a slight lateral inclination, and the bend a wide curve. It may be that all these qualities are found, more or less, in all the different kinds of hooks we have mentioned, and that it is only custom or prejudice which has caused the belief of the superiority of any particular one over the rest.

We do not say that this is not the reason why we greatly prefer to all others the Kendal Kirbybent hook. We have used it for twenty years, and may say, without boasting-for we intend praising the hook, and not ourselves that we have lost as few fish, either in striking or playing them, as any brother of the craft with whom we are acquainted. We have found it, in short, to answer every purpose to be every thing that a hook ought to be; and if our angling has not been so successful as that of others, or as it ought, with our opportunities and practice, to have been, we do not dream of blaming the hook for our inferiority. The Limerick hooks are preferred by many anglers, and, as far as temper and point are concerned, they certainly cannot be surpassed; but we object to their shape, which we think very inferior to a straight shank and a crooked bend. We refer, however, exclusively to the smaller sizes used for trout fishing, believing those for salmon flies to be infinitely superior to every other

kind. The sneck-bent hooks are in almost exclusive use in some parts of the country, particularly in the midland counties; and we are disposed to consider them more worthy of regard than their ungainly bend would induce a person unacquainted with them to suspect. They certainly hold admirably, but we do not fancy that they hook so freely as the Kirby-bent hook; and there is a very decided objection to them in their shortness of shank to say nothing about the smallness and closeness of their barb, which, did not their sneck bend contribute so much to its holding quality, would be a serious defect indeed. But our mind has long been made up in favour of the Kendal Kirby-bent hook, and we feel confidence in recommending it. The different sizes of the Kendal hook are indicated by figures, commencing at 00 (the smallest trout size) and ending at 12. The Redditch hooks number conversely, from No. 12., the smallest, to No. 1., the largest size. The Limericks are denoted by letters of the alphabet, beginning from the smallest midge with fe, f, ff, fff, c, cc, b, and bb; after which, for the larger, or "out sizes," figures are used, commencing with 9-0 (nine out, corresponding with No. 1 Redditch, or 12 Kendal), and going downward for the still larger sizes.

For trout fly-fishing the most useful size hooks are those numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Kendal, corresponding with 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7 Redditch. We never use smaller than No. 1 Kendal, from the idea that their little bend is insufficient to retain its hold in the mouth of a strong and struggling fish. As our preference for the Kendal hook is decided, it must be understood that in future, when speaking of the size of hooks, we shall employ the numbers by which the different sizes of that particular hook are designated. The different parts of a hook, to which we shall often have occasion to refer, are shown in the annexed figure:-a the point; b the barb; c the bend; the space between d and f the shank; and e the shank-top. The diagram is not intended to represent a perfect hook.

a

Fig. 1.

So much for the principal articles required in fly-fishing. There remain a few other articles to complete the list, but as they are not of great importance, and as an error in their selection can scarcely be committed, we shall despatch them in a few sentences previously reminding those who may accuse us of descending to too much minutiæ,. that perfection of parts makes

a perfect whole, and that the most nicely regulated affair in every other respect may be completely marred by a defect in one of its most insignificant members. Proceed we, then, to

The Fly Book, which should be of a rather large size (say six inches by four) and well furnished with pockets and loops for scissors, a knife, and so forth. It should number at least eight or ten leaves, made of double parchment, with pieces of cork at the corners to prevent them from pressing too closely together; and the tongues on which to coil the flies should be large and stiff. The price of such an article, in a black leather case, is about five shillings; in russia, which is more durable, it is of course higher.

The Landing Net is recommended only when the banks of the river are high and the fish large. An angler whose piscatory reputation is fully established, who has taken his degree of M.A.,*

*Master of Angling-"an honour to which no one is admitted before he has performed the qualifying act of hooking and landing, without assistance, a salmon not less than fourteen pounds weight; after which he ought, on producing his testimonium, to have the entré of every angling club throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Should there be no salmon-fishing in the waters where he exercises his skill, then a jack of the same weight, also taken without assistance, or a stone and a half of trout, half a

and whose judgment therefore will not be questioned, may venture on a landing net under any circumstances; but to the novice and the wouldbe it is a different matter. The cockneyism of the latter an animal begirt with a capacious basket, and furnished with a folio book of flies-will, by the addition of a landing net, be complete. Often will such a wight have the mortification to be sarcastically cautioned against killing "all the fish in the river," while the sad conviction will possess him that he will doubtless return with an infinitely greater weight of tackle than of trout. Nevertheless, a landing net is useful, and may often be carried with propriety. Its ring should be made of brass or copper, and not jointed, as some are, but in one entire piece; and its size should not be too confined. A bamboo handle is the lightest and best. It should be about three feet long, and furnished at the butt end with a spike and crook, which last is useful to disengage the line when entangled in bushes. Price from eight to ten shillings.

The taste of the purchaser and about taste,

hundred-weight of barbel, or a peck of dace, roach, or perch, caught in a day's fair fishing, not in dock or pond, may be allowed as a qualification, speciali gratia, for the same degree.". - The Angler's Souvenir.