The Taking of Big Game Fishes 



been stopped that is, is not taking any line from the 

 reel, but it is forging around in a semi-circle, or is 

 moving steadily ahead, towing the boat. If it is a 

 shark country, there is no time to waste in observing 

 the play of the fish or taking time; on the contrary, 

 if sharks are not plentiful, the angler may proceed 

 with a certain amount of deliberation; but it is an 

 axiom with nearly all anglers that if the fish is large 

 it must be fought constantly, and not allowed to 

 obtain its " second wind " ; if this is not done a large 

 fish will continue the contest interminably. A tuna 

 has been known to tow a boat fourteen hours and 

 wear out two men, ultimately escaping. I played 

 such a tuna four hours and was towed nearly ten 

 miles, despite the fact that I fought the fish con- 

 stantly; but I was nearly outclassed. The fish 

 weighed 183 pounds. A hammer-head shark which 

 I played two hours required five boats to tow it to 

 the shore. 



We have stopped the fish; the right hand is now 

 on the reel handle, and dropping the tip of the rod, 

 the reel is turned, rapidly eating up the line; then, 

 when the tip^reaches the water, the thumb slips back to 

 the brake and the angler slowly lifts the fish. Then 

 the tip is rapidly dropped, and the right hand slides 

 over the handle again, which is whirled around, gain- 

 ing at least six or seven feet, or the length of line 

 equivalent to a fourth the arc of a circle, or from the 

 perpendicular top of the rod to the surface of the 



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