SPLIT BAMBOO EODMAKING 181 



decided just what the calibers of your rod 

 are to be, mark off three sides of a good block 

 of wood, set down the calibers thereon, and 

 then begin work on the grooves some day when 

 you have nothing else on hand. Take it easy, 

 go slowly, and call it a good day's work when 

 the block is ready for the cane. 



Take another full day for splitting and 

 roughing out the strips for your rod. Try to 

 believe that all you intend to do is to work 

 out a sufficient number of rough strips, each 

 one as perfect as possible, match joints and 

 lay aside until another year each set of six. 

 Of course you will not do this, but at any rate 

 go very slowly, for the careful selection and 

 matching of strips are very important steps. 



Tonkin cane is the only material worth con- 

 sidering in the making of a first-class rod. 

 The day of the Calcutta bamboo rod has 

 passed, and it is best to forget that your grand- 

 father ever made a good rod of that material. 

 I doubt if any other amateur rodmaker has 

 poked into more queer corners and out-of-the 

 way places in New York City and its environs 

 in search of Calcutta bamboo than I have, and 

 for all the canes that I bought, carried home, 

 and finally threw away I would not give one 

 red stamp to-day. It would be a shameful 



