482 MAHSEER FISHING. 



but the teeth in the mahseer's throat are unusually 

 formidable and it has great power of jaw, so that it 

 has been known to double a spoon in two, like a 

 compressed piece of paper. * In some rivers these 

 fish do not run above 10 or 12 Ibs. but in others 

 they have been taken 30 or 40 Ibs. and even as 

 much as 74 Ibs. Curiously enough Mr. Thomas finds 

 that "in discoloured water you will not take a single 

 fish; your best chance is when the river is clear as 

 crystal, and just as you would consider the most 

 unfavourable for trout and salmon. The clearer the 

 water is the better the prospect of sport." f The 

 angler has therefore, as Mr. Thomas reminds him, to 

 be more careful to keep put of sight than in any other 

 kind of fishing, and great attention must be paid to dress, 

 so that there may be nothing to attract the notice of the 

 fish. There can be no doubt that fish are able to 

 see the movements of persons in a boat or on land 

 much more clearly than most people seem to suppose ; 

 and while a fish is seen lying stationary in the water, 

 he is in all probability intently watching what is going 

 on above, ready to dart away at the first appearance 

 of danger, as the angler will find if he makes any 

 sudden movement. 



Though mahseer will take a fly, Mr. Thomas con- 

 siders the most killing of all baits is a fish from three 

 to four inches long on light spinning tackle, but 

 phantom minnows at least six inches long and the spoon 

 are nearly equally good the spoons to be from i^ 

 to 2 1 inches in length in the bowl and to have one 

 side silver and one side copper, and they should be 



* The Rod in India, by H, S. Thomas, 1873, pp. 367. 

 f Ibid., pp. 345- 



