FISHING BOOK. 61 



oil is an expensive ingredient, and not easily obtained, 

 I subjoin a more economical preparation. 



1 pint of linseed oil. 

 4 ozs. of beeswax. 



2 ozs. of best tar. 



2 ozs. of Burgundy pitch. 



2 ozs. of spirits of turpentine. 



Melt all slowly together. 



FISHING-BOOK. It is astonishing what fancies some 

 anglers entertain, in respect to their tackle. They 

 accumulate hank after hank of gut, gross after gross 

 of flies, a whole bolster charge of feathers, and an 

 anchor weight of hooks, without for one moment 

 considering the damage done by age, moths, and 

 corrosion, and the unlikelihood of their ever existing 

 to employ all this amassed hoard of fishing gear. No 

 doubt, these whimsical enthusiasts draw a world of 

 satisfaction from the review of their varied accumu- 

 lations, and love to expatiate upon the merits of 

 this or that contrivance ; the shade of a tackle, or the 

 shape of a hook, forming with them sufficient subject 

 of discourse for more time than they have spent in 

 testing the advantages of either the one or the other. 

 I confess I have but little sympathy with men of this 

 humour, and have always met with the most efficient 

 and sterling anglers, in those who possess a simple but 

 select stock, intermixed with nothing doubtful or new- 

 fangled in the shape of tackle the gut hank fresh and 

 clean the hooks free from rust the flies recently 

 dressed the pocket-book ample in size, yet not crowded 

 in its contents everything having elbow-room and 

 being in its proper place. 



The angler's trouting book, in order to give suitable 

 accommodation to the tackle required, should measure 

 at least eight inches in length, by five and a half in 

 breadth. The number and arrangement of the divisions 



