The sun., 1909-02-14
"A FIGHTING FISH OF CUBA
TUSSLE or HOURS AND 80
MINUTES WITH AN AGUJA.
And Not q Very Bis One At That-Ex
pertinent OF Catching with = Rod q
King Among the Game Fishes OF
Cuba-Battie Exhausted Both sides.


Pedro's voice denoted his surprise and
grave doubt.
1T is impossible be continued. 'The
aguja runs as high as 400 pounds. and
besides It Ia too dangerous a fish to toy
with In that manner. He would have uf
all in the water In no time and care
fully removing his diapidated hat ne faced
the breeze and skilfully lighted his be-
loved cigarette.
Nevertheless we will try. Pedro
Tomorrow morning at s l will meet you
here. Have everything In readiness and
IL luck favors US We will match our skill
against the strength Of your wonderful
fish," the American visitor In Havana
replied.
The beautiful Malecon was thronged
with carriages and automobiles and all
Havana had seemingly turned out TO
enjoy the cool breeze Of typical Cuban
night. The strains Of a dazon family
reached the visitors ears as he turned
and crossing the Prado slowly walked to
his hotel.
A flne field for the angler who speaks
little Spanish and has an equal amount
of patience is afforded by half an
hours sail from the mouth OF Havana's
harbor. The waters are simply alive
with fish, varying from the diminutive
and rainbow hued cabrilla TO the shark
and the monster aguja del paladar. This
last fish is a king of game fishes and az
dangerous a PROPOSE ton TO handle as any
sportsman would desire. Its capture ID
fraught with danger. AZ many a Cuban
fisherman can testify. and each year II
claims an ignorant or unwary victim.
1t belongs to the family Of the sword
fish. as the stout and sharp spear, varying
from inches to feet in length. at the
end of its snout denotes. This spear,
which Is of the same color as the fish,
dark gray, is round and smooth. tapering
into a needlelike point. Unlike the shark,
1t does not attack unless molested, but
when aroused 1t is dangerous and in
tslligent enemy.
Its speax, has been. known to pierce
small boats and il has overturned a boat
by lash of its powerful tail and killed
it's occupants. When hooked IL will
either sound or leap high out Of the water,
falling at will on its side or back, or head
first into the water again. Occasionally
it will jump into the boat. to the peril OF
the occupants Such accidents are re-
sponsible for the belief common among
the fishermen that the fish wien hard
pressed deliberately leaps int the boat
to meet it's enemy.
The aguja varies in size. The largest
seen by the writer measured a little over
six feet and weighed about $40 pounds.
The head is long and thick, the body
round and tapering into long powerful
tail. which propels the body at great
speed. Its meat is white and firm and is
considered choice. bringing the highest
price paid for sea food. The spring and
early summer months are the best time
to hunt it. and during the morning hours
Of these months the blue waters around
Havana are dotted by scores Of small
boats, their little sails standing out on
the cloudless horizon al they beat back
and forth. trolling.
The Cuban fishermen are very skilful
and each one has his own peculiar method
of fishing. Lazy by nature these men
content themselves with one good catch
week This. as Pedro philosophically
put it. gives every one a chance to earn
living and enjoy a rest. Twenty dol
lars a week. senior, is enough for a poor
man"
Pedro-Pedro Ignacio Nuhez de Villa
vicenco. il you please-met the American
angler at daylight on the following morn
ing at the embarcadero Of la Punta,
directly opposite the Moro lighthouse.
The first streaks Of dawn were painting
the horizon into light purple and faint
breeze sufficient to propel the boat
rippled over the water. Lanterns bobbed
here and there as boat after boat slowly
passed out Of the harbor. each and every
one bent on one objeot-the capture Of
a large aguja.
"A fine morning. sehor.' cried Pedro as.
baggage in hand. the angler scrambled
into his little craft.
The quarters were cramped and there
was barely space In which to stretch ones
legs. The little room available was
almost filled by the two basket contain
ing fishing tackle. hooks and bait. Pedro
had insisted upon bringing along his lines.
notw outstanding the Americans inten-
ton to Use a rod.
The little SAIL with its many dirty
patches. the work Of Pedro's sehora. was
soon rugged and propelled by the slight
breeze, the boat tackled directly across
the harbor and out into the open sea.
No one who has entered or left the har-
Dor Of Havana at daybreak can ever for
get the panorama which stretched out
before him. Like picture Of bygone
ages the city. with its stocky. low houses,
lines the entire water front. untilit vanishes
into the suburb of the Velado Here and
there lights twinkle. move and vanish,
while at regular intervals lighted trolley
car shoots INTO view, only to disappear as
1t rounds curve.
In the distance the hills, crowned by old
fashioned formidable looking castles. look
down upon the city with its ancient Moro
standing. a silent proof Of the glories and
strength OF ancient Spain. Below the
castle the dark blue waters lap the rugged
rock foundations. booming forth as wave
after wave filled some well worn cavity.
Once away from the protecting walls
of the Morro the wind. coming from the
East, filled the sail and with surprising
velocity the boat made its way directly
to sea TO form one Of the little feet.
For an hour or 30 1t sailed, during which
time the American put his rod together and
fixed the reel with it's 200 yards Of line.
Pedro would not hear of using the hook
by the angler and even threat
ened TO put for home II he insisted. claim
ing that IL would be merely waste Of time
and fish. From his basket he withdrew a
~ a.,A