344 SOUTH-WEST FLORIDA. 



canning business, wo can form no idea of the effect of 

 climate in interfering- with the canning process ; but if the 

 climate did not prove too warm,, we fancy that this 

 would be one of the best locations in the United States 

 for a canning establishment. Wages are low, and 

 oysters of large size can be obtained in unlimited quantity 

 for a trifling outlay. The prepared oysters could bo 

 cheaply shipped to New York, New Orleans, or Havana. 

 AVe reached the settlement of Crystal river early in 

 the afternoon, and received a hearty welcome. The 

 settlement consists of about one dozen buildings, and 

 has considerable trade with the interior. AVc entered 

 the basin, and found a number of springs which we 

 sounded, the deepest measuring but eighteen feet. In the 

 afternoon, the residents arranged for a fire hunt for our 

 benefit, but as the night was chilly and as I was suffering 

 from an attack of inflammation of my right thumb, follow 

 ing an injury, I deemed it best to remain on the Spray, 

 and allow Frank and Harry to represent the party. In 

 this connection we may remind the uninitiated that 

 before they engaged in fire hunting it might be advisable 

 for them to examine and note the size as well as distance 

 apart of the eyes of horses, cows, and deer, as mistakes 

 are liable to be made. One of the gentlemen who was 

 instrumental in getting up the fire hunt, has a tender 

 spot ; and that is an error he committed in his first lire 

 hunt. lie sighted a pair of eyes, took deliberate aim, 

 pulled trigger, and next day paid. $25, the value of a 

 neighbor s cow. &quot;Within a short period a Northern man 

 settled not a hundred miles from New Smyrna, and 

 resolved upon having some sport. lie started with pan 

 and double-barrelled gun, and after wandering several 

 miles, succeeded in shining the eyes of two deer, and fired 



