TARPON FISHING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO 497 



On the other hand, to cut him loose is probably to waste the 

 greater portion of one's line. 



For a proper understanding of the subject let me describe a 

 day's tarpon fishing, remembering always that there are slight 

 variations in the sport in different parts of Florida. In some 

 places no one thinks of fishing before eleven o'clock in the 

 day. In others three fish have been killed before six o'clock in 

 the morning. I will describe a day I spent at Marco, a small 

 settlement a long way down the Gulf of Mexico, which may 

 be visited by those who prefer camp life to the comparatively 

 civilised existence at Punta Gorda or ' Myers ' (Fort Myers). 



We travelled to Marco, a little settlement fringed round 

 with cocoanut palms, one stormy afternoon in a small boat, 

 and we spent that night at a little store, a rough shanty, but 

 well equipped nevertheless. One could purchase all the needs 

 of a rude civilisation at this place. The Seminole Indians obtain 

 many of their goods there, and give in exchange skins of their 

 own tanning, some most admirably prepared. 



Our company was rough and much of the type so well 

 described by Bret Harte and other Western authors. Still, our 

 host did his best to make us comfortable, and his little daughter, 

 a dainty specimen of Florida womanhood, rose. early to prepare 

 us a breakfast. Afterwards we proceeded with our guide, 

 Tom Hart, a man who can always be heard of at Marco, 

 who knows the whole coast well and is an admirable fellow, to 

 a spot at which, the previous year, he assisted to gaff three fish 

 in a single day. Our lunch consisted of green cocoanuts, a 

 small sackful of Florida oranges, cold venison (venison is the 

 staple diet of this part of Florida), biscuits, together with many 

 bottles of ginger ale which we had brought with us ; for this 

 part of Florida is under what is known as the 'Prohibition 

 Law,' the sale of alcohol being (nominally) forbidden. 



The morning opened grandly. It was perfectly calm, the 



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