The Leaping Tuna 63 
ber 2 is for a similar purpose. Draw the knot 
tight and cut the ends. Number 3 is a good 
knot for fastening line to the swivel, one 
easily made and as easily unfastened. Num- 
ber 4 is an excellent knot to conjure with, giv- 
ing easily to facile fingers. Number 5 shows a 
knot easily untied by jerking the end of the 
loop. 
The leader, or snood, in tuna fishing should 
be six or seven feet in length, of phosphor- 
bronzed wire, and the next ten feet of line should 
be doubled. This will save many a fish, as 
in a long struggle the line is liable to chafe 
off on the back of the fish. To the leader is 
fastened a Van Vleck hook, supposed among 
tuna experts to be very killing; but a 10/o 
O’Shaughnessy is equally effective—a small 
hook for so large a fish. There should be at 
least three strong brass swivels between hook 
and line. The bait is a large flying-fish, which is 
hooked in various ways according to fancy. The 
tuna almost invariably strikes at the large black 
eye of the flying-fish, hence many hook the bait 
through the lips, barb up, and sew up the mouth 
to make the fish run smoothly. Others sew 
the hook along the body and have the point 
