180 SALMONIA. 



different sized hooks, and then annealed. For 

 the larger hooks, the bars must be made in 

 such a form as to admit of cutting the barbs ; 

 and each piece, which serves for two hooks, 

 is larger at the ends, so that the bar appears 

 in the form of a double pointed spear, three, 

 four, or five inches long: the bars for the 

 finer hooks are somewhat flattened. The 

 artist works with two files, one finer than 

 the other for giving the point and polishing 

 the hook, and he begins by making the barb, 

 taking care not to cut too deep, and filing 

 on a piece of hard wood, such as box wood, 

 with a dent to receive the bar, made by the 

 edge of the file. The barb being made, the 

 shank is thinned and flattened, and the po- 

 lishing file applied to it; and by a turn of 

 the wrist round a circular pincers, the neces- 

 sary degree of curvature is given to it. The 

 hook is then cut from the bar; heated red 

 hot, by being kept for a moment in a char- 

 coal fire ; then plunged while hot, into cold 

 water ; then tempered, by being put on iron 

 that has been heated in the same fire till it 

 becomes a bright blue, and, whilst still hot, it 



