44 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



In the case of hollow woods there Is, of course, no 

 preparatory sawing or planing to be gone through, as the 

 bamboo comes from its native jungle in pretty much the 

 same state, barring the mottling, as that in which we 

 find it in our rods ; but even here the joints have to be 

 ''warped" as in the case of solid woods, and thoroughly 

 seasoned, and much depends upon a judicious selection 

 of the original stock and in subsequent careful matching 

 and tapering of the various pieces of which the rod is 

 composed. 



I was never more puzzled than when admitted as a lad 



to the warehouse of a great London tackle maker to 



choose a cane to be made up for my " particular own." 



Well do I remember how my fingers glowed with 



pleasure and excitement as I lifted and poised one 



tapering beauty after another, uncertain among so many 



wooers which to take, and feeling, like the Captain in 



the Beggars' Opera, — 



" How happy could I be with cither, 

 Were t'other dear charmer away !" 



Like its schoolboy master, the rod built from the cane 

 then chosen has since had many a narrow escape " by 

 flood and fell," and not a few damaged " tips," ay, and 

 "joints" too ; but its main timbers are as sound as ever, 

 and may yet be destined to wave death over many 

 a pikey pool and glittering torrent when the hand that 

 chose them is no longer able to do justice to their supple 

 graces. 



