vi Preface to Third Edition. 



to terseness the chatty style which so many kindly friends have been 

 good enough to approve. 



Since writing the second edition of this volume new difficulties have 

 arisen to confront me and to compel me to seek again the kindly con- 

 sideration of my friendly readers. In my first and second editions, 

 comprehending, or at least endeavouring to embrace, all Indian fish 

 that could be taken with a rod, my matter simply grew with my 

 knowledge of a new subject. But since then I have endeavoured to 

 divide my subject by writing ' Tank Angling in India,' and I have now 

 to consider whether or not to maintain the division. 



The primary object of ' Tank Angling' was, as stated in its preface, 

 to produce a cheap book for those who could not afford to fish for 

 Mahseer, and it led naturally to confining the subject to such fishing 

 as, without camp equipage and expensive journeys, could be had in 

 ponds, fort moats, bathing tanks, or other reservoirs close at hand. 

 That division made, it seems well to keep to it, and for other reasons 

 also, namely, the avoiding of repetition, and the keeping of * The Rod 

 in India ' from swelling to inconvenient proportions. 



Endeavouring to keep up this division of subjects, I hope that the 

 two books may become as much sister volumes as if they were entitled 

 Vol. I. and Vol. II. of one book, though distinct titles indicate to the 

 purchaser their different subjects, 'The Rod in India' henceforth 

 treating only of such fish as are to be taken in rivers and estuaries, 

 those to be captured in reservoirs being relegated to ' Tank Angling.' 

 Though it is a division sometimes difficult to maintain, it seems the 

 fairest to my readers, who will thus have both books kept from being 

 too bulky and too expensive, and also have it in their power to suit 

 themselves as to whether they shall become the happy possessors of 

 either one or of both. 



Still, in following this division of subjects as regards old matter, I 

 have allowed myself to temporarily depart from it as regards new 

 matter which must eventually be relegated to ' Tank Angling,' because, 

 this plan seemed better than letting new discoveries run the risk of 

 dying with me, if I kept them back from my fellow-fishermen till I had 

 an opportunity of writing a second edition of ' Tank Angling.' 



Extracts and letters from friends are shown in smaller type, not as 

 being less valuable, but simply to distinguish them, lest I should be 

 unduly credited with them. 



