HOOKS. 31 



thirty-two small flies or half that number of loch-flies, whilst 

 still leaving plenty of space ' between decks ' so as to avoid 

 crushing the hackles and wings. But this is only a minor detail 

 incident to the system. 



Published testimonies to the success of the eyed-hook 

 principle generally are now too numerous to attempt even to 

 give a summary of them; and, indeed, are hardly neces- 

 sary, as the prophecy of a well-known writer, that ' before many 

 years are passed the old-fashioned fly, dressed on a hook attached 

 to a length of gut, will be practically obsolete,' is already 

 in great measure fulfilled, and in visiting the angling centres 

 I generally find the best fly-fishers, especially of the younger 

 generation, are using the Eyed-Hook. 



A few parting words before I close this subject. 



There have, it is well known, and as I have already 

 explained, been at various times attempts to introduce some 

 form of direct attachment between the trace and its steel 

 appendage, and many forms of eyed hooks have been invented 

 with that object: hooks with turn up eyes, hooks with 'needle' 

 eyes, hooks with ' straight ' eyes, hooks with ' crooked ' eyes 

 cum multis aliis ; but none of these have obtained any very 

 general or ready acceptance on the part of the fishing public. 

 Indeed I may say that all the patterns of eyed hooks I have 

 personally examined and tested are open to serious practical 

 objections of one sort or another either in connection with 

 the make or position of the eye, or in regard to the mode of 

 knotting it on to the line objections which doubtless explain 

 their partial or non-success. I trust, however, that their in- 

 ventors pioneers, explorers, and discoverers in the new field, 

 to whose labours I more than any one else am indebted * 

 will not imagine that I desire for one moment to depreciate in 



1 To Mr. R. B. Marston, of the Fishing Gazette, the columns of which 

 were for several years freely opened to the discussion of this all-important 

 angler's qzt&sfio vexata, the thanks of the angling public, and my own in 

 particular, are also due. 



