48 SALMON FLIES 



I believe, however, that there is much to be 

 said in favour of the gradual transition from a 

 soft pliable substance like gut to a hard, com- 

 paratively unyielding material, such as the 

 steel of a hook a condition which is secured 

 by the intervention of a gut loop, and which 

 is not secured by the direct attachment of the 

 gut casting line to a metal eye. The impor- 

 tance of such gradual transition becomes more 

 marked the larger the size of hook employed. 



Perhaps the greatest enemy to the eyed 

 hook is the badly designed and badly made 

 eye which figures on quite 99 per cent, of all 

 eyed salmon hooks. 



In the smaller sizes one must admit the 

 convenience of eyed hooks, but the soundness 

 of the principle of a metal eye still remains a 

 questionable proposition at least, I am of 

 that opinion, though it is probably purely 

 prejudice. 



A similar prejudice exists in my mind against 

 double hooks. In the larger sizes I cannot 

 help thinking that it is not altogether un- 

 reasonable. There must be a mutually 

 antagonistic lever-like action between the 

 two rigidly connected hooks when fixed in a 



