Fish-hooks. 17 



" The patterns of hook which at present most nearly 

 fulfil the conditions indicated by a practical application 

 of the foregoing theory are the Sneck and Sproat bend 

 hooks; the former is, however, marred by two faults the 

 turning to one side of the point, and the lack of strength 

 above described; and the latter by the want of depth 

 and power in the point side, the hollowed out or blunted 

 shape of the barb, and the curved or * hog-backed ' form 

 of the shank. Appearance, or neatness, is of course a 

 matter of taste, but whatever other claims the Sproat 

 bend has upon our suffrages they can hardly, I think, be 

 urged on the score of beauty. The Limerick hook also 

 has the disadvantage, though in a less exaggerated form 

 than the ' Sproat,' of being hog-backed, which, as I have 

 shown, prevents the fly swimming straight and even, and 

 gives it an inclination to turn in the water, like a min- 

 iature spinning-bait. The Round and Kirby bends are 

 very deficient in penetrating power, and disproportion- 

 ately short in the shank as compared to their breadth of 

 bend, either for appearance or use, more particularly in 

 the matter of flies. 



"In the pattern of hook which is now being manu- 

 factured by Messrs. Hutchinson, of Kendal, under my 

 name, I have endeavored to hit the medium between 

 theoretical and practical requirements, and to combine 

 as nearly as possible the advantages of the various bends 

 referred to, and especially of the Sproat and Sneck bends, 

 while avoiding what I believe to be their faults. 



" Diagrams both of this hook and of the other hooks 

 described are appended, and by applying to them the 

 principles advocated, my readers will be able to form 

 their own conclusions as to how far the pattern I rec- 

 ommend fulfils the ideal sketched out." 



