An Improvement in Fish-hooks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
Massachusetts, United States of America, Rubber Manufacturer.]
An Improvement in Fish-hooks.
I, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent of the Firm of D. Young & Co. of
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a fish-hook which will catch fish where
any are to be found, and will not catch into eel-grass, lily-pads and the like
although found on every hand. The purpose of the inventor is to capture the wily
pickerel or any equally game fish, and to look him in the upper jaw so as
invariably to land him, since that jaw has strength enough to hold the hook.
Again, the improved hook does not alarm the shyest of fish when they happen to
strike its sides; hence they are likely to return and take the bait and be taken.
The characteristic peculiarity of the improved fish-hook is that its curved body
is loaded or weighted on the back or convex side, opposite to the hook point, while
a colored feather or similar light matter to attract the attention of the fish, is
bound to the stem of the hook and projects towards its barb above the weight.
Hence, in trolling, the back of the hook takes the lowest position and the point is
presented uppermost. In this position, and having the weight tapering towards the
stem, it cannot ordinarily catch into growing obstructions and foul the line, as the
inventor has fully demonstrated by experience. The extreme back of the leaden,
weight is flattened so that this position of the hook in a vertical plane may be
better maintained.
In order not to frighten timid fish by their contact with the leaden weight, it is
preferably covered tightly with leather or some soft wrapping, the touch of which
will not prove alarming. A close winding of twine will suffice. These coverings
serve also to give a neat finished appearance to the weighted hook.
Dated the 16th day of November 1895.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co. of
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a fish-hook which will catch fish where
any are to be found, and will not catch into eel-grass, lily-pads, and the like,
although found on every band.

page_text: My purpose has been to capture the wily pickerel or any equally game fish, and
to book him in the upper jaw so as invariably to land him, since that jaw has
strength enough to hold the hook.
Again, my hook does not alarm the shyest of fish when they happen to strike its
sides. Hence they are likely to return and take the bait and be taken.
The characteristic peculiarity of my fish-hook is that its curved body is loaded
or weighted on the back or convex side, opposite to the hook-point, while a
coloured feather or similar light matter to attract the attention of the fish is bound
to the stem of the hook and projects toward its barb above the weight. Hence, in
trolling, the back of the hook takes the lowest position and the point is presented
uppermost. In this position it cannot ordinarily catch into growing obstructions
and foul the line, as I have fully demonstrated in my experience. I flatten the
extreme back of the leaden weight that this position of the hook in a vertical plane
may be better maintained.
In order not to frighten timid fish by their contact with the leaden weight,
I prefer to cover it tightly with leather or some soft wrapping, the touch of which
will not prove alarming. A close winding of twine will suffice. These coverings
serve, also, to give a neat finished appearance to the weighted hook.
In the drawing,
Figure 1 is a side view of my improved hook connected to the lino in a
well-known way.
Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section taken through the covered weight on
line 2-2 of Figure 1.
The stem of the hook is attached to the line in any ordinary way, preferably
by a link and swivel, as shown, so that it will be entirely free to tako the desired
position. The body B of the hook is loaded on its back or convex portion with a
leaden or other weight C, wired, cast, or compressed upon it, so as to permanently
retain its place on the side opposite to the point and barb D, between the stem A
and the sharp bend of the hook. This weight, as shown, tapers gradually from its
thickened central part to the shank or stem A, so as to present no abrupt shoulder
to catch weeds and the like when it is drawn through the water.
The enlarged section, Figure 2, shows the back of the weight C flattened, as
I prefer to make it, for this form tends to keep the point upward when the book is
drawn over lily-pads or any flat surface. A wrapping or covering E is also
represented in this view, the advantage being, as stated, that a soft external surface
is less likely to frighten the fish than rigid metal would be. This, however, is not
essential.
The feather F extends in the line of draft toward the barb, as heretofore; but
in my hook it serves as a float or buoy to keep the point up, while the opposed
weight keeps the back down.
By my invention the point of the hook being always upward is not only unlikely
to engage with the stems and leaves of water-lilies, &c., but, as intimated, it almost
invariably takes the fish through the upper jaw and resists all his efforts to escape.
In practice I can secure five times as many fish with my improved hook as can an
equally-skilful angler in the same time with the best tackle heretofore known.
I am aware that the stems of fish-hooks have sometimes been weighted concen-
trically with lead to serve as a sinker; but this has no tendency to turn the
hook-point upwardly in trolling or otherwise, and it is foreign to my invention.
Fish-hooks are on the market to which artificial baits are attached in form of a
cray-fish, and perhaps other forms. This artificial bait may hold the hook with
the barb uppermost under some circumstances, but is not specially adapted so to
do, and as the bait has projecting arms or claws, if the hook becomes inverted,
these projecting parts are liable to prevent the hook from turning over, and are
themselves obstructious when moving through weeds and débris.
The weight attached to my book is shaped to prevent entanglement with
obstructions and as it is almost entirely below the body of the hook it is certain to
turn the hook into the desired position, and cannot under any known circumstances

page_text: act as an obstacle to prevent the turning of the hook should the same be purposely
dropped into the water barb downward.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The fish hook described, consisting essentially of the curved body of wire,
barbed as usual, and the weight permanently attached to the convex side of the
body, the end of the weight rounding toward the sbank of the hook, so as to
maintain the barb of the hook uppermost and prevent snagging, substantially as
desoribed.
2. The combination with the wire body of a fish hook of usual construction, of
the weight permanently secured to the convex side of the hook to retain the barb
uppermost and prevent fouling, and the feather float attached to the concave side
of the hook for a similar purpose, all substantially as described.
3. As an improved article of manufacture, a fish-hook provided' with a light
weight fixed to the back side of its convex body, opposite to the barb, a close
fitting cover inclosing such body and weight only, and a feather or like float bound
to the stem, and extending between Baid weight and barb, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 13th day of Anant 1806
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.