FISHES OF THE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 163 



July last I resolved upon determining this matter and cut some 

 steaks from a specimen weighing 128 pounds. I had them fried, and 

 upon testing them I arrived at the conclusion, that as an edible fish 

 the tarpon rates next to the pompano. To me it resembles a spring 

 chicken in flavor. Several gentlemen tasted the fish and confirmed 

 my opinion. Since that time the flesh of this fish has been sold in 

 this market at ten cents per pound. The flesh is very tender and of 

 a light walnut tint. To many the color of the flesh would be an 

 objection. 



As a vaulter the tarpon is unequallr d, and his aerial feats " must be- 

 seen to be appreciated." On one occasion my friend G. and a com- 

 panion, were rowing through Salt River (a tributary of the Homo- 

 sassa) in a sixteen-foot Whitehall boat. A tarpon was sunning him- 

 self in the grass, and being disturbed made for deep water. Find- 

 ing the water shallow, and the boat in the way, he endeavored to 

 clear it at an angle. The head of the fish came in contact with the 

 side of G's companion, which contact deflected him from his course* 

 and he passed under one of the boat seats. A pocket knife was used 

 to " settle his hash," but it would not penetrate the ivory-like armor 

 of the fish. Oars were used to dispatch the prisoner, but it was 

 found that if he was interfered with the boat would suffer from the 

 vigorous blows of his head and tail. G. seated himself in the stern r 

 and his companion in the bow and for the nonce the fish was 

 awarded the post of honor unmolested. When peace was declared,, 

 the gentlemen resumed their oars, but the one who deflected the silver 

 king in his course, found that he could not " paddle his own canoe," 

 for several of his ribs were fractured. G. rowed the boat to Jones* 

 Landing on the Homosassa, and the tarpon was weighed, tipping the 

 scales at 153 pounds. Some of your readers will probably pronounce 

 this a " fish story," but if they could see a tarpon rush through the 

 water, and form a just estimate of the momentum of a moving fish 

 of this weight, they would not question the correctness of the above 

 statement. 



Several years since, the side wheel river steamer Water Lily was- 

 en route from Jacksonville to Mayport. The captain was seated on 

 a chair in the centre of the forward deck, with his back to the for- 



