cut, so as to allow the fish to get off, in case the line is at 

 any time slackened. 



I confess myself to be of this opinion, and, from my 

 own experience, should recommend die common, or old- 

 fashioned - hook j being thoroughly satisfied, that I have 

 often missed of hooking fishes, which have absolutely 

 gorged my bait, in consequence of its being on a Kirly j 

 indeed, mathematical proof may be adduced in support 

 of its condemnation. However, the majority of the 

 Kir by hooks are well made in one respect, viz. in being 

 somewhat angular at the bottom of the beard, as in 

 Fig. 2 j whereby they fix themselves more firmly when 

 in the jaw, and do not shift about so much as semicir- 

 cular curves are apt to do. 



A good hook for worm-fishing ought to have ratlier a 

 .long, than a short shank j and the beard should be mo- 

 derately deep. It ought to be rather substantial, and to 

 be perfectly free from rustj else it will not allow the 

 worm to glide on smoothly, but will subject it to break, 

 and to give way. 



It may be proper to observe in this place, that hooks of 

 every description are injured by being huddled together 

 in papers, boxes, &c. j the beards get intermixed, and 

 they either are broken, or blunted. Those especially 

 which are required for your pocket stock, ought to be 

 stuck into flannel, the same as needles are kept by ladies 

 in their house-wives, &rc. &c. j and if a little oiled, they 

 will be better preserved from rust. 



Regarding jack-hooks, eel-hooks, and such as relate 

 exclusively to any particular branch of angling, they will 

 be treated of under their respective heads, where the 

 modes of using them will be amply described. 



In 



