Improvements in Attachments for Fishing Lines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted. 17th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Attachments for Fishing Lines.
I, LEONARD HARLE MCMAHON, Journalist, of Salem, Oregon, in the United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in fishing tackle and more particularly to
means for connecting the snoods or snells of hooks to leaders or lines, and it has
for its general object to provide a cheap and simple device through the medium
of which a snood or snell may be quickly and easily connected with and as
quickly and easily disconnected from a leader or line when desired, and one which
will effectually prevent a casual disconnection and consequent loss of the snood or
snell and the hook thereon.
With the foregoing end in view the invention will be fully understood from the
following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing, in which:
Fig. 1, is a view illustrating a portion of a fishing line equipped with one of my
improved devices; the same being shown as connecting a snood or snell with the
line.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged detail view of the device, and :
Fig. 3, is a section taken through the eye of the device in the plane indicated by
the line a, a, of Fig. 2.
Referring by létter to the said drawing:
A, indicates a fishing line similar to those in general use; B, indicates a snood
or snell which is also similar to those in general use and is provided with a
hook C; at one end and a loop or bight D, at its opposite end, and E, indicates
my improved device for effecting the connection of the snood or snell to the
line. The device E, may be made of any suitable material, although I prefer to
form it of fine steel wire as shown, and it comprises the shank a, which is designed
to be lashed or otherwise permanently connected to the line A, and the eye b, at
one end of said shank. This eye is formed by coiling a portion of the piece
of wire as shown, and, for the purpose of rendering it more resilient, such portion
of the piece of wire is preferably reduced in thickness as illustrated.
When it is desired to secure the snood or snell B, to my improved device E, it
is simply necessary to pass the eye of the device through the bight or loop D, of
the snood and then draw said bight or loop between the shank a, and the
contiguous portion of the coil forming the eye b, and work it around post and
free end of the portion of wire forming the eye, when said bight or loop will be
secured in the eye b, and will not be liable to be casually disengaged or
disconnected 'therefrom. When however it is desired to disconnect the snood
from the device, it is simply necessary to draw the end of the bight or loop of
the snood down between the two whorls of the coil past the free end of the portion
of wire forming the eye when the said eye and the bight or loop will be separated.
In this way it will be observed that a snood or snell may be quickly, easily, and
securely connected to a line, and while there is no liability of the said snood being
casually disconnected in use, yet it may be quickly and easily disconnected from
the line when it is desired to replace it with a new snood or pack it in a fly book.
It will also be observed that in virtue of the construction of my improved device

page_text: the connection and disconnection of the snood may be effected without in any way
injuring the same, and it will further be observed that my improved devices are
very small and compact and that they may be easily manufactured from a small
piece of wire and may therefore be produced very cheaply.
-
I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to flattening the portion of
the piece of wire which forms the eye b, although I prefer to do so for the reason
stated.
I also do not desire to be confined to making the eyes b, of the devices of circular
or general circular form as 'when desired, they may be made oblong in order to
enable those attached to lines to pass through the eyes on fishing rods.
In virtue of my improved device an angler is enabled to make a very life like
cast of a fly on the water, because the hook will hang loose and the tangling so
often experienced will be prevented. Again in virtue of the snood of a hook being
attached to the eye b, side play is afforded from the end of the line so that a fish
once hooked can get no purchase as on a continuous line to "spit" out the hook.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. As an improved article of manufacture, the device described for connecting
the snoods or snells of hooks to leaders or lines comprising the shank.adapted to be
connected to a leader or line and having the coil at its end forming an eye,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, the device described formed from a
single piece of wire and comprising the shank adapted o be connected to a leader
or line and the portion at one end of the shank reduc 1 in thickness and coiled so
as to form an eye, substantially as and for the purpose et forth.
Dated this 16th day of March 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents..