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Salmon -Fishing. 



IN THE HARBUK OK ST. JOHN. 



The manufacture of a fine rod of split bamboo is a work requir- 

 ing great skill and judgment, not unlike that required to make the 

 far-famed Cremona violin. The rods are made usually from Calcutta 

 bamboo, as it has a larger proportion of enamel with tough fiber and 

 long growth between joints. In the Japanese bamboo, the fibers 

 follow the joints too closely, and so must be cut into in straightening 

 the pieces. Our American cane is lighter, and the enamel is very 

 hard and elastic, but the inner woody fiber is soft as well as brittle. 

 Sometimes several invoices of Calcutta cane will not contain one 

 suitable piece for rod-making. The canes mildew on the passage, 

 and this injures the fibers. Sometimes they are injured in being 

 straightened over a fire, and often a single worm-hole ruins the 

 entire piece. Just as our forest trees have the thickest and roughest 

 bark on the north side, so the bamboo has thicker and harder enamel 

 upon whichever side was exposed to storms. In making fine rods 

 not only the best cane is selected, but the best side of this selected 

 cane is preferred. 



