THE TARPON. 



115 



Sonic three or four years ago, owing to the severe and 

 annoying colds which the great and sudden variations in tem- 

 perature of our Kentucky winters subjected me to, I found it 

 desirable to seek a more equable climate for several, at least, 

 of the more disagreeable months of the cold season. I was 

 attracted to the south gulf coast of Florida by the glowing 

 descriptions given me by friends, of its balmy atmosphere 

 and the splendid sport which awaited the angler there. In- 

 vestigation showed that the reports I had received had not 

 at all partaken of the extravagant. Charmed with the equable- 

 ness of the climate, the superb fishing, and the winter surf- 

 bathing, with its re-invigorating results, I constructed a snug 

 winter home at Naples-on-the-Gulf, which, with my family, 

 I have greatly enjoyed during the past two winters. Others, 

 likewise delighted with the locality, the wonderful climate, 

 and the sport, have built cottages there; a hotel has been 

 erected, and Naples gives promise of becoming a popular win- 

 ter resort. From Jacksonville the little village upon the open 

 gulf is reached via the Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West, 

 and Florida Southern Railroads, which convey you as far south 

 as Punta Gorda, on Charlotte Harbor. From there it is a 

 trip of ninety miles by steamer to Naples-on-the-Gulf, sixty 

 of these down the harbor and Carlos Bay, and thirty out in 

 the open gulf. A railroad to Naples, which is to be built in 

 the near future, will bring it within two hours of Punta Gorda. 



Naples is one hundred and twenty-five miles south of 

 Tampa, and is about on the parallel of latitude which extends 

 through Matamoras, on the Mexican side of the gulf, and 

 through the Bahama group, to the southeast of Florida. The 

 vegetation is tropical; and the seasons, in contradistinction 

 to our own, are divided into "wet" and "dry." The latter 

 corresponds to our winter, and the former to our summer. 

 During the past winter (1890) rain has not fallen on more 

 than three or four occasions, and during my previous sojourns 

 the rule has been beautiful days, full of health-giving sunshine, 



