New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-25
By c harles +. III OF q e II

= borders of the Sargasso Sea | at ~
- tempted to secure specimens of the
Atlantic flving-ishes which leaped from to
wave by shooting them They were so active that
it was a difficult feat; but in California waters |
had better success. Here a singular sport, with
the great California iying-tish game, has devel
oped. The latter is three times as large as its
Atlantic relative; provided with enormous sde-fins
or wings while two near the tail also are important
in supporting the fish in its remarkable flights
against the wind.
The waters of Southern California abound in a
remarkable fish, known the eaping- tuna, which
prevs upon the flying-fsh; and from une until
August these warm waters are the scene of eXtraOr
binary exploits the tuna flushing the flying fishes,
when the gunner if he is prepared, shoots the flying
game which affords all the sport OF woodcock or
quail.
An automobile boat is employed for the purpose.
The spOrtsmen sit in the bow, each side,
and all being ready the boat is sent the tuna
grounds at full speed The boat alarms the fishes,
which lie on the surface, and they hear the rush,
and the great black form coming, they believe
it to be tuna, and with a violent sCreW-ike motion
of the tail hur themselves into the air then spread
ing the fins wings, assuming position parallel
to the water about foot above 1t.
1t is now that the sportsman takes them. One
rises Just ahead and goes spinning away, caught by
the wind and lifted into the air. 1t is cleVerly
knocked by the port gunner, the man at the
wheel stopping the engine and the tler being picked
SCOOp-Tet and Kept as valued tuna DalJ.
The launch speeds again, and presently two
fliers rise. One scars straight ahead, the other
bending to the right, resembling the blue water
that it IS almost impossible to distinguish it, and
the sportsman misses it, for it is by no means an
easy shot. Now the boat is sent around in a circle,
and it shoots into a school of flying-fs they
rise in all directions and the gunnes are dcmoraized
In such a furry | have seen a flying-fsh dash at
the boat instead of away. | could it coming on
big black eyes staring in an hypnotic manner its
four large wing like fins stiff and fixed not moving
as in flight. | could easily have caught the tlier
as it passed my head, but let it escape.
On another occasion a fying-tish struck my
companion a singing blow in the back
while another bombarded me in
the neck, so violently that l lost my
balance The fving-tish is blunt
headed, resembling the gray mulet
and such a fish weighing three or four
pounds proves a projectile to avoid.
The sport is by no means easy. True
some of the fishes soar slowly: but
when the wind is fresh and there is i5=
little sea the flying fish drops down
into the hollOws, rises over the seas. =
or appears to- so Stimulating the color ~
of the water that it is extremely puz- ------.
cling to the gunner
No more attractive hunting-ground
than the ocean moor of the tuna can -
be imagined. The high picturesque
rlountains of the California islands,
the rich tints of the slopes the blue
waters almost like turquoise the
great of calm all make the
huntlng-ground long to be re-
membered. The sport of shooting