public int hashCode() {
        return super.hashCode();
    }

    /**
     * Returns a clone of this needle.
     * 
     * @return A clone.
     * 
     * @throws CloneNotSupportedException if the <code>LongNeedle</code> 
     *     cannot be cloned (in theory, this should not happen).
     */
    public Object clone() throws CloneNotSupportedException {
        return super.clone();