208 . Freshwater Sharks. CHAP. xiy. 



took 27 fish weighing 70 Ibs. on live bait, hooked only through the 

 nose, and pulled slowly along, sometimes on the bottom. Also 2 rods 

 killed 1 30 Ibs. in one day. These good bags were made in May and 

 June, but even as late 'as mid-November I have had very fair sport 

 with them at Kurkonda, when I was agreeably surprised by the amount 

 of play one of n Ibs. showed on a 10 ft. labeo rod, with fine tussa silk 

 labeo line. He had it all his own way till he had some 50 yards of 

 line out, and then fought gamely against coming in. 



In the same chapter of " Tank Angling " I have descanted at some 



length on wire as preferable to gimp 



~~~ or gut for this fishing. That may 



'* all now be thrown aside as ancient 



*^ history, since the yearning after a 

 4/0 ^ good wire trace, started in India, 



^- has found an echo in England, and 

 3/0 tackle-makers have given their atten- 



IC! ^ tion to it, so that excellent spinning 

 /i ^ traces are now to be had of several 



makers. The best preparation of 

 wire that I have seen is the " patent 

 rust proof wire gimp" of Messrs. 

 S. Allcock & Co., Redditch. It 

 is pliable and composed of a com- 

 pound of metals that do not rust. 

 From the sizes illustrated, and the 

 breaking strain as under, you can 

 choose the thickness you prefer. I 

 should say No 2/0 with a breaking 

 strain of 25 Ibs. would be the most generally useful. It is cheap, about 

 two or three pence a yard, and you can mount your hooks on it as well 

 as have traces of it. 



Breaking strain 8 12 21 25 30 40 60 .. .. Ibs. 

 Gimp No. . 5/0 4/0 3/0 2/0 1/01234 



But the makers are wholesale manufacturers only, so you cannot buy 

 of them in retail. Your tackle shop will manage that for you. 



Freshwater sharks will also take a dead bait on a gorge hook, as 

 figured in the Chapter on Eels. 



