CHAP. xii. The Black-Spot. 177 



only met with them on the West Coast ; but Dr. Day adds the base of the 

 Neilgherries and Southern India, and Ceylon. In any case, the area is 

 wide enough to allow of their being mentioned ; very much wider than 

 the area occupied by the Grayling, and probably, like the Carnatic 

 Carp, they are representatives of a class of many other similar small 

 carps, in different parts of India, that may be fished for in the same 

 way. They affect the smaller tributary streams, and especially, if, 

 indeed, they are not confined to, those which are rich in water-weed, on 

 the seeds of which, as well as on the weeds themselves, and the insect life 

 therein, they feed largely. They are not to be found in the runs, but 

 where the water flows more gently, and even in the still water. There 

 they congregate in shoals like dace, and take the fly with a very gentle 

 suck like dace. 



To make anything of a bag of them they require right good fishing. 

 I have a note of having at Mala, in the South Canara District, caught 

 thirty one afternoon. Up they came, a fish at each fly, and out they 

 came, one or two at a time. In one throw I took three fish of about 

 3! ounces each, o.ne on each fly. But, aye, there's a but, and it must be 

 admitted I have a note also that runs thus : " Had I taken all that rose 

 that afternoon, I suppose I should have killed 300 fish, weighing from 

 35 Ibs. to 50 Ibs." Of course I write, not from memory, but from notes 

 made at the time. They are very shy and the water very bright, so you 

 must fish very fine. Their mouth is leathery, but small, so that I think 

 a fly on No. ooo Sneck bend is preferable to No. o. You miss fewer 

 rises with a small hook. The above note will show I found this out to 

 my cost. Any light dun or black fly will kill, but I saw on the water a 

 deep purple little fly, and imitating it did best with it. It is mentioned 

 among other flies in the remarks on the lesser Barils. Because of their 

 shyness, throw as long a line as you can perfectly command, both to fall 

 straight and to strike quickly with, for they frequently rise as the fly 

 touches the water, though a sunk fly will suit them also. Do not draw 

 the fly too close to you, because they will also follow the fly, and if they 

 follow it too close to you they see you, and there'll be an end of your 

 fun. Remember they swim in shoals like dace, so that if you get on a 

 shoal you had better not move from it as long as they keep rising. 

 Out they come, one after another, with a quaint look of unutterable 

 surprise in their faces. " Now, who would 'a thought it \ " You may 

 go on throwing in exactly the same place. Draw your fly very slowly. 



THE ROD IN INDIA. N 



