CHAP. vi. Sick Fish first Preyed on. 93 



In like manner, I think, I may hold to my description of the manner 

 in which the Mahseer captures its prey as a right one, L. J.'s manner 

 being the exception, which, however, it is interesting to know and 

 note. In connection with remarks on striking, I have myself noted a 

 pertinacious hot pursuit of the bait by Mahseer ; nevertheless, I do not 

 think it the rule when the prey is moving rapidly. Trout will also chase 

 small fish in the shallows, but their rule is rather to watch for what the 

 stream brings within reach of the station which they have taken up. 



While it is comforting, therefore, to know that the Mahseer may 

 sometimes hotly pursue your bait a long way, even though spun too 

 rapidly, it is better to trust to slow spinning, so as to give him an easier 

 opportunity. 



Furthermore, there are more or less educated Mahseer, as there are 

 highly educated trout. Much fished trout, it will be admitted, require 

 to be fished for with finer tackle, and less hooks, as well as with greater 

 skill than do others. Similarly there are unsophisticated Mahseer, 

 dwelling in uninhabited wilds, that are capturable with ease by almost 

 any fisherman ; while there are others that have learnt caution from 

 their growing acquaintance with " that arch deceiver man," and have to 

 be fished for with more care and more knowledge. Such fish, especially 

 the larger, older, and more experienced ones, are more constantly on 

 the look-out for man, more suspicious, and more intelligent in their 

 criticism. I have heard say, that once upon a time there dwelt in fair 

 Thames a trout so much fished for with all sorts of tackle, and grown so 

 experienced therein, that not only could he detect an artificial minnow 

 at a glance, but he could tell even the shop it came from / I am afraid 

 I cannot produce a Mahseer quite up to that, but they are on the 

 way to it. 



My belief is that Mahseer, and other predacious fish, prey rather on 

 sick fish than on others, and for the simple reason that the sick and 

 weakly are the more easily captured. The same rule obtains with tigers, 

 jackals, and other beasts of prey, the sick or wounded deer falling 

 speedy victims where the hale and strong escape. I remember once 

 fishing a pool with a small fly for Chela, Barils, and such-like. The pool 

 was full of them, so that the Mahseer had no lack of small fish whereon 

 to feed, but I saw no Mahseer feeding till I hooked one of these little 

 fellows on my small trout fly. Immediately a Mahseer came at it, and 

 I was in fear and trembling for my little trout rod. My conclusion was 



