757. Transporting Dyes and Ink

Shabbos 18:8

One who transfers nut shells, pomegranate rinds, and other things used as dyes is liable for a volume sufficient to dye a small garment. This refers to a hairnet worn by young girls. One who transports forty day-old urine, Alexandrian saltpeter, soap, and other cleaning agents is liable for a volume sufficient to launder that same small hairnet. The volume of soaking herbs is enough to dye a weaver’s sample.

Shabbos 18:9

One who transports ink on a quill is liable for a volume sufficient to write two letters. If one transports just ink, or ink in an inkwell, a larger volume is needed to render one liable: enough to dip a pen into and then write two letters. If someone transports enough ink in an inkwell to write one letter and enough ink on a quill to write one letter, or enough ink concentrate to write one letter and enough ink on a quill to write one letter, it is a question whether or not he is liable. If a person takes enough ink to write two letters and writes them while walking, he is liable because writing them is the same as putting them down. If someone takes enough ink to write one letter and he writes it, then he takes enough ink to write a second letter and he writes it, he is not liable because the first, exempt letter is a done deal before he writes the second.