SWORDFISHING IN THE PACIFIC 



comes to the surface he is lanced and hauled 

 on board. 



Great numbers of fish are taken in this 

 manner every season. I heard of one boat 

 that after a fourteen days' trip divided 

 $5,000 among a crew of five fishermen. The 

 swordfish bring fifteen cents a pound in the 

 Boston market and are excellent eating. 



Swordfishing is not carried on as a pro- 

 fession in the Pacific nor is the fish to be 

 found in the market, but swordfishing with 

 a rod and reel has become a sport, and an 

 arduous one, for the members of the Tuna 

 Club at Avalon. 



The first fish was taken in 1913, since 

 which time twenty fish have been brought 

 in and weighed. The heaviest qualified fish 

 weighed 465 pounds and the smallest 130 

 pounds. 



Regulation Tuna Club tackle is used — a 

 sixteen-ounce tip five feet or more long and 

 1,200 feet or more of 24-thread line. The 

 leader is made of strong piano wire doubled. 



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