328 Big Game Fishes 
after the heart of the salmon fishermen, the rod 
used being “twenty feet” long, probably a single 
bamboo pole. 
Such an angler created a sensation in Southern 
California waters several years ago by advocat- 
ing long rods. It so happened that I accom- 
panied him one day and observed its working. 
He had a long bamboo pole, the longest and 
stoutest I remember having seen, and the method 
was to place the butt of the rod in the leather 
cap on the seat, and when a strike came merely 
hold on. I saw this long-rod philosopher play a 
thirty-pound yellowtail, while I was convinced 
that he was fast asleep; the fish seized the bait 
and plunged down, hooking itself, taking the 
tip several feet under water; but the tremendous 
strain was too much for even this gamy crea- 
ture, and the rod gradually raised it, when the 
fish made another rush, and again the back 
spring lifted it. And so the fight went on until 
the angler awoke and reeled in the exhausted 
fish. Long rods are to be commended, but the 
rod which does all the fishing is an emébarras de 
richesse. 
Mr. Elliott baited one hook with a raw oyster, 
its attributes being an appeal to the fish’s sense 
