Sea Fishing 319 



I could see the splice vibrating between sky and 

 sea. 



" He '11 come now," said Jim. " Keel in, sir." 



The fish still tugged and strained — but feebly. 

 My brother admitted frankly that he personally 

 was " cooked." Very slowly the good winch did its 

 work. Presently I saw the purple back, and once 

 more Jim seized his gaff. Then — how can I de- 

 scribe the catastrophe ? — even as Jim made his 

 pass, as a who-whoop began to gurgle in my throat, 

 as my brother's set features relaxed, as doubt be- 

 came certainty, — the fish broke water. I heard 

 the splash, saw the tail strike the line, and caught 

 Jim's agonised groan, — 



"He's off!" 



There is an ancient story concerning a man who 

 took a load of Dutch cheeses up a very steep hill. 

 As the waggon reached the summit, the tail-board 

 broke and all the cheeses rolled from the top of the 

 hill to the bottom ; but the teamster said never a 

 word. A bystander sympathetically invited him to 

 swear. " No," replied the man solemnly. " It 's 

 no use, friend ; cussin' won't help me. I — I can't 

 do the subject justice ! " 



My brother and I were stricken dumb. 



Tuna may be caught off Catalina Island, which 

 lies within three hours* travel of Los Angeles, from 

 May to December ; but they do not strike unless 

 the flying-fish are in the neighbourhood. June is 

 the best month. It is wise to troll as close as pos- 

 sible to the kelp, skirting the bays and inlets. The 

 tuna, like the seals, drive the flying-fish into the 

 bays and keep them there. Moreover, a tuna can 



