264 THE BONITA AND ALBACORE. 



winds prevail throngbout the year in this vicinity, 

 only interrupted by fierce gales from the north-west, 

 which, though severe throughout their duration, 

 seldom last more than from twelve to sixteen hours. 

 During onr passage, as we emerged into the warmer 

 latitudes, shoals of flying-fish, bonita, albacore, and 

 dolphin were continually in sight, skipping hither 

 and thither. The bonita and albacore remaining in 

 attendance upon our journey for months, we occa- 

 sionally caught them. Their prey being flying-fish, 

 they are easily hooked by cutting from solder or tin 

 a shape resembling the little creature, attaching a 

 hook to the lower part of the solder image, and a 

 line to the upper; the angler then perches himself 

 upon the end of the flying jib-boom, and dangles his 

 tackle to and fro, imitating as nearly as possible the 

 serial flight of the tiny creature it is intended to 

 represent. The voracious skip-jack, or albacore, as 

 the case may be, ever on the alert for its prey, rushes 

 to the bait, seizes it, and is hooked for his pains. It 

 is a pleasant sight to watch these fish whilst about 

 the ship ; their agile movements in pursuit of the 

 flying-fish ; their instinct teaching them that these are 

 to be found in the greatest number about the vessel's 

 prow, which, in her onward course, disturbs them in 

 their retreats, and forces them to seek safety in the air, 

 on their descent from which an ever watchful enemy is 

 prepared to meet and devour some of their number. 

 At all times these creatures, apparently with the 

 utmost ease, keep in advance of the ship, leaping 

 from the water and varying their course with the 

 direction of the vessel. As I before said, they are 

 often caught, but are only servicealile for food when 



