Fish-hooks. 15 



ishing as the point is turned from the direction of the 

 applied force, and accordingly that is the one particular 

 in which the Limerick is superior to the other bends. 

 The Sproat and Round bends have also a similar advan- 

 tage. In all these hooks the angle of impact, such as it 

 is, is direct. 



" The above arguments are based, it will be observed, 

 on the assumption that in all other respects, except the 

 bend, the hooks under comparison are equal. But in 

 fact hooks are divided into two broad divisions, the one 

 possessing and the other lacking an element which has 

 an obvious bearing on the penetrative power. I refer 

 to the shape of the shank, whether straight or 'hog- 

 backed' (curved). The substitution of a necessarily 

 more or less yielding and elastic curve for a perfectly 

 straight and rigid shank, cannot but affect adversely the 

 penetrating powers. As regards the penetration of the 

 point itself, it is clear that, other circumstances being 

 equal, the smaller the hole to be made the less will be 

 the force required to make it ; and also that a long, 

 straightly tapered point, like that shown in Fig. 1, will 

 penetrate more easily than a shorter and * blunter,' 

 or hollowed out, point of the form represented in Fig. 3. 

 This latter principle is merely, in fact, a converse ap- 

 plication of the mechanical truism, that what is gained 

 in speed is lost in power. If two barbs are of the same 

 maximum diameter, and one is twice as long as the 

 other, the longer barb will, for practical purposes, pene- 

 trate with half the pressure required by the shorter. 



" Again, with regard to the ' point side ' of the barb 

 (c d in diagram), it is obvious that in order to insure a 

 firm and deep penetration, this side must be of a proper 

 length. The want of length in this part of the hook is 



