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into bars, or small rods, of a thickness varying 

 according to the size of the hooks intended to 

 be made. The bars for the fine hooks are a 

 little flattened ; those for the larger sorts are 

 cut into lengths of from three to four inches, 

 sufficient for two hooks, and are then in the 

 form of a double -pointed spear. The artist 

 requires a hammer, a knife, a pair of pincers, 

 an iron semi-cleam, two files, one finer than 

 the other, a wrest, a bender, long and short 

 tongs, and an anvil. Let the rod be heated in 

 a charcoal fire, when the barb or witter may 

 be raised with the knife, taking care not to cut 

 too deep. The point is then, after cooling, 

 sharpened by filing it on a piece of hard wood, 

 with a dent to receive the bar. The shank is 

 next thinned, flattened, the upper part made 

 square, and the whole worked off with the 

 polishing-file. Again let it be put in the fire, 

 and bent by a turn of the wrest round circular 

 pincers. It is now cut from the bar, put into 

 the fire a third time, and brought to a slight 

 red heat, and, taking it out suddenly, it is 

 plunged into cold water. The temper is given 

 by placing it on an iron heated in the same 

 fire till it becomes bright blue, and while still 

 hot it is surrounded with candle-grease, which 

 gives it a black colour. This completes the 

 process." 



