328 Big Game Fishes 



after the heart of the salmon fishermen, the rod 

 used being " twenty feet " long, probably a single 

 bamboo pole. 



Such an angler created a sensation in Southern 

 California waters several years ago by advocat- 

 ing long rods. It so happened that I accom- 

 panied him one day and observed its working. 

 He had a long bamboo pole, the longest and 

 stoutest I remember having seen, and the method 

 was to place the butt of the rod in the leather 

 cap on the seat, and when a strike came merely 

 hold on. I saw this long-rod philosopher play a 

 thirty-pound yellowtail, while I was convinced 

 that he was fast asleep ; the fish seized the bait 

 and plunged down, hooking itself, taking the 

 tip several feet under water ; but the tremendous 

 strain was too much for even this gamy crea- 

 ture, and the rod gradually raised it, when the 

 fish made another rush, and again the back 

 spring lifted it. And so the fight went on until 

 the angler awoke and reeled in the exhausted 

 fish. Long rods are to be commended, but the 

 rod which does all the fishing is an embarras de 

 richesse. 



Mr. Elliott baited one hook with a raw oyster, 

 its attributes being an appeal to the fish's sense 



