264 Big Game Fishes 



Despite all efforts to hold it, it breaks away, 

 and to the merry jangle of the reel goes bound- 

 ing along half across the channel, tearing the 

 line from the reel, until the novice is amazed at 

 the strength and power of the fish. Up into the 

 air it goes, again and again, and with two hun- 

 dred feet gone the angler stops it and begins to 

 reel, and here often meets his Waterloo. The 

 angler should be perfectly cool, prepared to trans- 

 fer hand from brake to reel handle and back with 

 great rapidity; he must not hold the fish by 

 the reel handle often a great temptation; the 

 rushes must be stopped by the thumb and upper 

 hand pressure, and the moment this is accom- 

 plished seize the reel handle and turn, then drop 

 the tip to the water's edge, or very low ; and with 

 both hands, the right on the brake, lift steadily 

 back until the rod is vertical, then lower the tip 

 suddenly, reeling rapidly. This is "pumping," 

 already referred to, and by it the angler gains 

 several feet with ease; in fact, deliberately to 

 reel in a hard-fighting tarpon out of hand, with- 

 out resorting to this expedient, is at times almost 

 impossible. By a series of short "pumps" the 

 fish comes in rapidly, but the angler should be 

 watchful, as the fish, if it is thoroughly game, 



