HOOKS. 7 
is, at which the point of the hook strikes the fish’s mouth—coincides 
with the direction of the force applied (¢.e. the pull of the line): or 
to illustrate this by a diagram :— 
DEFECTIVE HOOKS 
Fic Fic. BiGase 
‘The dotted line a e represents the direction of the applied force; the 
penetration will be greater as the direction of the line of the point ¢ d, 
is coincident with that of ae. In figure 1 these two lines actually 
correspond, and if there were no other matters to be taken into con- 
sideration this hook, so far as penetration depending on bend is con- 
cerned, would be mechanically perfect. Figure 2 represents a hook 
in which the converse of the above principle is illustrated. 
These principles hold good equally in the case of hooks the points 
of which are crooked or turned sideways, as in the Kirbys and Snecks, 
the penetration diminishing as the point is turned from the direction of 
the applied force ; and accordingly this is the one particular in which 
the Limerick is superior to the other bends. The sproat and round-bends 
have also a similar advantage. In all these hooks the angle of impact, 
such as it is, is direct. 
The above arguments are based, it will be observed, on the assump- 
tion that in all other respects except the bend, the. hooks under compa- 
rison are equal. But in fact hooks are divided into two broad divisions, 
the one possessing and the other lacking an element which has an 
obvious bearing on the penetrative power. I refer to the shape of 
the shank, whether straight or ‘hog-backed’ (curved). The substi- 
