INTRODUCTORY 5 



mackerel, but fly fishing in the strict sense of the word does 

 not exist. 



Bass, particularly if large, are not easily caught, and in 

 the grey mullet the angler has a fish which will test his skill 

 and patience beyond measure. In addition to bottom fishing 

 as illustrated in the reports of the excellent takes of fish made 

 at Deal, and fly fishing, in respect of which I refer now only to 

 three fly-taking sea fish, there is ordinary float fishing in 

 shallow water (such as one finds in harbours) for flat-fish, 

 smelts, whiting pout, and other small fish. Spinning, or trolling 

 as the Scotch term it, can be carried on in the sea for just 

 the same fish as will take the fly, and live baiting, very much 

 after the methods of jack fishermen, can be practised with 

 much advantage in respect of a great variety of sea fish. 

 Leaving legendary fish out of consideration, no pike ever 

 afforded the angler such wonderful sport as do the tarpon 

 of the Gulf of Mexico. Was it not related of a certain tarpon- 

 slayer that, having been towed about for some hours by a 

 fish which he had hooked, he landed on an island, tied his 

 line to a tree, and rowed to the mainland for assistance ? 

 Further, that on his return the island had disappeared ? The 

 story is one for the accuracy of which I cannot personally vouch, 

 but it certainly serves to illustrate the immense strength of this 

 big herring, or ' silver king,' as it is often called. It is not sur- 

 prising that the tarpon fishing of the Gulf of Mexico grows in 

 popularity apace. There are now hotels mainly supported by 

 anglers and called 'tarpon hotels.' A great many English- 

 men are beginning to make annual visits to America, simply 

 to enjoy this novel form of sport. More than this on tarpon 

 I must not say, for later on will be found a special contribution 

 on the subject, written by Mr. A. E. Harmsworth. 



Turning to still larger fish, we come of necessity to sharks 

 and whales. As regards foreign sharks, both Mr. Harmsworth 



