A CROOKED BUT POINTED SUBJECT. 185 
ROUND BEND FLY-HOOKS. 
These are Adlington and Hutchinson’s superfine warranted 
cast-steel hooks. They are imported in great numbers by 
Andrew Clerk & Co., and, whether straight or curbed, are the 
best fly-hook in use, and infinitely superior to the common 
Limerick hook. 
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FISH-HOOK PHILOSOPIY. 
Upon the subject of fish-hooks, their important qualities 
and bearings are applicable to hooks for all fishing purposes. 
The draft, or pull on a hook, is equally applicable to a hook 
for fly-fishing or for capturing the largest sharks. It is con- 
ceded by hook-makers that the forged hook is the best, 
whether it be hammered flat, square, or round. The needle- 
pointed, cast-steel hooks, of round bend, are probably best for 
mounting with flies for salmon, black bass, or trout, or bait- 
ing for striped bass, squeteague, and maskinongé; while for 
sheepshead, kingfish, and for all fishes which have a small 
and hard mouth, the Sproat bend is preferable. Of the Iin- 
sey or Pennsylvania hook, the shape is good for small fish, 
but it gapes so much that a large fish is apt—in sulking and 
beating its nose against a rock, or rubbing it on the gravel 
bottom—to spring the hook out. If made of large wire and 
well tempered, it is good for sheepshead and kingfish, because 
it is not so long from the bend to the barb as is the Limerick 
