HOOKS. 7 



loops it would seem that the balance inclines in favour of 

 the latter. As observed, however, the fact that loops of some 

 sort are in practice already very general in salmon flies, makes 



KNOT ON METAL LOOP. 



KNOT ON TWISTED-GUT LOOP. 



the question of less immediately critical importance to the 

 salmon-fisher than to the trout-fisher, in whose case the change 

 from lapped-on flies to flies attached by an eyed hook is nothing 

 less than a revolution. . . . But to finish first with the sub- 

 ject of salmon hooks. 



In the original design of the turn-down eyed salmon hook, 

 it was alleged no doubt with some show of reason that, 

 from imperfections almost necessarily incident to manufacture 

 on a large scale, the pointed ends of the taper forming the loop 

 were occasionally left so sharp, or incompletely ' closed,' as to fray 

 the gut of the attaching knot at this point ; and in my newest 

 patterns it will be seen this is effectually provided against 



by the tapered end of the wire, forming the eye or loop, being 

 re- turned up the shank for some not inconsiderable distance. 

 This gives a perfectly smooth and even surface of metal eye 



SALMON HOOK (OLD PATTERN) WITH 'RE-TURNED' EYE. 



