FISHING ROD MATERIALS 31 



heart, washaba (bethabara), jucara prieto, and 

 other materials, but in no part of my rodmak- 

 ing have I had any better facilities for working 

 rapidly and easily than the average busy man 

 commands, hence I feel confident in telling the 

 novice how he can do this and that part of 

 the work, for I am giving the results of my 

 own experience, backed by the sage advice of 

 some of the best known professional and ama- 

 teur rodmakers and anglers, to many of whom 

 I am greatly indebted for friendly criticism in 

 my efforts to assist beginners. 



One thing which this slow and methodical 

 hand work has taught me is this : To take ad- 

 vantage of everything which will simplify the 

 work of rodmaking and finishing. I would 

 have you bear this in mind in reading the chap- 

 ters that are to come. Some of my methods 

 may seem clumsy to those of you who have 

 access to machine tools, or who may have been 

 advised by professional rodmakers; but the 

 average beginner at rodmaking will work with 

 even poorer facilities, perhaps, than I have 

 commanded, and for him the methods described 

 may be of some value. Above all things I wish 

 to make all steps plain and simple. They are 

 not scientific, but are practical. 



It is folly for the beginner to attempt to 



