THE RUSH OF A HOOKED FISH. 483 



of a somewhat heavier make than those used in Eng- 

 land, as it is preferable to spin deep ; and both spoons 

 and hooks require to be extra strong, on account of the 

 great power of compression possessed by the jaws of this 

 fish. Indeed special hooks are sold for mahseer fishing 

 in the London shops ; and Mr. Thomas states that he 



" lost treble hook after treble hook, smashed sometimes before 

 he felt any fish at all, crunched up by the mahseer's power 

 of compression, and that the treble hooks suffered more than 

 the single, because the single hook turned in the mouth, and 

 evaded it." * While fishing for mahseer he says, "you must 

 fish in constant preparedness for the sudden rush, as when a 

 heavy fish goes off with racehorse speed, he will take no 

 denial; if he cannot get line enough he will break it, but all 

 being ready for paying out line at a moment's notice, it is 

 not to be given gratis ; toll must be exacted for every inch, by 

 raising the point of the rod according to circumtances, and 

 thus compelling the fish to bend it, before he can get the 

 line to run; 45 or 50 represent the angle at which the rod 

 will bear most strain. The moment he ceases rushing, wind 

 up as vigorously as possible." f 



No better advice than this can be given to the salmon 

 angler, when playing a heavy fish. All we can add 

 to it is to advise the young angler to keep cool, and 

 whenever the fish springs out of the water, to instantly 

 lower the point of the rod, so as to avoid any sudden 

 jerk; and as regards gaffing a fish, though in the 

 " Badminton Library, " (" On Fishing for Pike, etc."), it is 

 advised to put the gaff over the back of the fish, and 

 then strike; with all due deference we should certainly 

 advise fishermen on no account to do so. When a fish 

 is ready for the gaff, hold him well up by the rod with 



* The Rod in India, by H. S. Thomas, 1873, p. 38. 

 j- Ibid., pp. 12 and 13. 



