INCIDENTS IN TUNA FISHING 65 



the tuna, and dropped it, still alive and vigorous, 

 into the cockpit; then, Gardner having been hauled 

 aboard, we made the welkin ring with cheers. In 

 answer came a faint shout from my plucky companion, 

 who, lying flat, did not dare to raise his head, but 

 still wished to be a party in our triumph. The launch 

 was now headed for him, and a line was tossed to 

 him, which he made fast about his waist, and by this 

 he was hauled aboard; then the boat was picked up, 

 and Captain Harry Doss, who had rowed out, gath- 

 ered up the flotsam which had covered the sea. 



Now comes another extraordinary incident almost 

 beyond belief in this sensational catch. As we sat 

 watching the contortions of this active fish that drove 

 us out of the cockpit, Gardner put his hand down to 

 his trousers and cut out a hook that in some way had 

 caught. It was connected with a line which was 

 found to run overboard, and upon hauling in five or 

 six hundred feet of it, my valuable rod and reel came 

 in from the bottom of the bay. Gardner had not only 

 towed the fish, but this as well. In the confusion of 

 the rolling boat I had lost my hold upon the rod, 

 and the big reel had carried it to the bottom; but by 

 a special dispensation, the tuna had thrown out the 

 hook, which stuck in the boatman's trousers, as de- 

 scribed. If any more remarkable series of incidents 

 ever came to pass in the landing of one fish I have 

 failed to hear of it. 



With flags flying we made the port of Avalon an 

 hour later, producing the first tuna of the season, 

 which weighed ninety-five pounds, thereby winning 

 for the boatman the prizes of rods in the tournament 

 of that year. I believe it is not going too far to say 



