62 THE TARPON 



The indiscriminate capture of the mullet, by net fishermen 

 all along- its range in the semi-tropic seas, may have a serious 

 effect upon its future welfare and numbers. Many other fish 

 love to feed upon the mullet and their netting during the 

 spawning season should be regulated both in the interest of 

 sport and also to conserve the rapidly decreasing schools of 

 mullet, a very important food fish for the South. 



For many years I have tried to observe a tarpon feed upon 

 various kinds of food so that I might determine how it takes 

 the bait. In 1928, a five-foot tarpon was secured by the New 

 York Aquarium, which was captured off Sandy Hook by net 

 fishermen. Dr. Townsend kindly advised me of its aquisition 

 and promised to let me know when the fish began to feed for it 

 was injured before it reached the Aquarium. Here was a 

 chance to try the tarpon on live bait of various kinds so as to 

 observe how the fish takes its food and other interesting facts. 

 But the fates were unkind and one day I received the following 

 note from the Doctor : 



' ' Dear Mr. Babcock : July 26, 1928 



We regret to announce the death of Tarpon atlanticus 

 who passed away this morning refusing the consolation of 

 nourishment. 'Requiescat in pace'. 



Yours regretfully, 



C. H. Townsend." 



One thing is certain. A tarpon takes the bait in a variety of 

 ways. Sometimes it strikes it hard and again only by a move- 

 ment which when transmitted over the rod and line resembles 

 the strike of a small fish like a bass. It may hit the hook on the 

 shank brushing it aside, or the hook may be so taken that it lies 

 flat in the fish's mouth after the strike and the angler in strik- 

 ing back pulls it out without its engaging. Frequently the fish 

 misses the hook entirely and strikes the leader. 



