THE GAME PISHES OF THE WOELD 



Burma — the land of the mighty Irrawaddy and its monster mahseer — ^all 

 my leisure thoughts and moments were devoted to preparation for battle 

 with giants, and my pockets more than emptied over the task, on the 

 principle of not spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar. Equipment for 

 the fight consisted of about a mile and a quarter of line, five whole-piece 

 bamboo rods (product of the country), whipped and ringed by myself, one 

 nine-foot spUt-cane spianiag-rod by Payne (New York), two fly rods, three 

 large casting reels, the original ' SUex ' (a very old companion), vdth a 

 smart yoimg brother in the shape of the ' Silex No. 2,' and the ' Meteor.' 

 Add to the above Ust several smaller reels, spoons galore of huge (five-iach) 

 dimensions, spinners, natural bait tackle, two coUs of ' Yarvon,' traces 

 of wire and gut, material for construction and repair of tackle, and the 

 outfit is complete and worthy of the foe. 



It must be remembered by those who may wonder at such an array 

 of angUng material that the supply of fresh tackle is difficult. In Burma, 

 once launched iato the jungle, the traveller has to make his own supply, 

 and postal arrangements. Possibly a few eggs and an odd chicken or two 

 may be obtained, but the replacement of tackle would take several weeks. 

 Even on the Irrawaddy — ^the great waterway of the country — communica- 

 tion is not at all what it might be on the upper reaches^ Burma is years 

 behind India in development, only being given by that Government but 

 a tithe of the large revenue produced by the former country. But, what- 

 ever the faults of the country, it held very big and sporting fish, as the 

 following bag wiU show. This was made in 1908 by Major Williams, of 

 the Devon Regiment, and another rod, and is sufficient explanation to 

 warrant my eagerness to try the locality of such sport. 



April 21. — 34 poimds, 10 poimds, 17 pounds, 11 pounds. Between 

 8 and 11 a.m. Had four other runs. 



April 22 — 90 pounds, 70 pounds, 42 pounds. Morning and evening. 



April 23. — 53 pounds, 40 pounds, 19 pounds, 8 pounds, 65 pounds. 

 Morning up to 11 a.m. \ 



April 24. — 56 pounds, 43 pounds, 16 pounds, 51 pounds. In the 

 morning ; had other runs. 



April 25.-68 pounds, 16 pounds. In the morning. 



April 26. — 59 pounds, 35 pounds, 9 pounds, 7 pounds. Morning and 

 afternoon. 



AprO 27.-65 pounds, 48 pounds, 63 pounds. Morning and afternoon. 

 Lost two big fish besides. 



April 28. — 48 pounds, 34 pounds, 70 potmds. Morning only. Lost 

 a good fish with a lot of line besides. River became unfishable until May 

 15. 



May 15. — ^20 pounds, 16 poimds, 9 pounds, 27 pounds, 29 pounds. 

 Afternoon only. Was broken once, and had three other runs. 

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