VII CONTINUATION OF DIARY 73 



A very hot day ; could not stay on deck. Coming along from Red 

 Fish Point, the heat was great, but now it is deliciously cool under the 

 awning. We are only about loo feet from the shore of the island, 

 which has a beach of nothing but small shells ; a few Spaniards live 

 on it in huts made of palmetto grass. They are fishermen and catch 

 the mullet in nets. The water is alive with cat-fish ; when anything is 

 thrown overboard, they generally come round in hundreds and fight 

 for it. 



Thursday^ \ph April. — Up at a quarter to six and had a cup of 

 coffee, then started out fishing. I went over to the other side of the 

 Pass and along the shore of the island ; trolled and caught thirteen 

 squeteague weighing 17^ lbs., one bass 6| lbs., and two bass 5^ lbs. 

 Returned about 9 a.m. to breakfast, and found Jim had only caught 

 six squeteague. Nice fine morning with strong wind. The 

 mosquitoes are very tiresome, and last night bothered us a good 

 bit ; the Captain had to come up and sleep on deck, they were so 

 bad in his cabin. Jim caught two red grouper and one black grouper 

 in the morning. Started out to the Pass again about 3.30 p.m. 

 Heaps of tarpon playing about in the water ; I hooked two, but after 

 two or three jumps they were gone ; they were very big fish and 

 the pull was tremendous. I fear I should never have strength to 

 play and land one, but must try. I saw only one gentleman catch a 

 tarpon this evening, but several had strikes. Went in to dinner at 

 seven, and early to bed. Terribly hot night ; Jim could not sleep 

 at all with the heat and mosquitoes. 



Friday, 16th April. — Lovely sunny morning. Up at 5.30 a.m. and 

 out fishing early. Caught three squeteague and a small "jack " ; seeing 

 a shoal of mackerel, went and trolled among them and tried all kinds of 

 bait, but could not hook one, though the water was alive with them. 

 Landed at the island at Mr. Von Blake's camp, and saw two lovely 



