12 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



backs of the old flights was that after a few casts the 

 strain on the bait's tail was apt to work out the fixed 

 hooks — set in the usual way point upwards — and thus 

 to destroy the curve of the bait on which its spinning 

 depended. This was combined with other minor 

 defects which need not be recapitulated. In order to 

 remedy these, I substituted for the small single tail 

 hook a long-shanked round-bend hook with a smaller 

 reverse hook lapped on to the end of the shank, so that 

 when the latter was fixed in its place, the " pull" of the 

 two hooks counteracted each other, and the bait both 

 spun more brilliantly and lasted very much longer than 

 under the old system. For readier manipulation these 

 hooks were subsequently made in a single piece, and in 

 this form are now very generally adopted by spinners. 

 In the plate annexed fac-similes of the sizes most 

 commonly in use are given for convenience of reference, 

 the numbers being those of Messrs. Hutchinson. 



In tail-hooks the round bend is preferable to any 

 other, as it is more easily slipped under the skin of the 

 bait and gives it a more perfect curve, and consequently 

 a more rapid and regular motion. Directions for baiting, 

 with other detailed instructions for the use of these hooks, 

 will be found under the head of Pike-spinmng. 



Lip-Hooks. 



The lip-hook is a very important portion of the 

 spinning-flight, as upon it depends the proper position 



