15 



your float cannot be too delicate. All that is required is* 

 that about three quarters of an inch should appear above 

 the surface, and that half an inch should be white, so 

 as to appear distinctly, towards the twilight especially, 

 when coloured objects are not so conspicuous. 



I have always had most success when using a short, but 

 very thick, swan-quill float, with a white top and a 

 red cap, made of about a quarter of an inch of larger 

 quill, or of very thin horn, dyed in red ink, or in a de- 

 coction of logwood and alum. 



Double-quill floats, that is, such as have no wire 

 plugs, are made by joining two quills, of equal diameter, 

 on a wooden plug, which is first smeared with tar, and 

 passes about half an inch, or more, up each quill. 



The two small ends of the quills thus form the two 

 ends of the float -, and, in order to prevent the admission 

 of water, should be rammed with a piece of the stem of 

 the same quills, which, going in at the larger ends before 

 they are affixed to the plug, by being pushed up to- 

 wards the points, will effectually prevent any water from 

 penetrating, if die quills be in other respects sound, and 

 free from cracks, as ought to be duly insured. See Fig. 5, 

 Plate I. 



All doulle- quill floats are provided with two caps, one 

 for each end, to keep the line to them : they should 

 be well whipped in the middle, where the quills should 

 join very nicely, and should fit very stiffly upon the plug. 



Single- quill floats are made of one swan or goose 

 quill, in the bottom, or large end, of which, after the 

 small end has been duly stopped, as above directed, a 

 plug ma4e of beech., lime, or deal, should be neatly, but 



tightly, 



