ii2 Big Game Fishes 



before I could release the line, while the impact 

 had jerked the light boat around as though on a 

 pivot, and thrown my companion down. In the 

 meantime the line was rushing over the side. As 

 I seized it, the fish surged downward, taking the 

 stern of the light craft almost under water, drag- 

 ging it rapidly and irresistibly along. We were 

 carried two hundred yards out to sea before I 

 succeeded in stopping the fish, my companion 

 having shipped the oars, pulling violently against 

 it. By rapid manipulation I brought the fish to 

 within twenty feet of the surface and caught a 

 glimpse of its huge form, the dark brown back 

 and the flash of silvery belly; then seeing the 

 boat it made a rush that nearly carried the skiff 

 with it and took all the line I had gained, in the 

 direction of the inner kelp bed just beyond where 

 the sea was breaking heavily on a point of rocks. 

 Once in the kelp I knew that the bass would 

 escape, so redoubled my efforts while my com- 

 panion lay flat, balancing the boat, as the fish 

 seemed determined to carry it under water, so 

 fierce were its rushes. The bass would plunge 

 downward, then deliver a series of blows, arm- 

 wrenching in their power and probably given by 

 striking the head from side to side by convulsive 



