66 



Spinning for Mahseer. 



CHAP. v. 



and about the size shown on page 68. I say about, 

 not exactly, because this illustration has had to be 

 slightly diminished to suit the page. The correct size 

 is No. 5 in the scale of treble hooks given a few pages 

 on. I used to use No. 7, but I find the hook is so 

 well concealed in this mode of baiting that one can 

 afford to use a larger hook, and the larger hook gives 

 of course greater chances of hooking, and a larger hook 

 hold. Indeed, you may use No. 3 if you like, so well is 

 the hook concealed, but to my thinking No. 5 suffices. 

 When the hook is home to the vent, embed one of the 

 three thoroughly in the fish, so that the two remaining 

 hooks of the treble shall be lying close against the fish. 

 In this position they are scarcely perceptible, whereas if 

 one hook is carelessly only half embedded, the other 

 two stick out and show unnecessarily. It is always 

 worth while to bait very carefully and neatly, because all 

 your subsequent efforts centre on the nicety of your 

 baiting. Then you must have a sinker, also described 

 in the chapter on tackle. Pass the baiting needle 

 through the loop or ring attached to the sinker, and run 

 the sinker down the line, and push it, thin point fore- 

 most, down the fish's throat, so that it is entirely 

 concealed within the mouth of the bait. Then remove 

 your baiting needle, and hold the line so as to come out 

 of the bait's mouth exactly in the centre ; and so as to 

 keep it in the centre, and make the bait spin true, as 

 well as keep the lead from coming out, sew the bait's 

 mouth up as follows with a common needle and thread. 

 Close the bait's mouth, pass the threaded needle through 

 both lips so as to bring it out at one of the nostrils in 

 the upper lip, insert it at the other nostril, and pass it 

 through both lips again, keeping the line between these 

 two .stitches. The two ends of the thread will then be 

 over at the chin of the bait ; draw them together just 

 gently enough to avoid tearing the bait, and yet tightly 

 enough to keep the mouth well closed. Tie a sailor's 

 knot, not " a granny " or grandmother's knot, and cut off 



