122 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



was in the habit of bringing his supplies from Marco in a small 

 sailboat. One day in the latter part of last March "Uncle" 

 Charlie was returning from Marco, after having disposed of 

 a load of alligator-skins, and with the usual load of provisions 

 on board. Fortunately, he happened to have a companion 

 along. As "Uncle" Charlie turned from that part of Marco 

 Inlet known as Collier's Bay, up into the inside passage in 

 the direction of the camp, he steadied his boat before the wind 

 and started to light his pipe. Placing his knee against the 

 rudder he pulled a match from his vest-pocket and struck it 

 on his coat. Holding his hands over the pipe to protect the 

 blaze from the wind, he was in the midst of this interesting 

 act when, suddenly, a Mullet leaped from the water to port, 

 and darted clean across the stern of the boat, directly in front 

 of him. He had not time to express his astonishment ere, in 

 close pursuit of the Mullet, a large Tarpon rose, and came 

 across the boat like a bolt from a catapult. The progress of 

 the boat before the wind or the Tarpon's line of assault came 

 near making a fatal difference to "Uncle" Charlie. The huge 

 fish struck him full in the chest, and tumbled him like a log 

 over the side of the boat. The shock of the collision threw 

 the Tarpon into the bottom of the boat, and left "Uncle" 

 Charlie struggling in the water. His companion brought the 

 boat to, and pulled the injured man out in a sadly dilapidated 

 condition. Doctor Green, who attended the injured man, 

 says he was confined to his bed for three weeks, and doubts 

 whether he will ever recover entirely Trom the effects of his 

 wound. But for the assistance of his companion, "Uncle" 

 Charlie would unquestionably have been drowned. The Tar- 

 pon, the doctor stated, weighed one hundred and sixty-four 

 pounds. 



To those who have never seen a Mullet and Tarpon jump, 

 this incident may appear remarkable; yet, so far as the jump- 

 ing is concerned, there is nothing whatever extraordinary 

 about it. Every day, during certain seasons, in those waters 



