12 Gaudia prcelii. Chapt. n. 



You must fish in a state of constant and careful prepared- 

 ness for this sudden and impetuous rush; for there is no 

 use in hooking a fish if he is to break you immediately. 

 Even your very reel must be looked to that it runs easily, 

 that it is not fouled and clogged by use, that no treacher- 

 ous sand has got in from laying down your rod and 

 reel by the river side, for when a heavy fish goes off with 

 race horse speed, he will take no denial, and woe betide 

 you if you cannot promptly oblige him with the line he 

 wants. If he cannot get it fast enough to please him, he 

 will break it. All this may be true of the salmon too, 

 but it is pre-eminently so with reference to the Mahseer, 

 and more than ordinary attention should be paid to it 

 accordingly. 



But all being ready for paying out line at any requir- 

 ed pace at a moment's notice, it is not to be supposed 

 that it is to be given gratis, far from it; full toll must 

 be exacted for every inch, and this we know is usually 

 done by raising the point of the rod more or less accord- 

 ing to circumstances, and thus compelling the fish to 

 bend it before he can get the line to run, and to bend 

 it more and more as you feel you can steadily raise the 

 point still further, till eventually you "show him the 

 butt," a contemplation that must be any thing but plea- 

 sant to him. For my part however I think it is a mis- 

 take to show the butt to a fish, or point it towards him, 

 unless you have no other way of taking in line quickly 

 enough when he is running towards you. I humbly think 

 it is a mistake because, though rods will stand it, g,nd 



