Chapt. xm. Special Mahseer hooks. 163 



A brazed treble hook, made of hooks as small as 

 No. 10 or 11 Kirby, should still be made of wire thicker 

 than that used even for a No. 1 Kirby; it should be of 

 wire quite as thick and strong as a No. 6 Limerick hook ; 

 and the single lip hook should be made of the same size 

 and wire. Farlow has such, blued like watch spring, 

 and Bowness made me such, and keeps them now in stock, 

 bright; because I prefer them bright, as being more in 

 unison with the bright silvery scales of the bait, and 

 therefore less likely I think to be observed in the water. 

 But that is a matter of fancy, and anglers can get either 

 at these two shops. 



To suit all customers it might be as well to have a 

 treble of No. 6 sized (Kirby) hooks also, but of the same 

 wire, though I prefer the smaller ones above recom- 

 mended. 



There is however a tendency among hook makers to 

 fine down the wire more or less towards the thickness 

 which they are accustomed to use for the same sized 

 hooks; but this should be stoutly resisted by tackle 

 makers, if they wish to satisfy their customers in India. 

 If they will only read Chapter IV., they will be satisfied 

 of the necessity for having the hooks small enough to 

 escape observation in clear water, and yet stout enough 

 to stand the violent compression of the Mahseer. 



Artificial fish of sizes, from three to six 

 Artificial fish. j ncnes long, should be dressed with hooks of 

 the same size, and build. 



21* 



