CHAPTER XIV 



THE ALBACORE 



"Vext with the puny foe, the tunnies leap, 

 Flounce in the stream, and toss the mantling deep; 

 Ride over the foamy seas, with torture rave, 

 Bound into the air and dash the smoking wave." 



OPPIAN. 



THE albacore, the long-firmed, big-eyed harle- 

 quin of the Santa Catalina and San Clemente 

 channels, is the understudy of the tuna, follow- 

 ing its mighty cousin, cheek by jowl, in many 

 of its cyclonic rushes into the bays and harbors 

 of the California islands. Owing to this habit, 

 it is often a factor to be counted on in tuna 

 fishing. Being more active and agile, it seizes 

 the bait intended for the tuna, and the unfortu- 

 nate angler, while surrounded by the big fish 

 of his choice, catches nothing but twenty-five- 

 pound albacores, which, while excellent sport, 

 under the peculiar conditions becomes a deep- 

 seated injury. 



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