The Leaping Tuna 77 
on the gunwale pressed it down to the water’s 
edge and cleverly slid the quivering, struggling 
tuna into the boat, where it pounded the planking 
with such vigorous blows that the small craft 
trembled from stem to stern. As its fine propor- 
tions were revealed, I realized that we had landed 
the largest tuna ever taken with a rod. Its 
actual weight was about one hundred and eighty- 
seven pounds; its scale record weight on shore 
after bleeding was one hundred and eighty-three 
pounds; its length was six feet four inches. 
This catch suggested the Tuna Club, and for two 
years this fish was the record catch of this organi- 
zation. I have taken a number of tunas since, 
and have seen a large number caught, but have 
never known a fish that so thoroughly exemplified 
the word “game”; and in justice to this splendid 
fish which is now in the possession of a Chicago 
angler, I must confess that a few moments more 
would have placed me hors de combat. 
For staying qualities and hard fighting the 
tuna in its best condition excels any game fish 
I have taken, and one secret of success is to 
fight it continuously without stopping, as when 
the angler is resting the fish is also recuperating. 
So fiercely do certain tunas fight that I have 
