Fish hook - Wikipedia

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_hook

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A fish hook or fishhook is a device for catching fish either by impaling them in the mouth or, more rarely,
by snagging the body of the fish. Fish hooks have been employed for centuries by fishermen to catch fresh
and saltwater fish. In 2005, the fish hook was chosen by Forbes as one of the top twenty tools in the history of
man.[1] Fish hooks are normally attached to some form of line or lure device which connects the caught fish to
the fisherman. There is an enormous variety of fish hooks in the world of fishing. Sizes, designs, shapes, and
materials are all variable depending on the intended purpose of the fish hook. Fish hooks are manufactured for a
range of purposes from general fishing to extremely limited and specialized applications. Fish hooks are
designed to hold various types of artificial, processed, dead or live baits (bait fishing); to act as the foundation
for artificial representations of fish prey (fly fishing); or to be attached to or integrated into other devices that
represent fish prey (lure fishing).

The fish hook or similar device has been made by man for many thousands of years. Neolithic fish hooks
have been recorded from Palestine about 7000 BC. In 2011, archaeologists in the Jerimalai cave in East
Timor discovered what was then the world's oldest fish hook, a shell hook between 16,000 and 23,000 years
old.[2]However finds also made from sea snails some 23,000 years ago and predating the East Timor finds were
reported from Okinawa.[3][4] An early written reference to a fish hook is found with reference to the Leviathan
in the Book of Job 41:1; Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook? Fish hooks have been crafted from all
sorts of materials including wood, animal[5] and human bone, horn, shells, stone, bronze, iron up to present day
materials. In many cases, hooks were created from multiple materials to leverage the strength and positive
characteristics of each material. Norwegians as late as the 1950s still used juniper wood to craft Burbot hooks.
Quality steel hooks began to make their appearance in Europe in the 17th century and hook making became a
task for specialists.[6]

Commonly referred to parts of a fish hook are: its point - the sharp end that penetrates the fish's mouth or flesh;
the barb - the projection extending backwards from the point, that secures the fish from unhooking; the eye - the
end of the hook that is connected to the fishing line or lure; the bend and shank - that portion of the hook that
connects the point and the eye; and the gap - the distance between the shank and the point. In many cases,
hooks are described by using these various parts of the hook. Example: Wide gap, 2X Long Shank, Hollow
Point, Turned Down Ring Eye Bait hook.
Contemporary hooks are manufactured from either high-carbon steel, steel alloyed with Vanadium, or stainless
steel, depending on application. Most quality fish hooks are covered with some form of corrosion-resistant
surface coating. Corrosion resistance is required not only when hooks are used, especially in saltwater, but
while they are stored. Additionally, coatings are applied to color and/or provide aesthetic value to the hook. At a
minimum, hooks designed for freshwater use are coated with a clear lacquer, but hooks are also coated with
gold, nickel, Teflon, tin and different colors.

10/17/2016 7:58 AM