t HUT. xvn. Tackh-brtaJdng Capabilities. 207 



■■ the Ba-meen the Mullet. This waa under the still arches near 

 " one side, instead of, as usual, in the centre where the current is 

 •■ stroi - -!. Tlir first fish I lost after playing a few minutes. Bold 



" gave way. 



•• Tin- uext, a very lively fish, drowned me as I was getting off 

 ■■ tin' bridge, as lie ran down stream and got a bush between us. 

 Bowever, being well hooked, he iliil not gel oil, ami [got the 

 " slack in, ami had nearly tired him out, when, to my horror, I 

 " found the reel running still', and his next rush I could not give it 

 " him fast enough, and the bait came hack with one vi' the tail 

 " trebles straightened 



" It turned nut that a screw inside the reel had started, and 

 " jammed against the disk, into which it was cutting, and when 

 " opened the box was full of brass filings, 



" This was. then, had luck. I then put on a fresh phantom, 

 " haying, luckily, a second reel and line, and had two or three 

 " runs, the fish missing being hooked. 



" This I attribute to my having tied the treble on stiff win-, 

 •• m airing the whole bait still'. I then put on a guttapercha bait, a 

 • great favourite, and had hardly begun when a fish took and bolted 

 " at once round a pde. I make it a rule to break them directly they 

 " get close to a pile, hut this one I gave line to, in hopes of saving 

 " my bait, and did so, a large treble breaking I got a boat and 

 " rescued line and bait, but found the easting line all frayed against 

 " the barnacles on the pile. I hail now to set to work and tie the 

 ■ still' phantom afresh with gimp ; and, while doing so, a monster rose 

 " under one of the arches. As soon ;i^ 1 was ready I went at him and 

 " soon hooked him. He went down stream, ami alter 10 minutes I 

 " began edging off the bridge to get to the bank, when he suddenly 

 " came charging at me to get under the bridge. His power was 

 " enormous; and. in spite of stones and a long bamboo with Leaves 

 " tied on the end, he came under and actually got a few yards 

 " above the bridge, I being in an upside down position, and holding 

 " him very tight. At last he made for the piles and broke me. 

 " This was the biggest fish I have hooked, and 1 think he must 

 " have been from !•"> to 20 lbs. 



"Had I then had what I have now, a wooden ladder fixed into the 

 " centre piles, and a boat moored with men ready, I could easily have 

 " killed him, by following him on his tirst rush, and getting below 



