SEA FISHING IN THE BOCAS ISLANDS 17 



ble. En route in the boat you will pass several banks, the 

 most notable being "Cannes," "Francois," and " Trou 

 Zombi." At '' Pointe h Diable" are two marks near the 

 Monos shore, where good fishing can be had at three-quarter 

 to full tide, but the currents are very strong and on the 

 second mark you have to be very careful of the wreck of a 

 coal vessel that lies near the bottom of the bank. I have 

 lost several fine grouper after striking them, as they entan- 

 gled the line in the hulk and broke my gear. Going round 

 the north side on the Caribbean there are two "sometim- 

 ish" banks, near Biscayen Bay, one called " Trou Dehert" and 

 the other "Biscayen". Shortly after passing Biscayen the 

 turn is taken and the First Boca entered. There are fifteen 

 to twenty banks in the First Boca, but of late years I have 

 only found two productive, one in a small cove called 'VAnse 

 Maurice" and the other on the Chaguaramas side of the 

 Boca, near "VAnse Poua." They are both mixed banks, 

 but sometimes the "vivanots" and "walliackes" are of 

 decent size. 



4. Gasparil, or Caspar Crande. The western end is 

 immediately opposite the first or Monos Boca, while the 

 island itself forms the southern arm or boundary of Chagua- 

 ramas Bay. It is well known on account of its extensive 

 caves at the western end, which on account of its Bocas 

 exposure and limestone foundation is extremely healthy, 

 and especially suitable for people with bellows to mend. 

 Gasparil boasts of thirteen residences, most of which can be 

 hired or leased, Pointe Baleine, Fort Dragon, St. Mary's, 

 Acham's, Herrera's, Bourne's, Sorzano's, Bodu's, Good- 

 will's (two houses), Savary's, Bombshell Bay, and Gamble's. 

 As regards fishing, there are no banks of any importance 

 roimd Gasparil, but the rock-fishing, both "ligne dormante" 

 and "ligne voyante" is often fairly good, while from the end 

 of April on to July, the sport that can be obtained with 

 trolling lines is excellent, as during that season, cavalli, king- 

 fish, tarpon, bonite and large mackerel are nearly always 

 beating in shoals at or near Pointe Baleine. Before leaving 

 the Bocas, I must not omit to mention three fishing grounds 

 within a few hours row or sail of the islands. As far as my 



