CHAPTER XVIII. 



ROD AND TACKLE. 



" A.way to the brook, 



All jour tackle out-look, 



Here's u day that is worth a year's wi-hing ; 



See that all things be right. 



For 'twould be a spite 



To want tools when a man goes a-fishing." — 



Cotton. 



I began my fishing in India with rough and ready self-made 

 articles ; accordingly, in my first edition, I began this Chapter with 

 instructions how any brother fishermen in like distress might set 

 himself up with an impromptu self-made kit. T think it was a 

 mistake. Such a kit is sure to be a bad one, sure to lead only to 

 terrible disasters and disappointments in any hut the most skilful 

 hands, and not unfmptently even in those. Practised hands will 

 know how to make up makeshifts without my telling them ; others 

 should not venture on using them. Bather let them be careful to 

 buy the best implements to aid them in their first efforts. 



The hunks required for Mahseer fishing will, as far as the fly 



fishing is concerned, be the same as fur Salmon 



fishing, to wit, Limerick hooks, but in ordering 



them you will please not forget the caution given at page 94, and 



will refer your tackle-maker to my Plate VIII. 



But for spinning you will require a very different style of treble 

 hook to the sort ordinarily used for spinning in England, you will 

 require one made specially Eor Mahseer. The sizes of Mahseer 

 trebles are the same as those of other treble hooks as given in 

 Plate VII, but Mahseer trebles are made of very much stouter wire. 

 A tackle-maker accustomed to supply Indian tackle will know 

 what you mean if you call them Mahseer trebles; but from ordinarj 

 tackle-makers you might just as well a^k for the man in the moon, 



