TACKLE AND FISHING GEAR. 33 



These, as also the other patterns of my bends here described, 

 both for salmon and trout flies, are manufactured by Messrs. 

 Harrison & Bartleet, of Redditch, near Birmingham, under 

 my instructions, and can be obtained also of Mr. Farlow, 

 191 Strand, London. 



Amongst minor improvements in hook-making may be 

 mentioned Mr. Court's 'enamelled rust-proof hooks,' which 

 ought to prove a useful invention to the fly fisher. Hooks of 

 all sizes have also lately been made of bronze colour an inter- 

 mediate stain between the japanned and the bright steel ; and 

 I must say I think a very excellent medium. This is the 

 colour of Mr. Hall's turned-up eyed hooks, and I have adopted 

 it also produced (N.B.) by fire, not by any sort of lacquer for 

 my patterns, both of trout and salmon hooks. I cannot see why 

 it should not be used for all hooks without exception. Mr. 

 Court, of Redditch, is also, I believe, the inventor of hooks of 

 various colours red, green, blue, and yellow enamel [also rust 

 proof] intended to match the flies. This is, indeed, 'to snatch 

 a grace beyond the reach of art,' and as some of my readers 

 may like to try these coloured hooks, it should be mentioned 

 that they are manufactured by Messrs. Allcock & Co. of 

 Redditch. Gilt hooks have, of course, long been known, and 

 are credited with being an improvement for some particular 

 classes of bait fishing, though I am not aware that I have ever 

 known them used for dressing the artificial fly. 



Next to the hook comes the Casting Line, involving matters 

 connected with the selection, knotting, twisting, staining, &c. 

 of gut ; but I may perhaps first say a few words as to the 

 manner of making gut, which I am enabled to do though the 

 facts are, I believe, somewhat in the nature of trade secrets 

 by the courtesy of Messrs. M. Carswell & Co. of Glasgow, 

 and Murchia, Spain the only manufacturers, as distinguished 

 from importers of gut, in Great Britain. 



It is supposed by many that ' silkworm gut ' is made out of 

 the gut of the silkworm. This is, however, a mistake, though 



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