160 Bottom Fishing for Laheo. < 'iiapt. xii. 



25 lbs. weight of these fish, besides two freshwater tortoises, weighing 



together 6J Lbs. There were two more g 1 fish also that a new 



hand broke off my hook in bis clumsy hurry with the landing net 

 (bad Luck to him), and another that fairly broke me after a long 

 fight I suppose I thought it was about time he gave in, and he 

 thought otherwise, for they fight lorn,' and steadily, and the tackle 

 has to be very fine. Another tortoise also was hooked foul, brought 

 to the top and lost. This fishing was from Tin a.m. to IO-.jO a.m. 

 During the first hour I took nothing ; during the remaining two 

 hours and 40 minutes I landed the above 31i_ lbs., on a light 

 single-handed lit feet trout rod. When I left they were still 

 biting, but I had to tear myself away, Other similar bags I have 

 made alone or with friends, but of these two days only did I keep a 

 note, because, dear reader, I was thinking of you even then, think- 

 ing that you would not believe in bottom fishing unless I gave you 

 particulars from notes taken at the time, thinking what you would 

 lose, by such incredulity. As we are on pond fishing one more bag 

 I must give you. Fishing all day H. caught 52 lbs., of which two 

 were freshwater sharks, weighing respectively l 11 lbs. and 22 lbs. ; 

 the rest were the tish I am introducing to you. A friend fishing 

 with him that day caught about 30 lbs. weight, but of this I speak 

 roughly from hearsay and estimate, not having seen hi Tims 



the two rods took about 8n lbs. weight of fish out of a pond near 



j tpatam. 



Is this enough to draw you with me bottom fishing? In the 

 hope that it is I will continue. 



Mv [uaintance with these fish has been made chiefly in 

 ponds. I have seen them in rivers, but there I confess they have 

 been one too many for me, mainly because I gave them but 

 secondary attention where I could get Mahseer, or was experiment- 

 ing with the fly, catching Barils and Chelas, and hoping to make 

 new discoveries. In rivers they seem to be very wary. I n 

 that on this account the natives tish as far from themselves as they 

 can cast the line. They ground-bait freely for two or three d 

 and attaching a lead, about the weight of a bullet, a Little above the 

 bait of dough of millet, and coiling up the line of sago palm tibre at 

 their feet, whirl and fling out the weighted Line as far as they can, 

 which is about 4u yards, and, when jt has Settled, gather in the 

 Black so that they can feel any bite. They have one such Line in 



