202 Big Game Fishes 



into foam, from May fifteenth to November or 

 December, the fall fishing possibly being the best. 

 At any time, but especially in the morning, the 

 swift launches of the boatmen, with their gay 

 tuna and other signals stretched to the breeze, 

 may be seen in the offing, the two anglers sitting 

 in the stern with rods out on either side. 



A typical equipment may be described as 

 follows : the rod of greenheart, noibwood, or split 

 bamboo ; if the two former, to weigh about 

 twenty-six ounces, as the fish is often a sulker and 

 has to be " pumped." The rod, if the angler con- 

 sults his greatest convenience, is a single piece ; 

 that is, a long tip with a short butt, and there are 

 two long tips to such a rod, or better still, three 

 one stiff, for tuna, a second less so for albacore, 

 and a third lighter yet, for yellowtail and white- 

 sea bass. The rod has double bell guides of 

 German silver that the line can be changed every 

 day so that the rod will not assume a chronic 

 curve in any given direction. The reel, which 

 should always be lashed upon the rod, should be 

 of medium size, to hold three hundred feet of wet 

 number fifteen cuttyhunk line, which is tested 

 to twenty-eight pounds, though some anglers use 

 tuna reels and tackle for this sport, owing to the 



