DYEING, BLEACHING, ETC. 57 



pulls the fly beneath the surface. Oiling the 

 feathers simply prevents the water from spreading 

 itself over them since the surface of water and oil 

 will not adhere and so enables the fly to float for 

 a much longer time. Thus, the "oil tip/' impor- 

 tant as it is in aiding the angler to dry his fly 

 when it is off the water, plays an equally 

 important part when the fly is on the water. 



In physical laboratories paraffin wax is generally 

 used instead of paraffin oil to baffle the clinging 

 properties of water, and it was this fact that first 

 suggested to me the following slight modification 

 of the method in vogue among fly fishers, 



Put a few pieces of paraffin wax into a small 

 but wide-mouthed bottle, and add about twice the 

 volume of paraffin oil. Place the bottle in hot 

 water, and shake it now and then till the wax and 

 oil are thoroughly mixed together. Now immerse 

 the flies for a few minutes (under the exhausted 

 receiver of an air pump, should such be available), 

 then take them out, and press them gently between 

 the folds of a cloth to remove the superfluous 

 dressing. 



This method, so far as I can judge, seems to 

 produce a more permanent result than does the use 

 of the oil alone, and not to be inferior in any other 

 respect. I fancy it would also be a good way to 

 increase the floating powers of the line. 



It may be worthy of mention that where dis- 

 tillery refuse is thrown into water, it has the 

 property of so diminishing the strength of the 

 latter's elastic skin, that it may be found almost 

 impossible to keep the fly afloat the " oil tip " 

 notwithstanding. 



D 3 



