64 Big Game Fishes 
project through the abdomen near the vent, 
while others again use two hooks, one with a 
long shank—a method which has nothing to 
commend itself. Another hook, suggested and 
used by Colonel Morehous, has a shank six 
inches in length and is double; that is, two 
hooks are welded together, back to back, one 
a little lower than the other [see Fig.]. In bait- 
ing this hook the long shank is laid along the 
belly and sewed to the fish, one hook penetrating 
the body near the vent, the other projecting. 
The mouth of the fish is sewed up and fastened 
to the shank. This is a very killing arrange- 
ment, and in view of the fact that the novice 
misses about eight strikes to one catch, it is 
admissible; but I am an advocate for the plain- 
est and simplest tackle on the ground of fair 
play to the game. The use of two separate 
hooks, one in the head and one in the tail of the 
bait, often used, is an unpardonable sin, as nearly 
all the fish come in foul hooked,— one in the 
mouth, and one in the belly or side, —a result 
which can but totally destroy the pleasure of 
a capture after a four or five hour struggle with 
the noble fish. In a word, the tuna should be 
approached with all the advantages on its side. 
