716 SALMON AND TROUT. 



before elegance,' and, it might be added, ' health before both,* 

 is a golden maxim. 



The following hints for dress, which have been kindly given 

 me by a lady who has had large practical experience with both 

 rod and gun, may possibly be found of service : 



Short skirt of linsey wolsey made as simple as possible — in 

 fact, a kind of ' housemaid's dress.' Norfolk jacket made of all- 

 wool material. A comfortable toque (the close-fitting toque does 

 not catch the wind). It is best to have the costume of one colour, 

 say a nice heather mixture or whitish grey. I advise Minsey' for 

 the skirt, as it is everlasting in wear, and the 'all-wool' for the 

 Norfolk jacket, being warmer and more healthy. 



Now for the most important item — boots. They should fit 

 perfectly, and be made of porpoise hide, with honest broad soles 

 and plenty of room for the toes, and flat heels — in their proper 

 place, not under the arch of the instep. The boots should lace in 

 the same way that men's shooting boots do, and be made to come 

 well up the leg (so that gaiters can be dispensed with). Length of 

 skirt an inch or so above the ankle. 



This dress is suitable for either fishing or shooting. If worn 

 for the latter over a ' clayey ' country, a few inches of light water- 

 proof on the bottom of the skirt are advisable. Some ladies wear 

 gaiters, but I think if the boots are made high enough they are 

 not necessary. Woollen under-garments should be worn, from 

 stockings upwards. 



For 'waterproofing' all cloth and woollen materials — I do 

 not say making them actually waterproof, but sufficiently so to 

 keep the under-garments practically dry — I can recommend 

 the following receipt, given me by R. Atkinson, Esq., of Temple 

 Sowerby : 



Dissolve sugar of lead and alum in rain water, one ounce of 

 each to a quart of water. When settled down, draw off the clear 

 (this is most easily done with a syphon), saturate the woollen 

 article in it (I generally leave it in twenty-four hours), and dry in 

 the open air. From my own experience I have found a coat thus 

 treated to be quite waterproof. For a few days there is an un- 

 pleasant smell, but it soon wears off. I infinitely prefer such 

 protection from rain to any macintosh or other india-rubber manu- 

 facture. 



