CHAP. XXI. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 229 



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 pottle of water, 

 and put into it two handfuls of marigolds, 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 half a pound of copperas, beaten small, and with 



it is the best material for the purpose yet known, especially if ordered in the 

 following manner: 



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

 vessel; and pour therein tl>e 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, an<t, stripping the grease off with your finqrr and thumb 

 (but do not wipe them) stretch each crass a< lorg as it will yield; coil them 

 up in rinqs, 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 pieceW bladder well oiled; and before 

 you use them let them soak about half an nwiir in water; or, in your walk to 

 the river-side, put R length of it into your mouth. 



If your crass is coarse, it will fall heavily in the water, and scare away the 

 fish ; on which account gut has the arlvintaze. But after all, if your grass be 

 fine and round, it is tht best thing you can use. 



