Some Ocean Aeronauts 351 



ered with foam caused by their rushes along the 

 surface. But the most astounding display was 

 caused by their efforts to capture the flying fishes 

 in the air, to accomplish which the tunas would 

 dash out of the water like arrows, gleaming in 

 blue and silver, rising to a height of ten feet, 

 turning gracefully to return. Scores of the huge 

 fishes were in the air, and their high and lofty 

 tumbling was a subject of serious consideration, 

 as one of the largest would have passed through 

 my slight craft as it would through paper; but 

 none came nearer than ten or fifteen feet. This 

 individual, one of the largest, rose beneath a 

 flying fish, struck it so powerful a blow that it 

 sent the flier whirling over and over like a pin- 

 wheel of gauze, ten feet or so into the air, picking 

 it up as it fell dead or stunned on the surface. 

 On several occasions I observed the tuna strike 

 the flying fish with its head, but could not see 

 that it seized the game in the air, which un- 

 doubtedly was the object of the extraordinary 

 leap. 



This charge of the tunas up the channel is 

 of common occurrence during the season or 

 summer months, and when enacted near shore, 

 the flying fish soar out upon the beach, or are 

 often found in boats moored offshore, and dur- 

 ing their wild flights at night men are some- 

 times struck by the finny projectiles. Once 

 while rowing a lady about the little bay of 



