The Leaping Tuna 65 
Such is the equipment, and the angler will do 
well to have several lines, at least two reels, and 
half a dozen baited hooks ready for immediate 
use, as it is the unexpected which invariably 
happens in tuna fishing, as in anything else. I 
have found besides duplicate rods a fishing valise 
of value. This contains the reels, lines, hooks 
and ‘leaders, extra swivels, wire, pincers, pocket 
oiler, extra guides, chamois for the reel, compass, 
extra gaffs, hook, knife, rule, court-plaster, etc. 
At Avalon every boatman provides the well- 
equipped rods, but the angler who loves fishing 
as an art and a part of his life worth living, will 
own his tackle. The delights of angling are in 
a general way threefold. There is, first, the 
anticipation which lasts and is a solace through 
long winter months; then the possession of tackle 
is a delight in itself; and finally the catch. Of 
these the tackle —the old rods and reels —to 
talk over in the out season, to my mind, rank 
equally with the others. I retire my rods after 
adequate service full of honors, and as they hang 
on the wall, pensioned off, live over the incidents 
in their lives so deeply engraved on their respon- 
sive hearts. One, as a friend remarked, “is not 
much to look at,” but beneath its scratches and 
F 
