Rods and Rod Material. 129 



its action if unsatisfactory, or of repairing a break, are 

 considered, certainly this is " a consummation devoutly 

 to be wished " by all, except, perhaps, the makers of that 

 form of rod. 



My own experience, confined, however, to two butts 

 and four middle joints (used with split -bamboo tips), 

 does not confirm these statements. 



The wood of these rods was selected with great care, 

 not only for the express purpose of determining its merits 

 as far as so limited a test would permit, but also with an 

 earnest desire to find it at least equal if not superior to 

 the split-bamboo. 



In this I was disappointed. 



Of two joints of equal diameter and length, that of 

 six-strip split-bamboo was considerably the stiffer, and 

 weighed about one-third less ; or in other words, the 

 same power to cast a fly and control a fish could be ob- 

 tained from a hexagonal split - bamboo of considerably 

 smaller diameter, and probably, exclusive of ferrules, of 

 little more than half the weight. 



It has unquestionably great strength, fully equal to, 

 perhaps somewhat in excess of, the average hexagonal 

 split-bamboo of the same diameter; but if the bamboo is 

 of really good quality, I cannot accord >bethabara any 

 superiority in this respect. 



As compared with good greenheart, about the same 

 elasticity was found. No superiority in stiffness, which 

 would permit the bethabara to be worked to a less di- 

 ameter and retain equal power, could be detected. In 

 strength it might, perhaps, average a little better, but its 

 greater weight would seem to offset this, since the green- 

 heart being the lighter wood could be made thicker. 



On the whole, contrary to my earnest desire, the con- 



9 



