WILDFOWL SHOOTING. 299 



your prepared oil, and give it the second coat, which 

 will dry much quicker than the first. 



I was told that one coat of oil would do, as the 

 dressing could be renewed at pleasure. The difference, 

 however, was this : The first coat would barely stand 

 a hard day's rain ; but after the second coat was on, 

 this garment, if held up, would hold gallons of water as 

 tight as the pail from which I poured them. 



In short, this recipe has, after six years 9 trial, proved 

 to answer so well, that I have no doubt if it had been 

 disguised, and " set a going" by some gentleman who 

 was a " dab" at preaching, puffing, and wall-chalking, 

 he might soon have made a little fortune by it, and set 

 up for an E-S-Q. ; with his " cad," and his " cab," and 

 his , &c. 



N. B. Tell the person who boils the oil to beware of 

 getting burnt ; and let him do it out of doors, or he 

 might run a risk of setting your house on fire. Add to 

 this, the smell of it, when boiling, is a great nuisance ; 

 although the dress, after being thoroughly dry, will 

 retain scarcely so much of it as common oil-skin. 



This garment, if made double-breasted, with buttons 

 only on the right side, and none on the sleeves, which 

 should be sewn close, is, without exception, the best I 

 ever used for throwing a casting-net. In addition to 

 the coverings herein named, I find that a very large 

 old umbrella, fitted up with brown Holland, (and thus 

 oiled, if you like), is the greatest possible comfort and 

 shelter to those who go in a punt. Moreover, it makes 

 a capital mizen-sail when going before the wind ; and 

 is a complete shield to you and your man, from the 

 shaking of a wet dog, should you have no following- 

 boat to rid you of this annoyance. 



