156 THE TARPON 



line which should be two hundred or more feet long. The hook 

 is baited with a piece of tarpon or other good-sized fish and 

 placed in a likely spot in the tideway. The line is fastened, 

 preferably, high enough to be in view of the angler, so that he 

 may pull it in when it is perceived to be whipping from the 

 struggles of the shark. Sometimes the hook is baited and low- 

 ered about fifteen feet below the bow of the angler 's boat and 

 the angler proceeds with his fishing till the vibration of the 

 boat indicates that a shark has seized the bait. The angler 

 should equip himself with a heavy pair of gloves to protect 

 his hands while playing the shark. Heavy cloth gloves an- 

 swer the purpose admirably and can be purchased at any five 

 and ten-cent store. 



But it frequently happens that sharks will come close enough 

 to the boat to be harpooned, especially when they scent a tar- 

 pon or a string of fish hanging at the bow. 



For such an emergency the angler should equip himself with 

 a harpoon of some kind mounted on a shaft from six to eight 

 feet long, having a projecting rod at its lower end which loose- 

 ly fits into a recess in the shank of the harpoon. The harpoon 

 line, preferably a window sash cord of good quality, two hun- 

 dred feet long, is fastened to the swivel of the bronze wire or 

 chain attached to the harpoon and so rigged on the handle that 

 a vigorous pull after the harpoon is attached to the fish will re- 

 lease the handle which held to the line by a loop floats on the 

 surface and is picked up by your guide. You are now ready to 

 get upon the bow of your boat and play the shark. The line 

 should be dragged behind the boat till it is free from kinks and 

 then coiled in a box, preferably a cheese box, so that it will 

 render freely when the shark makes a run. The angler must 

 take every precaution to keep clear of the line when the shark 

 is running for if a loop of it should catch on his person or his 

 clothes, he might be dragged overboard. It is well to play the 

 shark carefully at first for the harpoon may pull out. It is 



