The Leaping Tuna 61 
thirty pounds. A line of this quality is indis- 
pensable. By such a thread a tuna towed me 
in a heavy boat ten miles, the perfect line saving 
the day. For practice a number twenty-four 
is commended, but after the novice has landed 
a tuna a number eighteen line is sufficiently 
strong for a cool hand. A _ new line should 
always be soaked before using and stretched 
for a day previous to use, and allowed to dry 
in this way. I am aware that an opinion pre- 
vails that this takes the spring from a line, but 
I have always made it a practice. In the words 
of an expert, “ This sets the lay of the line, and 
not only lessens the liability of kinking, but 
helps to even its strength.” This will be appre- 
ciated by those who have watched the mental 
anguish of a brother angler whose line has 
kinked while the fish were biting. 
The selection of a rod is important. A poor 
rod, or a very cheap one, is an impossibility. 
Large fish have been taken on small and light 
rods, but the well-equipped angler will find sol- 
ace and comfort in going into the fray with per- 
fect tackle. A good greenheart rod weighing 
twenty-five or twenty-six ounces, with one long 
tip and agate guides, seven or seven and a 
