CHAPTER III 



THE LESSON 



TAKE a No. 2/0 hook, which is the size 

 portrayed in the following illustrations. 

 This hook may be good, bad, or in- 

 different, therefore it should be properly tested 

 before beginning to put any work on it. In 

 order to do this, have screwed on the bench a 

 piece of soft wood, about an inch wide by f of 

 an inch thick. Stick the point of the hook 

 into this, and give it a fairly good pull, so that 

 it springs well, when it may be seen whether 

 it returns to its original shape perfectly. If it 

 does this, the temper is correct. The next thing 

 is to carefully examine the point, to see that it 

 is very sharp. Should the hook fail in either of 

 these tests, throw it away and try another. 



TYING ON THE GUT LOOP 



Assuming, then, that the hook has been proved 

 of the correct temper, and the point perfectly 

 sharp, take it in the left hand, between the fore- 

 finger and thumb across the point. With a piece 

 of well waxed stoutish silk (1), beginning about 



