146 Big Game Fishes 



masses of ripe spawn ; but the very young have 

 never been observed, at least by me or by any 

 professional fisherman known to me. 



Like others of their kind the yellowtail is fickle, 

 and at times the sea will be fairly tinted with 

 them, and vast schools divide as the boat moves 

 along, yet the choicest bait is viewed with scorn. 

 At such times the resources of the angler are 

 tested. Bait is changed, pipe sinkers of various 

 weight tried, the speed of the boat varied. The 

 yellowtail will perhaps swim up to within a foot 

 of the boat, following in the bait, then turn, 

 saluting the angler with a blaze of color. A con- 

 scientious " chumming " may now be tried and, if 

 the school is swimming about slowly, the boat 

 may be rowed or steamed slowly in a circle, the 

 boatman throwing over small sardines on either 

 side, six feet apart. By the time the circle is com- 

 pleted a chain of yellowtails has been established, 

 all feeding, as they will take "chum"; and if the 

 angler is patient, he can in many instances break 

 the charm, and once biting, sport is assured. 



It is a theory among some boatmen at the 

 islands that the yellowtail fishing is best from 

 May to August on the south end of the island 

 and trolling in order, and from then on, at the 



