FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 529 



of tools. Here is just where their usefulness comes in. Fig. 

 24 represents a piece filed into semicircular hollows, with 

 their edges made sharp. With this convenient tool you will find 

 the process of obtaining a truly round joint greatly facilitated. 

 Now test your material. Bend it with considerable force in 

 different directions. If it resumes the original shape without 

 any set, you are a very fortunate individual in possessing a 

 piece of superlative lance-wood. If it "sets" badly, hangit 

 up in a dry room for the next three months; it is not suffi- 

 ciently seasoned. 



Fig. .24. 



Now go to work and round up your other joints in precisely 

 the same manner. The next operation is to fit the ferrules. 

 The ferrules I recommend are those without dowelpins, and 

 the female ferrule should be fitted on the wood with care, using 

 the file and scraper for the .purpose. Be very careful to 

 evenly cut away the wood, so that they go on perfectly 

 straight. Be also careful not' to push the joint too far in 

 the ferrule, but just enough to hold the male securely. Fig. 

 16 shows about the right proportion. It is well to give the 

 wood plenty of room in the ferrules, which room or space is 

 to be filled up with whipping and cement. This is to provide 

 for the possible swelling of the wood. I have seen the male 

 ferrule split and enlarged so that the rod could not be jointed 

 together, owing to the tightness of the fit and the accidental 

 immersion of the joint. 



I have tried various cements, but have narrowed down my 

 preferences to two: one is the liquid solution of India rubber 

 or gutta-percha (I don't know which), termed, in the hard- 

 Ware stores, Prof. Callan's Brazilian Gum. A solution of 



