TALES OF FISHES 



quick conquering of a Marlin swordfish. We have 

 yet to see him work upon a broadbill or a big tuna; 

 and that is something Captain Dan and I are an- 

 ticipating with much pleasmre and considerable 

 doubt. 



August 31st dawned fine and cool and pleasant, 

 rather hazy, with warm sun and smooth sea. 



The night before we had sat in front of our tents 

 ebove the beach and watched the flying-fish come 

 out in twos and threes and schools, all the way 

 down the rugged coast. I told the captain then 

 that swordfish were chasing them. But he was 

 skeptical. 



This morning I remembered, and I was watching. 

 Just at the Glory Hole my brother yelled, "Strike!" 

 I did not see the fish before he hit the bait. It is 

 really remarkable how these swordfish can get to 

 a bait on the surface without being seen. R. C. 

 hooked the Marlin. 



The first leap showed the fish to be small. He 

 did not appear to be much of a jumper or fighter. 

 He leaped six times, and then tried to swim out to 

 sea. Slow, steady work of R. C.'s brought him up 

 to the boat in fifteen minutes. But we did not gaff 

 him. We estimated his weight at one hundred and 

 thirty pounds. Captain Dan cut the leader close 

 to the hook. I watched the fish swim lazily away, 

 apparently unhurt, and sure to recover. 



We got going again, and had scarce trolled a 

 hundred yards when I saw something my com- 

 panions missed. I stood up. 



"Well, this starts out like your day," I remarked 

 to my brother. 



