Today we understand the word " bootleg "to be somthing that is illegal ; counterfeit fags , DVDs CDs etc. such stuff is sold at a fraction of the price on the black market, ,The term came to prominence during the era of prohibition in the USA 1919 to 1933 . With booze outlawed , the black market for smuggled and illegally brewed booze fell under control of the major crime syndicates.One popular way around these problems was carried out by American sailors , themselves often rather partial to the odd tipple,smuggling booze into the country by concealing it in the top of their heavy leather sea boots . any sailor taking part in this practice was therefore a " bootlegger ". One of the most famous bootleggers was the florida based Captain William S . McCoy who instead of hiding it in his boots he hid it in his specially adapted boat , the Tomika , many bootleggers were known to water down there booze to maxmise there profits , but according to rumour McCoy never did, His stuff was the genuine article giving rise to the term THE REAL McCoy
Excellent facts there jivedubbin, I will not be forcing my sex pistols and devo bootlegs in the top of my waders though. nick
