FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 201 



monsoon for some reason or other the fish have been conspicuous by their 

 absence. I have had unfortunately more blanks this year than I have ever 

 had before, but I had one experience this year which was entirely new to 

 me. On Saturday, July ^Srd, 1898, 1 went down to the Sunk Rock accom- 

 panied by Mr, E. R. Jardine. Shortly after we had commenced fishing, 

 Mr. Jardine had a half offer from a very large fish, which came to the top 

 of the water after the prawn, but stopped short. Immediately after, pre- 

 sumably the same fish made a rush and took one of a small swarm of gar- 

 fish swimming about, and having taken this again came to the top of the 

 water and then deliberately swam across to where I was fishing. I threw in 

 where I thought he might possibly be, and at the second attempt, had a very 

 modest oflier. To this I struck, and then at once he shewed himself. He 

 began by making a series of very short sharp runs, zigzagging backwards and 

 forwards, and at the end of each rush he made a series of magnificent 

 leaps out of the water, rising out some three or four feet, but covering cer- 

 tainly 10 or 12 ft. in each leap. Thus he was plainly visible and all this 

 time he had not got more than perhaps 25 to 30 yards away. The natives 

 called it " Dagole " and from what I could see of it I imagine it must have 

 been a Cybium of some sort, probably Cylium guttatum or Thynnas pelamys. 

 Its apparent length was roughly some six feet, and I do not think that 

 I am overstating its weight when I put it down to be between 60 and 70 lbs. 

 However, after carrying out these tactics for some 15 minutes or so, the 

 fish had evidently come to the conclusion that that neighbourhood did 

 not suit its delicate constitution, for it turned tail and proceeded with a 

 fearful rush to go straight out to sea. Having run out some 100 yards or 

 so he again threw himself- straight up on end out of the water and then made 

 a further rush. He had got away some 180 yards by this time and again 

 he made a supreme effort, and this time while in the uir the line came 

 back to me, and he was off with a No. 7/° hook, about 4 ft. of steel wire 

 trace and U oz. lead and 3 swivels. On examining the remains of the 

 trace I found it kinked and twisted at the point of fracture and I wonder 

 now that it held out so long. But this is not. a Bahmin experience and so 

 I stop, but I live in hopes that I may again on some future occasion make 

 the acquaintance to some better purpose of my friend the " Dagole, " 

 Referring back for one minute to the 18| lbs, Bahmin, I intended to have 

 given his dimensions. Circumstances over which I had no control prevent 

 me now from giving any other measurement than that of his length. It 

 is notched oft' on my rod handle and taken from the extreme end of the 

 caudal ray to the tip of the nose, the length was 2 ft. Hi inches. 



26 



