2G6 SOUTH-WEST FLORIDA. 



and properly cooked food, would induce many tourists 

 to visit this locality. Fishing, hunting, and shooting in 

 the neighborhood are good ; the bathing excellent, 

 and the climate superior to that of Jacksonville. It 

 seems to us that parties interested in the railroad 

 would materially benefit themselves by erecting a first- 

 class hotel at Cedar Keys. 



We expected to leave Cedar Keys for Manatee on the 

 12th, by the steamer Emilie, but owing to the detention 

 of the steamer Clyde, plying between New Orleans, 

 Cedar Keys, and Havana, our departure was delayed until 

 the 15th. To while away the dull hours, we proposed 

 engaging in piscatorial pursuits, but were informed that 

 &quot;it was too warm for sea trout to bite.&quot; Placing no 

 dependence in the statement of the local authorities, I 

 was resolved to test the matter, and secured several 

 hundred minnows and proceeded to the railroad dock. 

 With live bait we caught sea trout (weak fish) ranging 

 from two to six pounds, as fast as we could bait and land 

 them. On many occasions we landed a brace weighing 

 from four to five pounds each. The first day we filled 

 a flour barrel, and the second we abandoned the sport 

 when we had captured 120 pounds. Around the dock 

 sea-bass and porgies can be caught with cut bait, and 

 shcepshead with fiddlers. On the points and about the 

 reefs a few miles from town, superior red and grouper 

 fishing can be obtained at Cedar Keys. The sportsman 

 will find unbounded hospitality, and courteous attention 

 on the part of the inhabitants. Invitations to join 

 hunting and fishing expeditions were showered upon us, 

 but we were forced to decline. From this point the 

 tourist may take a steamship to New Orleans, Tampa, 

 Punta Rassa, Key West, or Havana. For the purpose 



