CHAP. xix. Hill Resorts. 267 



rarely reach 6 Ibs. in rivers, and 12 Ibs. in ponds in England; while 

 other writers say they grow to twice those weights, and even more in 

 warmer climates than England. Let us hope, therefore, that they really 

 do grow to a respectable size on the Nilagiris, with their sub-tropical 

 clime, and that we have seen only little ones because they are the most 

 easily caught. To catch these little ones with a rod and line is a very 

 simple matter for any boy that thinks it worth doing, but to catch the 

 big foxy ones if there are any, wants ground-baiting and very quiet and 

 very fine fishing. Ground-bait two or three likely holes, and keep 

 ringing the changes on them, moving from one to another to let it 

 quiet down after landing a fish. Rest your rod on a forked twig or 

 otherwise so as to keep quiet. 



Tench should be fished for in the same manner, or with the bait 

 just off the ground, the bait being well-scoured brandling. Though 

 captious feeders, they are freer biters than carp. They seldom exceed 

 5 Ibs. or 6 Ibs. in weight ; 2 Ibs. is a common weight. I have boyish 

 memories of fair fun with them. They are somewhat more palatable 

 than the common carp. A pond may be full of them, and the existence of 

 a single one never be suspected because they are undemonstrative, and 

 keep about the bottom. I sent some fry to the Shevaroy Hills in June, 

 1878, and they were safely turned into the smaller lake there. Tench 

 bear carriage remarkably well. 



Pachmarhi. 



Pachmarhi in the Saugur distict. Fourteen miles off is the Dak 

 Bungalow at Singanama at the foot of the hill, and the river Denwa is 

 a mile further. 



" If the angler has no tents he should go to the Singanama Bungalow, 

 and thence strike at right angles across the road for about a mile, and fish 

 down till he comes to impassable cliffs. But if he has tents he will get 

 better water by crossing the river by the road, which crosses it below the 

 bluffs, and camping near the village about 2y or 3 miles from the Dak Bunga- 

 low. The bank of the river is too thickly wooded for camping. Native fisher- 

 men can be got in the village to serve as guides to the pools and ways. Sambre 

 and spotted deer are in the jungles. March is the best time for Mahseer. 



" In the little stream that runs into the Pachmarhi lake excellent Chilwa 

 fishing can be had in the rains. 



"The Pachmarhi lake is said to have Mahseer in it, but I never heard, :? 

 says my correspondent, " of anything being done in it." 



