CHAP. xi. " Had it in his Bones." 149 



a thoroughly good sportsman, good in the pigskin, good with the rifle, 

 but whose education had, for lack of opportunity, been lamentably 

 neglected in the fishing line, and who was pleased to place himself 

 under my tuition therein. It was about the only flaw in his otherwise 

 estimable character. Still, you will admit, it was a very serious flaw. 

 However, it has been effectively remedied now, so we will say no more 

 about it. "Caught Salmon?" I began. "No," said he. "Nor 

 Trout ? " " No," said he, " never threw a fly in my life, but I fancy 

 I've got it in my bones." He was right. He took three or four nice 

 little fish from i Ib. to 3 Ibs. each that very morning before breakfast, 

 and after less than half-an-hour I had let him alone as big enough to 

 take care of himself. Between you and me there are some men whom 

 you could not make fishermen of, even though you brought them up by 

 hand on cod liver oil, and weaned them on nothing but sardines and 

 anchovy paste. But we will hope you have " got it in your bones." 



Here we are on the Bawanny, an affluent of the Cavery. We have 

 got into the basket-boat at the top of a large pool from a furlong to 

 half-a-mile long, say 150 yards broad, and from 2 to 20 feet deep, with 

 a grand salmon run rushing in over the rocks, and continuing some 

 way into the pool. Lower down the pool has scarcely any apparent 

 motion except the eddies near the shore ; and the banks are steep and 

 well above the water level, huge forest trees overhanging the margin of 

 the river. We will begin at the top, and work down river, for the simple 

 reason that it is hard to work the basket-boat against the stream. This is 

 a deep, strong run, and though just the water, for Mahseer, it is a little 

 too much for the Carnatic Carp. Still, do not neglect it, for I have 

 had big rises even in the heavy water, but try specially the edge of the 

 run, and the eddies and backwater between two runs, and the tail 

 of the run where it is losing its force in the deeper water of the pool ; 

 try right down till the run merges in still water. Ah, there you are ! 

 Missed him ! He wasn't a bad fish either. Somehow the biggest fish 

 are always those one doesn't hook. 



Never mind. Stay the way of the boat, boatman, and we will try 

 him again. There he is again. Felt him this time, didn't you, but 

 couldn't get hold of him ? You didn't strike quick enough ; or you 

 hadn't a straight line and could not strike home enough. But you will 

 find out more of that difficulty when you come to fish the stiller water. 

 Now that the run is over, try the bank edge. In most places 



