164 Fly-rods and fly-tackle. 



the English portion of the brotherhood, since under their 

 flag the investigation must be carried on. If not unrea- 

 sonable, it is at any rate useless to expect this from the 

 professional rod-maker. He either lacks opportunity, or 

 for business reasons keeps his information to himself. 

 It is to be hoped that some of the many English gentle- 

 men now in India, who are interested in fly-fishing, and 

 who may be favorably circumstanced in that vast coun- 

 try, will investigate, and give the angling world some 

 definite information on this subject. 



Rapid and unceasing as is communication at the pres- 

 ent time between the remotest parts of the world, it is 

 singular, and not very creditable, how vague is the in- 

 formation now obtainable in reference to rod material. 



The variety of bamboo of which split-bamboo fly-rods 

 are made, is here known as the " Calcutta bamboo." Its 

 botanical name is believed to be Bambusa Arundina- 

 cea. From other varieties it may be distinguished by 

 the charred marks on its yellow cuticle, without which 

 none seems to be imported into this country. If this is 

 the variety, it may, if permitted to grow, attain a height 

 of from forty to fifty feet, and a diameter of about three 

 inches. 



No one in the least familiar with this bamboo can 

 have failed to remark these burns, always present yet 

 never alike. To the split-bamboo rod-maker they are a 

 perfect nuisance, forcing him to reject altogether many 

 a cane otherwise excellent. So every one, surprised that 

 so much labor should be expended merely, as far as is 

 apparent, to injure the cane, naturally asks how and why 

 this is done. 



Reasons being as plenty as blackberries, of course 

 there is no lack in this case. But that these are not 



