The Leaping Tuna 61 



thirty pounds. A line of this quality is indis- 

 pensable. By such a thread a tuna towed me 

 in a heavy boat ten miles, the perfect line saving 

 the day. For practice a number twenty-four 

 is commended, but after the novice has landed 

 a tuna a number eighteen line is sufficiently 

 strong for a cool hand. A new line should 

 always be soaked before using and stretched 

 for a day previous to use, and allowed to dry 

 in this way. I am aware that an opinion pre- 

 vails that this takes the spring from a line, but 

 I have always made it a practice. In the words 

 of an expert, " This sets the lay of the line, and 

 not only lessens the liability of kinking, but 

 helps to even its strength." This will be appre- 

 ciated by those who have watched the mental 

 anguish of a brother angler whose line has 

 kinked while the fish were biting. 



The selection of a rod is important. A poor 

 rod, or a very cheap one, is an impossibility. 

 Large fish have been taken on small and light 

 rods, but the well-equipped angler will find sol- 

 ace and comfort in going into the fray with per- 

 fect tackle. A good greenheart rod weighing 

 twenty-five or twenty-six ounces, with one long 

 tip and agate guides, seven or seven and a 



