HOOKS . 
27 
when of fine quality, are still preferred by many scientific 
Anglers. 
Plate No. 1, represents the best pattern of Limerick book 
now' in use. They are, as the reader will perceive, perfectly 
straight, without the slightest* kirb or bend, the point and 
barb delicately finished, and the hook neatly japanned black, 
to prevent corrosion. Its great superiority, over any other 
hook, consists in its perfect adaptation to artificial fly-fishing ; 
in fact, it is rarely the case that any other hook is used for 
that purpose. They were originally invented and made by 
one O’Shaughnessy, of Limerick. Sir Humphrey Davy, in 
his “ Salmonia,” says : “ I never use any hooks for salmon 
fishing, except those I am sure have been made by 
O’Shaughnessy, of Limerick. ”t He also gives the following 
method of tempering hooks : “ It is requisite that the iron be 
pure and malleable, such as is procured from old horse-shoe 
nails, which we believe to be generally made from Swedish 
iron. This should be cemented with charcoal into good soft 
steel, and that into wires of different sizes.” The original 
O’Shaughnessy hook thus highly spoken of, is not made of 
wire like the ordinary hook, but is forged and hammered into 
shape from the rough steel, which gives an opportunity of 
varying the form, and of throwing proper strength into those 
parts of the hook which most require it. This latter advant- 
age, it w'ill be remembered, cannot be attained iu the ordi- 
nary wire hooks. Their general superiority, as Anglers say, 
consists in their excellence of temper, perfection of the barb, 
shape of the bend, and position of strength. The price of the 
* Some Anglers prefer tho Limerick slightly kirb’d, which can bo 
ensily done by subjecting them to a moderate heat in tho flame of u cau- 
dle, and bonding them with a pair of plyers. 
t Professor Rennie objects to Davy’s opinion, and says that inferior 
hooks wero made at that time, but good hooks could bo had both at 
London and Birmingham. 
