To EXJOY THE PERFUME OF THE INDIES. 451 



the small fishes which delay too long their weedy shelters 

 by the hope of picking up fresh delicacies in approximate 

 danger. 



By the following extracts from a letter by Isaac M'Lel- 

 lan, the poet, written at Smyrna, on Halifax River, inviting 

 me to Florida, the reader will find further items of interest. 

 The rivers along the coast are like the bays of New Jersey, 

 separated from the sea by a sandy beach, or like the Great 

 South Bay, protected from the heavy waves of the Atlan- 

 tic by Fire Island. To quote : " In these rivers are found 

 sheepshead and many other kinds of fish in great plenty. 



A Mr. B , from Brooklyn, who is a great angler, has been 



staying here for some time, and says the fishing is 'too 

 good.' He gets from fifty to one hundred sheepshead ev- 

 ery time he goes out, besides many channel bass, of from four 

 to twelve pounds' weight each. This is the spot-tail bass." 

 * * * "As to shooting," he states, " there is no end to the 

 feathered and fur game." * * * "To get here: Take steamer 

 from New York for Savannah, or take a through ticket to 

 Jacksonville, by which you will save several dollars, and you 

 may remain in Savannah, if wishing to stop, and thence you 

 may either go by railroad or steamer on the through ticket. 

 Heavy fishing-tackle, heavy spoons; such as are used on the 

 great lakes, and such as are used in trolling for bluefish and 

 Spanish mackerel." [Also take the smaller feathered spoons, 

 to troll on the rivers of the interior for the black bass, which 

 is similar to the Oswego bass.] 



"Bring a double duck -gun, and a lighter one for the 

 woods, and a rifle breech-loader, if possible. Bring your 

 ammunition, especially if you use fixed. You will want a 

 row-boat and a cat-rigged sail-boat, with flat floor and a cen- 

 tre-board. The boats you can procure here. 



" If, at this place, you could be at a central point whence 

 to sail up and down the rivers of bays, you would find it a 

 real paradise for sportsmen." 



The spot-tail bass is said to be numerous in the 'Gulf of 



