Tbe Black Sea-bass 115 



being held by Harrison T. Kendall of Pasadena, 

 with a fish weighing four hundred and nineteen 

 pounds. The second largest was taken by Mr. 

 F. S. Schenck of Brooklyn, New York, and 

 weighed three hundred and eighty-four pounds. 



The tackle in vogue for this athletic and 

 vigorous sport is similar to that required for 

 tuna fishing. The same sized hook is used, a 

 twenty-one-thread line, and a long eight or nine 

 foot wire leader to prevent chafing, while above 

 the leader or snell the line should be either doub- 

 led or provided with a fifteen-foot upper leader 

 of strong cod line. This is to give the boatman 

 purchase when the fish has been brought to gaff, 

 as it almost invariably lashes the water, hurling 

 spray over boat and fishermen. 



As to the standing of the black sea-bass as a 

 game fish there is much difference of opinion. 

 Some claim that it is superior to the tuna, but 

 in this I do not agree. I have taken possibly 

 twenty bass of various sizes in hard hand-to- 

 hand contests, and am fully impressed with their 

 power ; but in agility they do not compare with 

 the tuna or tarpon. I should class the black sea- 

 bass with the Florida jewfish and large black 

 grouper, though it is much more active than the 



