536 JOURl^AL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIl. 



two to three feet beneath the surface are the best baits, although a spoon or 

 silver devon will answer when the stream runs strongly. Heavy fish of 20 

 to 30 pounds are taken here. Begti frequent many other places on the Bassein 

 Thana Creek, the rocks where the stream narrows near the Collector's bungalow, 

 Goa Bundar, the rocks in main stream Parsick, the small creek which runs under 

 the Railway Bridge at Mumbra and two places further up that creek, one being 

 the rocks opposite Diwa and the other the pool immediately below the stone 

 " bund " rather less than a mile higher up (it is desirable to have a boat to ne- 

 •gotiate this creek). In the main stream from Mumbra to Kalyan there are 

 ■several rocky shoals, notably one about a mile below Kalyan and another close 

 to the new bridge which leads to Bhiwindi. Undoubtedly the Begti is in 

 the river from its mouth to the higher reaches, and many other likely spots 

 might be found by drifting down stream on the Ebb near low water, taking 

 bearings of those places where rocky obstructions create a rapid stream, for 

 Begti appear to feed near the exits of passages through boulders and in the eddies 

 ■caused by such obstructions. 



The question of Tackle is productive of unlimited controversy, most Anglers 

 iave their own theories and favourite rod^, but it necessarily follows that as 

 all men are not physically the same, a rod which the one handles with ease 

 would be too heavy and fatiguing for another less robust. When fishing from 

 a boat in salt water, rods are subject to rougli usage, and unless one is particularly 

 careful, sun, wind and weather plus occasional collision with the boat or its 

 fixtures and, last but not least, the pull of the stream plus that of the fish will 

 speedily put a perfect weapon out of gear. 



The ordinary shop " Sea Rod " appears to be made specially for the Cod, 

 Plaice, etc., found in home waters, and is no more suitable for Bahmin and 

 Begti than it would be for Bass. Almost any rod will serve providing it is 

 sufficiently stiff to comfortably carry the weight of sinker and lure plus the pull 

 ■of the Stream. Without deflecting more than about 300, it should bend through- 

 out its entire length, for many rods I have seen in use have had a good top, 

 l)ut being too stiff in the butt joint the result has been a break when the 

 Bhamin has made one of his sudden rushes, or when giving him the butt prior to 

 gaffing. For preference, I would choose a two jointed rod with whole cane 

 butt and green heart top, in length from 8"6 to 10 feet and sufficiently light 

 to enable one to make a cast of about twenty yards with one hand. 



If the corkgrip is tightly wound over for about twenty inches, with strong 

 liemp cord, it makes a firm hold in all weathers. In play it should bend in a 

 half circle or more from butt to top, and not merely from middle to top in the 

 form of a hook with a long shank ; the reason for this will be appreciated when 

 one is playing a Bahmin whose steadfast purpose is to run under the boat and 

 cut the line, or bore for the anchor rope to the same end. The Bahmin has 

 no teeth, but his mouth has a hard bony ridge serrated like a file and he is fre- 

 quently held by one barb of the hook catching under this, it is the spring of 

 the rod which secures the hook hold and the hook becomes free as soon as the 

 net or gaff takes the weight of the fish. Too supple a rod is not desirable for 

 two reasons. ' A ' one has to remember that frequently the fish are on feed for 

 only an hour or two hours, and too supple a rod means longer time in getting 

 him to net and many chances are lost. ' B ' it is rather a tax on the good 

 nature of one's companion, if fishing in company, it being expedient that all 

 other lines shall be reeled up when a Bahmin is being played. A good Calcutta 

 Ringal (Bamboo) silk lapped in two or three places in each segment, the butt 

 packed and lapped with good hemp cord for about twenty inches, good brass 

 Tsinch fittings and " Snake " rings of copper or brass wire (not iron or steel) 

 "will render good service. The winch or reel should have a large drum for 

 rapid i-ecovery of line, Nottingham pattern reels with optional check and line 

 guard are excellent, size not less than four inches and five inches for preference ; 



