62 Big Game Fishes 



half feet long, will be found equal to the de- 

 mands upon it. The tip must not be so pliable 

 that a heavy fish cannot be lifted, nor so stiff 

 that the rod will not bend; a happy medium 

 must be selected. A split bamboo rod, costing 

 from twenty to thirty dollars, is eminently adapted 

 to the sport. One of the best rods for the pur- 

 pose has a patent hard rubber butt into which 

 the tip fits, the rod really being one piece with 

 a short butt. It is of noib wood a species of 

 greenheart of great tensile strength. This rod 

 has heavy silver mounting, double bell guides, 

 is six feet nine inches long, and weighs twenty- 

 six ounces ; with an extra tip the angler is well 

 equipped, though he should never go tuna fish- 

 ing with a single rod. In the equipment of 

 the line, especially in the question of knots, 

 every angler has his fancy. My own preference 

 is for a plain bowline in fastening leader to 

 line or swivel. I have heard many arguments 

 against it, but have never had the knot wear 

 or chafe off in the heavy work of tuna fishing. 

 To those who do not care for the bowline there 

 are others well known to the angler. Number 

 I shows a simple knot for tying leader to line, 

 the ends being merely cut off after tying. Num- 



