A CROOKED BUT POINTED SUBJECT. 185 



ROUND BEND FLY-HOOKS. 



These are Adlington and Hutchinson's superfine warranted 

 cast-steel hooks. They are imported in great numbers by 

 Andrew Clerk & Co., and, whether straight or curbed, are the 

 best fly-hook in use, and infinitely, superior to the common 

 Limerick hook. 



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FISH-HOOK PHILOSOPHY. 



Upon the subject of fish-hooks, their important qualities 

 and bearings are applicable to hooks for all fishing purposes. 

 The draft, or pull on a hook, is equally applicable to a hook 

 for fly-fishing or for capturing the largest sharks. It is con- 

 ceded by hook-makers that the forged hook is the best, 

 whether it be hammered flat, square, or round. The needle- 

 pointed, cast-steel hooks, of round bend, are probably best for 

 mounting with flies for salmon, black bass, or trout, or bait- 

 ing for striped bass, squeteague, and maskinonge ; while for 

 she^epshead, kingfish, and for all fishes which have a small 

 and hard mouth, the Sproat bend is preferable. Of the Kin- 

 sey or Pennsylvania hook, the shape is good for small fish, 

 but it gapes so much that a large fish is apt in sulking and 

 beating its nose against a rock, or rubbing it on the gravel 

 bottom to spring the hook out. If made of large wire and 

 well tempered, it is good for sheepshead and kingfish, because 

 it is not so long from the bend to the barb as is the Limerick 



