76 Spinning for Mahseer. CHAP. v. 



smaller fry from rudely rushing in and carrying off their intended 

 dinner. There is a very decided, dignified, awe-striking, keep-your- 

 distance expression in the countenance and general bearing of a large 

 fish about to feed, and in a handsomely attired trout an unmistakable 

 odi profanum vulgus look, quite enough to make any small fry shrink 

 into their shoes. Though I have not yet arrived at the point of 

 recognising the varying lines in the face of a large Mahseer, there is no 

 doubt in my mind but that the small fish are thoroughly conversant 

 with them, for I see a knowledge of a certain something there so clearly 

 reflected in their behaviour, that I cannot question it, and myself am 

 often able to gather something from his general demeanour, his lordly 

 lineaments, even before he leaves his station for the bait. His daily 

 satellites the small fish must, however, have much more closely studied 

 his physiognomy. 



Still the rule cannot be considered by any means absolute. Small 

 Mahseer must rush in and take their risks of punishment sometimes, 

 just as half-grown chickens do in a yard, and get a good peck now and 

 again for their pains. Nothing venture nothing have. Your small bait 

 may also be taken by a small Mahseer before it comes within the ken 

 of the large fish which is in another part of the pool or run, a part you 

 have not yet spun over. An argument this for spinning through the 

 best bits first ; a reason again why the best fisherman catches the best 

 fish. He divines intuitively where the best fish ought to be, and he 

 fishes accordingly. Furthermore, the best fish having taken up their 

 position in the best localities command only a limited radius there- 

 from. If the smaller Mahseer never got a chance of a small fish they 

 would be badly off. 



There is no doubt, however, in my mind but that the large fish is 

 able to make the smaller ones understand that he means to have such 

 and such bait in sight, and that they are not to think of anticipating him. 

 It is quite intelligible that he should do it almost without a sign, just as 

 you would intimate to the bearer of your second gun that you are 

 prepared for the approaching deer or tiger, and that he is to keep 

 motionless. He does not need to be told the last half of the idea, it is 

 a natural sequence ; it would be a work of supererogation to tell him 

 he must not fire before you ; he never dreamt of such a thing, for he 

 has been too well drilled. The position of the small fish is a parallel 

 one. They only need to see in the big fish's eye a look of preparedness 



