300 Unexplored Spain 



canning factory stands on the shore hard by, where the fish are 

 boiled, potted, and shipped to Italy, whence (the tins being labelled 

 " Italian Tunny ") they are exported to all parts of the world ! 

 The flesh resembles veal, and is much appreciated in South 

 America. 



EOD-FlSHING FOR TUNNY 



At this period, when the tunny go to spawn (exclusively larger 

 fish), they travel, as the Spaniards say, with their mouths shut, 

 and nothing will induce them to look at a bait. There occurs, 

 however, in w^inter (November to February) another "run" of 

 smaller fish averaging 50 to 150 lbs. apiece, and these are 

 amenable to temptation. Tarifa, in the Straits of Gibraltar, is a 

 favourable point from which to attempt this sport. The system 

 is to cruise about in a falucho, or sailing-boat, carrying a plentiful 

 supply of sardines, mackerel, and other small fish to serve as bait. 

 These, on arrival at likely waters, are thrown overboard one by 

 one till at length they attract a roving tunny. The operation is 

 repeated till the quarry is enticed close up to the vessel. A similar 

 fish, impaled on a two-inch hook, is then offered him, dangling on 

 the surface, and will probably be seized. The tunny on finding 

 himself held, makes off in a bee-line at a mile a minute. Needless 

 to say, the strongest tackle must be used, together with some 

 hundreds of yards of line, and the fight will be severe and pro- 

 longed, for the tunny is one of the swiftest and most active of 

 fish, and he weighs as much as an average man. Few amateurs 

 have hitherto attempted this sport ; but as large numbers of 

 tunny are caught thus by professional fishermen with extremely 

 coarse hand-lines, there seems to be no reason why " big-game 

 fishing " in Spain, if scientifically pursued, might not rival that 

 of California. 



The Bonito is another fine game-fish which may be caught at 

 sunrise at nearly any point on the Andalucian sea-board by 

 trolling with a white fly. 



