable anglers' outfitting- 

 shops, one of the most famous makes of bamboo rod, 

 that had at one point in its circumference four knots 

 in line out of the six strip-sections. The price of 

 that rod was thirty-five dollars. The novice will 

 better appreciate the significance of this statement 

 when he reads the ensuing chapter. Also, we have 

 a friend who, accidentally smashing a joint of his 

 " classy " split-bamboo, decided to take advantage 

 of this opportunity to investigate and see just what 

 value he had obtained for his thirty-odd dollars. 

 Cross-sections of the joint at various points revealed 

 a hole running through its center that would almost 

 admit a steel knitting-needle. We fear that in some 

 instances, with better facilities for manufacturing 

 and with increased output, the American handmade 

 split-bamboo has been bereft of intimate personal 

 solicitude in the making, and in consequence has 

 deteriorated in that quality which once made the name 

 invariably synonymous with " the best in the world." 



