HOOKS, 49 



that because the point of the Limerick is more 

 turned out, it is therefore more likely to take a 

 hold when the angler strikes ; on the contrary, the 

 more the point of the hook is turned out, the less 

 is the chance of hooking ; there is certainly a 

 greater probability of the point of the hook com- 

 ing into contact with the mouth of the fish, but it 

 merely grazes it and then starts off. The reason 

 of this is, that when the angler pulls, the pres- 

 sure upon the point does not pull it straight in, 

 but sideways. The accompanying illustration will 

 assist to explain this. 



No. i is a round bent hook of the shape we 

 use; No. 2 is a Limerick of the ordinary bend. 

 When the point of a hook comes in contact with 

 anything, the line being attached to the end of the 

 shank, the pressure takes place in the direction of 

 the straight line B A, so that in No. i the pressure 

 will be almost in the same direction as the point ; 

 whereas in No. 2 it will be very nearly at right 

 angles to the point, requiring three times the force 

 to fix it, and rendering it exceedingly liable to start 



