242 Fishing in Estuaries, CHAP. xviu. 



Colonel Osborn continues : 



"As with the Mahseer when he makes his first rush, so with the 

 Bahmeen, the smallest check and you part company, for he is a strong 

 and hard-mouthed fish. 



"The rod I like best for this kind of fishing is one of Farlow's Pike 

 spinning-rods, bamboo for choice. Mine is 12 feet long, with its short top, 

 for Bahmeen I prefer the short top as I would, indeed, for Pike, for 

 the long flexible top joint is only of use in spinning a minnow for trout. 

 Note the length with short top, 12 feet, because the farther you go beyond 

 this length, the less line you can throw out, the exertion in throwing will 

 be greater, your control over the line not so complete, and the cast not 

 nearly so perfect and artistic as that which can be got out of a 1 2-foot rod. 



" The reel should carry looto 120, or 150 yards of 8 plait smooth running, 

 spinning line ; not a corded line, for in spinning either from a bridge or 

 from the banks for Bahmeen (which latter you may have a chance of 

 doing), you have to spin in exactly the same way as you spin for Pike, and 

 a corded line would kink and spoil your sport." 



" A gimp trace," he continues. But the gimp of those days is now 

 out of date in comparison with the rust-proof wire gimp mentioned 

 above, page 208, and the flight of hooks may be the same as for 

 Mahseer and others, as illustrated on pages 69, 70. 



" It will save you time and trouble, for you only have one really good 

 tide to fish on, if you have six or seven of these flights ready baited. 



" Baits are the next thing to speak of, and I will confine my remarks 

 on this point to natural baits, as I have tried for Bahmeen with both spoon 

 and phantom without success, though I have heard that others have found 

 the spoon and phantom answer." 



I may here put in a word to say that not only have others written 

 me of kills made with phantom and spoon, but one used nothing but 

 phantoms, and exhausting his shop supply had to set up a home 

 manufactory thereof. I, too, have killed and seen them killed with a 

 white fly in the Pamban Channel. But a fish bait, as argued above, is 

 doubtless the deception nearest to their natural food ; apropos of which 

 remark it was that I was once upbraided in the presence of these very 

 Bamm, " You have written a book to teach men how to deceive." 



" A young grey mullet about 3, 4, or 5 inches long, is the best bait 

 that can be used ; these small mullet are not difficult to procure, for they 

 abound in all waters inhabited by the Bahmeen, and the latter seem chiefly 

 to feed upon them. On the shores of these waters also native fishermen 

 and casting nets are always to be found. Some time before the turn of 



