242 Big Game Fishes 
at the weighing, and shall be attested by wit- 
nesses. I made the draught of the original rules 
of the angling tournament of the Tuna Club, 
and suggested that the club demand that con- 
testants use a fairly light rod, theoretically not 
over twenty-six ounces in weight, a line not 
larger than a twenty-four cuttyhunk; that the 
fish must be brought to gaff unaided, any break- 
age or assistance from boatman debarring the 
angler. This assures a contest between one man 
and the fish, the chances on the side of the latter. 
It is astonishing how a fish will grow in the 
hands of a determined and enthusiastic boatman. 
I recall one who always claimed that the scales 
were “shy four pounds.” He then added two 
pounds for loss of blood while playing, two more 
for certain “shrinkages and evaporations ” before 
it could be weighed; then this true and cheerful 
soul would throw in an extra pound for luck, and 
was prepared to take affidavit that the weight 
was correct. My catches were the envy of the 
reef when Billy had the weighing. And then 
to hear him announcing the weight to others! 
Then it was that he soared to the very empyrean 
of the imagination. The arguments that he had 
to sustain his premise, the impressive manner 
