FISHING ROD HISTORY 27 



wood to a certain extent in salt water fishing. 

 Many great factories have been working stead- 

 ily to their full capacity for several years, turn- 

 ing out split bamboo rods for the markets of 

 the world, and the best of them have been for 

 a long time and are now far behind with their 

 orders. It is a good trade, that of a first class 

 fishing rod maker; one in which steady employ- 

 ment is certain. 



While our British friends are still experi- 

 menting with rod materials, using cane and 

 wood and steel in combination, our makers are 

 plodding along with their work, turning out the 

 best split bamboo rods the world has ever 

 known, and satisfying their patrons. In years 

 they have not added to their rods any features 

 of startling importance, but they have instead 

 constantly endeavored to produce perfect rods, 

 until to-day their best rods are indeed works of 

 art, yet powerful and durable withal. 



Only one change from the regulation six- and 

 eight-strip rods is prominent. This is a method 

 patented several years ago by the late Fred D. 

 Divine, consisting in twisting the six strips 

 slightly while the glue is still fresh, so that the 

 joints are spiral, the theory being that a rod so 

 treated is stiffened and that the work does not 

 fall on the upper and lower strips alone, but 



