TROUBLE IN THE TROPICS 



The winter of l!t()-")-li ] spent in Nassau and found there a 

 most picturesque island, a perfect climate, much natural and artificial 

 beauty, much pleasant company and particularly good fi-hing, 

 and the latter was described in the columns of r<'cst and Stream 

 shortly after my return. My time was devoted chiefly to trolling 

 for the great tropical game fish, kingfish, amber jack, barracuda, 

 and others, using tarpon tackle and a thirty-five foot, two-masted, 

 pilot boat named the "Kestrel." The winds were regular, so 

 that the boat almost always traveled at sufficient speed, and calms or 

 very high winds were infrequent. The sea was free from gulf weed. 

 which when present in any quantity is a terrible nuisance. I'ait 

 could be readily procured and fish were plentiful. My lines, rods 

 and reels also gave excellent service. I had a spacious and con- 

 venient house on a ridge overlooking the harbor, a garden full of 

 grapefruit, oranges, cocoanut palms and roses, and altogether, both 

 for comfort, convenience and sport, found it the most delightful place 

 imaginable. \Yhen tired of trolling, one could anchor and catch plenty 

 of the beautiful, strange and brilliantly colored fish of the tropics, 

 so that the bottom of the boat after fishing looked like a tlower garden. 



Xassau seemed to me an ideal place to pass the winter, and I 

 vowed never again to see a llake of snow if it could be helped, but 

 rather serious illness prevented my returning the following year. 

 Then came on the panic of 1!M)T, with the depression succeed- 

 ing, when every business man had to devote all his time and energy 

 to strictly necessary business. l.ut at last such trouble- settled 

 themselves, health was largely restored, and 1 expected that 

 one more winter in the tropics would make me absolutely well. 1 was 

 fortunate enough to be able to again engage the house, boat and crew 

 of my former year, and early in January started off with the happiest 

 of anticipations. 



\Ye sailed into the harbor on a jx'rfect. brilliant morning, over 

 the turquoise, opal and sapphire water and, among the crowd swarm- 

 ing to meet the steamer, was my old Captain, John Harrow, who 

 welcomed me with a most gratifving heartiness. \\ e lound the 



