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sized salmon hooks, is that which is on every ground the most desirable for 

 adoption, forming as it does a uniform standard for all hooks of the sizes most 

 commonly in use, with a convenient elasticity at each end of the scale for the 

 addition of exceptional sizes, whether large or small. 



This plan is at present adopted, I am informed, only by one firm of hook 

 makers, but they are recognised as being amongst those of the highest and 

 longest standing. I refer to Messrs. Hutchinson and Son, of Kendal. For 

 many years this firm made my special bend of hooks, which were, of course, 

 numbered as above, with, I believe, every advantage on the score of simplicity 

 and convenience to all concerned. I also adopted this system in the limited 

 number of sizes of the "Pennell-Sneck," originally published in the columns 

 of the Fishing Gazette. But in the latest of my patterns of hook-bend, the 

 " Pennell Limerick," as made both with tapered shanks (plain) and with turn- 

 down eyes, I allowed myself in a weak moment to be over-persuaded into 

 re-adopting the old-fashioned, crude, and illogical method of numbering, 

 beginning with 17 for the smallest number, and reducing for the largest size 

 down to No. i, thence remounting with o, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, &c. this 

 last another outrage not only on one's sense of the " fitness of things," but also 

 on the previous part of the same scale. 



Peccavi! Convinced, however, of the error of my ways or, rather, of the 

 latest of them by the unanswerable Editorial logic and the indignant eloquence 

 of your correspondents, I am now prepared to recant my heresy, and as an 

 earnest of my conversion, or rather reversion, to a better mind, I have 

 directed the offending numbers to be forthwith expunged ; and in the little 

 brochure I am now writing, " Modern Improvements in Fishing Tackle and 

 Fish-hooks," they will appear in the amended [as well as in the original] form. 



I am all for progress progress always and in everything, even in small 

 things and I gladly enrol myself in the (apparently) somewhat select, but 

 doubtless determined, band of " Hook Numbering" reformers. Your obedient 

 servant, 



H. CHOLMONDELEY- PENNELL. 



From MESSRS. HUTCHINSON AND SON, of Kendal. 



DEAR SIR, In reply to your favour in reference to numbering of fish- 

 hooks, we have pleasure in stating that the superfine Kendal fish-hooks, 

 manufactured by our firm for over a century, have always been, and 

 continue to be, numbered from the smallest size upwards. Our sneck bend 

 hooks commence at ooo ; round, Kirby, and Limerick bends at No. oo ; 

 Sproat's and Pennell's bends at No. I.* Of course, the No. I of the various 

 shapes are about equal in size. We beg to inclose drawings of a few kinds of 

 hooks, with numbers attached, and remain, faithfully yours, 



HUTCHINSON AND SON. 



* This bend is now obsolete. The 3 smallest sizes, ooo, oo, and o, were 

 never made. 



