202 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



Stump of brass wire protruding where most certain to 

 be seen. 



With these facts and experiences vividly in my recol- 

 lection, I one day set about thinking how this tackle 

 could be improved, — the object being of course to get 

 rid of the superfluous wire shank, at the same time 

 finding a simple and effectual manner of fastening the 

 bait's tail without it. Rather by good luck, I believe, 

 than anything else, I succeeded in hitting upon a plan 

 which not only fulfils these conditions but also gets rid 

 altogether of silk or needle and saves the trouble and 

 delay which they entailed. 



The shape of the tackle and of one form of the lead 

 will be seen on a reference to the annexed plate. 



Figure No. i represents the gorge-hook, &c., unbaited, 

 and No. 2 the same when baited and ready for use. 

 Figure 3 is a smaller size of the hook ; and the loop A 

 shows the position actually occupied by the gimp after 

 being passed through the tail of the bait, and tied. 



In this tackle it will be seen (i) that the wire arming of 

 the hook is cut off close to the end of the lead, thus 

 materially reducing the unnatural rigidity of the bait 

 before alluded to ; and (2) that the shank of the hook 

 (C) is left bare for about half an inch above the bend. 

 This is the portion of the hook which lies in the throat 

 of the bait when adjusted, and the object in cutting 

 away the lead is to prevent that unnatural and un- 

 sightly-looking enlargement of the throat and gills 



