THE HOOK. 91 



kind. The sneck-bent hooks are in almost ex- 

 clusive use in some parts of the country, particu- 

 larly in the midland counties ; and we are disposed 

 to consider them more worthy of regard than their 

 ungainly bend would induce a person unacquainted 

 with them to suspect. They certainly hold ad- 

 mirably, but we do not fancy that they hook so 

 freely as the Kirby-bent hook; and there is a 

 yery decided objection to them in their shortness 

 of shank to say nothing about the smallness 

 and closeness of their barb, which, did not their 

 sneck bend contribute so much to its holding 

 quality, would be a serious defect indeed. But 

 our mind has long been made up in favour of 

 the Kendal Kirby-bent hook, and we feel con- 

 fidence in recommending it. The different sizes 

 of the Kendal hook are indicated by figures, 

 commencing at 00 (the smallest trout size) and 

 ending at 12. The Kedditch hooks number con- 

 versely, from No. 12., the smallest, to No. 1., the 

 largest size. The Limericks are denoted by 

 letters of the alphabet, beginning from the smallest 

 midge with fe, f, ff, fff, c, cc, b, and bb ; after 

 which, for the larger, or " out sizes," figures are 

 used, commencing with 9-o (nine out, corre- 

 sponding with No. 1 Redditch, or 12 Kendal), 

 and going downward for the still larger sizes. 



