Rods wnd Rod Material. 163 



but be had. An experience of my own with large bam- 

 boo is mentioned hereafter in this chapter. 



The strength and elasticity of bamboo depends almost 

 altogether on the character of its exterior, the inner or 

 pithy portion adding but little thereto. In the variety 

 commonly used, within perhaps one-sixteenth of an inch 

 measured from the outside lie all its virtues. In the 

 larger varieties (or at least some of them, as my expe- 

 rience proves) this portion is very much thicker, as would 

 be expected from the far greater thickness of the walls 

 of the cane. If, therefore, rods were made from such 

 cane, these would possess far greater strength and far 

 more stiffness and elasticity than those of the present 

 day, if of like dimensions. The diameter and consequent 

 weight could then be considerably reduced, not only 

 without loss, but still leaving considerable gain in these 

 respects. Again, the process of manufacture would be 

 much simplified, since the bamboos now used rarely reach 

 two inches in diameter at the butt. This renders the 

 exterior quite rounding, and it cannot be flattened with- 

 out ruining it at the same time. Consequently the cane 

 resting on this convex surface tends to roll more or less 

 under the cutting tool, affecting the accuracy of the 

 angle if not carefully watched. From my own expe- 

 rience, I should say that three times the skill was re- 

 quired to make a good six-strip joint from bamboo one 

 and three-quarter inches in diameter, than from that of 

 four or five inches. The waste would also be much less, 

 since defects in the cuticle now fatal, would then be of 

 comparatively little consequence. 



There are few fields in which more of benefit to the 

 angling fraternity may be hoped from investigation 

 than this. The burden would seem fairly to fall upon 



