Sea Fishing 325 



securely the butt of the rod. I prefer, personally, 

 to fish for yellow-tail as one must, willy-nilly, fish 

 for tuna, — with the butt beneath my right knee, 

 and firmly grasped there, and the point of the rod 

 above the starboard quarter of the boat. The left 

 leg, over which the rod passes, can be used to advan- 

 tage as a lever, and both hands can thus be devoted 

 to the reel. 



At times the yellow-tail may be taken at the 

 Isthmus by casting from the shore. The water is 

 shallow and free from kelp, and the fun fast and 

 furious. Unfortunately, the Isthmus is fifteen miles 

 from Avalon, and the prospects of sport are precari- 

 ous. When the fishermen draw their seines the 

 yellow-tail follow the small fry into the shallow 

 water, driving them ashore, thus supplying the 

 angler with an abundance of fresh bait. Unless 

 you actually see your quarry, casting at the 

 Isthmus is labour wasted. 



In trolling for yellow-tail the bait should swim, 

 not spin, at least thirty yards behind the boat. 

 Authorities disagree upon the nice question of giv- 

 ing the fish the butt when he strikes. Tweedledum 

 says " Sock it to him ! " Tweedledee asserts that 

 the handsome knave will hook himself more surely 

 if not interfered with. Personally, I side with 

 Tweedledum. Early in the season, certainly to 

 the end of July, the best grounds are to be found 

 between Jew-fish Point and Church Eocks. After 

 the first of August the largest catches are made 

 between Lone Point and the Isthmus. The ama- 

 teur will be guided in such matters by the pro- 

 fessional experience of his boatman. 



