WATERPROOF DUBBING FOR BOOTS. 39 



Melt them over a slow fire, and apply it to the boots 

 while moderately warm, keeping them warm before the 

 fire all the time to allow it to sink in, when one coat 

 may be given after another, till the leather refuses to 

 absorb any more. 



For my part, during the summer season, when the 

 waters are warm, I am in the constant habit of wading 

 without any protection whatever, and I never feel the 

 slightest inconvenience from it ; but I will by no means 

 take upon me to say that everybody could do it with 

 the same impunity, as it is a well-known fact that many 

 people of weakly constitution have entailed upon them- 

 selves a life of misery from rheumatism and other 

 diseases, by indiscreetly exposing their legs and feet to 

 wet. And, as the safer practice, it will be better for the 

 angler to avoid, if possible, both wet legs arid all water- 

 proof contrivances whatever, and content himself with 

 enjoying his sport as best he can, "from mossy bank or 

 pebbly shore." And though his creel may not exhibit 

 so many trophies of his skill, he will at least be free 

 from the disagreeable prospect of being condemned to 

 swallow bushels of Blair's pills, endure the perpetual 

 scalding of mustard-plasters, and the necessity for calling 

 in the aid of a Bath-chair for the remainder of his life. 



An excellent method of drying the inside of leather 

 wading-boots, is to fill them with oats that have been 

 heated and parched in an oven, which have then such 

 an affinity for hygroscopic moisture, that if allowed to 

 remain in over night, they will turn out next morning 

 and leave the boots as thoroughly dry as they can be 



