DWELLERS IN THE DEEP 



215 



swiftness with which they rush forward when 

 frightened or chasing, are indicative of tremen- 

 dous strength in proportion to size. Those who 

 have caught tuna at Catalina, or tarpon along 

 the Florida coast, or harpooned sword-fish off 

 Block Island, have some idea of how great is 

 that strength. A strong-swimming man, weigh- 

 ing, say, one hundred and eighty pounds, can 

 be " played " and dragged ashore from the 

 sea with less tackle, less effort, and less time 

 than a ten-pound sea bass. To be sure the 

 fish has the advantage of being in his ele- 

 ment; but how very well fitted he is to that 

 element ! 



And how easily the tarpon twists and turns, 

 plunges down the side of a reef, runs along a 

 deep sea trough, or perhaps in play comes rush- 

 ing to the surface and leaps ten feet into the 

 air, completing a half-circle of blazing silver! 

 The Californian tunas when following flying 

 fish often strike and catch the prey in mid-air, 

 returning to the water, head first, in the most 

 graceful arches imagina])le. And again the 

 porpoises. As they travel across the seas in 

 schools they clear the water in their plungings 

 and no more; but they are capaljle of taking a 

 high jump with the best of the jumpers, and 

 when surrounded and frightened they leap over 



Fitness to 

 the element. 



Tarpons 

 and tunas. 



Jumpinn 

 purpoisea. 



