244 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



The measurers have, however, to be on their guard against 

 a trick practised by some dishonest natives or intermediary 

 dealers, who fill up from 2 to & in. of the hollow with 

 lead, at once causing the solid part to appear to be longer 

 than it really is, and increasing the weight of the tusk 

 several pounds. The lead costs but a few cents a pound, 

 but the apparent ivory weight is paid for at the rate of 

 two or three dollars or more per pound, and the finest ivory 

 is often at the broadest end of the tusk. 



When the billiard balls are to be cut the hollow end 

 of the tusk is sawed off entirely, leaving only the solid 

 portion; this is then carefully measured into sections, the 

 location of the centre or nerve part being duly noted. 



The edge of the tusk is then chiselled off at the end, so that 

 the section can be held in a chuck ; when it is firmly inserted 

 therein and is made to rotate, along tool with one quarter 

 circular end is placed in a chuck and held up against the 

 rapidly revolving ivory. This tool cuts a semi-circular 

 groove on the block. When it reaches the centre it is 

 reversed, leaving the core loose and non-adhering. All 

 the while the tool is cutting the ivory a jet of water is 

 sprayed upon it, preventing it from heating or cracking. 

 After the cutting of the ball has been completed, so that it 

 remains quite loose in the ivory block, this is divided and the 

 sphere released. It is then covered with shellac and sea- 

 soned for from eighteen months to two years, according to 

 the requirements of the dealer's trade. 



Even after balls have been seasoned for as long as two 

 years, it has happened that one would be tried and found 

 perfect at 5 p. m. and yet would have shrunk out of true 

 by 9 p. M. As this is usually due to temperature changes, 

 it has been found absolutely necessary, at the great tourna- 

 ments, to keep the temperature of the hall constant at 

 72° or 73° Fahrenheit, to prevent the balls from cracking 



