Adventures with the Biggest Bass 



confidence that was at least interesting, and I, winded, 

 lay back and became a looker on in Venice. But for 

 some reason my companion did not start the fish, and 

 though I politely offered my help and adjured him 

 to " go in and win." as I had really worn the fish out, 

 he could not do it, and a few moments later the bass 

 made a rush and broke the line. Rarely do anglers 

 agree on the size of a fish they have not seen, but I 

 think we both u guessed " that sea bass at a ton. 



Some of the astonishing records with these fishes 

 have been made by women, and with a rod. The 

 late Mr. F. S. Schenck of Brooklyn probably took 

 more than any one, having a passion for the lusty 

 sport. I recall his collection of photographs which 

 filled an album a remarkable record of contests with 

 the giant of the bass tribe. 



The visitor at the town of Avalon will see in the 

 collection of the Tuna Club the cups and medals 

 given to the heroes of the rod in their struggles with 

 the big bass. Here is the black sea bass gold medal ; 

 the black sea bass cup, with the names of the winners, 

 all men who fished with a rod, and line not much 

 larger than an eyeglass cord. 



At the dinners of the Tuna Club one may see a 

 small black sea bass baked whole, a one hundred 

 pounder brought in by waiters as they would a boar's 

 head, and the young fish is excellent. Almost 

 every year the record is beaten, and this season it 

 stands in the name of Mr. Murphy, four hundred 



257 



