The Rise of Don Antonio 249 



indeed, twice the boat almost foundered. The wind 

 was now blowing fresh from the north-west, and the sea 

 had picked up in a surprising fashion, adding to the 

 difficulty ; but the bass was brought alongside, and 

 after many efforts a rope was passed through its gills 

 and mouth and lashed. Then we sat back to breathe 

 and eye the rising sea. The boat, instead of rising on 

 the swell, was held down by the fish, and it was evident 

 that a breaker might sink her. 



It was impossible to get the fish aboard, and to tow 

 it around Church Rock, where there was a heavy sea, 

 seemed inviting disaster ; but we attempted it, and after 

 running the gauntlet of the Sphinx, in an hour's pull, 

 had the fish in smooth water. Five miles we towed it, 

 finally meeting some fishermen, whom we hired to aid 

 us in hauling the fish aboard. It almost filled the boat, 

 and I sat on my game while my companion rowed. But 

 we were so low in the water that the least sea would 

 have foundered us, so we engaged the men to convoy 

 us in, and finally entered Avalon Bay masters of the 

 situation. 



Similar experiences characterised other catches, and 

 induced the belief that the big bass could be caught 

 with a rod. It remained for General Charles Viele to 

 demonstrate that this could be accomplished. I accom- 

 panied him to the same locality one morning, anchoring 

 undoubtedly over a school of fish, as they bit fast and 

 furious. The launch was anchored inshore, and the 

 General opened the campaign by casting from the 



