148 GIANT FISHES 



fish, a method widely employed on the Atlantic coast of 

 America, has been practised in Norway. The vessels used in 

 the American fishery are from 20 to 35 feet in length, and each 

 has a small platform in the bows from which the harpoon is 

 launched. Small fish can generally be brought alongside 

 without difficulty, but large ones are said sometimes to fight 

 for several hours. On a bad day one of these boats may not 

 succeed in killing a single fish, but on a good day as many as 

 8 or 10 are often taken. 



On the Atlantic coast of America the Tunny has never 

 been held in much esteem as a sporting fish, but the Californian 

 variety, the Blue-fin or Leaping Tuna, is regarded as a game- 

 fish par excellence, and is one of the prizes at the famous Santa 

 Catalina resort. The late Professor Holder has described this 

 fish as " the tiger of the California seas, a living meteor which 

 strikes like a whirlwind, and when played with a rod that is 

 not a billiard cue or a club in stiffness, will give the average 

 man the contest of his life ". A fish in good condition will 

 fight for hours, perhaps towing the angler's boat for some 

 miles before succumbing to exhaustion, and it requires some 

 strength, coupled with not a little skill and patience, to bring 

 a large Tunny to the gaff. 



The occurrence of Tunny in the North Sea during the late 

 summer has, in recent years, led to the development of this 

 exciting sport on the Yorkshire coast, and many fine fish are 

 taken on rod and line each year off Whitby and Scarborough 

 under the auspices of the British Tunny Club. The world's 

 record fish was one of 851 lb. caught by Mr. Mitchell Henry 

 in 1933. 



The names Thunnus and Thynnus are simply the ancient 

 names for the Tunny, and such names as Tunny, Tuna, Thon 

 and so on have been derived from them. 



ALBACORES. 



(Genus Germo.) Fig. 49. 



Essentially similar to the Tunnies, but the pectoral fins 

 are very long and sabre-shaped, reaching as far as the level 

 of the front part of the- anal fin. The coloration is steely 



