Lisa this takes me back to my textile technology unit at Uni (about a buzillion years ago). That is correct as I remember it. I have a feeling if you burned pale coloured silk thread, you would end up with a dark dot on the end, very noticeable with pale pearls. I like Bernadette's clear nailpolish or glue.
I have melted the end of fishing line into a ball sucessfully, by passing the end near a tealight candle flame. If you hold it there too long or too close, it also burns a bit & goes brown. The FW seems to have survived, unmarked.
My 'lowly beading' lariat does not quite qualify for the 100 inch quest, I did make others which did, but they sold.... I might have to cut this one up, and start again, I'm not so happy with the colours any more.