THE BOATMEN OF AVALON 



my shoulder and saw the fish jumping ahead 

 of the launch and became busy reeling in 

 the slack line. When this had been accom- 

 plished I found to my horror that it led 

 directly under the launch, the boatman hav- 

 ing crossed the line. I shouted but the boat- 

 man calmly replied : "How do I know where 

 the fish he goes!" The line fouled on the 

 keel of the launch and parted. 



I sat with folded arms and watched that 

 giant fish, irritated by the drag through the 

 water of five hundred feet of free line, jump 

 thirty or more times. The conversation that 

 followed the final jump of that marlin was 

 interesting; however, I hooked another fish 

 and that one was safely landed. 



Two days later this boatman had a novice 

 fishing with him who lost a fine fish at the 

 last moment, owing to the breaking of the 

 wire snood — the rusty one I had discarded! 



Swordfish and marlin have such great 

 strength and weight that it is always wise 

 to take no chances with tackle. It must be 

 [109] 



