FISHING THE PACIFIC 



Association has acted wisely in barring them. If you catch 

 a fish on one it will register as having been caught on the 

 heaviest line used in the taper. 



I have caught many fish without using a double line. Those 

 who don't Hke them claim that when you get them on the 

 reel you are likely to tighten the drag to such an extent or 

 fight the fish so hard that the hook will pull out. I don't be- 

 lieve it works that way with 24- or 39-thread, but I would 

 certainly never think of doubling 54-thread if I were using 

 it. I do think, though, that a double line is a help to get on 

 your reel with 6- or 9-thread when the big fish is at the boat, 

 and a great aid with any size of line, for it gives the guide 

 and the angler a warning that the fish is close aboard. This is 

 especially advantageous if you are fishing in the dark. When 

 in waters where fish are striking at the line, I would never 

 double it because I am sure that it makes more of a wake and 

 it is much easier for the line cutters to see. It also produces 

 more bubbles; however, its greatest importance is if the fish 

 gets wrapped up. It has saved many fish on wrap-ups. 



I don't beUeve that 54-thread line should ever be used un- 

 less you are fishing in a great depth of water for a very large 

 fish and there is an abundance of sharks that might multilate 

 your prize, or possibly a great many line-striking fish. In my 

 opinion there is no fish that cannot be handled on 39-thread 

 if the angler is not being harassed by sharks or other extraor- 

 dinary dangers. In 1935 it seemed pretty certain that few 

 tuna would be caught off Bimini on any lighter line than 54- 

 thread, but in the 1940 and 1941 season practically all of the 

 catches were made on 39-thread and a few were taken on 24- 

 thread. Since the war, many have been taken on 24-thread, 



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