224 



Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



ty degrees. Unfortunately these conditions are difficult 

 to produce exactly in practice, for the rind side of the 

 bamboo, which rests on the bottom of the rabbet, and 

 which must in this, as in all the steps of rod -making 

 with this material, by no means be touched with the 

 plane, is not flat but rounding, and is consequently in- 

 clined to roll somewhat and thus vary the angle. There- 

 fore we must devise some means of holding the bamboo 

 during this process as rigidly as possible. 



Having procured two or three of the rabbeted strips, 

 JL, screw two cross-pieces to the upper surface, about 

 twenty -four inches apart as shown in the following 

 plan and sectional views (Figs. 64 and 65), in which A 



Fig. 65. 



Fig. 64. 



represents the strip, BB the rabbets, and C one of the 

 cross-pieces : 



If then the bamboo strip is placed in position, and 

 soft wood wedges be inserted between its upper surface 

 and the cross-pieces, it will be held as firmly as one can 

 well secure it. Then apply the plane as directed, and bev- 

 el off as much as you can of the bamboo lying between 

 the cross-pieces, say about eighteen inches. Bring the 

 bevel almost, but not quite, to a knife edge with the rind 

 side. Then shift the bamboo, so as to present a fresh 



