INDIAN MOUNDS AND CANALS. 315 



having practically tested the matter, we are prepared to 

 credit almost anything we hear stated, or see printed, 

 regarding fish v and fishing on the south-west coast of 

 Florida. I am somewhat of a veteran and energetic fish 

 erman, but for the first time in my life became surfeited 

 with one hour s fishing at the inner point of Little Gas- 

 parilla Inlet. At the young flood, Harry, Frank, and I 

 visited the inlet and noticed a school of minnows being 

 chased by a red-fish. To escape their pursuers, hundreds 

 jumped on the sand, and with hands and feet we assisted 

 many more to land. We commenced with rods and reels, 

 but were forced to abandon these fancy implements ; for 

 while we were engaged playing a large red, or other fish, 

 he would be gobbled by a shark, and tackle would go by 

 the board. I hooked a large red-fish which was taken by 

 a large shark, and to my regret I found that I had se 

 cured an elephant. I showed fight, the last foot of line 

 left my reel, and my excellent and serviceable Shipley 

 bamboo rod was soon in extremis. The rod bent like a 

 bit of steel, but the braided line held one joint after 

 another was strained, and at last the line parted, and I 

 was left alone in my glory, with a strained and dilapidated 

 Shipley rod. Resolved upon having a little piscatorial 

 amusement, I visited the boat and obtained three strong 

 lines eighty feet long, attached an eight-ounce sinker 

 and two large hooks to each, and again entered the lists. 

 We baited with the minnows, and would throw our 

 lines out their full length. Almost instantly the baits 

 would be taken by red-fish ranging from five to twenty 

 pounds, cavalli, weak-fish, bone-fish, grunts, or red and 

 black grouper of large size. We unhooked the fish and 

 returned them to their native element. At the end of 

 an hour, Harry, Frank, and fs Al Fresco &quot; abandoned the 



