Western larch (Larix occidentalis) would be an excellent choice for a mast.
They grow tall, straight, have clear wood, tight grained and extremely
resilient to bending pressure.
I am not familiar with Eastern larch (Larix laricina). On the West Coast,
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is often used as Sitka spruce (Picea
sitchensis)
of mast quality is becoming harder to obtain.

regards...Ken

"max camirand" wrote in message
...
Hi group,

I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig). I have
the book Practical Junk Rig here. The authors (British) recommend
Scots Pine as the best, but a Canadian government publication tells me
that Canadian Scots Pine is a much lower-quality wood than that grown
in Europe, on account of inferior seeds having been used to introduce
them here. They also recommend larch, of which we have plenty.

I have access to several woodlots with appropriately-sized trees, so
I'd appreciate a recommendation on what wood to use. I'd like to get
it cut before the sap starts to flow back into the trees this spring.

Alternatively, I know of a telephone pole factory that could sell me
my sticks, but I'm not sure how well I could control what species I'd
get in that case.

Regards,
-Maxime