Big Game at Sea 



at least thirty feet, an extraordinary spectacle, resem- 

 bling huge dragon flies glistening and gleaming in the 

 sun. For a few seconds they breasted the wind, high 

 in air, like kites without a string, or gulls, then fell 

 away in a graceful curve, slowly descending to the 

 surface and sailing away a foot above it, doubtless 

 followed by the insatiate tuna. The tunas came in 

 from some distant and offshore feeding ground to 

 the south, following the flying-fishes, driving them 

 before them into the bays, out upon the beaches, and 

 in its madness, I have seen a huge tuna dash into the 

 kelp beds and out upon the rocks. The charge of 

 the fishes is a splendid maneuver, full of martial 

 spirit, dash, and utter abandon. One night my boat- 

 man was rowing along near shore when the tunas 

 flushed their game within twenty feet of us. I could 

 hear the initial flutter of finny wings caused by the 

 lashing of waters with the powerful tail, then the fliers 

 came soaring over the boat, one striking me on the 

 neck, almost knocking me from my seat, indeed had 

 not the boatman caught me I should have lost my 

 equilibrium, and for the next ten minutes my compan- 

 ion and I sat in a stooping position with hands over 

 eye glasses to prevent further catastrophe; loud 

 splashes, violent rushes, swift plunges telling the 

 story of the insatiate enemy near at hand, and glan- 

 cing over the side, streaks and flashes of phosphor- 

 escence could be seen, as the leapers dashed hither and 

 yon in pursuit of their prey. 



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