HOOKS. 7 



is, at which the point of the hook strikes the fish's mouth — coincides 

 with the direction of the force applied (i.e. the pull of the line) : or 

 to illustrate this by a diagram :— 



DEFCCTIVE HOOKS 



FIG .1 



The dotted line a e represents the direction of the applied force ; the 

 penetration will be greater as the direction of the line of the point c d, 

 is coincident with that of a e. In figure i these two lines actually 

 correspond, and if there were no other matters to be taken into con- 

 sideration this hook, so far as penetration depending on bend is con- 

 cerned, would be mechanically perfect. Figure 2 represents a hook 

 in which the converse of the above principle is illustrated. 



These principles hold good equally in the case of hooks the points 

 of which are crooked or turned sideways, as in the Kirbys and Snecks, 

 the penetration diminishing as the point is turned from the direction of 

 the applied force ; and accordingly this is the one particular in which 

 the Limerick is superior to the other bends. The sproat and round-bends 

 have also a similar advantage. In all these hooks the angle of impact, 

 such as it is, is direct. 



The above arguments are based, it will be observed, on the assump- 

 tion that in all other respects except the bend, the hooks under compa- 

 rison are equal. But in fact hooks are divided into two broad divisions, 

 the one possessing and the other lacking an element which has an 

 obvious bearing on the penetrative power. I refer to the shape of 

 the shank, whether straight or * hog-backed ' (curved). The substi- 



