ALBACORA 85 



tures, but they did seem awfully important at the time. 

 With that giant tuna thrashing at the end of Lou's line, 

 I could have been stark naked, painted green to boot, 

 and it's even money that neither man would have no- 

 ticed until the big fish was in the boat. 



Fishing for tuna is a grueling experience. Lou braced 

 himself in his chair, his rod bending sharply against the 

 pull of the fish. The fish moved close to the boat and 

 sounded, diving down to what must have been the ocean 

 floor. The cords in Lou's neck proclaimed the terrible 

 strain his body felt. My own hands were drenched with 

 sweat. "Lord," I murmured, "that fish is as stubborn as 

 Lou." 



Exerting every measure of his strength, Lou managed 

 to pump the fish up from the ocean bottom, the harness 

 cutting into his flesh. When the tuna hit the surface, he 

 sped straight for the anchor of a commercial fishing 

 boat not 300 yards away. 



"Oh no," Lou groaned, "I'll get fouled in his line." 

 Clint gunned the motors and Lou spun the reel furiously 

 and somehow succeeded in forcing the fish to change the 

 direction of his run. "Great work, Lou," I shouted. Clint 

 jumped down from topside and hurried to grasp the 

 leader so he could gaff" the fish as soon as Lou got it 

 alongside of the boat. But the tuna was not yet ready 

 for surrender. Again he took off" in the direction of the 

 nearby fisherman. This time he reached it. Lou's line 

 was fouled around the taut hand line of the commercial 

 fisherman. 



