Giant Fish 189 



attain a length of eight feet and a weight 

 of 240 Ibs. The fish will often fight for 

 six hours, and in its frantic efforts to 

 escape may leap ten feet clear of the 

 water, sometimes descending upon the 

 boat. Add to this the fact that tar- 

 pon fishing is to be had at its best by 

 moonlight, and one can readily imagine 

 the delights of this form of " herring 

 fishing." 



The largest fish to inhabit European 

 waters is the tunny, a member of the 

 mackerel family, which frequently ex- 

 ceeds 1,000 Ibs. in weight. 



The giant amongst modern fishes as 

 distinguished from the primitive sharks 

 and rays are the sword-fish, surface 

 swimming monsters likewise related to 

 the mackerel. They abound in tropical 

 and sub-tropical waters, and add a 

 peculiar thrill to their pursuit with rod 

 and line by their ability to " ram " the 

 fishing boat with the long needle-pointed 



