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of it for myself, being anxious to try it. A gentleman 

 angler came into my workshop, and asked me what I was 

 doing. I told him I had found out a new wood, and was 

 making a rod from it for myself, being anxious to try it. 

 He said he liked the appearance of it much, and would 

 like one made of it for himself, but that he had so many 

 rods of different makers. He left, but soon returned, 

 saying he must have a rod of the new wood. That was 

 quite thirty years ago, and I have frequently met with him 

 since, as he comes every May fly season to fish the Colne 

 and its tributaries. His first subject of conversation is 

 generally of the rod I made him from that then unknown 

 wood. He considers it worth its weight in gold. I have 

 made him new tops to it. He tells me he has killed 

 hundreds of brown trout with it, besides greyling and 

 numbers of sewin, and a few salmon. Fourteen years 

 ago I received a most satisfactory testimonial from him, 

 which spoke most highly of its merits, and only last year 

 he told me he would not part with the rod for twenty 

 pounds. It was many years before I could get a supply 

 of this wood, or even ascertain its name. I discovered 

 at last it was called " blue mahoe," and that it grew in the 

 jungles of Jamaica. I have used it ever since for salmon 

 and trout rods, and have received numbers of testimonials 

 from gentlemen anglers who have purchased them. 



I will try to describe a few of the qualities of this 

 wood. It is very light, and breaks like jungle cane. 

 The dark-coloured is by far the best, and when it will 

 split straight is invaluable. I have worked up a large 

 quantity during the last twenty years, and if I meet with 



