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FISHING IN INDIAN WATERS. 

 Part II. 

 The Mullet and Gaefish. 

 By Fred. O. Gadsden, R. I. M. 



In a former article (p. 194 ante) I have spoken of the bahmin or Indian 

 salmon as standing pre-eminently forward as the sporting fish that we get out 

 here ; but it is not to be inferred from this that we really have no other. 

 As the bahmin has been compared, and in my opinion justly so, to the salmon, 

 so the fishes mentioned above may be likened in many ways to a fish which 

 has always been a great favourite with all who follow the gentle art, viz., 

 the grayling. This may appear a very far-fetched idea, but any one who 

 knows them both will, I am sure, agree with me in this matter. 



The Mullet {^Mugil ceur. Murjll cceruleus macuJatus). — In appearance he is 

 not really unlike the grayling — in fact, he is as like as it is possible for two 

 fish of absolutely difEerent species and inhabiting different waters to be. 

 In their niggling, fiddling way of feeding they greatly resemble each other, 

 and when once hooked, in their manner of playing or, perhaps, one should say 

 of fighting for their lives, there is a strong resemblance. 



I cannot quite remember now where I once saw the remark that if the 

 trout was a gentleman and lord of the stream, the grayling was as certainly a 

 lady and queen of fresh-waters ; but no one can fish often for mullet and 

 catch them, without feeling, involuntarily, what a really nice lady-like, well- 

 behaved fish he is, and any one acquainted with dear old Izaak Walton must 

 recall to mind what he says about this fish : '* And therefore, I pray you, 

 barken what Du Bartas says of the mullet : — 



" But for chaste love the mullet hath no peer ; 

 For if the fisher hath surprised her pheer, 

 As mad with wo to shore she (oUoweth, 

 Prest to consort him both in life and death." 

 Such const incy as this is more often an attribute of the female than of the 

 male, I fear. 



I do not know that we have any really fresh-water mullet in English 

 waters, though there are several fresh-water species out here ; so I presume 

 that our old friend was referring to the sea mullet. And I have often 

 noticed myself, when a fish has been hooked, and is being slowly drawn in, 

 that it is very often accompanied by its companions, and not seldom you may 

 catch nearly the whole school before those that are left will leave. I know 

 this, that I have never caught mullet without having forcibly brought back 

 to me the memory of many, many happy days spent on the banks of the Wye, 

 the Lugg, and the Munnow after grayling j and often during the heat of a 

 really hot Aden day for instance (mullet bite best in the midday without a 

 breath of wind), have I thought of the pleasant days spent at home when 

 the country was looking simply gorgeous with the meridian splendour of its 

 autumnal hues, and when to loaf along the river banks, to drink in the fresh 



