unable to link to a static library present alongside a shared library

[Shriramana Sharma <samjnaa@gmail.com>]

I read recently that someone was not able to link statically to a 
library which was placed alongside a shared library. Having gained some 
knowhow from the good people on this list I checked first the ld manpage 
and found this:

ld will search a directory for a library with an extension of .so before 
searching for one with an extension of .a.

Does anyone know of a way to subvert this behaviour and force linking to 
the static library?

Also, why is this behaviour made this way? Is there a reason or is it 
arbitrary?

Thanks as ever, for all your help.

Shriramana Sharma.