62 Big Game Fishes 
half feet long, will be found equal to the de- 
mands upon it. The tip must not be so pliable 
that a heavy fish cannot be lifted, nor so stiff 
that the rod will not bend; a happy medium 
must be selected. A split bamboo rod, costing 
from twenty to thirty dollars, is eminently adapted 
to the sport. One of the best rods for the pur- 
pose has a patent hard rubber butt into which 
the tip fits, the rod really being one piece with 
a short butt. It is of noib wood—a species of 
greenheart of great tensile strength. This rod 
has heavy silver mounting, double bell guides, 
is six feet nine inches long, and weighs twenty- 
six ounces; with an extra tip the angler is well 
equipped, though he should never go tuna fish- 
ing with a single rod. In the equipment of 
the line, especially in the question of knots, 
every angler has his fancy. My own preference 
is for a plain bowline in fastening leader to 
line or swivel. I have heard many arguments 
against it, but have never had the knot wear 
or chafe off in the heavy work of tuna fishing. 
To those who do not care for the bowline there 
are others well known to the angler. Number 
1 shows a simple knot for tying leader to line, 
the ends being merely cut off after tying. Num- 
