ChApt. ii. Then comes the tug of war. 1 1 



fins with that of his body, and I found that the super- 

 ficial area of his propelling and directing power amount- 

 ed together to as much as the superficial area of the 

 whole of the rest of his body. The proportion which the 

 tail and fins of a salmon bear to the rest of his body is 

 very much smaller. The Mahseer having then so much 

 greater means of putting on steam, and having also the 

 habit of always putting it on at once energetically and 

 unsparingly, it is readily intelligible that his first rush 

 is a mighty one, and that, that made, his strength is 

 comparatively soon exhausted. Other rushes he will make, 

 but his first is the dangerous one. Then it is that th^ 

 final issue of the campaign is practically decided. Be 

 one too many for him then, and you may be grimly satis- 

 fied that all else he can do will not avail him; you may 

 count on making him your own. Then it is that you 

 must wait upon him diligently. If you have not got all 

 free, the connection between you and your new friend 

 will be severed within a moment of your making each 

 other's acquaintance. If you have carelessly allowed the 

 line to get a turn round the tip of the rod, or let any 

 slack near the hand become kinked ever so little, or twist- 

 ed over the butt, or hitched in the reel or a button, then 

 it is that not a moment's law is given you for the re- 

 adjustment of this little matter; there is a violent tug, 

 and an immediate smash; 



The waters wild 



Go o'er your child, 



And you are left lamenting, 



2* 



