Manchester Democrat., 1911-04-19

I VVe4SSAASA
BILE in any way to tire him out.
We then signalled the launch which
had been following US. but keeping a
good three-quarters Of mile away. to
send the dinghy with some lunch.
They had evidently been expecting
this signal. because In "a very few
minutes we were pleased to see the
launch go ahead Of us, and parallel to
the direction. we were taking in order
that when the dinghy was dropped
they would only have to row to head
US of. as no ordinary rowboat could
catch us as long as the tuna towed
without altering his course. When
the boat came alongside. which It
could only do when the tuna was tow
ing US straight ahead. Charlie grabbed
the dinghy by the gunwale while the
man in the dinghy dumped our grub
aboard. If the fish does not start to
raise Cain we generally let the other
boat stay alongside In order to give
him an extra load to tow.
At the end of an hour and a half I
gave the order to the launch to COM
mence to work on the fish, too. The
launch. being told that the tuna was
approximately 175 yards ahead Of us.
proceeded to run In front OF him, and,
by giving him the propeller wash,
would turn him back into the bay.
as he was then going out to sea.
With this particular fish the launch
did not have much effect, except to
make him swim deeper. and then he
did not mind the launch at all. We
were towed around the bay all day,
generally inside the outer island (Ci-
bou island). but occasionally we. went
beyond the islands, sometimes to the
north side of the bay and sometimes
on the south side. About midnight the
tuna took the bit In his teeth and
started seemingly stronger than ever
to tow US toward Ingonish island light
at about seven miles an hour, or bet.
ter. and did not change his direction
until he was about three miles from
IL when he ran toward the shore, and
gave us very lively time for about
half an hour or more. Then he
started to leave the shore and 20
obliquely to sea, taking us about i've
miles from the shore!
As soon as daylight came made
every effort possible;to gain some line
on the tuna, and after about 80 or As
minutes of strenuous pumping, man.
aged to get in two or three turns Of
the double line on the reel, which
meant that the tuna was within 10
feet OF us. I Immediately drove q
wedge into the. thumb brake, hoping
to prevent him taking more line, but
within minute or SO he took It into
his head to bolt, and the wedge was
ripped out Of the thumb brake, as if
1t had been made of straw.
Twice more got the double line ON
| the reel. but each time he ripped IL
out seemingly whenever he wanted.
At $3.50 a. M. when had had the
rod for about 10 mortal hours, my
hands and arms were aching SO that
I was forced to give It up: but before
doing 30 l asked Charlie II he would
like to take q turn at the rod. He
took the rod for 20 minutes, and dur.
ing that time twice pumped the fish
to within 10 feet Of the boat, drove
the wedge in the brake. but, as be-
fore. the fish took the line out again
at-will.
again took the rod for about Is
minutes, and at the end of that time,
little after 9. M, I cut the line and
let him go. -
We went aboard the launch-I turn.
ed in, and the others had breakfast
in the cabin. ! slept till we reached
Sydney. at 1890 a. NJ, feeling mono
the worse for as exciting a motor-and-
fish-power cruise as anyone could
wish for.