Chapt. v. Magus. 43 



nay, more, may also lower it slowly down stream, tin' stream doing 

 all the spinning for you. 



In consequence of this necessity for using it in running, and 

 chiefly in rapid water, I prefer the spoon to be somewhat heavier 

 than it ordinarily is in England; for if it cornea to the surface 

 it ceases to have a hold mi the water, and consequently ceases to 

 spin. Having regard, moreover, to the bottom-feeding propensities 

 of theMahseer 1 prefer to Bpin deep. 



As to the different sizes of spoons a word may be better said 

 in the chapter on tackle. I will only mention here that I have 

 been so hard pushed for bail in camp that I have been thankful 

 to lay hands on a mustard Bpoon, and convert it to the much more 

 useful end in existence of being a beguiler of good Mahseer. 



Apropos of this I may be allowed to tell a little incident. I 

 was fishing in a densely forest-clad part in which a guide was 

 necessary. I was fishing with a spoon, and my guide sat watching 

 me listlessly till he saw me get hold of, play, and land a decent 

 Mahseer. Then he woke up and was all attention. He closely 

 watched me unhook the fish, and straightway begin spinning again 

 with the same Bpoon, and soon catch another Mahseer. It was too 

 much for him. He could contain himself no longer. Is it lawful for 

 me, he asked, to see the hook. Certainly, I said, and handed him 

 the spoon. He turned it over and over in his hand and scrutinized 

 it closely and deliberately. Then, with a motion of the head, and a 

 look of being thoroughly satisfied that he had got to the bottom of 

 the mystery, he solemnly handed back the spoon. He asked no 

 explanation of me, so I gave none, but went on fishing and caught 

 more. That evening he got a wrapt audience round him, and 

 expounded the whole matter. " That gentleman catches Mahseer 

 by magic of hand, he puts on no hait at all. I saw it with my 

 own eyes. It is pure magic of hand." He verily helieved it. 



A spoon has this further advantage that it is much lighter than 

 a dead fish, and if you use a springy fly top, as I do, in preference 

 to a stiff spinning top, as used in trolling for pike, you will find 

 that its comparative lightness will allow of your throwing a spoon 

 of ample size, whereas with a natural fish bait yon are restricted in 

 size by the weight which your top joint will lilt and swing out 

 without being strained or broken. 



This is probably the reason why stiff spinning rods have come 



