THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON 227 



take one ounce of brown cutch, or the ordinary catechu of 

 commerce ; boil in as much water as will dissolve it ; add 

 about the size of a garden pea of sulphate of copper (blue 

 stone). Brush the wood over with this, and allow to dry 

 in the air, then give another coat, and again dry. The 

 longer this coat remains exposed, before the next process, 

 the darker the stain will be ; however, after a couple 

 of hours, a nice shade will be obtained. Now heat 

 the chrome mixture, and with a clean brush give the 

 wood a coat, and very soon a nice warm brown shade 

 will appear. It may have a second coat if not dark 

 enough. After remaining about four hours, and being 

 quite dry, the wood should be well washed in plain 

 water to get rid of the superfluous colour and permit, 

 it to take a good polish. Walnut stain : Water, one quart ; 

 washing soda, one and a-half ounces ; vandyke brown, 

 two and a-half ounces; bi-chromate of potash, quarter- 

 ounce ; boil for ten minutes, and apply either in hot 

 or cold state. Black stain : Boil one pound of logwood 

 in four quarts of water ; add a double handful of walnut 

 peel or oak galls ; boil up again, take out the logwood 

 chips, strain in a cloth, and add one pint of vinegar. 

 Apply this to the wood with a brush when boiling. Oak 

 stain : Equal parts of American potash and pearlash, two 

 ounces of each to a quart of w r ater. This gives a good 

 permanent colour, but requires careful application, as the 

 American potash is a strong solvent, and will blister the 

 hands. It may be applied with a clean rag tied to a stick, 

 as it is so powerful that it would destroy a brush in a 

 few minutes ; keep it corked in a bottle ready for use. If 

 the wood takes too deep a shade, add a little water. These 

 four stains are the most suitable ones for rods, landing net 



