204 Big Came Fishes 



been known to take the rod from the hands of 

 a not over-alert angler. There is little need to 

 strike or attempt to hook the fish ; in nine cases 

 out of ten this is accomplished by the albacore 

 itself, as it strikes on the run, with a fierce rush, 

 and does not stop, bearing away and down as 

 it feels the hook, with such irresistible force that 

 the angler is often obliged to give and give, until 

 his thumb loses nearly all sensation by the con- 

 tinual pressure upon the leather brake in the 

 vain attempt to stop the fish, which plunges deep 

 and yet deeper, sounding at times like a very 

 whale; then, perhaps maddened by the reel, it 

 sways and cuts the water to right or left and rises 

 far away in so singular a manner that the angler 

 fears that it is being chased by a shark, and so, 

 ever fighting, ever bearing off with tremendous 

 power for its size, the fish comes slowly in, the 

 angler with the butt of the rod in the leather cap 

 between his knees working his passage and pay- 

 ing fare as well. The multiplier is all-powerful, 

 and far down in the azure waters a flash of silver 

 is seen, circling broadside on. Slowly it rises, 

 now showing a black eye almost as large as that 

 of a plesiosaurus in its adolescence. At this stage 

 it is well to count on a stupendous rush, as the 



