RECIPES AND NOTABILIA. 499 



able not to use the tackle until the dressing is properly 

 dry and hard, or it turns white. Sealing wax may be 

 dissolved in the same way, but it does not make nearly as 

 durable a varnish. 



Varnish for Rods. The best varnish for rods is the 

 'best coaehmakers' varnish/ Two coats of this are ample, 

 but the first coat must be quite dry before the other is 

 laid on. 



Liquid Wax. Dissolve some cobblers' wax in spirits of 

 wine, shake it up, and lay on with a feather. This is very 

 useful with frayed or weak silk, when tying a neat and 

 delicate fly, as the spirit evaporates, but the wax remains 

 on the silk. 



White Wax. Take two ounces of the best resin and one 

 quarter of an ounce of beeswax, simmer them together in 

 a pipkin for ten minutes ; add one quarter of an ounce of 

 tallow, and simmer for a quarter of an hour ; then pour 

 the mass out into a basin of water, and work it up with 

 the fingers until perfectly pliable. A very useful and 

 tenacious wax. 



Dry or Brittle Cobblers' Wax. If the wax be too brittle 

 or dry, add the smallest possible morsel of tallow, and work it 

 up with the cobblers' wax, and it soon becomes soft and usable. 



Greaseless Wax. Kogan, the tackle-maker of Bally- 

 shannon, Ireland, has brought out a wax which is without 

 grease. He says that in many of the finer and more deli- 

 cate floss silks the grease of the wax works through and 

 discolours them, and this wax being without grease pre- 

 vents that. It is a very good wax, and being neatly be- 

 stowed in little wooden boxes is handy to carry. Though 

 I know the substances which it is made of, I am not at 

 liberty to give them, as Eogan sells the wax himself. 



India-rubber Glue, used to mend waterproof boots 

 and stockings, by sticking a piece of sheet rubber over 

 a crack is made in the same way as the india-rubber 

 dressing for lines, by dissolving india-rubber, cut small, 



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