218 Big Game Fishes 



that I lifted the fish to within twenty feet of the 

 surface ; then it turned and towed us directly in 

 toward the reef, where a high sea was breaking. 

 Chief now took the oars and pulled against the 

 fish, while I labored strenuously, gaining a foot 

 or two, then lying back and holding hard, while 

 the fish made desperate rushes, displaying an 

 indomitable spirit, making me suspicious that I 

 had caught a tartar. From early youth having 

 had a penchant for taking impossible fishes in 

 various ways, it had often occurred to me that 

 anglers were strange creatures, undergoing great 

 fatigue, working, straining, being jerked this way 

 and that, to conquer a big fish. Under the ban- 

 ner of sport, this was pleasure ; but if one was 

 rewarded like the ordinary daily fisherman, how 

 prosaic, how monotonous, how hard the labor 

 would be. It all depends upon the point of 

 view, and as I controlled my fish after a particu- 

 larly heavy rush, Chief stopped rowing, and gaz- 

 ing at my face, contorted with emotion, remarked, 

 " Ef yo' had to do it, sa', it would be mighty 

 hard work!" Chief could never understand 

 why I insisted upon doing all the hauling while 

 he was paid to do it. Chief was plainly not a 

 sportsman; he had never experienced the thrill 



