276 FLY-FISHING. 



body, upon the principle of a screw, and named 

 after Archimedes, by which a rapid revolution wns 

 produced ; but although this invention seemed to 

 man nearly perfect, it did not satisfy the fish ; for a 

 very small spoon it will answer, but when larger is 

 not so attractive as other kinds. Several alterations 

 and combinations of these two plans were produced 

 from time to time ; they proved to be merely changes 

 and not improvements, until an invention was made 

 that is usually called Buel's Patent Spoon although 

 it has been said that his patent only covers the 

 application of three hooks instead of two, and that 

 the invention has long been in use among the picke- 

 rel fishermen of the St. Lawrence. The blacksmiths 

 on the banks of that river certainly manufacture 

 them unrestrainedly of such material as they prefer, 

 but only use two hooks; and this would not proba- 

 bly be permitted if the patent was broad enough to 

 prevent it. 



Be that as it may, however, it is known as Buel's 

 Spoon ; it is made by fastening two or three hooks 

 back to back, and attaching a piece of tin nearly 

 elliptical in shape, so that it can revolve freely round 

 a collar at the shank. This is its simplest form, 

 and the one preferred for mascallonge, for w r hich 

 two strong thick hooks are used, firmly soldered to- 

 gether ; and for pickerel, black-bass, and lake-trout, 

 it is safer to have the hooks either soldered into one 

 piece or attached by wire, as the fierce struggles 

 and sharp teeth of these species will soon destroy 

 thread or silk. The tin is painted of various colors, 



