264 Big Game Fishes 
Despite all efforts to hold it, it breaks away, 
and to the merry jangle of the reel goes bound- 
ing along half across the channel, tearing the 
line from the reel, until the novice is amazed at 
the strength and power of the fish. Up into the 
air it goes, again and again, and with two hun- 
dred feet gone the angler stops it and begins to 
reel, and here often meets his Waterloo. The 
angler should be perfectly cool, prepared to trans- 
fer hand from brake to reel handle and back with 
great rapidity; he must not hold the fish by 
the reel handle —often a great temptation; the 
rushes must be stopped by the thumb and upper 
hand pressure, and the moment this is accom- 
plished seize the reel handle and turn, then drop 
the tip to. the water’s edge, or very low; and with 
both hands, the right on the brake, lift steadily 
back until the rod is vertical, then lower the tip 
suddenly, reeling rapidly. This is “pumping,” 
already referred to, and by it the angler gains 
several feet with ease; in fact, deliberately to 
reel in a hard-fighting tarpon out of hand, with- 
out resorting to this expedient, is at times almost 
impossible. By a series of short “pumps” the 
fish comes in rapidly, but the angler should be 
watchful, as the fish, if it is thoroughly game, 
