THE TARPON. WJ 



seeing Tarpon in large numbers. At Naples I have found 

 Tarpon each season in great numbers, though there have 

 been, apparently, fewer this season than in previous years. 

 This I attribute to the unusually dry weather in the fall of 

 1889. As a rule the waters of the Bay of Naples and its tribu- 

 tary, Gordon's River, are brackish, but the drouth left them 

 this season almost as salty as the gulf, and the Tarpon were 

 later in making their appearance. 



The Tarpon seek this brackish water for sport and food; and 

 it is probably due to this fact that they were running as far 

 north as the mouth of Peace River so early in the season this 

 year. I have frequently noticed, in the early winter months, 

 large numbers of Tarpon of all sizes sporting in the water at 

 the mouth of Gordon's River, when they could not be tempted 

 to take the hook. Mullet, at this season, are much more abun- 

 dant than later, and this may explain their tardiness in tak- 

 ing the bait. At all events, as the season advances they bite 

 more frequently, and in April I have had the best fishing. 

 May and June, i am told, are even better months, the fish 

 running in large numbers and becoming ravenous. By mid- 

 summer the natives say the Tarpon becomes lean, losing 

 much of his firm flesh and hearty appearance of the early 

 winter. At this time, too, they are said to fight with less spirit, 

 and are comparatively easily handled. As I have never fished 

 later than April, however, I cannot vouch for these state- 

 ments. Undoubtedly the spring is the superior season, though 

 by far the majority of Tarpon anglers choose their outing 

 when they may escape the rigors of a northern winter. This 

 necessitates more time, and generally much tedious waiting, 

 to secure the prize; but the delights and pleasures of a won- 

 derful climate may be regarded as ample compensation. 



The time necessary may be inferred from a statement I saw 

 published in Forest and Stream, to the effect that up to 

 the latter part of April, 1889, the total catch at one of the 

 principal fishing-points on the Florida gulf coast was only 



