CHAPTER XIV 
THE ALBACORE 
“Vext with the puny foe, the tunnies leap, 
Flounce in the stream, and toss the mantling deep; 
Ride over the foamy seas, with torture rave, 
Bound into the air and dash the smoking wave.” 
— OPpPrAN. 
THE albacore, the long-finned, big-eyed harle- 
quin of the Santa Catalina and San Clemente 
channels, is the understudy of the tuna, follow- 
ing its mighty cousin, cheek by jowl, in many 
of its cyclonic rushes into the bays and harbors 
of the California islands. Owing to this habit, 
it is often a factor to be counted on in tuna 
fishing. Being more active and agile, it seizes 
the bait intended for the tuna, and the unfortu- 
nate angler, while surrounded by the big fish 
of his choice, catches nothing but twenty-five- 
pound albacores, which, while excellent sport, 
under the peculiar conditions becomes a deep- 
seated injury. 
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