SPORTING TOPOGRAPHY OF MAYO. 59 



was deceived. My kinsman rarely lost a salmon, and 

 mine broke from me continually. I find by sad experi- 

 ence that in hook-making the Irish are far before us ; 

 our workmen either do not understand the method 

 of forming and tempering hooks, or they do not take 

 sufficient pains in their manufactory. It is strange 

 when so much of the angler's pleasure and success 

 depends upon the quality of his hooks, that more 

 attention is not bestowed upon their fabrication. The 

 art of forming and the process of tempering them 

 appears simple enough ; and that little difficulty is 

 required to attain it is evident from the fact, that many 

 fishermen make their own hooks. For my own part, 

 however, I consider hook-making to be an unnecessary 

 accomplishment for the angler, as the best hooks in the 

 world can be procured without trouble, and at a trifling 

 expense, from O'Shaughnessy of Limerick. 



