130 Book of the Black Bass. 



for fly-rods, where, as a rule, much heavier rods are used 

 than in our own country. 



B£Thab.\ea. — This wood was, I helieve, introduced 

 several years ago hy A. B. Shipley & Son, of Philadelphia, 

 who made a specialty of rods of this handsome material. 

 It is very dark in color, resembling, somewhat, black- 

 walnut. It is very hard and close-grained, almost like 

 bone in density, though it is rather heavy, except for second 

 pieces and tips. Few woods can equal it for strength, 

 toughness, and resiliency. It is susceptible of a beautiful 

 polish, and I know of no other wood that makes so hand- 

 some a rod in its natural color. 



Cane, or Eeed. — Xative and foreign cane poles are 

 much used for fishing rods, especially in certain kinds of 

 angling where no reel is required, and for such service 

 answer a good purpose. The native canes are the lightest, 

 though not so strong and durable as the Chinese or Jap- 

 anese canes. 



Calcutta Bamboo. — The East Indian, or, as it is gen- 

 erally termed, the Calcutta bamboo, is the best of all mate- 

 rial for the construction of a perfect rod when carefully 

 made by a skillful and master workman. In its natural 

 state it possesses many of the desired qualities for certain 

 modes of angling, but for methods that require a shorter 

 and lighter, or more pliant rod, these additional features 

 can be secured by altering the original conditions of the 

 cane, by sawing the outer, or cortical siliceous, layer into 

 triangular strips and accurately fitting and gluing them 

 together ; thus reducing the caliber, and, at the same time, 

 preserving and enhancing all the essential and desirable 

 quaKties in a more compact form. 



There are two kinds of Calcutta bamboo, known to the 

 trade as ^' male " and " female " canes. The former is 



