The herald., 1895-08-11

times if the artist desires to be in proper
trim, with what is considered the proper
tools. 1t was while in search of reliable in
formation upon the cost OF fishing para
phernalla that one of the very best oam-
boo rod makers was found and warmed
up to the subject. Here's rod that
can't be beat said he, as he tenderly
lifted twelve-foot rod by the butt. He
held 1t in proper position, and, making
quick movement with mis- wrist. just as
If he were casting a fly along some cool
trout stream, he let the fly fall as silent
ly as if it had just lit there of its own
accord and not intended to catch the eye
of an unsuspecting fish. The bambo
quvered like leaf in the breeze and
then Strengthened back to its original po-
siiion, straight as an arrow and none the
worse for its severe treatment.
You may be sure there Is not. over
the whole world, q finer rod" continued
the maker. That one is a special order.
and it is made of twelve pieces of bam
boo instead of six, which is the usual
number. 1t is wanted for great strength.
although the rod made of six pieces is
quite strong enough for most purposes.
1t is only making assurance doubly sure,
TO use so many pieces. and they undoubt-
edly give greater strength and do not
give any greater weight. You can read
lily appreciate what l say when | tell you
that although the plice seems high to
those who are inclioned to quibble about
it, there is a rod that has cost many days
OF labor and the art OF q man who has
been many years at his trade, and you
will, perhaps, agree that the payment 10
not always com mensurate with the labor
and artistic development OF the deftest
hands. for it takes years of experience
for ono man out Of q thousand to per-
feet himself in the art. The bamboo
poles come from Calcutta. an we receive
them twenty-five feet long, usually in
sacks OF fifty. OF these. many are en-
tirely worthless, and there will not be one
in the whole lot that may be used entire.
You must remember that the poles Of
the female plant cannot be utilized. for
they are worthless for making reliable
rods out of. Then. many of the male
plants reach us in defective state, and
the result is that only one in a sack of
fifty can be used, and of this one | can
use only little strip from each side.
'Here you can see, at each of these
knots, " continued the bamboo worker.
there nave been leaves. and wherever
there is knot the fiber is thrown out of
line, and the BAN boo is weeakned there.
There being leaves on two sides, it follows
that the other two sides alone can be
used, and that is what makes the mate
rial more expensive than it is generally
supposed to be, Now let me show you
the difference between bad piece and a
good and useful piece OF bamboo. Here
is a bad piece, and you see and hear.
while bend it, that ii breaks with a
mushy sound. Here is good piece,
which has been selected with great care.
| have cut out the soft part, for we only
care for the fiber under the enamel. This
enamel is tho outer surface of the stalk.
The natives in Calcutta iron the stalks.
which brings out the dark. ornamental
lines. Now watch me bend this slowly,
and you Will hear peculiar sound when
the ends nearly touch one another-it is
like the cracking OF a fire and thousands
OF ibers are breaking, not simultaneously.
but in rapid succession. Now that the
piece is about bent double, the nbers
have been broken nearly bali through the
thickness OF the layer, and the other half
IS intact and strong. Now, You see, there
is no material equal to bam boo in fine
ness and other requisites for fishing reds.
/ Will guarantee to MAKE q rod that YOU
can bend until its ends meet without
breaking. But | do not make rods as
Timber as that, because they would he too
lin ber for use, but | will warrant hat
one OF IN" bamboo rods Of ii.tpe or
twenty feet will take anything shot IA
whale, and bend, but not break
Contrary to all talk about prct.f!ng
the BAN boo, he continued. Il do moth
ing to ii after the most careful selection
OF the choicest pieces, except slightly
heating the pieces to straighten them
out. Then plane them down to three
cornered strips, after which they are
glued together and every piece of rod con-
sists OF six three. e.cornered strips, which