SPLITTING OUT AND ASSEMBLING 53 



to show indisputably that rods of " rent jungle- 

 cane " were made as far back as 1830-40. 



The accompanying cross- 

 section diagrams will at 

 once make clear exactly 

 what part of the bamboo- 

 stick is used, and how the 

 strips so split out and cut 

 down to form are combined 

 in the completed individual 



joints Or Sections Of a mod- A Cross-section of bamboo stalk 

 _ rr .A B Rough-split rectangular strip 



C Split strip planed to triangu- 



It is to be understood lar form 

 that each individual strip of a joint is in cross-sec- 

 tion an equilateral triangle, except for the slight 

 convexity of its outer surface which remains un- 

 touched by the cutting-tool; that each strip has a 

 definite taper from its butt to the top 

 end; and that each joint throughout 

 the whole symmetrically-tapered 

 rod, from the rod's butt of one-half 

 inch, more or less, in diameter to its 

 delicate tip of a scant one-sixteenth inch or little more 

 in thickness, is composed of six of these exactly 

 similar strips. The uninitiated on being shown, 

 with this explanation, the top-joint of an eight- to 

 nine-foot fly-rod weighing, complete, from four to 

 five ounces, and easily capable of bringing to the 

 landing-net a five-pound streak of lightning scien- 



Cross-section of com- 

 pleted (glued) rod- 

 joint 



