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3) 
KASH VER. 
A Few Notes on FISHING. 
I wAvE written the following notes in hopes they may be of use. to some of my 
brother officers. 
In Kashmir in the early reason up till May, “ mahseer”’ and the “ chirroo”’ or 
Kashmir trout are to be considered, later in the season till end of August, trout 
only. For the former and big species of the latter, Scott’s No. 2 spoon (obtain- 
able from most tackle makers in India) with single salmon gut, two to three 
yards, trace with two or three swivels, or Farlow’s wire traces are best. For 
big mahseer, larger spoons with wire, not split rings, can be used; this, how- 
ever, would probably only apply to “ kinghal”’ where frog is really the best bait. 
The boatmen, as a rule, know the best places for mahseer and the fisherman finds 
the small trout by observation for himself thus :—He will see them chasing the 
small fry called chilwa along the edges of the bank. He should then get into his 
small boat with fly rod and, keeping a convenient distance from the bank, throw 
his fly (to be described later) either on mud of bank and pull it into the water 
where the commotion is going on, or as near to the edge as possible, and keep 
following up till the fish cease sporting. Good boatmen are needed, as in the 
cwrrent it 1s difficult to keep a uniform distance from the bank. I have tried all 
sorts of flies, but the only one which proved successful is of about the size 
depicted, dressed with carefully combed white soft cotton with same material as 
body ; the ends of a Turkish-bath towel combed and brushed cannot be improved 
on. ‘The body should be placed as in diagram. You may 
catch fish up to 3 lbs. by this method. In August 1890, at 
Hajun, one evening I got 36 fish weighing 37 lbs. and about 
the same next day. During the summer and early autumn 
a veil and gauntleted gloves should be worn, otherwise the 
mosquitos, from about 6 p.m, till after dark, will render 
fishing impossible. At Hajun also big fish were showing 
all over the river, but no bait would tempt them. About 
half a mile below, however, between an island and the right 
bank, trolling with a 14-in. copper spoon (similar to Scott’s 
No. 2), I caught several varying in weight from 3 to 10 lbs. 
At Bannair trout in August and September are very plentiful 
and I believe also in April and May. The same or smaller 
spoon is useful, but in August 1890 a 14-in. quill minnow 
was more successful. Excellent gut for traces and casts 
can be obtained from My. Carswell, 90, Mitchell Street, 
Glasgow, and a set of Mr. Williams’ (10, Great Queen Street, 
London, W.C.) detachable leads are most handy and useful. 
Neutral tint goggles should be taken for use in India to 
modify the glare on the water when the sun is low, there 
is a retired officer, R.A., who lost an eye from it. If 
wading has to be done, short trowsers without gaiters or putties are best and wet 
things changed for dry as soon as the fishing is over. For dead bait Archer’s spinner 
and Luscombe’s (Allahabad) chilwa tackle are excellent. Do not trust tackle made in 
Kashmir. I would again recommend fishermen to provide themselves with ‘ The 
Angler’s Hand-book,” by Captain Lacy, B.8.C., published by W. Newman & Co., 4, 
Dalhousie Square, Calcutta, also ‘Tank fishing in India,”’ by the Author of “The rod 
in India” (Thomas). The above works embrace most parts of India. For Ceylon, 
I have heard of good sport being obtained in the rivers there with a white 
(silvered) phantom minnow like that used on the Tay. Before fishing, place a 
gut trace in damp flannel for about 12 hours, gut apparently rotten often recovers 
by this process. Tackle should be kept in an air-tight tin box. 
b) 
