r < ^ KECIPES AND SOTABILIA. 



the fingers with a little spirit, and drawing the tinsel be- 

 tween them repeatedly ; but it never attains its pristine 

 brilliance. Very dim tinsel in some old fly, which it may 

 be thought desirable to give one more trial to, may be 

 brightened up by the application of a knife. 



Old Flits or Hooks Drawing. Many an old fly or hook 

 will draw, that is, the gut will draw away from the hook 

 when first used. But dry gut will draw when wet will 

 not. Therefore, before using, or even testing, such mate- 

 rials, soak them for a few minutes, when the fact of their 

 being trustworthy or the reverse may easily be ascertained 

 for a certainty. Gut will seldom draw, however, if the 

 extreme end is bitten or flattened. 



Oil for Hooks. Oil used for preserving hooks, swivels, 

 &c. from rust should be boiled, so that if there be any 

 water in it (as is frequently the case) it evaporates in the 

 steam, and the oil is purified. If this be not done, the 

 hook points will often suffer from rust in spite of the oil. 



To disengage Screws or Ferrules. When any metal- 

 work of this kind has become strongly fixed, instead of 

 employing oil to loosen it, use creosote ; this is so very 

 volatile and penetrating that it will find its way easily 

 when oil is quite useless. 



Marine Glue will often be found very serviceable in 

 covering weak splices and securing ties, as it becomes 

 extremely hard, is yet elastic, and will not crack, and is 

 quite impermeable to wet even under the hardest work, 

 which few varnishes are capable of undergoing. It is 

 difficult to lay it on neatly ; the best plan is to pass a hot 

 iron over it. 



I have now brought the angler to the end of my in- 

 structions, and if I have succeeded in imparting to him 

 any useful knowledge my end will have been accomplished. 



