26 THE ENGLISH ANGLER IN FLORIDA iii 



out without a leaden sinker. The narrow part of the bait is 

 upwards, and the barb of the hook sufficiently embedded not 

 to assert itself too rudely during gorging, yet not too far to 

 admit of ejection should the tarpon feel that way inclined. 



There is no fishing for tarpon from " the bank." You 

 have to go afloat, cruise hither and thither in pursuit of the 

 The Anjrler shoals of fish as they rove in search of food over 

 in action, ^^g oyster beds, amongst the marine vegetation, 

 or on the shallows of the lagoons. To proceed with comfort, 

 you hire a sailing sloop or steam launch, taking in tow the 

 flat-bottomed, square-sterned fishing-boat which is in general use 

 on the waters of the Floridan coast. It has a revolving arm- 

 chair fitted to the after thwart. I saw a very nicely arranged 

 keel boat with centre-board, however. It belonged to Mr. R. 

 T. Holloway, who used only this kind of boat, and got about 

 remarkably well in the river. You often have a sail of twenty 

 miles before finding your fishing-ground, and all the while your 

 glasses will be sweeping the surface of the water on the 

 search for signs and tokens of fish movement. 



At last you are in sight of a shoal of tarpon. They may 

 be in commotion, either breaking the water sharply, showing 

 their backs in the slow and regular movements of the porpoise. 



