A SPORTSMAN S PARADISE. 33? 



strcani we have visited. Ducks, not to be enumerated 

 by thousands but by square acres, were visible to the 

 right and left, and before and behind us. The sportsman 

 can find accommodations at Mr. Jones , and can fully 

 occupy his time. Near the house excellent sheepshead- 

 ing exists, and these noble fish, of large size, can be cap 

 tured until the arms ache. By trolling with a spoon or 

 spinner, red-fish can be caught ranging from five to thirty 

 pounds. A year or two since, a gentleman from tho 

 Hub engaged in this kind of fishing, and pickerel fisher 

 like, placed the line between his teeth. He secured a 

 bite, the line fouled, and at the end of the performance 

 he was minus a tooth but landed a thirty-two pound red- 

 fish. By visiting the spring four miles from the house, 

 the knight of the rod can land fish of large size as rap 

 idly as he can bait and secure his fish. If he desires 

 larger and more clumsy game he can amuse himself cap 

 turing turtles ranging from eighteen to thirty inches 

 in length. In the Homosassa and Salt rivers, and in the 

 bayous and blind creek near Mr. Jones residence, the 

 shootist will find ducks by the square acre, and if he is 

 disposed to engage in the destruction of larger game 

 such as pelicans, gannet, and an endless variety of herons 

 and cranes all that is necessary to be done is to lay in a 

 stock of provisions, take a boat, and sail to one of the 

 St. Martin s Keys a few miles from the mouth of the 

 Homosassa. On one of these keys the sportsman will 

 find a rookery, where the sea birds, frequenting an area 

 of probably forty miles, nightly collect to roost. 



At the old sugar plantation two miles above the 

 house, good quail and snipe shooting is obtainable. Bears 

 exist in the hammocks, and can be captured if the sports 

 man secures the services of a &quot; cracker &quot; with his bear dogs, 

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