1 8 The Mahscer. CHAP. n. 



to put on any pressure your tackle will bear, however light your rod, as 

 may be seen in the Chapter on Tackle. As long as you do not bend the 

 rod too much the pressure will not strain the rod, however light the rod 

 or strong the tackle. See remarks under Winches and Brake-winch in 

 Chapter XX. 



Landing a Mahseer. And now to land him. There are four 

 ways shelving, handling, gaffing, netting. 



Shelving. To my thinking shelving is the safest way, and directly 

 you see that your fish is getting beaten, look about you for a gently- 

 shelving strand to which to lead him, and continue the fight in that 

 direction, remembering that the fish is sure not to like the look of the 

 bank as much as you do, and directly he nears it is certain to summon 

 all his remaining strength to dash away from it. So do not pull him 

 on shore while he is struggling against you, but choose rather the 

 moment of utter exhaustion directly after one of these last great efforts, 

 then pull him straight towards shore, with his nose well up on the 

 surface of the water, and you will find the fish will, with the way you 

 get on him, be run his whole length well up the shelving bank with his 

 tail clear of the water, and for a second or two he will lie there like a 

 log. You will have plenty of time to stoop down and secure him 

 yourself, without the doubtful aid of an untrained attendant. And even 

 if you are fishing from a boat it is the safest plan to go ashore and 

 shelve your fish if he is a heavy one worth killing. Of course you will 

 take the precaution, when going ashore, to send your boat enough out 

 of the way to get sufficient elbow-room. 



Handling. But handling is an equally safe way if you have with 

 you a really well-trained man, who knows his work and will not lose his 

 head. I have had such, splendid fellows, who joined heart and soul in 

 the sport. They can be so useful that it is well worth while to train a 

 likely man. His business is to approach the fish from behind it, and 

 out of the way of your line, and waiting the moment of exhaustion, or 

 waiting your word, to use the moment promptly yet not hurriedly, 

 slipping both hands under the fish, with a thumb in each gill, and then 

 gripping tight ; or, if it is a small fish, he can take it by the nape of the 

 neck with one hand, with the thumb in one gill and the fingers in the 

 other. In either case he will have secured a firm grip, from which no 

 slipperiness will help the fish to free itself. And so held the fish should 

 be dragged or carried well inland. You cannot take the fish by the 



