Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/211

 ten yards. The mate hurled his harpoon straight and true, for he had seen many years of service in the whaling ships. With a mighty splash the great fish dived and the line with a big cork float attached was thrown overboard altogether. The fish was gone minutes, and the crew were begining to think that they had lost their prey when the mate saw the float more than a mile away. The men bent to their oars and in a few minutes the boat was flying towards the mark. But ere they could reach the place the sunfish dived again and carried the float beneath the surface. The great fish must have passed right under them for the float reappeared about quarter of a mile behind and right in their wake. This time they had more luck and succeeded in passing a second line around the float, but in doing so they must have jerked the line for the fish dived with a rush and the boat had to abandon its second line. It was not long before the float appeared again and the end of the line was picked up. This time the mate decided to hold on whatever happened. He made fast to the bow and waited to see what would come next. Nothing occured for a minute or more, and two of the crew began to haul in on the line thinking that perhaps their victim was dead, but they were wrong, for suddenly there was a tremendous jerk and the men let go, while the line ran out like lighting. The mate's face changed color, but he was a man of iron nerve and he was going to make his fight with the fish to the death. The line ran taunt with such a jerk that the bow of the boat almost went under. Every instant that the line held the boat was liable to be swamped, but the fish was evidently weakening for its struggles became less and less and presently ceased altogether. Then came a long strong pull of half a dozen arms and the prize slowly rose to the surface.

A line was made fast to the fin and the huge fish was towed to the ship. This proved to be no light task for it seemed as though the carcass was made of lead. Once alongside it took the ship's heaviest block and tackle and most of the crew to raise it to the deck. Part of the meat was cut off cooked for the miday meal and proved to be pretty coarse and oily and was promply voted "no good" by the crew. However they had had lots of fun with the catch and were contented. Life is often dreary on a deep sea trip and any excitement like a hunt is always hailed with delight.

Sometimes sportsmen shoot the sun fish from row boats, but it is a very uncertain business. In the first place a row boat is seldom still and in consequence makes a poor gun platform. Again a very heavy rifle must be used, and unless the fish is struck behind the eye or in some vital spot it dives and is never seen again.