The excellence of hooks depends on their being properly tempered, not too high to snap, or not sufficiently that they may be bent with the fingers. In choice of them, take care that the points are sharp, the beards of a good length, and the shanks not too long. As iish differ so much in size, a great deal must be left to the judgment of the angler in the choice of them; a little experience will soon point out the proper size; but as some directions in a treatise on this subject may be expected, the following table is added, for the information of young anglers, first premising, that it is a guide only where single hooks are used. The figures denote the sizes of the various kinds of hooks:

Barbel...... 1

Bleak...... 13

Bream...... 9

Carp........ 3

Chub ...... 2

Dace ...... 12

Eel ........ 4

Flounder.... 5

Grayling .... 10

Gudgeon .... 12

Loach...... 13

Minnow .... 13

Perch...... 4

Roach...... 11

Ruffe ...... 9

Salmon .... 1

Tench ...... 3

Trout ...... 3

Never choose a hook, the point of which stands outward, as it will often scratch a fish without laying hold, consequently he will bo lost; for after being pricked, he will not rise again for two or three hours.