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not bend, and yet not so hard as to snap 

 readily. The best method of ascertaining 

 whether or not the hooks be properly tem- 

 pered, is to try them in a piece of cork ; 

 or for the points only, the thumb nail is 

 sufficient. 



Most writers on the subject of Anelino- 

 mention a small whetstone as a necessary 

 appendage for sharpening the points of 

 the hooks ! but a fly ought never to be 

 dressed upon a hook which has not a good 

 point; and if upon fair trial the point fail, 

 the hooks are of bad quality, and should be 

 altogether rejected. Hooks for dressing 

 flies upon are to be preferred, if the shank 

 taper towards the head, which adds greatly 

 to the neatness of the workmanship. 



The limerick hooks are not usually 

 straight, but form a curve, like the division 

 of an intersected circle. This form is cer- 



