134 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL RIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 



when several individual fish were most carefully examined, and a slater- 

 like crustacean was actually revealed in the process of being swallowed, its 

 use became intelligible. The mandible is evidently employed for excavat- 

 ing the prey from the sand or perhaps from holes and crannies in the rocks. 

 The mandible of H. far is shorter than that of H. f/eorgii. The pace at 

 which the moran travels in its aerial flights is scarcely conceivable. In the 

 spawning season while the turmoils, which have already been alluded to 

 are at their zenith, the moran is driven into a state of blind panic. It is pos- 

 sible that when it is indulging in one of its atmospheric excursions the sense of 

 vision becomes exceedingly restricted, if not actually eliminated, for it will 

 invade the boat in swarms. The velocity with which a moran strikes the 

 angler in the neck, arms or chest cannot be realized until it has been 

 experienced ; and in this connection the fisherman is in some danger. A 

 blow in the eye from the mandible of a moran would unquestionably cause 

 the loss of that organ. The author can certify that a case was admitted to 

 hospital in which a sepoy while bathing had the drum of his ear perforated 

 by the flexible mandible of a moran. 



From March to August or September the moran forms the standard bait 

 as the mullet is somewhat difficult to procure, 



Sakdine. 



At Muscat the sardine is the bait most commonly used, and it attains a 

 considerable size ; on the Mekran side of the Gulf of Oman, however, this 

 lure is not emploj'^ed unless all other species of natural baits have proved 

 unprocurable. It possesses one great disadvantage as a hire, in that its 

 flesh is soft and in consequence it is easily torn off the hooks. 



Flying Fish. 



The last of the lures for the surface feeder is the flying fish ; but it is 

 pure chance whether a specimen is secured or not. This lure is naturally 

 more effective in the open sea than it is on the shallows. 



Bottom-fishing. 



The lure available for bottom-fishing is of two varieties. A small fish like 

 an anchovy is that most commonly employed, but it can be alternated by 

 the use of the ordinary 



Crab. 



Two varieties of crab can be obtained ; the rock crab is of a dark-green 

 hue, and is tougher than his brother the sand crab whose garb is a dirty 

 yellow. However, it is one thing to have a crab in a can, it is quite 

 another thing to transfer it successfully to a hook. The manoeuvre is an art 

 in itself, and merits description. At the time of capture all the legs are 

 broken ofi" except one on each side. This drastic operation serves two 

 useful purposes. It keeps the wretched victim alive, and it also prevents 

 it effecting its escape. At the time of use the two remaining limbs are torn 

 off; then the point of the hook (size No. 1/0 is suitable) is inserted in each 

 stump in turn, which is wrenched bodily out of the socket. The mutilated 

 carcass is then heaved overboard ! 



If nothing else served to put any decent-minded angler off' bottom-fish- 

 ing surely this barbarous practice should suffice ! 



There now remains but one point for discussion and that is the question 

 of 



TACKLE. 



It is a most astounding fact that if a prospective purchaser enters 

 almost any shop, and asks for sea-tackle, he will be shewn what can 

 effectively be described in two words Absolute Rubbish. One can only 



