HOOKS. 289 



is another advantage. The latter hook has a long and 

 somewhat hollow point, wliich is curved outward. 



The Sproat Bend I regard as the very best hook manu- 

 factured. I first commenced its use ten or twelve years 

 ago, and have since used no other. Its appearance is 

 somewhat against it, but it is like " a singed cat." By 

 the side of a delicate, blued, gracefully-shaped Aberdeen, 

 it looks black, and rather clumsy, with its short barb and 

 peculiar bend, but it means " business." Its temper is 

 just right, and when you strike a fish it goes right 

 through any part of the mouth, never springing out, and 

 never disappointing you. I have had the Aberdeen so 

 soft as to completely straighten and pull out, and so brittle 

 as to break like a pipe stem, but the Sproat Bend has yet 

 to fail me. For staying qualities it is perfection itself. 



The "Dublin Bend," or Dublin Limerick, as it is some- 

 times called, and the " Dublin Limerick Forged," are ex- 

 cellent hooks, and are identical in form and bend with 

 the O'Shaughnessy hook, the only difference consisting in 

 the caliber of the wire, which, in the latter, is a trifle 

 heavier. The Forged Dublin Limerick has the wire 

 flattened by hammering or forging ; it is a remarkably 

 strong hook. 



The " Cork-Shape Limerick," has an almost round bend, 

 with a straight shank, and a long straight point, which is 

 parallel with the shank in its direction, and a very good 

 hook, being of rather smaller wire than the Sproat. 



The " Carlisle " hooks are made of very small wire, and 

 are very delicate and attractive to the eye, but for Black 

 Bass fishing I do not admire them, though, until I came 

 across the Sproat hook, I used the round bend Carlisle 

 (Aberdeen) altogether. Still, many anglers prefer them 



