26 HOW TO TIE SALMON FLIES. 



over the fire, or a spirit lamp, during each process 

 of cleaning, fixing, and dyeing. It is not necessary, 

 except in one or two cases, and without great 

 care feathers are liable to be burnt. The dyes, 

 too, will not last longer for boiling. Sulphuric 

 acid must be used for blues. Great care, 

 though, is necessary, as it will burn anything 

 with which it comes in contact. Should any 

 get on to the hands or clothes, apply ammonia, 

 not water. When using it proceed as follows : 

 Pour a teaspoonful into an empty basin, then 

 pour in half a tumblerful of cold water. The 

 acid will heat the water. Next pour in some 

 boiling water, in which dye has already been 

 dissolved, put the feathers in, and proceed as 

 before. When pouring the cold water over 

 the acid, do not stand over the basin. 



To dry feathers, take them out of the cold 

 water one by one, and place them on a plate before 

 the fire not too close, though, for they scorch 

 easily. Several shades and varieties of colour 

 can be obtained by dyeing (in the same bath) the 

 following kinds of hackles : white, white furnace, 

 and coch-y-bonddhu ; red furnace and coch-y- 

 bonddhu, and black. They all take the dye well. 

 Put in also guineafowl's feathers, teal, turkey, 

 swan, tippet feathers, etc. They are sure to 

 come in useful. Blue is the only colour that 

 must have a white ground that is, if you want 

 a pure blue ; for, supposing that you dyed a 



