538 SOUTH-WEST FLORIDA. 



The neighborhood seems to be a favorite resort for deer, 

 and for this description of the sport we can unhesitat 

 ingly recommend Jones as a place of resort. The still 

 hunter, by visiting the old sugar plantation on the edge 

 of the pine timber, four miles from the house, will ex 

 perience but little difficulty in securing a pair of antlers 

 worthy of gracing his ISforthern home. For miles west 

 and south-west of the house large areas of low-lying land 

 exist, covered with a luxuriant growth of rushes and 

 coarse grasses, with here and there islands of timber, 

 consisting of gum, live and swamp oak, cedar and cab 

 bage palms. The low lands furnish excellent feed, and 

 the islands shelter for deer. Late in the year the rushes 

 and grasses lose their vitality, and if a windy day is 

 selected, thousands of acres can be burned over by the 

 application of a single match. In a few weeks the flats 

 will be covered with a luxuriant and succulent growth 

 of grass, and deer will visit the locality in numbers. 

 These flats are comparatively dry, and would furnish the 

 fire-pan hunter an excellent Held for sport. If parties 

 who propose visiting Homosassa would communicate 

 with Mr. Jones a few weeks in advance, he would burn 

 off a few square miles of marsh for the benefit of his 

 visitors. If turkey shooting is desired, the sportsman 

 can enjoy it by ascending the river to the spring, and 

 proceeding to the edge of the pine timber. Mr. Jones 

 nephew, a mere lad, informed us that he had killed 

 sixteen dccT within a short period, and iu hail of the 

 house, on a small clearing on the opposite side of the 

 river. As Frank was unacquainted with lire hunting, I 

 suggested that we should cMigage in the sport. After 

 supper we provided ourselves with some fat pine, and u 

 long-handled frying-pan. \Ve landed on the opposite 



