90 JFftw, When, a?td Where to Fish for Mahseer. CHAP. vi. 



important that it should spin round and round with lightning speed. 

 But there are other things also which are important. The only object 

 of the bait spinning round and round on its own axis is, as far as I am 

 aware, to conceal the hooks, and perhaps also to give the general 

 appearance of a fish moving by vibration of the tail. But chiefly, I 

 believe, to conceal the hooks. My idea is that it is better to attain this " 

 end by having few and well-concealed hooks, than at the sacrifice of 

 natural motion in the bait. It is true that from paucity of hooks you 

 sometimes have a run and do not hook, because your bait has been 

 taken by the tail where there is no hook. But I would rather have 

 that disappointment than not have the run at all by way of diversion ; 

 and my belief is that you get more runs on fine tackle with few hooks 

 than you do when you have a bait bristling with hooks enough to scare 

 away the most strong-minded of fish. Moreover, the Mahseer ordinarily 

 takes the bait in head foremost, as a trout does, not crosswise as a pike 

 does, consequently a tail hook is not needed, except to avoid occasional 

 missing of the bait, and I certainly would not use it just to guard 

 against such an accident. I would rather rely on the fish missing the 

 bait altogether, and coming at it a second time. Again it will be 

 remembered that the leathery mouth, and the habit of compressing its 

 prey, both point to fewer hooks being needed for getting hold of a 

 Mahseer than are ordinarily used for trout and pike and salmon. 

 Besides, there is a great advantage in fishing slowly. Predatory fish do 

 not ordinarily hunt down flying game like a dog ; they take it unawares 

 like a cat, and if they feel they cannot seize it at a spring, or a rush, 

 they give it up, and watch for another opportunity. Consequently, if a 

 bait passes them rapidly, they take no apparent notice of it, considering 

 the attempt at surprise likely to be vain. Many and many a time 

 have I watched them do the same with a passing live fish. The young 

 fellow is probably not unaware of the dangerous quarters he is passing 

 through, and makes a dash for it accordingly ; the old fellow sees with 

 half an eye that he is wide awake, and makes no effect to overtake him. 

 So little notice does he take, although the small fish has come close by 

 him, that you are disposed to think he is not a taking fish, not on the 

 feed, but a thoughtful beggar reflecting on the immoral tendencies of 

 cannibalism, and seriously meditating the giving of it up. But keep 

 your eye on him now, as that other little fish which is sauntering 

 leisurely upwards comes by him, there is the slightest possible undu- 



