FISHING AT ST. AUGUSTINE. 121 



out of the way. I never heard of any one being bitten. 

 They are usually about three or four feet long, and are 

 often caught. Still they are unpleasant neighbors. I 

 remember one day, before a storm, when the water was 

 dark and I could not see, while standing about waist-deep 

 in this &quot; middle ground,&quot; and fishing busily, feeling a 

 sudden sharp nip on the ankle. I sprang clear of the 

 water, for I thought it was a shark. But it was only a 

 large sea-crab, which pinches powerfully. Fortunately, 

 I had on very heavy pantaloons, so 110 damage was done 

 but the shock was tremendous, for sharks are very 

 bold in dark water. 



There are many large sharks and sword or saw-fish 

 in the bay, and during the summer they are caught for 

 the oil contained in their livers. From ten to twenty 

 fish is about a fair afternoon s catch &quot; during the season&quot; 

 so they say. 



Speaking of the bass-fishing in the surf reminds me 

 of a somewhat ludicrous incident which is said to have 

 occurred to one of our distinguished generals, just after 

 the war. It seems a party were fishing at Brazos, in 

 the Gulf, somewhat in the manner I have just described, 

 and the General feeling a bite, started with the line over 

 his shoulder in orthodox style for the beach, and ran 

 out hauling his line. In course of time the fish was 

 drawn out, and to the amazement of the General and 

 the amusement of the rest of the party, proved to be only 

 about six inches long. It is needless to say that the 

 General s champagne suffered that evening, but the story 

 leaked out nevertheless. So much for the fish. 



Quail are plenty in the neighborhood of St. Augus 

 tine, and within a few miles deer and wild turkey are 

 abundant ; while occasionally one gets a chance for a 

 G 



