200 Fishing in Estuaries. Chapt. xvn. 



"narrowed between submerged nuks, ami where, as a consequence, 

 " the run is swift and the surface broken ; and where there are side 

 " eddies is a very favourite spot with them : they seem to be attracted 

 " thither by the small fish which abound in the side eddies. 



" Bahmeen are also found among the piers and piles of wooden 

 " or iron bridges, such as the bridge across the river at Mahe - , or the 

 " three bridges on the Cannanore side of Tellicherry. These are 

 " their haunts, and it is of no use fishing for them until you observe 

 " them on the feed ; in fact you will not know that there are any 

 " Bahmeen about, till the tide begins to ebb or flow, bringing up or 

 "down with it shoals of small fish, principally young grey mullet, 

 " and on these latter, while they are running, the Bahmeen prin- 

 " cipally seem to feed. In fishing for Bahmeen, these small grey 

 " mullet form the most attractive bait that the fisherman can use. 



" At such times of tide and at such places as I have described, 

 " you will not be long in doubt as to where the fish are, or the 

 " proper spot to fish for them, for as soon as the ebb or flow settles 

 "into a steady stream, you will see the Bahmeen dashing up at the 

 " small mullet every minute, and throwing themselves completely 

 " out of the water. They will continue to feed in this way till slack 

 " water. 



" I have heard it discussed whether Bahmeen feed, and take 

 " best on the ebb, or the flood tide ; in some waters, possibly at 

 " certain times of the year, these fish seem to take more readily on 

 " the flood, than on the ebb tide ; such I found to be the case once 

 " on the Mane* river, when fishing from the bridge there, in the 

 " month of April, but, as a general rule, I think it will be found that 

 " I'.ahmeen take best on the ebb tide, though it is also possible to 

 " catch them on the flood ; but, after a good deal of experience, the 

 " ebb is the tide I recommend, though when the tide is flowing it 

 " should not lie neglected, as you are always likely to get a run or 

 " two even on that tide." 



This question of the right time of the tide lias exercised many 

 great minds, and I have quite a bundle of letters on the subject 

 from observing fishermen kindly wishing to help me to a right 

 decision in the matter. Their views differed from time to time, 

 but the end of it was that certain of them, personal friends, well 

 known to me as good fishermen, met together for a combined Ba- 

 mln attack, and after putting their own several experiences, and 



