1 88 Smaller Fly Takers. CHAP. xn. 



As he walks up stream, scaring the fish to the line, the trout shoot along 

 the bottom as if to escape observation, and the line being weighted, with 

 nooses all along it across the stream, some of the fish can scarcely fail 

 to run into loops open to receive them, but which draw tight over their 

 shoulders on nearing the dorsal fin. The trout in this stream average 

 under lb., and are easily held by the noose. I have watched the per- 

 formance with interest, and immediately purchased some of the bait in 

 exchange for English fish-hooks, more prized than money by the fishermen. 



" The Barilius is numerous in the Morar near Gwalior ; it sometimes 

 takes the fly well, but it is of very small average size in that stream. In 

 the Scinde, another stream in that territory, I recollect many years ago, 

 * when my lines were cast in those places,' getting a couple of these fish 

 close on 2 Ibs. each. 



"When fishing for Mahseer, and hooking a Barilius, there is little 

 doubt which is hooked from the first, as the spotted one will jump repeatedly 

 out of the water and dash about in a perfect frenzy and is game to the 

 last ; not that I wish in any way to disparage the noble Mahseer, whose 

 peculiarity is the truly grand rush he makes when first struck, and woe 

 betide the line then if all is not clear. This spanking fish, far beyond the 

 pretty little Barilius, has beguiled many a day of my exile and long may he 

 flourish." 



And so say all of us. 



These Indian trout (Barilius bola) have an exceptionally large, 

 wide open mouth, more so, I think, than even our freshwater shark 

 (Wallago attu), and are evidently highly predacious, as you may see 

 the small fish of about an inch long fleeing before them everywhere. 

 They take a fly most boldly, no striking is required, as they do it for 

 themselves, and it is evident they take it for a fish, seizing it as they 

 would a fish, not sucking it down as a trout does a fly. Their mouth 

 affords good hookhold, and they fight most gamely. I found it paid 

 better to draw the fly quicker than you would for trout, and up stream 

 rather than down stream ; and I noticed that they pursued the fly (so 

 that you should not strike till you feel them) coming after it with their 

 head and eyes above water, all indications that the fly is taken for a 

 fish, and not as a natural fly. If you get a rise and miss it, do not 

 give the place a rest as you would for trout, but keep on throwing 

 over your fish. I have had one come two or three times running till 

 at last I have taken him. But if they are well on the feed they will 

 take home the first time. I have had occasions when, for concealment's 

 sake, I had to fish them from below and pull down stream, and I 

 have seen them turn over lazily at the fly, and I had to give them 



