Experiments in Rigidity of Arrows

Aboriginal shafts are universally small straight limbs of shrubs, or reeds, having a concentric laminated cross- section, which is well calculated to stand longitudinal pressure and remain rigid. The woods that were recog­nizable were: dogwood (Cornus Nuttallii); hazel; service- berry (Amelanchier alnifolia); arrow wood (Pluchea sericea). Seldom if ever is any attempt made to employ split timber in their manufacture. The better developed methods of arrow making, however, make use of split timber, which is later planed and turned into cylindrical shafts. A test of the rigidity of this type of arrow shaft resulted as follows: