The Yellowtail 141 



from sunrise to midday, on the flood-tide, and, as 

 a rule, the angler finds smooth water, with ripples 

 here and there breaking the surface, telling of 

 vagrant schools of yellowtails or sea-bass. The 

 water itself is a revelation ; it has a splendid tint, 

 dotted with living constellations of marvellous 

 shapes and design: crystal chalices, jellies with 

 fluted cometlike tails of maroon and deep lav- 

 ender, while scattered about with a lavish hand 

 are the gems of the sea, Sapphirince, flashing the 

 tints of mimic rubies, emeralds, topazes, diamonds, 

 and other gems. The angler must be callous 

 indeed who is not charmed with this divertisse- 

 ment, captivated with these beauties which, like 

 sirens, claim his attention until arrested by the 

 loud zeee-zeee! of the reel as it gives tongue 

 behind the rush of his first yellowtail. A shrill 

 staccato, and fifty, one hundred feet of line have 

 perhaps gone before the novice presses the 

 leather pad, with which all reels are equipped, 

 and essays to arrest the fierce outward rush. At 

 the first click the boatman stops the engine, and 

 the yellowtail now tows the boat around, as it 

 rushes here and there making battle so desper- 

 ately that the angler is easily wearied. 



There is something so startling about the first 



