TALES OF FISHES 



O. K. and R. C. got one fish (seventy-one pounds), 

 then another (forty-eight pounds). They put up 

 fair fights. 



Then I tried light tackle. All the time the school 

 traveled east, going down and coming up. The first 

 fish that charged my bait came clear out after it. 

 He got it and rushed away. I had the light drag 

 on, and I did not thumb the pad hard, but the tuna 

 broke the line. We tried again. Had another 

 thrilling strike. The fish threw the hook. We had 

 to puU in the kite, put up another one — get it out, 

 and all the time keep the school in sight. The tuna 

 traveled fast. The third try on Hght tackle resulted 

 in another fine strike, and another tuna that broke 

 the line. 



Then R. C. tried the heavy tackle again, and lost 

 a fish. 



When my turn came I was soon fast to a hard- 

 fighting fish, but he did not stay with me long. 

 This discouraged me greatly. 



Then R. C. took his rod once more. It was 

 thrilling to run down on the school and skip a flying- 

 fish before the leaders as they rolled along, fins out, 

 silver sides showing, raising little swells and leaving 

 a dark, winkling, dimpling wake behind them. 

 When the bait got just right a larger tuna charged 

 furiously, throwing up a great splash. He hit the 

 bait, and threw the hook before R. C. could strike 

 hard. 



We had nine bites out of this school. Followed it 



fifteen miles. Twice we were worried by other 



boats, but for the rest of the time had the school 



alone. 



218 



