On the Trail of a Moonfish 95 



work not altogether philanthropic as I have 

 seen them sitting on this fish out at sea. 



The big fish is covered with a mucous envelope 

 in which various parasites appear to thrive. 

 One I caught had even in its mouth a long goose 

 barnacle which swung, just escaping the large 

 ivory teeth. At night this envelope becomes 

 luminous, the fish gleaming with the pale light 

 described an extraordinary sight, as all about 

 are luminous bodies, stars, comets, and lesser 

 lights, the whole sea ablaze, in which is the 

 great living moon, swinging slowly along, or 

 adrift among the lesser constellations of the sea. 



By no stretch of the imagination can the sun 

 or moonfish be included as game. It is a freak, 

 its capture possible only with boat-hook, gaff, or 

 spear, and then it is an accomplishment to be 

 classed with extreme hard work; an adventure 

 strenuous and exciting, more like roping cattle 

 than fishing, yet in a way an interesting diver- 

 tisement if one can but release the big fish 

 unharmed. 



