The Rise of Don Antonio 257 



it well. But what then ? It struggled like a wild bull, 

 threatening to carry the anglers down, and it was only 

 after a contest that the bass was securely lashed astern ; 

 even then it could not be towed, as they were three 

 quarters of a mile offshore. A passing boat, whose 

 oarsman was a rival of the Don, was hailed and came 

 down to them, and, with the camaraderie of sportsmen 

 the world over, offered their services. By the combined 

 efforts of five men the bass was hauled into the boat, 

 the fish filling it, the crew taking to the other. In this 

 way the bass was towed into Avalon, where it was forth- 

 with triced up on a huge crane and weighed. " Three 

 hundred and seventy pounds, senor." Little wonder that 

 it had towed the boat eight miles and had been saved 

 only by pouring oil upon the water. Very much after 

 this fashion did the record pass to an angler from Phila- 

 delphia. 



As Don Antonio walked through the little town that 

 night, he was followed by Mexican boys who said in 

 hushed tones : " It is he ; he gaffed it." His victory was 

 complete, and on the record book one may read after 

 the entry of his patron's catch, " Don Antonio Oromo, 

 boatman ; the largest game fish ever gaffed." 



