HUNTING <;1<()1:M)S oi' II.ORIDA. lO^ 



Southeast of Cape Sable is about the only phice where llaniingoes 

 still exist in Florida in any numbers, and a colony or two of them 

 l)reed there eyery year. This is a country yery ditKcuh of access, 

 and the birds are yery shy and are rarely seen, nuich less kiUed. 



On the Bahama Islands, only a short distance from the Florida 

 coast, there are colonies of thousands of tlamini;-oes, and their e^-crs 

 are g-athered in numbers by the inhabitants. It is probable that the 

 Florida contingent is occasionally reenforced from the Bahamas, 

 although the bird was at one time undoubtedly common in Florida. 

 Water-birds are abundant about some of the ke^■s. A few pelicans, 

 cormorants, gulls, and man-o'-war hawks may be seen almost any 

 time, as well as ducks and an occasional heron. 



In some places on the w^est coast game is yer\- abundant. We 

 hear of the abundance of game in the country about the Steinhatchee 

 Riyer : but I know but little of it personally and cannot youch for the 

 truth of the statement. From Cedar Ke^'s southward there is plenty 

 of game, but the country is rather ditlicult of access. Near such 

 w^ell-known places as Ilomosassa and Tarpon Springs deer and 

 turkeys are numerous in some localities : but they do not come out of 

 the woods and wait to be killed, and one lias to haye a guide who 

 knows the country, as well as properly trained dogs, to insure a suc- 

 cessful trip. 



Tampa has grown to the dignity of a city, and naturally large 

 game has been driyen back, but tine bags of quail and snipe are 

 made by the guests of the hotel, and guides and dogs are furnished 

 those desiring to indulge in the sport. Arthur Schleman, who is 

 at present located at Tampa, owns seyeral dogs and knows the 

 country about Tampa. 



There are sex'eral small riyers near Tampa, and fair shooting ma\' 

 sometimes be had. An occasional deer and turkey still linirer. 

 Alligators are also to be found, but, as in other portions of Florida 

 which haye become setded, they are not numerous and are yery shy. 

 Good tishing may be had witliin a short distance of Tampa b}- those 

 who care for it. For Tarpon, one must go farther south to get good 

 sport, and it should be borne in mind that nowhere is the Tarpon 



