242 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEB. 



Mr. Frank Buckland, H. M. Inspector of Inland Fisheries, 

 numbering one hundred and twenty-seven, all broken. 

 The original value ranged from five shillings to one guinea 

 each. * Nine of these were broken at the sharp bend of 

 the Limerick hook, the whole of the remainder at the 

 barb. The loss incurred at this rate is considerable, 

 and when we take the fish into account, it is simply 

 monstrous. 



This defect is by no means confined to the Limerick 

 bend of hook ; it is frequently more conspicuous in the 

 Sneck or Kendal bent hooks, so universally used in trout 

 fishing : vide the experience of everybody. Another point 

 of paramount importance is the tempering, as when this 

 is done in a defective manner, by being left too high or 

 too low, disappointment and loss ensue as the inevitable 

 result. 



Among non-japanned hooks uselessly soft ones may 

 sometimes be distinguished by the color, as when steel is 

 left a very light blue, it is invariably soft and pliable. 

 The best tempered hooks are left a purple-blue color. In 

 japanned hooks the only reliable way of detecting faulty 

 ones is to test them by sticking the point in a piece of 

 porous wood or cork, and applying a heavy though steady 

 strain to the shank. Our idea of a perfect Limerick salmon 

 hook we give upon Plate 6, fig. 3. The distance from the 

 bend to the point is greatly diminished ; the barb and 

 point being short and sharp are well adapted to take good 

 and firm hold upon a hard or soft substance. The main 

 strength of metal, too, is just where most needed, namely, 

 at the sudden turn of the bend, which, it may be ob- 

 served, is not nearly so sharp or decisive as in the old 

 style Limerick. Experience teaches, so says the maxim. 

 Experience long since taught us that changes in this 

 respect were absolutely necessary, and for an equally long 



* Rather costly salmon flies fifteen to sixty dollars per dozen. 



