214 FLY-MAKING. 



fluid, take a pure white wax candle, light it and let 

 it drop into the melted resin ; there is no rule as to 

 the quantity. Pour out upon a board either greased 

 or rubbed with wax from the candle, one fourth of 

 the composition ; then drop more wax into the re- 

 mainder and pour out one fourth more. Proceed in 

 the same manner with the other two fourths, and 

 thus you will have wax of four degrees of hardness ; 

 that with the least wax dropped from the candle 

 being for use in hot weather, the others for different 

 degrees of temperature of the seasons. After the 

 composition has become cool on the board, it should 

 be well worked on the board as shoemaker's 

 wax is. 



To make soft wax to use upon very delicate silk, 

 dissolve some common shoemaker's wax in spirits of 

 wine until it becomes of the consistency of butter, 

 then put a small quantity on the inside of a piece of 

 an old kid glove, and draw the silk gently through 

 it. Or put a piece of shoemaker's wax the size of 

 a walnut in a small bottle, and pour over it an ounce 

 of eau-de-cologne ; shake it occasionally till it dis- 

 solves, when it is ready for use ; then taking a drop 

 between the finger and thumb, draw the silk through 

 it. It may be carried in a metal bottle with a 

 screw stopper, and if well corked will keep for 

 years. 



In Scrope's Days and Nights of Salmon Fishing, 

 is found the following description of a few favorite 

 salmon flies : 



