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fully dried grain or sawdust, or on boot-trees, with the object 

 of swelling or keeping them in shape, and to avoid shrinking. 



I cannot better conclude these few remarks on waders than by 

 quoting in extenso a letter on the subject (published since the 

 above was written) by Henry Downes, Esq., M.D. Dr. Downes's 

 letter is full of interesting and suggestive matter : 



SIR, Anglers are often perplexed in coming to a decision as to what 

 description of waders they should provide themselves with. Now, it may be 

 said with truth of waders, as well as of rods, lines, and flies, that one descrip- 

 tion will not prove adapted for all purposes or parts of the fishing season. 



In Devonshire, and in some other countries in England, this begins early 

 in February, when the water is very cold and easterly winds prevail. While 

 such a state of things exists many fishermen refrain altogether from wading, 

 contenting themselves with fishing from the bank ; but there are those who 

 have sufficient confidence in the strength of their constitutions to wish to do so. 



For such waders must meet these requirements : To keep out the water, 

 to exclude the cold, and to retain the heat emanating from the human body. 

 The Messrs. Cording, 125, Regent Street, provide fishing boots which admir- 

 ably meet all the above. They are made complete, in the first instance, in the 

 same way as fishing stockings, soles with nails being afterwards added. Water 

 is thus effectually excluded, and, as the material of which they are composed is 

 a thick leather water-proofed outside, they both exclude cold and retain heat. 



The objection often made to these boots is that they cannot be turned in- 

 side out, so as to be easily dried when the insides have become moist from 

 condensed perspiration. But when we consider the season of the year for 

 which they are recommended, it will be found that as the insensible perspira- 

 tion emanating from the human body is then very slight, this will hardly be 

 perceptible ; and if the boots are made sufficiently light and easy, the greater 

 part of it will escape in the form of vapour between the boots and stockings, 

 and not become in any degree condensed on the stockings worn under them. 

 A pair of flannel bags filled with sawdust is supplied with these boots, and if 

 put into the oven for a few hours and then placed within them, the boots will 

 soon become perfectly dry on the inside. The boots should afterwards be put 

 on boot-trees, so as to keep them of full size, as otherwise they shrink, and 

 become tight and troublesome to put on. 



Being made of a stiff and somewhat unyielding material, it will be found that 

 they are apt to run into holes on the inside of the knees by the friction of one 

 surface of leather against the other, if much walked in. 



This is easily remedied by having a pair of covers made for them of woven 

 flax cloth, extending from the tops of the boots to a few inches below the knee, 

 with a small loop for the strap of the fishing boots to pass through and keep 

 them in their places. 



