CHAP. xii. The Indian Trout. 187 



found in many rivers of India, its chief habitat being clear streams with 

 stony bed. 



" Though not of the Trout genus it bears some resemblance in outline 

 to the European Trout, but is of more delicate formation, and the more 

 brilliant looking fish of the two. Like the Trout it is very beautifully 

 spotted.* 



" The weight of the Barilius bola of different rivers varies greatly ; the 

 average weight of mature fish in streams where it best thrives is probably 

 about -- lb., and maximum about 2 Ibs. This may be an estimate under 

 the mark, as the writer merely notes from his personal experience as a 

 fisherman, as far as it extends, during periods of fishing recreation that 

 were chiefly devoted to the capture of Mahseer, and he has never known, 

 the Bariliiis bola to be brought to market by natives of the country, 

 whereby the quantities coming under observation would afford data for 

 satisfactorily deciding on the dimensions of this species of fish. 



" The Barilius bola is taken with the fly, and likewise with small spinning 

 bait ; a small sized phantom is a very good bait to use. They are usually 

 shy, and take the fly best at the close of day, when a white moth (lake 

 trout fly size) is perhaps the most suitable lure, the addition of white bead 

 eyes to the fly I have known to be an improvement. Anglers fishing for 

 Mahseer, with a good sized spinning bait, occasionally hook a good 

 specimen of the Barilius bola, notably in the ' Sone ' or ' Song,' a beautiful 

 stream which joins the Ganges, a few miles above Hardwar, on its right 

 bank, and which is a grand place for Mahseer-fishing. 



" The Barilius bola runs large in both the Ganges and the Jumna ; in 

 the Boon I have got them close on 2 Ibs. at Dadapur, the head of the 

 Western Jumna Canal, a few miles from Jagadri on the S. P. and Delhi 

 Railway. This fish is, however, difficult to catch in most localities where 

 I have tried them, and I attribute this in a great measure to the frequent 

 presence of Mahseer in their vicinity. It is a marvel to me how any 

 Barilius can escape at all from the rapid moving Mahseer, which is 

 perhaps more partial to the Barilius than to the young of its own species, 

 which, by the bye, the Mahseer swallows very freely, as I have repeatedly 

 proved to my entire satisfaction in live bait fishing when the devourer has 

 full time afforded to consider the species of his morsel. 



"The native fishermen at the Jumna, on the hills between Mussoorie 

 and Simla, use scarcely any other bait than the Barilius. They have a 

 curious way of catching their bait. The trout, which for convenience sake 

 we may call them, are excessively keen sighted, and the stream running 

 into the Jumna at this locality where they are taken is of exquisite brilliancy^ 

 consequently they very soon clear out of reach on the appearance of a 

 net caster. Their capture is effected by means of a weighted line of horse- 

 hair nooses, dexterously slung across stream well ahead of the fisherman. 



* But not with red that I can remember. 



