The Tribe of Seriola 355 



rush, and you see that its peculiarity of playing is to 

 make a series of mad rushes that are irresistible. Zee, 

 zee, zeee / sounds the reel, again and again ; the crowd, 

 catching the melody, takes it up, and the roar of sounds 

 drifts over the waters into the caflon, and gives the 

 angler who cannot go a-fishing a sharp and poignant 



s- 



The fish is down and out three hundred feet, 

 hence, must be lifted ; and we see the angler lower his 

 rod, reeling quickly, " pumping," in this way gaining on 

 the fish, that occasionally breaks away to the accom- 

 panying music of the reel, then comes slowly in, all the 

 time bearing off with a force and vivacity that tests 

 every fibre of rod or line, and angler's muscle. If you 

 were near enough, you would see deep in the heart of the 

 azure channel a blaze of silver, with flashes of gold. 

 The yellowtail is a hundred feet down at the end of 

 thirty minutes, and the skiff one hundred yards from 

 the fleet, where, perhaps, other anglers are in the toils. 

 The fish is upon its side, bearing off gallantly, making 

 the fight of its life. 



As it conies in, it rushes around in a big circle, then 

 plunges down, zee, zee, zee, zee ! until the tired angler 

 loses nearly all the line he has gained, and it is such a 

 thread, this nine-strand affair, that great care must be 

 taken, as the slightest mistake, the merest over-pressure 

 of the thumb and it is gone, and the yellowtail sails 

 away. But your angler is a cautious fellow; he has fished 

 before ; he watches every move, and suddenly you see 



