14 HOW TO TIE FLIES. 



that the problem is not to pierce an obstacle 

 squarely across the path of the hook ; but its 

 point is to engage with an oblique surface, and 

 when so engaged it should turn at once from its 

 former path and bury downward." 



There seems to be some contrariety of opinion 

 here. Mr. Wells is evidently considering such 

 cases of hooking as when the fly remains entirely 

 inside the fish's mouth ; for in the case assumed 

 by Mr. Pennell, the lip, the object to be pierced, 

 certainly is "squarely across the path of the 

 hook/' Both cases are undoubtedly of frequent 



FIG. 2. In the above diagram the hooks are shown in an 

 upright position. In practice they will generally be 

 inclined over on their sides, which would make the 

 necessity for a searching point to be still greater than is 

 indicated. On the other hand, the hook will not often 

 be drawn so directly across the lip, but rather it will 

 meet it slantwise, which will affect the case in the 

 opposite direction. 



occurrence, and in both the advantage of a 

 searching point is apparent. A hook designed to 

 meet Mr. Pennell's case should be of such a form 

 as to allow the point to get well down under the 

 lip into the channel-like space between the lip 

 and the tongue (Fig. 2), while one designed to 

 meet Mr. Wells's case should as far as possible 

 ensure that its point will always touch the flesh 

 (Fig. 3), and readily explore any little cranny 

 that may lie in its path. 



There are two ways in which the point of 

 a hook can be made "searching." One way is 

 exemplified in the sneck and Kirby hooks. These 



