25 Minutes; 45 Pounds

From Manhattan Banker Jeremiah Milbank's yacht Saunterer, at anchor by a Florida key, a motor launch chugged away last week and nosed out northeastward across eight miles of wind-roughened water to the Gulf Stream. Perched high in a wicker armchair astern was Herbert Clark Hoover, a floppy hat shading his eyes, a three-inch starched collar prodding his digastric muscle.

The water darkened from shore-sea green to mid-sea blue. Through it trailed 30 yards of Hoover line, baited with a strip of bonito flesh. Near it on another line flipped and danced an oreno teaser, a wood and aluminum decoy.* Silent minutes made a silent hour.

The Hoover line jerked, went slack, jerked again. Below the water a rapier snout struck at the bonito, crunched on the hook. The fisherman let his line out fast, as the creature sped away, leapt into sunlight, shook itself angrily. The Hoover line was taut again and remained so for 25 struggling minutes, as the next President and his first sailfish fought it out in the Gulf Stream.

Aboard the launch the catch weighed 45 pounds, small for a sailfish.

Meanwhile, 40 miles northward, off Miami Harbor, Hoover Assistant Richey was hooking and landing three sailfish; Republican National Chairman Work, two sailfish.

The next day Mr. Hoover caught his second sailfish, five pounds larger than the first.

Saturday evening he and his party returned to the Penney house.

Mr. Hoover's face was burned a deep red by sea-wind and sun. On his hands were blisters, calliouses.

*Tarpon are Florida's gamiest fish, sailfish next. Tarpon do not run until early March. Sailfish, named from the large dorsal fin, measure six or seven feet, weigh 40 to 70 pounds. Strong, fierce, canny, four out of five get off the hook.