The Kingfish 



the surprise will not be diminished when he 

 finally breaks water fifty to one hundred 

 yards from the rod, if sufficient line is 

 given him; and one will wonder after land- 

 ing a fish which has taken half an hour to 

 kill that it weighs scarcely three pounds. 

 The vital spark of the kingfish is very 

 brilliant, and he is very tenacious of it, but 

 once landed he exhibits a vanquished look, 

 and his orange-colored eyes and scaly head 

 turn downward as if both ashamed as 

 well as fatigued. But, though the kingfish 

 looks like a deck passenger after a long 

 voyage, the angler is sure of one point in 

 his favor, and the cook, as well as the epi- 

 cure, will be fully assured of another. Like 

 the striped bass, he is infinitely more juicy 

 and palatable if cooked within a few hours 

 of his capture. He is such good eating that 

 any method employed in cooking is agree- 

 able broiled, baked or fried. No fish 

 that swims the sea makes a better dish. 

 Certainly no bottom-loving fish plays such 

 a game for the angler's real delight. 



145 



