126 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



them is removed. The ninth process is polishing, and may 

 be performed in two ways. The hooks are placed in a bag 

 containing fine emery powder, and shaken until they 

 become bright. The other way is to place them in barrels 

 having an inclination of forty-five degrees from the per- 

 pendicular, and revolving more or less round on their own 

 basis, it having been found that this inclination of the 

 barrels is more effective in gaining the desired end in view 

 than if they were either upright or horizontal. The tenth 

 process is colouring, either by japanning, blueing, or 

 browning ; and the last, and eleventh, is the counting, 

 papering, and packing in hundreds and thousands. The 

 girls and boys who do the counting take up the hooks with 

 a knife, and, balancing them on its edge, turn over their 

 hundreds with incredible speed. The packages are labelled, 

 well dried to prevent rust, and sent off to the various 

 markets. It is essential that the angler should see that his 

 hooks are Ai, for on the perfect condition of this little mite 

 of tempered wire depends the success of the sport. There 

 is a great improvement in the appearance of the hooks of 

 the present day from that of our forefathers. There used 

 to be as much metal in one of them as there now is in three, 

 and lightness with strength is the thing required. The num- 

 bers noted all through the " Lexicon " refer to the Kendal 

 scale. 



Horse Hair. (F/^ " Casting Line.") 



Imperceptible Spinner. This is made in several 

 sizes for trout, sea trout, salmon, and pike. It is composed 

 of a piece of flat soft copper, leaded at the head. The 

 blade is put down the mouth of the dead bait, and the hook 

 attached to the sides. The bait can be bent to any degree, 

 causing it to spin admirably. 



