The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26

made with largo sized sardinos. which fairly
swarm In the Catalina waters.
The hook used h about tWioo the Si1o Of
the ordinary tarpon hook, and tho reel u
literally a burden-until q fish II hooked.
Then, s-z-E-z-zipl Unless one Is prepared.
and gives the signal at once TO revorse the
engine and back the boat, the 900 feet Of line
II gone In jlify, and It's either let 60 OF the
rod or have the line break on while you
hold Il.
That u whore the novice loses his hsh.
That first rush IL fatal unless the boat goes
back at once in tho direotion the tuna is
taking. II the angler II fortunate enough
TO combat that first mad dash through the
water, his fun begins.
But It isn't necessarily certain that he is
going 70 bring his capture to gan. There's
many a slip between the hook and the gaR,'
Il an old saying among tuna fishermen.
There Is no harder fighter than this big
naokerel-for the tuna Is the largest Of
the mAckerel family to which also belong
the albioore, the bonita and the sdpisck,
the latter three varieties, although smaller,
affording good winter sport when the tuna
are feeding on the bottom In water over
a tholihand feet deep.
Of tricks, and not oven his smaller but
almost equally resOomoeful rival In garni-
ness, the black bass Of fresh water, can
give him any points on how TO 6rcun-
vent the fellow at the other end Of the line.
The Catalina boatmsn will tell you Of en-
perienced fishermen who have played .
tuna all day, only TO lose him at last.
Plenty Of strength, lots Of endurance and
an iron nerve are essential 10 the sport.
Last summer a young man who had never
had much experience went out after tuna,
and strangely enough got his fsh. II took
him ak hours, and then keeled over IN q
dead faint.
Failing to resuscltate him, his boatman
got him ashore with all possible speed, a
matter Of nearly five miles, and he was
put to bed. A doctor brought him around
after he had been in bed for three days,
but II was a close call.
The young man had a weak heart, and
the excitement of catching his first tuna
was too much for him. Upon the doctors
advice he didn't try 1t again. But the fab
was kept on ice for him, and as soon as he
was able TO be around he had his picture
taken with it, and his experience furnishes
an interesting chapter in the tuna book.
An interesting phase OF the island life Is
the attitude Of the photographers. In Los
Angeles is a photographer who has a prop
erty fish, an enormous sea bass, which Is
clnningly stuffed and preserved. For q
fish that has been out Of water 20 long 1t u
a work OF art
Behind this fab he has a painted screen
representing portion Of the beach at Cata-
lin a, and he will take the picture OF any
tourist who has the price Of 81 dozen on
souvenir postal cards. Come in and have
your picture taken catching the big sea
bass" Is the sign he displays, over his
studio door, and many there be who enter
therein.
But It is altogether different with the
island photographers. It frequently hap:
pens that after a large G. tch the successful
angler Is photographed with his fish Then
some tourist will come along.
I'D like to have picture taken like that
says the tourist.
An right. Where are your fish, asks
the photographer
Take me with these, says the tourist.
But you didn't catch theml'
no"
'Then I can't photograph you. 90 Gus
and catch your own hsh.'
The tourist Us amazed
But you are IN this Business 10 mike
money, aren't your he expost lates:
SYes, but not that kind Of money the
picture man wi ] reply.
The tuna is called the king Of game FISH.
There are larger fish caught at Catalina,
b ncne that causes the angler such .
thrill. The Tuna Club offers prizes for the
largest fish Of other varieties taken, nots-
bly, the yellowtail and the black sea bass.
or Jewish, but although the latter often
weigh over 300 pounds, they have not the
fighting qualities Of the 1.-the, slender tuna,
with his slashing tail, his tremendous
strength and his indomitable pluck. The
record for black sea bass is 425 poundS
hut 100 pound tuna will put up more Of 4
fight