246 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



together, which hairs of an unequal bigness never 

 do, but break singly, and so deceive the Angler 

 that trusts to them. 



When you have twisted your links, lay them in 

 water for a quarter of an hour at least, and then 

 twist them over again before you tie them into a 

 line : for those that do not so, shall usually find their 

 line to have a hair or two shrink, and be shorter 

 than the rest at the first fishing with it ; which is 

 so much of the strength of the line lost for want of 

 first watering it and then re-twisting it ; and this 

 is most visible in a seven-hair line, one of those 

 which hath always a black hair in the middle. 



And for dyeing of your hairs, do it thus. Take 

 a pint of strong ale, half a pound of soot, and a 

 little quantity of the juice of walnut-tree leaves, 

 and an equal quantity of alum : put these together 

 into a pot, pan, or pipkin, and boil them half an 

 hour ; and having so done, let it cool ; and being 

 cold, put your hair into it, and there let it lie : it 

 will turn your hair to be a kind of water or glass- 

 colour, or greenish ; and the longer you let it lie, 

 the deeper coloured it will be. You might be taught 

 to make many other colours, but it is to little pur- 

 pose ; for doubtless the water-colour or glass-co- 

 loured hair, is the most choice and most useful for 

 an Angler ; but let it not be too green. 



But if you desire to colour hair greener, then do 

 it thus. Take a quart of small ale, half a pound of 



