THE TUNA 201 



seum, and the houses of the htlle town chistering at its foot 

 Hke a gathering of Uving and interested spectators, make up 

 a stage setting for the Tuna fisherman sufficiently romantic 

 to quicken the sporting instinct of the most blase tourist 

 who ever swung a rod. 



Concerning the kind of tackle in use by the members of 

 the Tuna Club, and by himself, Colonel C. P. Morehouse, of 

 Pasadena, holder of the Tuna championship record from 1899 

 down to date (1914), has kindly furnished the following state- 

 ment : 



"The most of tlie Tuna fishermen use a greenheart rod, 

 as per the rules of the club, viz., feet 9 inches long, and 

 a 16-ounce tip. As for myself, I prefer a split bamboo of 

 the very best quality made. I caught the large Tuna (251 

 pounds) with the longest and lightest rod ever used for Tuna, 

 viz., split bamboo, 7 feet 4 inches long, tip 12 ounces, with a 

 21 -strand Cuttyhunk line on a reel made to order, to carry 

 300 yards. The time was 3 hours and 20 minutes. I do not 

 think a lighter rod than the above w'ould stand the strain nec- 

 essary to capture a Tuna of 251 pounds, or even 150 pounds. 



"The Tuna are hooked by trolling from light naphtha 

 launches, and flying-fish are used for bait." 



x\t this date (1914) the heaviest catches of Tuna by 

 members of the Tuna Club stand as foUows: 



Colonel C. P. Morehouse, Pasadena, 1900 251 pounds 



Mrs. E. N. Dickerson, New York, 1901 216 " 



John E. Stearns, Los Angeles, 1902 197 



C. F. Holder, Pasadena, 1899 18.S " 



L. G. Murphy, Converse, Ind., 1910 175}^ " 



Ernest E. Ford, Alhambra, Cat, 1902 174 " 



C. B. Stockton, Los Angeles, Cal., 1911 170 



