78 A NATURALIST ON DESERT ISLANDS. 



to dive : but there was very little excitement. If we 

 had secretly hoped for some startling manoeuvres on the 

 part of the fish we were quickly disappointed. It simply 

 towed us, without any fuss or splutter or violent antics, 

 in whatever direction it liked. While Mr. Eagle and one 

 of the sailors rowed hard against it, I held the thin harpoon 

 line. Once or twice the fish made a half-hearted jump 

 just clear of the water ; but for the most part it was like 

 trying to row against a kedge anchor. The moment the 

 boat gathered a little way the fish manipulated its fins 

 so as to put on a most effective break. We tried to tow 

 our prize towards the opening in the reef with the idea 

 of beaching it, but this laudable plan it resolutely refused 

 to have anything to do with. Aided by a moderate 

 tide, it simply beat us by a sullen dogged persistence. 

 In the end, another boat manned by two more sailors 

 came to our assistance. A rope from the stern of this 

 was made fast to the bow of our boat, and in this 

 ignominious fashion the devil-fish was slowly towed ashore. 

 Arrived there I took its measurements. It was twelve feet 

 across from fin tip to fin tip, and six feet from the head to 

 the base of its whip-like tail. It was, therefore, by no 

 means a large one of its kind. Judging, however, only 

 from this one, we should be incliued to doubt if devil- 

 fish, unless very large indeed, would afford any sport 

 when caught with a harpoon. Certainly we shall never 

 kill another in a like fashion. 



Referring to a devil-fish which measured fifteen feet 

 in width. Dr. Gunther in his " Study of Fishes " says : 

 *' The capture of devil-fishes of such large size is attended 

 with danger, as they not rarely attack and capsize the 

 boat." In our opinion, a fish would have to be at least 

 twenty feet across before it would be worth going for, or 

 be at all dangerous. Of course if one of even twelve feet 

 across, happened by accident to fall across the boat during 

 one of its occasional leaps from the water it would be very 

 awkward ; but so it would be if a hundred pound tarpon 

 fell upon one's head. 



