282 ABOUT HOOKS. 



being frequently too short in the shank, and having 

 much too exaggerated a " span " in the bend to work 

 with a short shank properly. The remarks anent 

 weak wire apply equally to round bend roach 

 hooks ; and if we combine with the above the usual 

 fault of a turned-out, rakish-looking point, no room 

 is left for surprise at the many disasters incurred 

 by their use. The greater utility of a well-pro- 

 portioned hook may be easily ascertained by the 

 following simple experiment. Take two hooks a 

 moderately long-shanked one nicely tapered, with a 

 straight point, and a short-shanked hook with a 

 turned-out point. Attach gut to each. Now procure 

 a small piece of parchment or thin card-board, upon 

 which take good hold with both hooks and endeavour 

 to penetrate this by applying equal pressure to each. 

 If this is done at all evenly the long-shanked hook 

 will quickly pierce the substance, making a clean 

 incision ; meanwhile the attitude of the remaining 

 hook scarcely admits of any impression being made 

 at all, a perfectly flat surface being presented from 

 the tip of the point to the end of the barb, which 

 effectually prevents any incision. 



Most of the various forms or bends of the hooks 

 now in use were introduced before the advent of 

 the present century. Of these, however, there have 

 since been many modifications and variations. One 

 of the oldest bends is the " Kirby," the originator, 

 Charles Kirby, having lived and flourished in the 

 1 7th century. In the third edition of an old book 

 on Angling, published in 1700, entitled, " The Angler's 



