THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 225 



often the shot gets in between stones and cannot be 

 released without a break ; so if the catch is slight a gentle 

 pull will detach the shot and save the casting line. (See 

 "Shot Pliers.") 



Spring Balances are occasionally carried by anglers 

 when fishing for large trout or salmon, as they can weigh 

 the fish after being killed, and the entry of such weight be 

 recorded in the note book. These are now made very neat 



SPRING BALANCE 



and handy to be carried either in the pannier or pocket. 

 The electro-plated ones are the easiest kept clean, and 

 can be fitted in a suitable leather case. Balances may 

 be had to weigh from one ounce up to sixty pounds. 



Staining Feathers. Many of the feathers used as 

 wings and hackles for salmon, sea trout, and lake trout 

 flies, as well as hackles for brown trout flies, are stained or 

 heightened in colour, and for this purpose Crawshaw's dyes 

 are most suitable, easily applied, and possess a good range 

 of shades. A fast and beautiful stain, from a brilliant red 

 to a deep crimson, can be given to the red cock's hackles 

 by the following reliable recipe : Tie about one dozen of, 

 the hackles by the quills into a bunch, leaving one end of 

 the tying thread free to take hold of. Make a mordant 

 bath of alum and water, in strength one teaspoonful to a 

 teacupful of water. Pour a little of this into a email test 

 tube, and arrange over a spirit or other suitable lamp. 

 Immerse the feathers completely, and boil for fifteen 



O 



