30 SALMON AND TROUT. 



down, are shown in the diagram though I should repeat that 

 engravings never really do justice to hooks, or convey more 

 than a general idea of their characteristics. 



The above patterns are also made ' plain ' i.e. without any 

 loops or eyes Tide last cut, for tying on gut in the ordinary 

 way. The bend was designed with primary reference to arti- 

 ficial flies, having a slight extra length of shank as compared to 

 the size of the hook bend a great improvement in the appear- 

 ance and in the proportion between the flies and the hooks. 

 They make a very attractive and dashing-looking fly ; and if 

 the principles of hook-making, already touched upon, are borne 

 in mind, it will be readily understood that their killing qualities 

 are equal to their artistic appearance. The point side of these 

 hooks is of course straight that is, there is no turning out, 

 or twisting of any kind about them all such twisted hooks 

 being a direct violation of the plain rules of mechanics, and 

 losing in real penetrating power what they gain (if gain it be?) 

 in scratching and pricking. 



I really fail to see what objection the most fastidious can 

 raise to flies dressed on these hooks and fastened in this 

 manner, wjiilst the advantages in many most important par- 

 ticulars are self-evident. 



The result of knotting on the gut is, as is well known, to 

 strengthen it at the point where it is most liable to fray and 

 become weakened. It is also the point at which the parting 

 arises at the flicking off of the fly, an occurrence unluckily 

 too frequent. With the gut knotted on to the hook whether 

 the eye be turned or needle shaped the result is the same : 

 namely, that this point becomes the strongest instead of the 

 weakest on the line, and that the flicking off of the fly is a 

 matter of comparatively rare occurrence. Another great ad- 

 vantage is the saving of time in changing flies (by avoiding the 

 soaking of the gut in the mouth beforehand, &c. &c.), and 

 more important than all the avoidance of the unsightly strand 

 of gut, possibly of different colour or different thickness to the 

 rest of the casting line, at the very point where absolute uni- 



