732 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI J. 



I have however at different times obtained some very decent specimens of 

 tridacne, and at one time possessed a set of desert dishes, which were simply 

 the half shell. All the miscellaneous marine growth which was on them ori- 

 ginally had been allowed to dry up and remain ; and as desert dishes they 

 were certainly unique, I was very sorry when, through no fault of my own, 

 I lost them. 



And now for the gear required. I have on one or two occasions be- 

 fore fully described the class of rod, reel, line and trace required for 

 general sea-fishing, so that I will not long detain you. What 1 have said 

 before regarding rods and reels here holds good, but in the case of Port 

 Blair fishing, there is one alteration in the way of traces, that is imperative. 

 In Bombay the water never pretends to be very clear ; in Aden though it 

 is much clearer, still when compared with the absolutely clear and pellucid 

 waters about the Andamans, it is as " muddy tub swipes " to a glass of 

 Perrier Jouet : hence the twisted brass vvire traces which are so suitable for 

 the two first named places are entirely out of it here. Nothing but the very 

 finest gear will do, and when you come to consider the class of fish you are 

 likely to get, you will understand that it has been no easy task to get a trace 

 that shall be sufficiently invisible, and yet sufficiently strong. Gut is of no 

 use at all. There is a metal worker out here in Delhi, who makes a perfectly 

 lovely steel wire. Originally intended for the strings of some native musical 

 instrument, it was taken up by some keen fisherman, and it is to be had 

 occasionally, but only in limited quantities. Men who use this, use it triple, 

 as it if! less likely to kink. I only once managed to get any, but since then 

 I have used a very decent nice wire, supplied by Eobertson of Bothwell 

 Street, Glasgow, who, I understand, has sent out several lots since then, to the 

 Andamans, direct to order. I don't know the gauge, but in thickness it ia 

 about the size of linen thread, and costs 3s. a pound. I have found this 

 suitable in every respect, finely tempered, and put up in large coils. When 

 a piece is cut off, it springs out quite straight, and as long as it is kept free 

 from kinks, it is amply strong enough for anything. These traces must be 

 well mounted with swivels blackened or bronzed to suit the colour of the 

 ■wire. On the other hand the disadvantages of using these traces are, that 

 the action of the salt water affects the steel to such an extent that they only 

 last for a few hours ; can certainly not be used a second time ; in fact, I have 

 felt them roughened and pitted, after a couple of hours' immersion, and I 

 change at once as soon as I feel this ; and secondly, if perchance a kinl> should 

 occur, they part with the first strain. However as one gets several thousand 

 feet for about 5s. and as each trace is as a rule not more than 6 ft. long, it is 

 not ruinous to discard them when once they become doubtful. 



To wind up with ; it is not very likely that many of my readers will ever 

 have an opportunity, or perhaps even the wish, to visit these places, but in case 

 any one should wish to go, I must point out, not with any idea of damping 



