136 Big Game Fishes 



babel failed to lose from one to five fish from 

 broken lines. The heavy line would be broken 

 fairly by the lunges of the fish, which jerked small 

 boats about and turned them with incredible 

 ease. For half an hour this commotion lasted, 

 and when the counting came the fishermen, who 

 had strikes as soon as the bait struck the water, 

 found that some had secured four or five yellow- 

 tails ; but the average fisherman had landed one 

 or two and lost from five to six hooks and as 

 many fish. This incident is introduced to give 

 some idea of the yellowtail when at its best, and 

 pound for pound it is one of, if not the best 

 fighter in the Western seas ; if it could be taken 

 in shallow water, it would put the salmon to 

 blush, as a past master in the finesse peculiar 

 to game fishes. This was some years ago ; 

 to-day the splendid fish is rarely taken with a 

 hand-line. I suggested the Tuna Club and its 

 rules for rod-fishing with the lightest lines as 

 a measure of protection to this fish as well as 

 others of these waters, and to the example of the 

 members of this organization is due the high 

 standard of sport which now holds. 



We have seen that the first run of yellowtails 

 comes in April. This may last, so far as the 



