Big Game at Sea 



was game caught on more honorable terms, as the 

 slightest mistake will break the delicate rod; a jerk 

 of any kind sever the web-like line. 



Moments have slipped away during this play, and 

 the fish that is now circling the boat, or swimming 

 back and forth by it, always bearing off, has been 

 contesting the reel for over an hour, yet is still strong. 

 The relentless click, click, click continues, and the big 

 reel brings it in until it is seen doggedly swimming 

 along near the boat. Then you rally and have it on 

 the quarter, the boatman sinks his gaff beneath it, 

 jerks it into the silvery throat, and the gleaming, strug- 

 gling hirenaga is held, beating the water furiously, to 

 be hauled in and put out of its misery. It is needed 

 as a trophy. 



The fish doubtless runs up to nearly, if not quite, 

 one hundred pounds, the largest taken with rod and 

 reel of the Light Tackle Club being a sixty pounder, 

 caught by Mr. A. J. Eddy. Mr. L. P. Streeter, 

 president of the Aransas Pass Tarpon Club, in a con- 

 versation on the subject of the fighting qualities of 

 this fish, said : 



" My experience with the Japanese albacore, or 

 4 yellow-fin tuna,' on the nine-thread line, under the 

 rules of the Catalina Light Tackle Club, leads me to 

 the belief that he is indeed fortunate who has the 

 opportunity of capturing this grand game fish in the 

 waters of Catalina. 



" The difficulties attending its capture on light 

 348 



