Imvortant ELucwatrions. 
forming the barb. Having determined the weak point, I 
think it can be merely a mechanical difficulty which prevents 
that part of the hook being made as strong as the rest, and 
anglers should insist on manufacturers overcoming it. Tob- 
tained some hooks from Messrs. Bernard, of St. James’s Pas- 
sage, which were flat-sided—that is, they were filed to angles, 
and the section of the wire would be nearly an oblong. They 
appeared exceptionally strong, but were otherwise objection- 
able, being over-ironed and over-barbed. I think something 
might be done by flattening the wire from the beginning of 
the bend, the shank being left circular for fly-dressing facili- 
ties. A section of the wire at the bend would then be ellip- 
tical. TWowever, ignorance as to the manufacture, unfortu- 
nately, is in the way of my suggesting any thing practical ; 
but if I succeed in drawing attention from anglers and man- 
ufacturers to this subject, my object in occupying so much 
of your space will be fulfilled. SALMONICEPS. 
“TThe hooks which ‘Salmoniceps’ describes as flat and filed 
at the sides are, we fancy, not filed, but hammered, as they 
are usually described in the trade as ‘ forged Limerick tapers.’ 
We have previously expressed a very high opinion of the 
Sproat bend, which is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the 
best, salmon hook made.—Eb. ]” 
Having a greater variety of fishes to angle for in America 
than there are of angler’s fishes in Europe, it will be necessary 
to recur to this subject, for the fish-hook is the foundation of 
all fishing-tackle; and if it gives way, all the expense of 
mounting or baiting it, with expense of other tackle and loss 
of time, besides the chagrin, amounting to mortification and 
sometimes almost desperation at losing a very large fish, go 
for worse than nothing. The centre-draft hook of the an- 
cients is quite similar to the hook @, 4,¢, minus the barb, and 
it is probably the best form for all large fish. 
