136 Big Game Fishes 
babel failed to lose from one to five fish from 
broken lines. The heavy line would be broken 
fairly by the lunges of the fish, which jerked small 
boats about and turned them with incredible 
ease. For half an hour this commotion lasted, 
and when the counting came the fishermen, who 
had strikes as soon as the bait struck the water, 
found that some had secured four or five yellow- 
tails; but the average fisherman had landed one 
or two and lost from five to six hooks and as 
many fish. This incident is introduced to give 
some idea of the yellowtail when at its best, and 
pound for pound it is one of, if not the best 
fighter in the Western seas; if it could be taken 
in shallow water, it would put the salmon to 
blush, as a past master in the finesse peculiar 
to game fishes. This was some years ago; 
to-day the splendid fish is rarely taken with a 
hand-line. I suggested the Tuna Club and its 
rules for rod-fishing with the lightest lines as 
a measure of protection to this fish as. well as 
others of these waters, and to the example of the 
members of this organization is due the high 
standard of sport which now holds. 
We have seen that the first run of yellowtails 
comes in April. This may last, so far as the 
