132 SPORT IN' NORTH A3IER1('A. 



of weed whicli a steamer can Avith difficulty force its 

 way through. Differing from other fish of the same 

 family, the tunnies avoid the mouths of rivers^ pos- 

 sibly because their instinct has taught them that the 

 current will carry their ova into the open sea. It is 

 upon the coasts^ beside rocks and among sea-weeds, 

 that the female lays her eggs, concealing herself 

 so as to avoid observation. The tunnies always move 

 about in numerous troops, following the track of a 

 ship when the occasion presents itself, and taking 

 advantage of the shadow which it projects, as also of 

 scraps or other waifs that may be thrown overboard. 

 Many a time have I seen shoals of them, arranged 

 in the form of an immense parallelogram, manceu-- 

 vring about in a fashion that would not have dis- 

 graced a regiment of soldiers. Experienced fisher- 

 men declare that they proceed with such regularity 

 that, by counting them as rank and file, you may 

 ascertain, within a very few, the number of the whole 

 shoal. 



Tunnies must never be looked for in calm weather; 

 but when the wind freshens, and the sea is furrowed, 

 the shoals of tunnies may be seen defying wind and 

 water, but always keeping within a short distance of 

 the land. 



For the benefit of those who are likely to have an 

 opportunity of enjoying the sport, I will record the 

 means used by the fishermen of France, Navarre, 

 Spain, and the United States, for capturing this 



