THE GAME PISHES OP THE WOELD 



The boatman now gaffs it with a long gaff, and after killiag 

 it, a block and tackle are rigged and it is hoisted aboard the 

 launch and laid across the deck. This is still fishing, but the 

 fish can be taken by the method known in England as ' trailing.' 

 The big hook is baited with a live white-fish through the lip, 

 and a pipe sioker above sufficiently heavy to carry it down. The 

 launch then moves slowly along ' trolling ' the bait in water fifty 

 feet deep, but near the bottom along the edge of the kelp 

 forest. This is called troUing, and nearly all the fishing here is 

 either bottom fishing or surface trolling, though when fishes Kke 

 the yeUowtail are very plentiful the launch is often stopped and 

 bait, ' chum ' (ground baiting), cut up and scattered about to keep 

 the fish about the boat, the angler casting with his rod. At such 

 times the water is perfectly clear and the fishes can be seen. 



The black sea bass is occasionally taken from wharves on the 

 mainland, that is, it is hooked, but the fine is led ashore and the 

 monster bass hauled ignominiously up the sands. 



The black sea bass does not rank with the tuna or swordfish, 

 but the Tuna Club recognizes it as a game fish and there are 

 cups and medals fished for each season. If one is in need of 

 exercise of a strenuous quality accompanied by excitement often 

 of a sensational character, the sport can be heartily and unre- 

 servedly commended. The great fish is iateresting as it has so 

 restricted a range, being a CaHfornian and Lower CaUfornian fish. 

 The small individuals of one hundred or fifty pounds are very 

 fair eating. At some of the banquets of the Tuna Club such an one 

 has been baked entire, and brought in after the fashion of the 

 boar's head in old England. 



The rod records of the Tuna Club are carefully kept and some 

 are as follows : The largest catch of black sea bass, and the world's 

 record, is held by Mr. L. 6. Murphy. His bass, taken on the 

 southwest coast of Santa CataUna Island, weighed four hundred 

 and thirty-six pounds — ^a ponderous contribution to sea angling 

 records in California or elsewhere. The records of the club by 

 the year are as follows : 

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