140 Big Game Fishes 
piano, bronze, or copper wire leader in two 
links. The leader should be fastened to the line 
with a double swivel. The bait is either smelt 
or sardine four to six inches in length. The 
hook enters the mouth, coming out at the gill; 
then turned, is embedded in the belly of the 
fish, so that the entire hook, except the upper 
shank, is concealed. The mouth of the sardine 
is now wound or closed with a five-inch, very 
fine silver wire which is attached to the shank 
of the hook. This is an important feature, as 
it prevents the bait from whirling too rapidly, 
which often results in ruining the line by un- 
winding it. J have never been able to take 
the fish with a spoon. At times, when the fish 
are fickle, I have found a large flying-fish very 
effective as bait, trolling slowly with a light pipe 
sinker sufficient to take the bait down twenty or 
thirty feet. This is an extraordinary bait for the 
fish, being ten inches in length, but it frequently 
results in the capture of exceptionally large yel- 
lowtails that seemingly find it irresistible. 
Thus equipped the lines are unreeled for fifty 
or sixty feet and the launch, or rowboat, moves 
slowly along the line of kelp with a rod out on 
either side. The fishing is best in the morning, 
