112 



THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



hour, and you will find them the colour you 

 wish.* 



3. When the barberry cannot be readily pro- 

 cured, take of turmeric one ounce, alum half 

 ditto, stone blue quarter ditto, each pounded 

 fine ; boil them with the gray feathers above 

 described, and it will produce the same colour. 

 It may prevent a mistake if you frequently take 

 out a feather and dip it in clean water ; you will 

 then observe the progress of the dye.t 



4. The best dye for all yellow materials for 

 artificial flies is the bark from the branches of a 

 crab tree, taken in the spring, when the sap is 

 up. Before you use it, put any quantity that you 

 want into a vessel, just cover it with a mixture of 

 one-half hard water and the other half urine, and 

 let it stand twenty-four hours ; then put it into a 

 proper vessel, with some alum, according to 

 judgment, so that it simmer over a slow fire about 

 two hours ; stir up all well together, and take out 

 the bark ; then put in your feathers and other 



* Salter's Modern Angler. f Ibid. 



