FISHES OF THE PACIFIC COAST 29 



own with the strength of the tuna. Its distinctive 

 feature as a game fish is its method of playing, which 

 is almost entirely on the surface. 



The tackle used is the nine-ounce rod and line, 

 though a more certain method is to use a regular tuna 

 outfit, baiting with a large smelt or sardine. My own 

 unsuccessful methods were casting from a standing 

 boat into a school. While the fish would take the bait 

 I threw over, I never could lure one into taking my 

 hook. Mr. L. P. Streeter of the Tuna Club tells me 

 that nearly all the fish he took in the first year of 

 their appearance made a splendid straight-away rush 

 on the surface, the ideal thing to do from an angler's 

 standpoint, as the pumping or lifting (see p. 25) of 

 these big fish in deep waters is one of the melancholy 

 features of rod fishing in blue water with possibly 

 half a mile beneath one. 



To save the fish there was but one thing to do ; that 

 was, to follow. So Mr. Streeter had his boatman, 

 Captain Fisher, put on full speed as soon as they 

 could turn, and they chased the tuna for several miles. 

 In the course of an hour or more they succeeded in 

 bringing the fish alongside and gaffing it, but not until 

 it had made a most gallant fight for liberty. Com- 

 paratively few of these big fishes have been taken. 

 The records are as follows : 



Largest Yellow-fin Tuna (Thunnus macropterus) 

 Over 50 pounds- 



* Arthur J. Eddy, Chicago, 111., season 1906... 60 



* E. J. Polkinhorn, Torreon, Mex., season 1907. . 50^ 



The yellow-fin is very uncertain in its movements; 

 some seasons not coming at all, again being found in 



