CHAPTER I. 



HOOKS. 



HE numerous varieties of hooks 

 which are made and sold for 

 salmon flies can be divided, as 

 far as they affect fly-tyers, into 

 two kinds, viz. : First, the ordi- 

 nary straight - shanked hooks, 

 with gut loops tied on to them ; second, those 

 with metal eyes, or, as they are called, ' eyed 

 hooks.' The varieties of both kinds, single and 

 double, as regards bend, thickness of wire, shape 

 of points, make, shape and angle of the 'eye,' 

 are innumerable, but do not concern the fly-tyer. 

 Of the two kinds, I have no hesitation in re- 

 commending eyed hooks over the plain ones, 

 provided they fulfil the two following condi- 

 tions : First, that when fastened by a good 

 knot to the casting line, the ' pull ' is in the same 

 straight line with the hook shank ; second, that 

 the eye of the hook is perfectly smooth, so as to 

 prevent the gut from chafing as much as possible. 

 It is only when the eye is turned down that the 

 first condition can be fulfilled ; and when the ' eye' 

 is brazed on (as in No. 2, Fig. i) to the shank, or 



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