THE TARPON 137 



formed that the largest tarpon taken in this vicinity since 1924 

 was caught by Mr. Charles J. Iven, of Rochester, N. Y., at 

 Boca Grande Pass on May 15, 1925. It weighed 190 pounds. 

 It was 7' long and had a girth of 42". 



I have taken over five hundred and my heaviest fish scaled 

 158 pounds six hours after capture. 



It would seem to follow from these facts that the chances 

 are quite remote that any given angler will catch a very heavy 

 fish. But as Pope remarked, "Hope springs eternal in the 

 human breast ' ', and there is solace in the baseball maxim that 

 "It only takes one to hit it." May the Piscator's prayer be 

 fulfilled unto you ! 



' ' Grant me, oh Lord, a grand 'ecai. 



So great and grand that even I 



May have no need 



To lie." 



La Tbinite Version. 



Unless it is the first fish one has caught there is no excuse 

 for killing it merely to get its picture. Only those of exception- 

 al size should be killed; all others should be released after 

 their length has been estimated and their weight thus roughly 

 determined. 



The tides at Boca Grande Pass are so erratic that they 

 would try the patience of a Job. High water and low water 

 normally follow each other at intervals of six hours and twelve 

 minutes, giving two highs and two lows in a tidal day. That is^ 

 the rule ; but the tides here are so profoundly modified by the 

 geographical features that the general rule is subject to so 

 many exceptions that it is well nigh worthless. A certain 

 learned man once came to Useppa and listened wdth ill-con- 

 cealed amusement to anglers speculating about the time of 

 high and low water. He promised to prepare a tide table which 

 would relieve them from further worry about so simple a 

 matter. After working for two weeks, he tore up his notes and 



