Editing Glass float (section)

== Appearance ==
[[Image:Large glass floats-9-2.jpg|thumb|right|Large glass floats]]
Once a float lands on a beach, it may roll in the surf and become etched by sand. Many glass floats show distinctive wear patterns from the corrosive forces of sand, sun, and salt water. When old netting breaks off of a float, its pattern often remains on the surface of the glass where the glass was protected under the netting. Other floats have small amounts of water trapped inside of them. This water apparently enters the floats through microscopic imperfections in the glass while the floats are suspended in Arctic ice or held under water by netting.

To accommodate different fishing styles and nets, the Japanese experimented with different sizes and shapes of floats, ranging from 2 to {{convert|20|in|mm}} in diameter. Most were rough spheres, but some were cylindrical or "rolling pin" shaped.

Most floats are shades of green because that is the color of glass from recycled sake bottles. However, clear, amber, aquamarine, amethyst, blue and other colors were also produced. The most prized and rare color is a red or cranberry hue. These were expensive to make because gold was used to produce [[cranberry glass]]. Other brilliant tones such as emerald green, cobalt blue, purple, yellow and orange were primarily made in the 1920s and 30s. The majority of the colored floats available for sale today are replicas.


[[File:Bindama road.jpg|thumb|right|Bindama Road in [[Shima, Mie]], decorated with glass floats]]