xvi Contents. 



PAGES 



34 ? 35 Its preference for rocks Sanderson's fish, 35 A rare buffalo, 36 

 Calculating size by length of Mahseer, 37 Weighing Mahseer, 37-41 

 The migratory habits of the Mahseer, 41 Not spent and unwholesome 

 after spawning, because of peculiarity of spawning How to judge of time 

 of spawning, 42 Reason for the peculiarity in spawning, 43 Inventory of 

 the contents of Mahseer's stomach, 44 Conclusion therefrom that the 

 Mahseer is a bottom feeder The same conclusion from the formation of 

 the outside of mouth Power of sucking up Molluscs, etc., from the 

 bottom, 45 Power of pharyngeal or throat teeth, 46 Are they shed 

 periodically, 47- -Power of jaw also, 48 24-48 



CHAPTER IV. 



CIRCUMVENTING THE MAHSEER. 



Not to be caught by the same rules as English fish, 49 The clearest water the 

 best for fishing Except in the Ganges, 50 And with live bait Affected 

 by cold winds, 51 The Mahseer a fish- eater though a carp Extraordinary 

 power of jaw Hooks crushed by it Power of rigidifying muscles of the 

 mouth, 52 Importance of bearing in mind the Mahseer's bottom feeding 

 habits Artificial fly as a bait for Mahseer, 54 Advantages and dis- 

 advantages thereof Less killing than spinning Should always be avail- 

 able in addition to spinning, 55 Special necessity for keeping out of 

 sight, 56 49-56 



CHAPTER V. 



SPINNING FOR MAHSEER. 



Live bait -versus dead bait, 57 Importance of keeping out of sight, 58 

 Weight, size, and advantages of spoon bait, 59 Magic, 60 The size of 

 spoon a rod can throw Phantom minnow, 61 Spinning with dead fish 

 A pliable rod advocated Stiff Mahseer rod deprecated, 62 Castle Connel 

 rod, 64 Modes of baiting with dead fish, 65 Baiting needles Enlarged 

 sinkers Dee tackle, 68 Geen's Richmond spinner, 69 Coxon spinner, 70 

 Archer spinner Chapman spinner Fine tackle desirable, 72 Sort of 

 fish for bait, 73 Best size for bait, 74 Large fish deter small fish from 

 anticipating them Good fisherman generally kills better fish than an 

 indifferent fisherman Large fish wary, 75 Fish able to communicate 

 ideas to each other, 76 Fish think and have brains, 77 Examples of 

 birds, beasts, and insects communicating ideas, and the analogy to be 

 drawn therefrom in favour of fishes, 79 Audibility of sound dependent on 

 rapidity of vibrations, 84 Gregarious fish communicate, 85 Salt preferred 

 to spirits for preservation of bait, 86 . . . . 57-86 



