THE 



COMPLETE ANGLER'S 



VADE-MECUM. 



Of the Hook. 



^T^HE tirst object that comes under notice is die hook. 

 Those generally used in angling are classed under 

 ten sizes: No. 1> being the largest, and No. 10, the 

 smallest (See Plate I. Fig. 1). They should be of good 

 steel, of an even thickness all their length, from the 

 butt, where the line fastens on, to die chip, where the 

 barb or beard is cut out. 



The point should be perfectly upright, and not stand 

 out, as eel hooks ought to do; the beard ought to be 

 prominent, but not cut so very deep as to weaken it at the 

 place where it joins under the point. 

 The back of the shank 4fe sometimes grooved horizon- 

 tally, for the purpose of whipping on tlie line more firmly. 

 Such are to be preferred 5 though a careful person will 

 fasten his line very sufficiently without such aid. 



Opinions are divided as to the best form of a hook -, 

 many prefer the Kir by, which has its point bent a little 

 to one side, so as not to stand in an upright line, parallel 

 to the stem. The faults imputed to the Kirly are, that it 

 often fails in the striking j" and that it makes too large a 



B CUt, 



