156 The Carnatic Carp. CHAP. xi. 



recovered it. It had got jammed under the rock by the current, and 

 held down in deep water, where P. actually was, and might have 

 remained if he had not struck out manfully. 



Our wag H. was heard to say gravely that he could bring home as 

 good stories any day if only he was allowed to go out alone. 



Sometimes a rock is found standing out in deep water in the middle 

 of a pool, showing just below the surface and causing gentle eddies in 

 the deep pool just below it. Big Carnatic Carp affect such places as 

 far down as there is the slightest eddy in the water. One such place I 

 have in loving memory, and it has been photographed and reproduced 

 in oils. 



Now we will get ashore and let you put Up your own rod. Mine, 

 you see, is a i6-ft. light-made pliable salmon rod, with 120 yards of 

 Manchester Cotton Twine Spinning Co.'s waterproofed line on a 

 4-inch diameter check-winch, with a 9 or 10 feet cast of single salmon 

 gut, carrying three flies, as for trout, the two end ones being on No. 5 

 or 6 Limerick hooks, according to my scale, dressed very full, and all 

 the way down the shank, and the first drop on No. 4 Kendal-Kirby, or 

 round bend, which is just the same size as No. 6 Limerick, but being 

 short and fine, it is a much smaller fly. The flies are all nearly the 

 same colour, being as black or dark as I can put them together with a 

 glistening shiny appearance. Nothing kills better than a fly all peacock 

 harl body, wings, and all, and full. But peacock harl is frail, uncom- 

 monly frail, and wears out all too soon, and objection may well be 

 taken to it on that score. You will find our friend Blackamoor in the 

 chapter on Fly-fishing for Mahseer. 



My rod used to be a i6-ft. light-made, pliable salmon rod by 

 Farlow, and I was thoroughly contented with it till I tried a light 

 pliable double-handed i4-ft. trout rod, and then I vacillated between 

 them, preferring the i6-ft. rod when there seemed to be a fair chance 

 of a stray Mahseer as well as the Carnatic Carp, and the i4-ft. rod 

 when the chances seemed the other way, and when tired in the .after- 

 noons, till I think the younger lassie was beginning, to seduce me from 

 my old love. Indeed I was beginning to question in my inconstant 

 mind whether the one was not a match for money, greed of Mahseer, 

 and the other a love match, love of sport, purer sport with greater 

 skill, and still there came in a slinking attachment to the old girl 

 who had been my sole companion and confidante in many a well- 



