10 Tlic Mahseer. Chajt. ii. 



more correctly, you get rid of undue friction, and have a greater 

 command of the friction which you utilize. The friction caused by 

 two or three turns round a capstan or about a belaying pin 

 amounts abnost to a dead lock, and so, in a less degree, the friction 

 caused by a single right angle is considerable. The latter is about 

 the friction caused by the line at the point of a stiff rod. In a 

 pliable rod the point yields quickly, reduces the angle, and so 

 reduces the friction, till you raise the point and renew and increase 

 the friction at your discretion. 



The friction of the winch or reel is another item not to be left 

 out of your calculations in considering the amount of tension that 

 your bne will bear. If you want to realise this, take your winch 

 off the rod, and, holding it in your hand, satisfy yourself that it 

 runs quite easily. Then tie the end of the line to a post or 

 anything firm, and holding the reel in one hand run away as if you 

 were a fish, only run as fast as a fish swims, and you will find that 

 the friction of the reel, which seemed to be next to nil, will, when 

 multipbed by the velocity, amount to such a tension that it alone 

 will break any but a strong line. Consider, again, the wonderful 

 velocity with which a fish swims. So quickly does a trout dart 

 away that you can scarcely see it pass you. "When you hook a fish 

 it is frightened at the restraint, and exerts itself to flee therefrom 

 at its utmost speed. Nothing prevents its fleeing at that speed 

 except the resistance of your tension ; and if the fish is so big that 

 the resistance makes no sensible difference to it at first, as a man's 

 weight does not much reduce the speed of a horse, the velocity witli 

 which the line runs out will, with a heavy Mahseer, he very u r iv;it 

 indeed, and the tension from winch friction alone will become very 

 serious. When the pace is reduced you may fall back on the rod 

 for additional friction, but till it is you will, in the case of a very 

 heavy fish on which you can make no impression, find that you 

 instinctively let the rod be pulled down to the angle of about r> 

 or 50° from the water, ami that neverthless yon still have to use 

 very strong tackle for large Mahseer. 



Still vnu should also lie " hard" on your fish, keeping the line 

 as stiff as a wire from the fish to the point of the rod, so as to 

 avoid slack line, a state of affairs which not only facilitates a hook 

 dropping out, but also gives opportunities for a "foul" round a 

 rock. Hold the point well up so as to keep the fish free of any 



