The Harlequin of the Fishes 333 



objects designed to arrest the attention of the 

 angler, and possibly to enable the fish to escape, 

 a conspiracy of nature to defeat the ends of the 

 angler. 



We had visited perhaps six different floating 

 islands, taking yellowtails here and there, and 

 finally ran silently up to a long attenuated mat 

 of weed under which we could see several large 

 fishes. As the launch slowed down my com- 

 panion, Mr. Thomas McD. Potter, founder of the 

 Three-Six Club, made a long cast; and, as the 

 shining smelt sank a foot or more, out from 

 the green island there dashed what I assumed 

 was a yellowtail, seized it, and disappeared. I 

 saw a flash of brilliant yellow and purple; but 

 such an evanescent blaze of color is often seen 

 when a yellowtail strikes, so nothing was thought 

 of it. The fish made a hard fight, sulking deep 

 in the blue heart of the channel, making the deli- 

 cate nine-ounce rod bend to the danger point 

 more than once. But my companion was one 

 of the most skilful anglers in the country, and 

 the way he persuaded this game creature to rise 

 and come to the surface was well worth seeing. 

 But it took a goodly measure of line; the fish 

 was doubtless headed downward. 



Gradually, however, the angler gained, and 

 leaning over, so that my face was near the water, 

 I saw a vision that held me like a magnet. The 

 channel was the most beautiful mass of color 



