IMPORTANT ELUCIDATIONS. 



187 



forming the barb. Having determined the weak point, I 

 think it can be merely a mechanical difficulty which prevents 

 that part of the hook being made as strong as the rest, and 

 anglers should insist on manufacturers overcoming it. I ob- 

 tained some hooks from Messrs. Bernard, of St. James's Pas- 

 sage, which were flat-sided that is, they were filed to angles, 

 and the section of the wire would be nearly an oblong. They 

 appeared exceptionally strong, but were otherwise objection- 

 able, being over-ironed and over-barbed. I think something 

 might be done by flattening the wire from the beginning of 

 the bend, the shank being left circular for fly-dressing facili- 

 ties. A section of the wire at the bend would then be ellip- 

 tical. However, ignorance as to the manufacture, unfortu- 

 nately, is in the way of my suggesting any thing practical ; 

 but if I succeed in drawing attention from anglers and man- 

 ufacturers to this subject, my object in occupying so much 

 of your space will be fulfilled. SALMONICEPS. 



" [The hooks which ' Salmoniceps' describes as flat and filed 

 at the sides are, we fancy, not filed, but hammered, as they 

 are usually described in the trade as * forged Limerick tapers.' 

 We have previously expressed a very high opinion of the 

 Sproat bend, which is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the 

 best, salmon hook made. ED.]" 



Having a greater variety of fishes to angle for in America 

 than there are of angler's fishes in Europe, it will be necessary 

 to recur to this subject, for the fish-hook is the foundation of 

 all fishing-tackle; and if it gives way, all the expense of 

 mounting or baiting it, with expense of other tackle and loss 

 of time, besides the chagrin, amounting to mortification and 

 sometimes almost desperation at losing a very large fish, go 

 for worse than nothing. The centre-draft hook of the an- 

 cients is quite similar to the hook a, #, c, minus the barb, and 

 it is probably the best form for all large fish. 



