The Harlequin of the Fishes 331 



But it was not yellowtails that we were in 

 search of, though it must be admitted it required 

 an extraordinary amount of moral courage to 

 pass these splendid fishes by; and it was while 

 indulging in this very pastime that the first dol- 

 phin was taken with rod and reel on these 

 fascinating fishing grounds. 



We were flying the flag of the Tuna Club, 

 hence fishing or angling strictly according to its 

 rules; and possibly it may interest the reader 

 to know what this means in the parlance of the 

 angler. The first injunction is to give the game 

 the advantage, and to accomplish this the rods 

 were of split bamboo and noibwood (as two were 

 fishing), which weighed, butt included, just nine 

 ounces, and were not over six feet in length ; rods 

 resilient, and so frail that, apparently, they 

 seemed utterly impracticable for fishes of any 

 size; rods the tips of which could be broken 

 by the least exertion. As for the line, it was a 

 seemingly impossible thread, known as number 

 nine, about the size of an eyeglass cord, but pos- 

 sessing a strength that would haul a dead weight 

 of two pounds per strand, or eighteen; yet so 

 fragile was this line that the slightest misplaced 

 movement resulted in a break; indeed, when six 

 hundred feet are out, this line will often break 

 of its own weight, showing conclusively that it 

 is an uncertain and hazardous thing upon which 

 to place any dependence. 



