TALES OF FISHES 



must be said that the Japs mostly fish square. They 

 use a hook, and a barbless hook, at that. Usually 

 four Japs constitute the crew of one of these fast 

 eighty-horse-power motor-boats. They roam the 

 sea with sharp eyes ever alert for that thin white 

 line on the horizon, the feeding albacore. Their 

 method of fishing is unique and picturesque. When 

 they sight albacore they run up on the school and 

 slow down. 



In the stern of the boat stands a huge tank, 

 usually painted red. I have become used to seeing 

 dots of red all over the ocean. This tank is kept 

 full of fresh, sea-water by a pump connected with 

 the engine, and it is used to keep live bait — no other 

 than the httle anchovies. One Jap, using a Uttle net, 

 dips up live bait and throws them overboard to the 

 albacore. Another Jap beats on the water mth 

 long bamboo poles, making splashes. The other two 

 Japs have short, stiff poles with a wire attached and 

 the barbless hook at the end. They put on a hve 

 bait and toss it over. Instantly they jerk hard, 

 and two big white albacore, from fifteen to thirty 

 pounds, come wiggHng up on to the stern of the 

 boat. Down goes the pole and whack! goes a club. 

 It is all done with swift mechanical precision. It 

 used to amaze me and fill me with sadness. If the 

 Japs could hold the school of albacore they would 

 very soon load the boat. Biit usually a school of 

 albacore cannot be held long. 



You cannot fish in the channel any more without 

 encountering these Jap boats. Once at one time 

 in 1917 I saw one hundred and thirty-two boats. 

 Most of them were fishing! They ran to and for 



254 



