ROD AND TACKLE 3 



" The so-called Calcutta bamboo {Deiidrocalaimis 

 strictus), which was at one time almost exclusively 

 used, has been largely displaced by a harder and 

 tougher bamboo, called Palakona (a registered 

 word). This bamboo is preferred on account of its 

 greater stiffness, which permits rods of lighter weight 

 being produced having greater resistance, which, 

 of course, means greater line-lifting power and 

 recovery." 



" This material also lends itself well to the process 

 of hardening and toughening, which has of late been 

 introduced. So far as the method of construction 

 is concerned, there is no advance on the ordinary 

 hexagonal single and double-built bamboo rods. 

 Octagonal and nonagonal rods are occasionally built, 

 but their quantity is negligible." 



The preparation of the six sections of which each 



joint of a split bamboo rod is 



Preparation of the composed, consists in splitting 



sections and fasten- out a suitable width of the 



ing them together. bamboo, planing or in some 



other way shaping it with the 

 greatest precision on two sides to an angle of 60°, leaving 

 the bark, which is at once the hardest, most elastic, 

 and most waterproof portion of the material, intact. 

 These six sections are then cemented together. When 

 the cement is absolutely dry and fixed, the sur- 

 face is cleaned off and the joint cut to the requisite 

 length. This is a matter calling for the highest 

 technical knowledge, because the action of the rod 



