THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 215 



posed ourselves about the boat, so as to trim it to the best 

 advantage. 



We had two spears, or grain ing-irons, as the natives call 

 them, and a harpoon. Will gave Captain S. one of the 

 spears, me the other, and took charge of the harpoon 

 himself. Mr. Griffith took the first stand at the stern and 

 pulled us over shoals and around the margins of small islands 

 and oyster-bars where the best sport was to be had. 



Our fat pine fire in the jack, which occupied the bow, cast 

 a brilliant light on the water, enabling us to see the smallest 

 fish in three or four feet of water as plainly as though it were 

 midday. This glaring light coming suddenly upon the fish 

 seems to blind them, and many of them lie perfectly still 

 watching it, while others run wildly hither and thither com- 

 pletely bewildered. They frequently run their muzzles 

 squarely against the sides of the boat. 



By this means the fish are rendered comparatively easy 

 prey to the spear, if in the hands of a person who under- 

 stands throwing it. Our first run was over a sand-flat in 

 about two feet of water, where lay scattering oyster-shells. 

 Here we were enabled for the first time to study another of 

 the eccentricities of nature, of which we had often heard and 

 read, but never before seen demonstrated, it is the habit of 

 the sheepshead to lie down at night and sleep, like any other 

 Christian. They lay flat on their back (or rather sharply on 

 their back, for they are a flat fish with a sharp back), 

 propped up against an oyster shell and using another for 

 a pillow. Will killed several of them before I saw any, and 

 I asked him where he was getting so many sheepshead. 

 He said he was picking them up out of their beds. Then 

 pointing ahead, on my side of the boat he said ; 



" There's one lying against that oyster shell, take him/' 



