MODERN SEA FISHING 



I. ' PENNELL- 



LIMERICK ' 

 HOOK (EYED). 



2. CURVED 



LIMERICK 



HOOK (EYED). 



J 



3. ROUND 



BEND HOOK 

 (FLATTED) 



SHANK 



There are several varnishes made ex- 

 pressly to cover whippings of this kind, 

 and they are suitable for nothing else. The 

 following is a good receipt : powdered 

 shellac 6 parts, spirits of wine 8 parts, gum 

 benzoin 2 parts. The binding after being 

 varnished should not be exposed to the wet 

 for at least twenty-four hours, and it is im- 

 portant that it should be kept in a dry 

 place. This varnish is suitable for whip- 

 pings on rods and hooks, but not for those 

 at the ends of ropes or lines. For them 

 the tar or wax on the whipping material 

 suffices. 



If one is binding on hooks intended to 

 catch fish with sharp teeth, it is a capi- 

 tal in fact, almost necessary plan to 

 take some fine soft copper wire, wax it 

 well, and serve over the silk binding. It 

 can be finished off in the way I have de- 

 scribed. 



Two kinds of hooks are used in sea 

 fishing : those with eyes and those with flat 

 ends ; the second being most favoured by 

 professional fishermen, probably on account 

 of their cheapness. I much prefer eyed 

 hooks. Sea hooks are usually tinned ; but 

 tinning, while only partially preventing rust, 

 blunts the point of the hook. Black japan 

 is better ; but unfortunately, for some 

 reason or other, makers seem as a rule to 

 japan common, badly tempered hooks. In 

 practice I find that the rusting of the 



