84 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



attaching these droppers to the casting line is described 

 under the heading of " Knots " and "Casting Lines." 

 Always examine carefully the link of gut attached to the 

 droppers, and be sure that it is not damaged at the head, 

 as this is the- spot where it generally gives way. 



Dubbin. This is the name given to the various greasy 

 compounds which are used to keep the angler's boots soft 

 and to preserve the leather from the effects of water. 

 There are several recipes, viz. : One pint of raw linseed oil, 

 half-pound mutton suet, quarter-pound beeswax, one ounce 

 white resin, melted together in a pipkin ; to be used w T hen 

 milk-warm, and applied with a short-stapled brush. India- 

 rubber cut into thin slices, and put into a pipkin with either 

 tallow or mutton suet, and allowed to stand on the range or the 

 hob near the fire until it gets into a homogeneous mass ; this 

 will take some days before it is melted thoroughly. This 

 dubbin should be rubbed on the boots when damp, with 

 the hand ; it gives a complete coat of indiarubber ; it is 

 a very dirty article to use, soiling the hands. There is a 

 softening dubbin made to rub into the boots when they get 

 hard one pint of linseed oil, two ounces beeswax, one ounce 

 Burgundy pitch, two ounces turpentine, melted together in a 

 pipkin. This can be used cold, and should be rubbed in with 

 the hand before a fire ; two or three rubbings will make the 

 leather very pliable and easy on the feet. Castor oil, well 

 rubbed in, renews the life in boots when the leather has got 

 hard and cracked. The best dubbin for the soles is made 

 from any of the above recipes, adding a little coal tar. Care 

 should be taken in using these dubbins on boots worn 

 over fishing stockings not to allow any of the grease to get 

 inside the boot, else it will decompose the indiarubber of 

 the waders and render them useless. 



