THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 209 



And for dyeing of your hairs, do it thus : take a pint of 

 strong ale, half a pound of soot, and a little quantity of the 

 juice of walnut tree leaves, and an equal quantity of alum; 

 put these together into a pot, pan, or pipkin, and boil them half 

 an hour ; and having so done, let it cool ; and being cold, put 

 your hair into it, and there let it lie ; it will turn your hair to 

 be a kind of water or glass colour, or greenish ; and the longer 

 you let it lie, the deeper coloured it will be. You might be 

 taught to make many other colours, but it is to little purpose ; 

 for, doubtless, the water colour, or glass coloured hair is the 

 most choice and most useful for an angler, but let it not be too 

 green.* 



But if you desire to colour hair greener, then do it thus : 

 take a quart of small ale, half a pound of alum ; then put these 

 into a pan or pipkin, and your hair into it with them ; then put 

 it upon a fire, and let it boil softly for half an hour, and then 

 take out your hair, and let it dry ; and having so done, then 

 take a bottle of water, and put into it two handfuls of mari- 

 golds, and cover it with a tile, or what you think fit, and set it 

 again on the fire, where it is to boil again softly for half an hour, 

 about which time the scum will turn yellow ; then put into it 



When you use the fly, you will find it necessary to continue your line to 

 a greater degree of fineness : in order to which, supposing the line to be 

 eight yards in length, fasten a piece of three or four twisted links, taper, 

 jng till it becomes of the size of afine grass : and to the end of this fix your 

 hook link, which should be either of very fine grass, or silk- worm gut. A 

 week's practice will enable a learner to throw one of these lines ; and he 

 may lengthen it, by a yard at a time, at the greater end, till he can throw 

 fifteen yards neatly, till when, he is to reckon himself but a novice. 



For the colour, you must be determined by that of the river you fish in : 

 but I have found that a line of the colour of pepper and salt, when mixed, 

 will suit any water. 



Many inconveniences attend the use of twisted (open) hairs for your 

 hook-line; see partii. chap. v. Silk-worm gut is both fine and very strong ; 

 but then it is apt to fray; though this may, in some measure, be prevented 

 by waxing it well. 



Indian, or sea-grass, makes excellent hook-lines ; and though some 

 object to it, as being apt to grov/brittle, and to kink in using, with proper 

 management it is the best material for the purpose yet known, especially 

 if ordered in the following manner : 



Take as many, of the finest you can get, as you please : put them into 

 any vessel; and pour therein the scummed fat of a pot, wherein fresh, 

 but by no means salt meat has been boiled : when they have lain three or 

 four hours, take them out one by one. and stripping the grease off with 

 your finger and thumb, (but do not wip them,) stretch each grass as long 

 as it will yield, coil them up in rings, and lay them by ; and you will find 

 them become near as small, full as round, and much stronger than the best 

 single hairs you can get. To preserve them moist, keep them in a piece of 

 bladder well oiled; and before you use them, let them soak half an hour 

 in water ; or, in your walk to the river side, put a length of it into your 

 mouth. 



If your grass is coarse, it willfall heavily into the water, and scare away 

 the fish, on which account gut has the advantage. But, after all, if your 

 grass be fine and round, it is the best thing you can use. 



* These recipes are far from being scientifically chemical; but fewer 

 improvements hare been introduced into hair-staining than any other 

 art _J. R. 



