GOOD COLOURED PASTE. 261 



offers any obstruction to the point of the hook 

 penetrating through it to the fish's mouth. 



A good coloured paste in imitation of salmon roe. 

 Knead flour and water well together, then wash 

 both in a pailful of cold water, working them well 

 in a mass without dividing it, until the fine parts 

 of the flour are completely washed away ; this 

 may be known by its ceasing to whiten the water. 

 What remains will be nearly gluten, and very 

 viscous. Take a little vermilion in fine powder 

 (the size of a large pea will colour a teacupful 

 of the gluten), and rub the whole well together on 

 a slab with a muller or flat knife. This paste 

 will not be affected by the water, and may be 

 preserved many weeks if kept immersed in cold 

 water. If left exposed to the air, it dries rapidly ; 

 when taken out for use, it should be put into a 

 wet bag. 



This last paste is from a receipt of Captain 

 Williamson, w T ho remarks, like a true practical 

 angler, " As to all other pastes made with oils, 

 essences, &c., they are useless ; and the recipes 

 for making them are mere catchpennies, inserted 

 in various mean publications to swell their volume, 

 and to give an air of mystery and science, that 

 misleads and occasions disappointment." Very 

 true : and those who allege that they possess secret 

 baits, and angling nostrums, are as arrant quacks 

 as any in the world. 



s 3 



