FISHING ROD MATERIALS 41 



Of dagama Mr. Keene said: "While it is 

 tough, it lacks the rigidity of lancewood and is 

 inferior to it for rodmaking. Lancewood, 

 which, if well selected, is a most desirable wood 

 for rods, is one of the easiest woods to work, 

 has little visible grain and cuts smoothly." 



It seems, however, that Mr. Keene's opin- 

 ion of split bamboo changed after he came to 

 the United States to live, for when he wrote 

 " Fishing Tackle, Its Materials and Manufac- 

 ture " (London, 1886), he said: " The jungle 

 canes are of Asian growth, and are chiefly util- 

 ized for the glued-up cane rods which are so 

 popular rather undeservedly, I think." 



At that time Mr. Keene pronounced green- 

 heart " the very best all round material for all 

 the joints except the butt of fishing rods of 

 whatsoever description." 



Curiously enough, he says " the beautifully 

 mottled appearance of a well finished cane rod 

 is produced by staining the wood with aqua 

 fortis and nut galls. The stain is burned in 

 immediately it is put on." Evidently, if this 

 was true, the rodmakers of that time used other 

 canes and attempted in this way to imitate the 

 Calcutta canes. 



Lancewood is used more than any other 

 material for all-wood rods in America, al- 



