The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-03-16
The Making Of Fish Hooks.

3 " Washington SGr writer's attention az
the National Museum, 5000 years ago De
ing almost the latest period to which any
Of them dated back. For it would seem
that the fish hook Is a very old invention
indeed. From description which ae-
eompanied them It appears that many
curious things were used as material for
the hooks in early days Some were
even made of human bone, and this
practice has been common up to within
q century Of the present time among the
natives Of the Society Islands, in the
South Pacific.
Deer horns, flints, boars tusks, and
bone of all sorts were made to serve this
purpose by anglers Of the neolithie peri
Cd I, is not difficult to figure to ones
self a cave gentleman in that ancient ep-
och sitting upon a newly formed deposit
Of quaternary rock in the middle Of gia-
cier stream, and watching for a small
float Of tree bark to give the expected
indication Of bite by disappearing un-
der the water. Such floats were IN
doubtedly used in those times, and stone
sinkers, too, plenty Of the latter having
been found in the strata Of earth, stone,
and shell deposit which embalms the re-
mzins OF these vanished peoples.
The development Of the barb was nat
urally a slow process, and nobody knows
Just when it was adopted. Certainly,
however. II was
FAWLLAR DEVICE
many centuries before the beginning Of
the bronze age, which period had its
commencement about 5000 years ago.
This form Of metal first came into use
along the European coast OF the Nediter-
ranean-the alloy Of whien it was ordi-
narily composed being nine parts Of cop
per to one Of tin-and the mechanical
Improvements accompanying its intro
ductiOn were in no point more surprising
than as applied 10 fish hooks.
How far this is true may be judged
from the fact that the fish hook Of to-day,
save only in the metal employed, which
then was bronze and now is steel. The
very curves OF the Limerick and
'Shaughnessy" hooks, 50 popular with
anglers, are found in these antique speci-
mems. The tops ofthe shsnks, too, are
bent over into little loops, as nowadays,
to the lines by. Most surprising Of al
such relics found, perhaps. are strips OF
Furnished copper shaped Ike fishes
which were utilized by fishermen Of the
bronze age as artificial bait to attract the
prey with its metallic sheen.
Until the age Of bronze arrived, shells
Of various sorts furnished materiall.for a
large percentage Of the hooks make, and
hard wood, sharpened, was much en-
ployed- Tnorns were also made 20 serve
a ike purpose, and until recently the
Mohaves of Arizona have similarly used
cactus spines, bent into proper shape and
tempered by the application Of alternate
heat and moisture until strong. The ear
" lake dwellers in this country wrapped
their hooks with charms manufactured
from various animal substances, the bats
being put on outside. They imagined
that the fish were attracted BY these fst-
ishes. The only gold fish hooks ever
found were Of the virgin metal, and were
taken from a grave in New Grenada.
How WoDERS FISH HOOKS ARE MADE.
The making Of fish hooks Is not mere
ly a trade in itself anglers consider that
it is, properly speaking, an art. In Eng
land the best ones are made, because all
manufacturers OF steel excel in that eoun-
try, where every product Of that materi-
al, from razors down, is beyond compare.
Hooks ofthe first quality are made fr0n
the very best cast-siesI wire, which is
turned out in coils at Sheffield and Biz
mingham.
The first process is to cut the wire into
lengths suitable for the hooks TO be made.
Ordinary sizes are chopped of by the
quantity with machine, but the big
ones for use in catching sharks and other
big sea fishes are cut singly with a ham.
mer and chiseL After the lengths Of
wire have been cut of another operator
takes them and turns up the barbs by
cutting into the yet sofl metal with q
knife upon an anvil Next the straight
/ pieces are taken in hand by J workman
who files the points to keenness. Where
the best hooks are concerned each one j:
manipulated separately, being held in
pincers while the necessary sharpness j:
given by a few dexterous strokes. Com
mon hooks are pointed with one fle, but
the finer sorts require the application Of
two or three different degrees Of coarse
ness.
The points once made, anothef work
man takes the bits Of wire in hand, bend
ing them round in a curved piece O.
steel, 50 that each one shall have th'
! characteristic Texture which makes ths
/ type Of hook desired. The process o
forming the instrument is now complet
ed, save for the shank, which may eithel
/ be a loop at the end of the wire or a fat
tening at the extremity. The fatteain.
is done by one sharp blow with han.
mer upon an anvil.
The final process is the tenpering o.
the hooks to harden them, and when al
these operations have been completed
they are secured in revolving barrel:
driven by steam power and filed with
water and soft soap. When the friction
has worn them bright they are dried in
another revolving barrel containing saw
dust.
In olden times fishermen made theil
own hooks. using very much the same
methods as are now practiced or a large
scale in the factories. II is a very curl.
Gus fact that during the bronze age, when
metals had first come into use. fish
hooks had the s.me form as now. even 10
the shanks and curves. The fa,noss
Limerick and Shaugbnessey bends
are absolute productions Of those prefer
red in that early epoch.
A Little Girls Experience in A
Lighthouse.
Dir. and Mrs. Loren Trescott are keep