THE TARPON 79 



which they take near the Shore with their Nets are 

 Snooks, Dog fish and sometimes Tarpoms. The Tarpom 

 is a large scaly Fish shaped much like a Salmon but some- 

 what flatter. 'Tis of a dull Silver Colour with Scales as 

 big as a Half Crown. A large Tarpom will weigh 25 or 50 

 Pound. 'Tis good sweet wholesome Meat and the Flesh is 

 solid and firm. In its Belly you shall find two large 

 Scolops of Fat weighing two or three Pound each ; I never 

 knew any taken with Hook and Line ; but are either with 

 Nets or by striking them with Harpoons at which the Mos- 

 kito-Men are very expert. The Nets for this Purpose are 

 made with strong double Twine the meshes five or six 

 inches square. For if they are too small so that the Fish 

 be not entangled therein he presently draws himself a 

 little backward and then springs over the Net ; Yet I have 

 seen them taken in a Sain made with small Meshes in this 

 manner. After we had enclosed a great number, whilst the 

 two ends of the net were drawing ashore ten or twelve 

 naked men have followed ; when a Fish struck against the 

 net the next Man to it grasped both Net and Fish in his 

 Arms and held all fast till others came to his Assistance. 

 Besides these we had three Men in a Canoa in which they 

 mov'd Side-ways after the Net; and many of the Fish in 

 springing over the Net would fall into the Canoa. And by 

 these means we should take two or three at every draught. 

 These Fish are found plentifully along that shore from 

 Cape Catoch to Trist especially in clear Water near sandy 

 Bays ; but no where in muddy or rocky Ground. They are 

 also about Jamaica and all the Coast of the Main; espe- 

 cially near Carthagena." 

 To this day the San Bias Indians of Panama build corrals of 

 brush into which the tarpon are driven and killed with har- 

 poons. 



Thousands of anglers since Dampier's day have felt a sud- 

 den strike and been amazed to see a huge silvery fish suddenly 



