Big Game at Sea 



brake sufficient for ordinary work, though I have 

 often wished for something else when my line was 

 melting away before a Texas tarpon or a Santa Cata- 

 lina tuna, which apparently nothing could stop. 



It should be said with emphasis that a cheap reel 

 for this fishing is impossible a waste of time, 

 patience, and money. An ultra complete outfit, ready 

 for all emergencies, will contain two reels. There 

 will be room in the bag for several lines. I believe 

 a 2 1 -thread is large enough to catch any fish that 

 can be handled, and anglers like Mr. John C. Hecks- 

 cher, Mr. Vom Hofe, Judge A. W. Houston, or 

 Colonel Morehouse could easily demonstrate the pos- 

 sibility of taking the largest tarpon or tuna upon a 

 No. 15 or 1 8 line; it is merely a question of time. If 

 sharks are plentiful, and it is necessary to take the 

 game in at once, a No. 21 line, or even a 24, is per- 

 haps admissible. I have never used a line larger 

 than the first mentioned, and have taken tunas and 

 other large fishes with a i5-thread. The line must 

 be of the best quality, and will cost from three and 

 a half to four dollars for 600 feet. This line, in 

 which lies the secret of taking big game, is a marvel 

 of strength. It is of Irish linen, carefully made, and 

 one which I have in mind, called No. 15, is tested to 

 pull a dead weight of thirty pounds, while the No. 24 

 is tested to forty-eight pounds. Such lines cost four 

 dollars for 600 feet, or about forty-five dollars per 

 dozen. Before using, the line should be thoroughly 



no 



