152 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



the ironbark wood was lighter than greenheart. The 

 comparison was then made with Mr. Laslett's specimens 

 of greenheart, which were considerably heavier (71.81 

 pounds to the cubic foot) than those tested by me. At- 

 tention has been called before to the fact that different 

 samples of the same variety of wood vary considerably 

 in weight, due largely, doubtless, to difference in season- 

 ing. I have seen specimens of lancewood, of apparently 

 equal density, some of which would float, while others 

 would sink in ordinary well-water. 



The same may be said as to the hexagonal split-bam- 

 boo. Since the rind of this is heavier and the pithy por- 

 tion lighter than water, it follows that the specific gravi- 

 ty of any portion of such a rod must vary as the relative 

 proportions of these constituents vary. Therefore this 

 must be greatest at the end of the tip, and thence gradu- 

 ally diminish towards the handle. It is believed, how- 

 ever, that the average specific gravity of a good eight- 

 ounce rod of this description will approximate closely to 

 the figures of the table. 



THE ROD OF THE FUTURE. 



Vuillaume, the celebrated French violin - maker, at 

 one time made tubular steel violin and violoncello bows. 

 Having been somewhat familiar with both the construc- 

 tion and use of those instruments, the idea at once struck 

 me that this was the direction in which the perfect rod 

 should be sought. 



The requisite conditions are alike in both cases light- 

 ness, strength, and temporary and permanent elasticity, 

 being equally the desiderata in violin-bows as in fly-rods. 

 That which will make a good violin-bow should serve 



