I 4 6 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



cost, or with the inconvenience entailed in the trans- 

 portation of or in the putting-up and taking-down of 

 the rod. A ferruled rod, built with the precautions 

 that have been noted, is good enough for the most 

 fastidious angler; beyond a certain point, additional 

 refinements belong within the category of the ex- 

 quisite rather than the useful. 



The manner of jointing the spliced rod may be 

 of interest to the reader. The splicing ends of the 

 joints have long bevels, of several inches; these are 

 reinforced by fine silk-whippings, and may be pro- 

 tected when the rod is not in use by metal caps which 

 slip over them. Before splicing the joints in the 

 preparation of the rod for use, warmed shoemak- 

 ers'-wax or beeswax is thoroughly applied both to 

 the beveled surfaces of the wood and to the linen- 



Spliced-rod lashing 



thread which binds the splice together. In addi- 

 tion to the circular turns of this wrapping-thread, 

 lashings running lengthwise under the former are 



