'22 FOOD OF FISHES. 



strongly tinctured, as it is apt to rot when too dark. For 

 a bluish watery tint, the above ingredients are also used, 

 with the substitution of log-wood instead of walnut. 



For a yellow. The inner bark of a crab-tree boiled 

 in water with some alum, makes a good yellow, ex- 

 cellent for staining tackle used among decayed weeds, 

 the colour of which it closely resembles. 



A tawny hue is obtained by steeping hair among 

 lime and water for four or five hours, and then allow- 

 ing it to soak for a day in a tan-pit. In the absence 

 of other ingredients, both gut and hair may be easily 

 stained by being left for twenty-four hours in strong 

 tea, either with or without a few log-wood scrapings. 



The hair to be stained ought to be selected from the 

 best white. Silken or hempen lines may be tinted by 

 a decoction of oak bark, which is said to add to the 

 durability of these materials. 



It has even been considered of consequence for the 

 angler to attend to the colour and make of his clothes, 

 respecting which I find the following quaint remarks 

 in old Gervase Markham's ' Countrey Contentments/ 

 (( Touching the angler's apparell, (for it is a respect as ne- 

 cessary as any other whatsoever) it should by no meaas 

 be garish, light coloured, or shining, for whatsoever with 

 a glittering hew it reflecteth upon the water, immedi- 

 ately it frighteth the fish, and maketh them flie from his 

 presence, no hunger being able to tempt them to bite 

 when their eye is offended ; and, of all creatures, there 

 is none more sharp sighted than fishes are. Let then 

 your apparell be plaine and comely, of a darke colour, 

 is russet, tawney, or such like, close to your body, 



