The California Barracuda 101 
Owing to its sharp muzzle, it is somewhat 
difficult to hook the fish, and it has an aggravat- 
ing method of nibbling at the bait, or nosing it. 
_The novice, thinking this a genuine strike, gives 
M. Barracuda the “butt” and misses again and 
again, reeling in to find that this inglorious sam- 
pler has bitten off a piece of the tail of the 
sardine as a souvenir; hence, the fish has become 
known as a promoter of invective on the part of 
the boatmen who are baiters as well. To obviate 
all this, the angler should not endeavor to hook 
at the first nibble but, if it is a decided strike, 
should slack off the line, overreeling for a few 
feet, thus affording the fish an opportunity to 
swallow the bait. If hooked some individuals 
surrender at once, refuse on any terms to be a 
party to sport of this kind. One fish, which I 
hooked, deliberately swam toward me, saving me 
the trouble of reeling, and I doubt not would 
have jumped into the boat,as they have been 
known to do, had not the dismayed boatman, 
with an ill-concealed “ Well, I'll be dogged!” 
jerked it aboard with the gaff. ; 
To offer this as a type of the California bar- 
racuda would possibly be a libel upon the species 
argentea, as nearly all fight as well as the average 
