96 GIANT FISHES 



oi dispute, but it now appears to have been more or less 

 definitely established that spawning takes place in the Gulf 

 of Mexico along the coast of Florida, and probably elsewhere. 

 During March, April and May ripe male fish have been 

 observed to school in large numbers in shoal waters about 

 half-a-mile or a mile offshore in these regions. The eggs 

 may be pelagic or may sink to the bottom, but it may be 

 assumed that the newly hatched larvae are of the same type 

 as those of the Ten-pounders and Lady-fishes, especially in 

 view of the fact that this type of larva has been identified as 

 belonging to the Ox-eye from the East Indies. Such a larva 

 is of the type known as a Leptocephalns , and is an elongate, 

 ribbon-like creature, quite translucent and colourless, and 

 with a very small head and tiny fins. This larva goes on 

 feeding and growing for a certain period and then undergoes a 

 sudden change or metamorphosis, in the course of which it is 

 transformed into a young fish recognizable as a baby Tarpon. 

 The larvae probably drift gradually inshore, for numerous 

 young Tarpon, perhaps about a year old, have been found in 

 brackish pools, bays and estuaries on the coast of Florida. 

 Texas, Cuba, Porto Rico, Haiti and elsewhere in the Caribbean, 

 Opinions seem to differ as to the edible qualities of the 

 Tarpon, some affirming that it is useless as food, others that, if 

 properly cooked, the flesh is of good quality. It would appear 

 that it is only the very small fish that are at all good as food, 

 the large specimens being tough, tasteless, and full of bones. 

 The commercial fishermen have no use for it, and cordially 

 dislike it owing to the damage that it may do to the seine nets 

 if accidentally enclosed in them. There is, however, some 

 demand for Tarpon scales, each of which may be more than 

 2 or 3 inches in diameter, and beautifully silvered, and it is 

 said that these can be sold at from 5 to 25 cents apiece. They 

 are used for fancy work, being made up in various ways by 

 the curiosity dealers to attract the fancy of the winter visitors 

 to Florida. 



As a game-fish, of course, the Tarpon is nearly supreme, 

 with its world-wide reputation for activity and fighting powers. 

 Every lover of the sport has heard of the " silver king ", and its 

 capture on rod and line requires considerable strength and 

 skill, coupled with endless patience and determination. The 



