110 



ANGLING FOR GAME FISH. 



must not be cut very deep, and tlie points should be straigbt— 

 i.e., not turned out. Eyed books are coming into use for salmon- 

 flies, but I bave beard tbem greatly abused, many anglers 

 prefeiTing the old-fasbioned gut loop, tbe faults of wbicb are 

 tbat if of bad gut, or exposed much to tbe sun, tbey wear 

 out before tbe fly; and tbat wben tbe wax on tbe tying-silk 

 perisbes — as it will perisb in time — tbe loops draw.* If eyed 

 books are used, tbe eyes must be large, for tbe tbick gut bas 

 to go twice tbrougb if tbe knot sbown in Fig. 20, page 28 (wbicb 

 is tbe best for tbe purpose) is used. The two best eyed books 

 for salmon are either the patent eyed hooks in which the eye 

 is made of fine wire, and brazed on separately (Fig. 69), or 



r 



Fig. 69. 



double-eyed hook with 

 Patent Eye. 



Fig. 70. The Loop Eye. 



the loop-eyed book invented by Mr. "Whitmore (Fig. 70).t 

 There is not a great deal to choose between them. Tbey are 

 both very superior to the ordinary eyed hooks of commerce. 

 Double hooks are also a comparative novelty, and much abused 

 by old-fashioned anglers. I like them only for small flies, 

 which they cause to swim properly. A salmon-fly which swims 

 on its back or side is very little use. For an obvious reason, it 

 is necessary to put more pressure on the fish when it first takes 

 a fly on a double book than if a single hook only is used. 



* It has been suggested that salmon-flies might with advantage be tied on eyed 

 hooks, with a loop of gut projecting through the eye. Should the gut-loop wear 

 out before the fly, the metal eye would still remain, and the fly might be used until 

 the feathers were worn out. 



t These hooks are made at Redditch, the first-mentioned by Warner & Sons, 

 those with loop eyes by Bartleet & Sons. 



