142 Live Bait Fishing for Mahseer. CHAP, ix, 



f 

 Mahseer, and wire gimp No. 2/0 could be used instead of double 



salmon gut. 



With reference to other fishing, I have recommended the Ophio- 

 cephalus gachua or dok of Hindustani as 

 a bait ; but it would not do for this style 

 of fishing, because, like the murrel, it 

 requires to come frequently to the surface 

 to breathe the air, and would be drowned 

 by being picketed to the bottom by a 

 bullet. 



A friend who was an ardent pike 

 fisherman used to set several rods with 

 live bait in Slapton Lea, well apart, and 

 he picketed a daughter over each with 

 a book and a whistle. If a bait was 

 taken, the alarm was sounded, and my 

 friend ran to the rescue, and played the 

 fish. If you practise this fishing with 

 water at all clear, of course you will 

 warn your watchman not to indulge his. 

 curiosity in watching the line or the top 

 of the rod, but to sit well away from 



the bank and listen for the whirr of the check-winch. This is a 



convenient way of setting your rod. 



