52 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



it. ... If the pieces are skilfully glued together, 

 they will require no redressing, except at the corners, 

 to bring the rod from the three-square to the round 

 shape. I am prepared to prove that there are not 

 more than three men in London capable of making, 

 perfectly, rods of solid cane, rent, glued, and then 

 correctly finished with the bark lying on the outside." 

 Mr. Fitzgibbon himself adds : " In my opinion, 

 rods . . . made entirely of rent and glued jungle- 

 cane are the best. They must be most carefully 

 fashioned, and no maker can turn them out without 

 charging a high price. I am also of opinion that 

 they will last longer than any other sort of rod, and 

 are far less liable to warping. I have a high opin- 

 ion of their elasticity, and Mr. Bowness, fishing- 

 tackle maker of No. 12, Bellyard, Temple Bar, 

 showed me once a trout fly-rod, made in this, my 

 favorite way, that had been for many years in use 

 and was still straight as a wand. I never saw a bet- 

 ter single-handed rod." After this discerning com- 

 ment, it arouses one's curiosity to note that in the 

 second edition of his book, published only a year 

 later (1848), "Ephemera" writes: "I have 

 changed my opinion with respect to rods made en- 

 tirely of rent cane or any other wood rent. Their 

 defects will always more than counterbalance their 

 merits." 



Allowing therefore a reasonable interpretation to 

 the expression " for many years," this would seem 



