Tarpon Fishing in Florida 



take care to have on one's reel only so 

 much line as will work entirely smoothly 

 under the bars, making due allowance for 

 the expansion caused by soaking. I tried 

 to be very careful not to let my line be- 

 come tangled, and to apportionate it evenly 

 over the surface of the reel. I found it 

 convenient to hold the line against the rod 

 with my left thumb, while the fish was 

 steady, as it relieved the pressure, shifting 

 it to the drag when he began to run. 



After the struggle had lasted about an 

 hour and a half, I was appalled by my reel 

 suddenly falling from my rod to the bot- 

 tom of the boat. The rings which held 

 it in place had slipped out of position. 

 The same misadventure had twice hap- 

 pened to me while playing a salmon, so 

 that I was not so much fluttered as if it 

 had been a virgin experience ; but I must 

 confess that my heart sank within me. 

 Having hastily picked up the reel, taking 

 care not to twist the line, I told Pierce, 

 who was standing behind me, to step aft 

 and slip the rings into position after I had 

 fitted it into the socket. Fortunately, the 

 tarpon did not make one of his rushes 

 during this ticklish proceeding, which was 

 successfully accomplished. 



My hands were now becoming very 



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