HOOKS AND KNOTS 93 



tested, that an imperfect one can rarely pass. 

 As explained in another part of this book, the 

 hooks are tested by the hook-maker before they 

 are finished and put up in packets. The fore- 

 man fly-tier then carefully tests every hook, as 

 he gives out his work ; the worker again before 

 dressing, sticks them in a testing board, and 

 gives them a good firm pull. 1 



Personally, we do not remember ever break- 

 ing a hook in a fish, but we do remember breaking 

 on the rocks behind, as for instance, on one 

 occasion, when making a very long cast to cover 

 a rising fish. After a good many trials this was 

 at length successfully accomplished, the fish rose 

 and was hooked, but after a short struggle the 

 hook came back broken. As this hook had 

 previously killed within an hour or so, in the 

 same pool, three fish of 24, 18, and 17 Ibs., and 

 so had been well tested, without doubt it was 

 broken by catching a stone in trying to reach 

 the last fish. The lesson is, " Be careful to 

 examine your hook point, if you touch anything 

 behind." It is difficult even for the most ex- 

 perienced, when casting a long line to keep it up. 



Always carry a file with you, and if the hook 

 from touching a stone, should get dull in the 

 point, push the file across a few times from the 

 barb up towards the point, and sharpen it up again. 



1 This is the method employed by Messrs. Hardy Bros. 



