CHAP. v. The Mahseer Rod. 63 



for you. Before you can drop the top the mischief is done. There has 

 been a sudden smash, and your friend has gone. You think, dear me, 

 that was a splendid fish, my tackle was not strong enough. I venture to 

 say that the probabilities are that the fish that broke you was not a bit 

 heavier than the last you killed on that same line, and that if you had 

 only got on terms with him at starting, by means of a pliable rod, you 

 might equally have killed him also. I do not deny, be it remembered, 

 that the Mahseer do grow very large, and do want very strong and fresh 

 tackle, but I maintain also that much of their violence may be neutralized, 

 and the necessity for coarse tackle obviated, by the use of a pliable fly 

 rod in preference to a stiff trolling rod, or even a trolling top joint. I 

 say not only fly rod, but pliable fly rod, for fly rods for salmon are made 

 both stiff and pliable, and I prefer the latter, and I would now never 

 think of using a spinning top joint. The rod is in effect only the hand 

 end of the line. It is the last connecting link between the fish and the 

 hand. I do not understand the term Mahseer rod as if it were necessary 

 to have something sui generis. An ordinary pliable salmon rod is the 

 one on which I rely by preference, and I hold that if you strengthen 

 your rod by stiffening it you must necessarily proceed to strengthen 

 also your line, your collar, and your snood ; and having done that, you 

 are fishing with a barge pole and a cart rope. You are substituting 

 brute force for skill. Don't call it sport. Sport is the delicious triumph 

 of skill. The man with the barge pole gets very little of that, poor 

 fellow, and he has the labour of carrying a heavier rod and a heavier 

 winch than is really needed. Give me the magic wand that promptly 

 " stoops to conquer," that is sensitive of every plunge, that aids me like 

 a friend in meeting it promptly, that works with me hand in hand 

 throughout the fight, almost speaks to me of the next effort of the 

 enemy, always anticipates me in foiling it, and when the battle is won, 

 draws himself up as straight as an arrow, and breathes again for fresh 

 contests. Ah well ! I have some dear friends among my rods with 

 many mutual confidences, shared with none else. They have had as 

 much to do with the killing of many a fine fish as I have. 



They have had to do with it in more ways than resisting the first 

 rush. I have, after some play, killed a marral of some 5 or 6 Ibs. 

 which had one hook pressing against a tooth, and not embedded any- 

 where, and which dropped off as the landing net took the weight off 

 the line. Would such a thing have been possible with anything but a 



