SWORDFISHING IN THE PACIFIC 



in me had been stretched by this time, even 

 my eyesight and imagination. 



It had been a cold foggy morning. I had 

 on two sweaters. First one then the other 

 had been peeled off. Then my collar and 

 my hat had been thrown aside. "Shorty" 

 remarked about this time that if I kept on 

 I would be naked before the fish was taken. 



I fought the fish for all I was worth for 

 four hours and twenty minutes, then brought 

 him to the boat on his side. I had most of 

 the double line on the reel and four feet 

 of the leader out of the water. I called to 

 "Shorty" to put the gaff into him. Just then 

 the fish gave a last struggle and went under 

 the boat and the line fouled on the upper 

 end of the shoe that protects the propellor. 

 The fish still on his side was under the boat 

 in plain view but beyond the reach of the 

 gaff and held by the fouled line. 



I slacked my line to see if the boatman 

 could clear it with the gaff. The bag of 

 the slack line drifted under the boat. 



[63] 



