The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-01
GREY FIGHTS TUNA
FOR FOUR HOURS
Author Realizes Ambition Of
Years; Wins Blue Button
of Pacific Club.
NO FUN WITH BIG FISH

AVALON. Cal, Aug. s1.--Zane Grey.
angler for big game Ash at sea. has
realized the anticipation of years, vim
ming the blue button OF the Tuna Club
by taking blue An leapinE tuna weigh.
Ing over one hundred pounds on regula.
tion tackle prescribed by the club He
spent Ave years to get the acrobat of
the sea. The fish fought for four hours
after II was hooked.
Mr. Grey has had eighteen strikes from
big tuna. The record shows three missed
the hook, three threw out the hook, three
broke the double line Cor had other fish
cut 1t ON, eight broke the single line and
one the eighteenth fish, he caught after
as hard Job as ever undertook"
In telling the story "of as hard a Job
as l ever undertook" Mr.. Grey said to a
SUN man:
1T seems. on the most striking occa-
SION I was unfortunate or fortunate
enough to run across a school of very
large tuna. none of which Capt. Daniel.
son estimated would weigh less than 200
pounds and many 800.
1T was an enormous school, covering
two acres. We counted nine other
schools In sight all big fish, but not 70
large as this leading school
They had no fear OF the boat. We
ran through the school, dragging the
Kite against very little wind and the
tuna leaped clear out piled over each
other to get the bait. Once hooked they
could not be held. lost thirteen flah
In this school, some Of which Can't.
Danielson believes were cut Off by others
in the school.
Tuna Fearless Fish.
THE standard Tuna Club tackle can.
not hold ouch heavy and fast tuna. I
thought 1t would be fairer to me and 10
the fish to Try . larger line but Cant.
Danielson WOMB not permit It.
Anyway. to see these magnificent
fsh under such favorable circumstances
was an experience OF a lifetime for an
angler. The beauty Of them, their fear
lessness and ferocity. their unbelievable
speed and strength, made me respect
them beyond words
1.-THE one l caught was a male fish,
long and elm, one Of the fighters that
are almost unbeatable by an ordinary
man. / was severely punished. ! got
the double line over the reel eight times,
but could not hold 1t.
THE tuna was on the surface a good
deal. In plain sight on the swells. and
the way ne shone green and silver was
something to be remembered.
Capt. Danielson said I never fought
either marlin or broadbill swordnsh so
hard as I did this tuna--and know
| never did
East and West Species Differ.
There ia a difference between Atlantic
tuna and Pacific tuna. The former are
seacows compared to these blue plug
gers OF the West. 1t must be a differ.
| ence OF disposition.
Nowhere have I seen the desperate
1AxrA ne 20 nrt,t
And after I had caught him, II II had
been possible l would have let him go
free to live.
| II cannot see why an angler would
| want to catch more than one OF these
magnificent fish, unless for the need Of
| food. 1t took five years to catch mine.
There Is no fun catching a big tuna.
The thrill ends when he goes down after
the strike.
| "Swordhshing is spectacular and en-
durable.
| Tuna fishing is a persistent matter
OF toll
THE boring fight OF a tuna liberates
the brute instinct in man. II 1t has a
fascination that must be the secret IT
is necessary to force the battle. TO work
all the time. There is no safety in let.
| ting him run. Moreover IL is no sport
| to break Off hooks In many OF these
fish. just on the hope Of catching one.
| That is brutal too.
| Anglers ought to think OF the hsh
as well az Of themselves. And ! see
Of no possible way to prevent breaking
Off hooks when these heavier fish strike
unless the Tuna Club extends its tackle
| rules.
Nevertheless ] am constrained to add
that OF all my fishing experiences the
| capture Of this big tuna stands apart
as s!ngularly difficult achievement.
marked by excitement. then labor, then
| actual pain