236 Rod and Tad I > . ( 'iiapt. xviii. 



right principle, the one to be adopted also for the Mahseer ; in other 

 words, that there is no better implement for the capture of Mahseer 

 than a salmon rod. But as the activity and strength of the salmon 

 is somewhat intensified in the first violent rush of the Mahseer, SO 

 the principle of the salmon rod, its pliability, should be somewhat 

 intensified in the Mahseer rod. 



In brief, I hold that the best Mahseer rod is a pliable, but not 

 top-heavy, salmon rod of 16 feet in length. For portability, I like 

 it in the usual four joints, and of my two, I very much prefer the 

 lighter one, by Farlow. You should have an extra top in case of 

 accidents. 



Fish that are less active than the Salmon and the Mahseer 

 may, like the pike, be safely killed on a stiff pike top. Such fish 

 are the Marral and the Freshwater Sharks of Chapter XIII, and the 

 Cock-up. If you want a shorter an 1 stiffer rod for the throwing 

 out of a heavy bait in pike trolling fashion, it is easily managed by 

 having a third extra and very short lip to your pliable salmon rod. 

 With such a top your 16 feet pliable salmon rod will become a 

 12^ feet trolling rod. 



For the Barilius bula, or Indian trout, may be a 14 feet fly rod 

 is the most enjoyable. 



My complement of rods is two pliable 16 feet salmon rods for 

 Mahseer, one of them very light for its length, two in case of 

 accidents, and one 10 feet trout rod. The complement is doubths> 

 incomplete without a 14 feet fly rod, only somehow I have always 

 been thinking some one might possibly give me one on my birth- 

 day ! ! 



I will now quote " Barkis " as promised. The "Field," 6th July, 

 1878:— 



" Avoid the ordinary black salmon rod of the London maker ; it is 

 '• a delusion and a snare. 1 broke five of them in a fortnight, all by 

 " good makers. The fact is the wood won't stand the climate, and 

 •'gets as brittle as sealing-wax. After many trials of rods of every 

 " description, I decided in my own mind what was the besl rod to get 

 '" for Mahseer, and I came home and got it. I took it out. used it hist 

 " season, and handed it over to a friend, who wrote to me last mail 

 " and said it was 'the best rod in Asia;' and I think he was about 

 "right. My friends in Crooked Lane made it for mo, an 1* feet 

 " greenheart, in two joints, with a splice and a spare top (the latter 



