Fish and Fishing 



unless of the very best and most exj)ensive make, 

 has no chance whatever. Even the boats are 

 "designed specially for tuna fishing, being broad- 

 beamed launches, built for three persons; 

 Boat'^ two anglers who sit side by side in chairs 

 facing the stern and the boatman acting 

 as helmsman, gaffer, and engineer of the three, or 

 more, horse-power gasoline engine. Overhead is 

 an awning which is raised by the gaffer when the 

 strike comes; each boat has a flag bearing the 

 figure of a tuna which is thrown to the breeze the 

 moment the fish is hooked," 



The fish are rarely seen near the mainland, the 

 islands, where they feed, being twenty miles from 

 shore. Naturally, so active and bold a fish taken 

 so far from shore requires good, patient, as well 



. ^. ., as strenuous handling, and the novice 

 Activity 



would do well to make a preliminary trip 



to watch the veterans in their struggle. Anglers 

 are now enabled to purchase rods, reels, and lines 

 of special make for this fish, similar, and of the 

 same character as those used in tarpon fishing, 

 though of the two, the tuna being more active 

 requires a little stronger tackle. 



The rod may be either of split bamboo, green- 

 hart, or noibwood; perhaps one of each would be 

 wise and come in useful. They all should be from 

 seven to eight feet long, made in two parts, a butt 

 and tip, the latter of medium pliability, not 

 so stiff that it will not bend, nor yet so pli- 

 alile that a heavy fish cannot be lifted. They 

 should have double-bell guides, silver mountings, 

 30 



