184 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



true, but that is not proof that the material 

 used had been seasoned. I have also heard 

 people complain that, whereas almost any 99- 

 cent rod was made from " nice, clear, white 

 cane," every high-priced rod was stained and 

 dark and dingy! 



In splitting the canes use the strongest knife 

 you possess. There is nothing better than a 

 hunting knife with a good thick-backed blade. 

 Lay it across the end of the cane, so that you 

 can split it in half, and drive the blade home 

 with a wood mallet or billet, continuing until 

 the other end is reached. Split all your canes 

 in half before going further, then place each 

 cane on your bench, with one end against some- 

 thing solid, and with a carpenter's gouge at- 

 tack the knots inside the halves. A large 

 gouge is better than a narrow one, as its 

 curved blade will fit the inside of the cane 

 better than a small tool. These knots are very 

 tenacious, and it may be necessary to tap the 

 gouge lightly with the mallet. Cut them out 

 as smoothly as possible, but without cutting 

 into the soft side of the cane. There are two 

 good reasons for doing this at the time : it will 

 be easier to go further with the splitting, and 

 the rived strips will not need so much rough- 

 ing on that side. 



