144 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



There are yet other devices. Mr. W. L. Ayles- 

 worth, an English authority, states that paraffine or 

 type-metal is much more penetrating than either var- 

 nish, shellac, or most any other coating compound, 

 and that if the paraffine be melted, the ferrule heated, 

 and the paraffine poured into the ferrule onto the 

 bare wood, It will penetrate for a considerable dis- 

 tance and renders it absolutely waterproof. A 

 warmed glass medicine-dropper is a handy tool with 

 which to introduce your paraffine. 



Mr. Aylesworth further remarks: " In fact, it 

 is difficult to say which is the better compound, for 

 both are very penetrating and satisfactory for this 

 purpose. The neglect to waterproof wood at the fer- 



Sealing and locking ferrules with type-metal 



rules and protect it from moisture probably has more 

 to do with the joints breaking at these places than the 

 angler is aware of. It also is a good plan to turn or 

 file a small groove around the joint, at about an 

 eighth of an inch from the end entering the female 

 ferrule, and to turn the end down slightly so that 

 the type-metal, if used, will run down between the 

 wood and the ferrule and into the groove. This 

 will have a tendency to solder the ferrule onto the 

 wood. Melt the type-metal in a spoon or ladle and 



