CHAPT. xvii. ilities/or Polynemus. 205 



" a deep and swift run between sunken rucks; and at this point 

 " Bahmeen congregate, and sport is to be bad. 



" The places I know of where Bahmeen fishing is procurable 

 Billipatam village, near Cannanore, just mentioned, the three 

 " bridges "ii the Cannanore side of Tellicherry, of which three the 

 itre one is the best, Yellatooi bridge near Calicut, the back- 

 " water at Beypoor, Currulhoondy railway bridge near the camp 

 " platform and troop rest house, about a mile and s halt' down the 

 " line from the Beypoot station, and there is another small bridge, 

 " up the Tellicherry backwater, about three miles from the central 

 ■' bridge, that 1 have already spoken of as being a good place for 

 " sport. 



Near the mouth of the Eallei River, in Calicut Town, between 

 the mouth and the bar, is mentioned by M. as another place. 



" About the best place I know of for Bahmeen is the Mahe 1 river, 

 " where it runs through the little French town of Mahe, about 20 

 " miles south of Cannanore, from the bridge that spans this river, at 

 " the entrance to the town, capital Bahmeen fishing is to be had, ami 

 " you can generally hire a tolerably comfortable bungalow on the 

 " hank of the river, close to the bridge, and from your windows you 

 " can always see when the fish begin to feed, so you only have to 

 " shoulder your rod, ami walk a few yards to your sport. 



" I don't know the spawning time of the Bahmeen, but I have 

 " had good sport with them all through the monsoon and in the 

 " months of March, April, and May. At the end of, and after the 

 " monsoon, however, the sea at the mouth of these backwaters 

 " becomes almost putrid, and a very unpleasant smell arises from 

 " it. When the incoming tide brings this dirty water up the back- 

 " waters, it seems to poison the Bahmeen, Nair fish, and other large 

 " fish ; the water has a brown tinge in it, and, as the tide ebbs, num- 

 _e fish, all dead, float down with it and go out to sea 

 " At these times the native fishermen wade in, and secure the dead 

 '• fish as they pass, with a short harpoon. I need hardly say that, 

 " during the months when the rivets are in this state, it is of little 

 " use attempting to fish. 



•• In concluding these notes, 1 think 1 may say that Bahmeen 

 " fishing is good sport, and quite worth following. In starting on a 



■ fishing trip it is well to he provided with plenty of tackle, as the 



■ fish are strong, and breakages frequent. I don't know what in weight 



