FISHING 



the condition of the water. In the lakes artificial spinning 

 bait is allowed, but the weeds are a nuisance, and I have not 

 often attempted spinning, and have only once succeeded in 

 landing a fish on a Devon minnow in Lake Gregory. 



As to rods, every one naturally suits his own fancy ; but 

 a small rod is, in my opinion, essential for the small streams. 

 I have an 8J feet 3^ ounces cane rod, by Foster, which is 

 an ideal weapon. It will throw a very accurate fly, and I 

 have landed fish of about 2f Ibs. on it. A larger rod 

 is wanted for the bigger waters, where a long cast is 

 necessary. 



The chief enemies with which the fish have to contend 

 are otters, kingfishers, big cannibal trout, and poachers. Of 

 otters I have seen any number while fishing. It is con- 

 tended by some that the otter really does no harm, that 

 he captures only the big sluggish cannibal, who well 

 deserves his fate. This may or may not be true, but 

 otters do undoubtedly disturb the water, even if they do 

 not catch the smaller and livelier fish. I have seen rising 

 trout most effectually " put down " by an otter swimming 

 through the pool, and nothing would persuade them to rise 

 for the rest of the day. In waters such as these, where the 

 fish are not free risers, anything that discourages them from 

 rising should be eliminated. 



In concluding these notes on Ceylon trout, I wish to 

 remark that my experience of them is very small compared 

 with that of those favoured beings who live near the 

 streams. A week or ten days' holiday snatched once and 

 again from a reluctant Government, and a three-months' 

 sojourn at Nuwara Eliya, is all the time that I have had to 

 become acquainted with these fish. 



But besides trout, which are restricted to a certain 

 altitude in the hill country, there is good fishing to be had 



337 Y 



