no JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII 



Whether or not the fish I refer to be a true smelt I know not, but all I know 

 is that they are very like them ; and also that as a change from the heavy 

 coarse fishing I have been describing, it is a real treat to turn away at times 

 from the large sea rod, reel, and lines, which are so necessary for Caranx, 

 barraconta, seerfish and gobra — and taking down one's 10ft, toy to go down and 

 have a turn at something smaller and more delicate. From my own personal 

 knowledge, there is only one place where these fish are to be had, though I 

 have no doubt there are many other quiet nooks which these fish affect ; but 

 the place I refer to is not far from the landing place on Aberdeen Island. 

 The tide or surf breaks very quietly in there, and there is a fringe of semi- 

 submerged rocks and sand upon which the wavelets break, and here some- 

 times the smelt are found in great numbers. I always used the soft tail part of 

 a hermit crab for bait, a two-hook Stewart tackle, an ordinary trout gut cast, 

 and cast for them as one would do when clear water worming, just outside 

 where the line of foam — caused by the break and wash of the tide — ap- 

 peared, and if they were there one could very soon fill one's creel, and they were 

 excellent for the table. They seldom exceed 6 to 6^ inches in length. It is, 

 I believe, the Atherina for skalH oi Day. Great numbers are caught in the 

 nets about the coasts and bays, but they are not as a rule so large, seldom more 

 than 3 to 3|- inches, and are always spoken of as " Whitebait." It is unnecessary 

 for me to lay down times and places here for the Port Blair fishing. The 

 place is naturally such a harbour of refuge, and happy hunting ground, that its 

 waters seem always to teem with fish life. Any time will do for a trial, but 

 of course as I have said the best times are when the fry are about ; the fish 

 then are more in evidence, and one need lose no time in looking for them. 

 Then the pier or jetty is as good a place as any. At other times out near the 

 station steamer buoy, used in my day (now some years ago) to be considered 

 a very good place indeed, and for harling most of us trailed about a bait, 

 whenever we went anywhere, just as a matter o£ course, and on the off 

 chance of a fish. Again near the sunken wreck of the Indian Marine 

 Steamer " Enterprise," which was blown ashore in the great cyclone in 1891, 

 there is a reef which used to be good for the golden Caranx, and off the 

 rocks, near the Post Office, was a favourite resort for catching the rock and 

 coral fish which we often wanted for bait when sardines were scarce or 

 unobtainable, but in fact most places are good down there, and one need not 

 bother much where to go. The rule always was to go out and trust to luck. 

 With regard to bait ; far away the best bait for any or all of these pre- 

 dacious fish is the fry, or sardine so called ; and you may vary the size to 

 suit the fish you are after ; but ordinarily a 4 oz. bait would be found large 

 enough. Often however sardines are not procurable, and then you must go and 

 catch your bait upon the rocks. As in Aden so here you will find that an hour 

 or two's angling will produce the most curious collection of brilliantly 

 coloured, but rather evil smelling, rock fish, and these are excellent in their 



