380 



THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



is by no means easy. Opinions differ considerably as to the usefulness of 

 each shape. Roughly speaking, they are of six types the Bound, 

 describing the half of a circle, the Kirby, the Limerick, the Sneck, the 

 Kendal, and the Sproat. Of course, according to the makers, these 

 types vary in unimportant particulars, such as length of shank and barb, 

 set of barb, &c. Now, the evils of most 

 of the ordinary shapes are briefly, over 

 temper in the bend, causing the hook to 

 snap when suddenly struck against the 

 bone of the fish's jaw; want of temper, 

 causing it to straighten under an excessive 

 strain ; a wide standing barb, which is 

 especially fatal to certainty on striking a 

 figh . &nd ^ and most i mportan t o f all, 



too much "openness" (to use an ugly, but expressive 

 word). This disadvantage has the effect when the angler 

 strikes of losing him the fish, because the suddenly 

 tightened line, instead of bearing directly and suddenly 

 on the point, bears obliquely, and thus frustrates itself. 

 For these reasons, of all the shapes now made, I myself 

 prefer Mr. Pennell's improvement, which in effect is as 

 ^ one took an or ^ inarv hook and with pliers squeezed the 



KIKBT SHORT, 



LIMBWCK. BOUND. SPROAT. KENDAL. KENDAL SNECK. 



FIG. 3. VAEIOUS SHAPES OF HOOKS. 



point and barb closer to the shank by a degree or two. A very good make 

 of hooks, corresponding with the above opinions, is also sold by Mr. Walter 

 WeUs, of Nottingham, and Mr. Gregory, Vyse-street, Birmingham. 



That the reader may be acquainted with the shapes of hooks, I give an 

 illustration of each sort (Fig. 3) and a plate showing the sizes in each 

 (Fig. 4). 



