112 Big Game Fishes 
before I could release the line, while the impact 
had jerked the light boat around as though on a 
pivot, and thrown my companion down. In the 
meantime the line was rushing over the side. As 
I seized it, the fish surged downward, taking the 
stern of the light craft almost under water, drag- 
ging it rapidly and irresistibly along. We were 
carried two hundred yards out to sea before I 
succeeded in stopping the fish, my companion 
having shipped the oars, pulling violently against 
it. By rapid manipulation I brought the fish to 
within twenty feet of the surface and caught a 
glimpse of its huge form, the dark brown back 
and the flash of silvery belly; then seeing the 
boat it made a rush that nearly carried the skiff 
with it and took all the line I had gained, in the 
direction of the inner kelp bed just beyond where 
the sea was breaking heavily on a point of rocks. 
Once in the kelp I knew that the bass would 
escape, so redoubled my efforts while my com- 
panion lay flat, balancing the boat, as the fish 
seemed determined to carry it under water, so 
fierce were its rushes. The bass would plunge 
downward, then deliver a series of blows, arm- 
wrenching in their power and probably given by 
striking the head from side to side by convulsive 
