THE MARLIN OR SPEARFISH 



"Shorty" arrayed in an Isadora Duncan 

 bathing suit. 



It was too rough to fish so we started back 

 to camp. We had not gone far before 

 "Shorty" saw a swordfish, a true broadbill. 

 He slowed the launch down and wanted me 

 to try him. I told him to give the fish a 

 wide berth and go full steam ahead. I 

 wanted no five-hour fight with a broadbill 

 in that rough sea after the three hours and 

 a half of calisthenics that I had been 

 through. In fact I had had enough fishing 

 for one day. How seldom that happens! 



On our way back to the camp we ran 

 into a large school of marlin. The crest of 

 every big wave was pierced by their large 

 dorsal fins as they rode on the top of the 

 heavy swells. I never saw such a fish pic- 

 ture before and it was heartrending to think 

 that it was too rough to fish with safety. We 

 had a teaser pole out, which was torn loose. 

 The fish seemed ready to devour everything 

 in sight. 



[89] 



