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2,OQQ-P0UND DEVIL FISH How a Twenty-Foot Monster of the Deep Was 1 Landed After Four-Hour Fight. Stories of giant devil fish of tropical waters famed in tales as guardians of Spanish treasure galleons, lost in the days of the Spanish Main, have brought Hunt Phelan Of Memphis, Tenn, lawmaker and southern, sportsman, to the gulf coast for many years. Disregarding the leaping tarpon and lesser game-fish, Mr. Phelan has patrolled the waters of, the Mississippi Sound for weeks each year, searching assiduously for devil fish. Several weeks ago, off Coden. he. harpooned, outfought and landed one weighing over two thousand pounds. Since the passing of big game in this country many .daring sportsmen have turned to the sea for: the excitement of the chase, and for many years, have made annual pilgrimages to the South Atlantic and South Pacific coasts, engaging in the of ttimes perilous sport of fighting devil fish; Mr. Phelan is Lone of the pioneers in this pastime in the Gulf waters. Though his kill was only half tlie size of the largest of its kind on record lie is elated with bis success, and is planning the organization and establishment of a. club at Coden for big game fishermen. Having lost at various times no less than two dozen harpoons and mnnilla cables in unsuccessful contests with devil fish, and having twice had to race his power boat to evade the furious charges of the big fish of the sea, Mr. Phelan has accumulated much experience in the sport. From wlinle .fishermen, in the northern seas he lias secured a. remarkable collection of harpoons and lances and other accessories of the game. These he keeps at a lodge he has established at Coden, which he :proposes will be the home of the new club. Mr. Phelan reached Coden several weeks ago for ten days of his favorite sport. Securing the services of Captain John Graham and his power boat Gertrude K., the Tennessee sportsman set out from Coden with John Rolston, Mrs. John Rolston and George Richards as liis guests for the hunting grounds. While passing through Petit Bois Pass the lookout, saw a large devil fisli on the surface of the water feeding. The launch was headed for the fish and tie: motor stopped. Harpoons were unslung as the boats headway carried it toward the big fish. When within thirty feet, of the game Mr. Phelan hurled his harpoon. As it struck and buried deep in the fish the boat was covered! with water and the hunters drenched with spray as the devil fish thrashed about on top of the water. The harpoon cable was made fast to a cleat on the bow and the launch was towed rapidly throush the water for nearly a mile. When the fish stopped for a moment John Rolston and George Richards went over the side into a skiff and, in, the small boat, drew up alongside the fish near enough to throw another harpoon into its back. The devil fish made off again, towing both boats for several hundred yards. For four hours the fight lasted, the fish diving, charging and counter charging. Once it nearly overturned the small boat, coming up almost under it after a dive. The arms or tentacles of the devil: fish reached for the sides of the skiff, but Mr.! Rolston skillfully maneuvered, the boat and evaded the giant fish.. While the thoroughly ensnared and bejvildered fisli whirled and thrashed about. Captain Graham brought the launch close enough for Mr. Phelan to throw a heavy steel lance into the head of": , the brute, killing It almost instantly;. .The devil fish was- towed, back into shallow water at Coden, where it was photographed. From, till to tip it measured twenty feet, and its weight wis estimated to be. 2,000 pounds. Twenty-five people hauled the fisli on shore, where hundreds! viewed the kill. James J. Alvarez in The American Aiigler.
