ABOUT HOOKS. 24? 



Sproat's, too, have now about gone out.* Those in gen- 

 eral use at the present day are the Sneck or Kendal, the 

 Limerick, and Carlisle, or round bend ; for eels, the bend 

 known as the "Shepherd's Crook," is much used. 



For fine grayling fishing, perhaps, a really strong and 

 delicate hook is more essential than in any other style or 

 system of angling. The grayling is a much more fastid- 

 ious fish than the trout, and is moreover the most tender- 

 mouthed fish that swims. It is no uncommon thing for 

 the angler, when fishing for grayling, to find a portion 

 of the jaw of an escaped fish remaining upon his hook ; 

 more especially when rough bottom tackle is used. The 

 hook useful for trout is, generally speaking, too large and 

 heavy for grayling, the excessively small flies he usually 

 prefers being difficult to copy when a clumsy and heavy 

 hook is employed. There has long been a want felt of 

 a suitable hook for grayling, to be at once light, durable, 

 and effective in shape and make. Many experiments we 

 have tried in years past with the view of surmounting 

 this difficulty, but failure was the characteristic feature 

 of each, until we accidentally hit upon a peculiar bend 

 (Plate 6, fig. 5), which was found to work with unusual 

 success. Conjointly with several friends of the rod, we 

 have tested this hook thoroughly, and with perfectly 

 satisfactory results. 



This hook has been designated the " Swan "-bend, and 

 as such it is known amongst the few anglers who have 

 hitherto kept it a secret. It may be gathered from what 

 has been previously stated that the faults and deficiencies, 

 as well as the merits of hooks, rest to a great extent with 

 the manufacturer. 



* The Sproat hook, if not made of the best material is certainly a de- 

 lusion and a snare not for the fish, hut the angler. When it is made 

 right and of the very best material, it has in my opinion no superior. 



