THE BAIT-CASTING ROD 13 



rod to own, but we will discuss that matter later on. 

 Every angler knows the story of the three country- 

 men, who, when visiting a menagerie for the first 

 time, stopped in front of the elephant in open 

 mouthed astonishment. Finally one of them gasped : 

 "Don't be fooled by it, fellows, there ain't no such 

 animal." So when we turn to the so-called "noib- 

 wood," we are compelled to confess that it does not 

 exist. The truth of the matter is, noib-wood is but 

 selected bethabara, or washaba. There are many 

 stories regarding the origin of the name, one of the 

 best being that the word noyb it is sometimes 

 spelled that way stands for the words "none of 

 your business," the reply made by the manufacturers 

 to eager inquirers regarding the material. Granted 

 that the material is but selected bethabara, if care- 

 fully selected and well made, the product is a rod of 

 which the possesser well may be proud. Says 

 Mr. S. G. Camp -"I have used one of them a great 

 deal and may say unreservedly that they are the finest 

 casting rods in the market; that is, in solid wood." 

 Perhaps it will not be hard for the reader to under- 

 stand why Mr. H. P. Wells and Mr. Perry D. 

 Frazer are silent regarding the material, a little mat- 

 ter which puzzled me for some time. A finely 

 selected "no'ib-wood" rod is a beautiful and splendid 

 tool but unfortunately many a cheap grade of beth- 

 abara is placed upon the market as a noib rod. So 

 we leave this would-be aristocrat amid solid woods 



