Popular Salt-Water Game Fish 



Game Fishes," to which I am indebted for much 

 information in these notes, as I have not, as yet, 

 personally had an encounter with 

 this fish. 



The tuna, like the tarpon, is a 

 lofty tumbler, leaping gracefully in- 

 to the air after its prey, the flying 

 fish. Its large size and graceful build, 

 with its broad-forked tail, show a 

 model of speed; it is a beautiful fish, 

 and when in the water appears to 

 be green, but on being landed, the 

 upper portion is a bright iridescent 

 blue, the under part being grayish sil- 

 ver. No more inspiring sight can be 

 imagined than a large school of these 

 fish. They arrive in immense num- 

 bers at Santa Catalina between the 15th of May 

 and the 15th of June, and at once divide into 

 small companies of fifty to one hundred, 

 playing on the surface, moving about in 

 triangular form, with their spike dorsal fins out of 

 the water. Suddenly, in different sections, may be 

 seen a great splash of white spray; dozens of fly- 

 ing fish, scattered like gigantic dragon-flies, skim 

 along in frightened confusion. This is the first 

 signal to a host of impatient anglers who have 

 been watching for days for the arrival of the bird 

 fish upon which this giant comes from the deep 

 ocean for slaughter. 



Such a game fish must needs have special tackle, 

 if taken in true sportsman's style, and such tackle, 

 29 



Striking the fish. 



Its Leap 



