SEA FISHING IN THE BOCAS ISLANDS 31 



pensable. A strange boatman would be at sea, in more 

 senses than one, for a considerable period at the Bocas. 



Now for the "remous." It must be remembered that 

 there is the sweep of two contrary currents along the coast, 

 which have their conflict in the bay, opposite Port of Spain. 

 The currents are made up of the resultants between the tides 

 of the sea, the Orinoco currents, and the Caroni current. 

 When the tide is ebbing, a current sweeps along the coast 

 from the Serpent's mouth towards Port of Spain, and seeks 

 an outlet through the Bocas, into the open sea. But when 

 the tide rises, a contrary current from outside the Bocas 

 forces them back to the eastward ; and there is a moment, 

 when the mutually opposed currents are equalized. It is at 

 this moment, just at the lowest ebb, and the approaching rise, 

 that the famous boiling of the waters, called the "remous," 

 takes place, afterwards the Bocas currents assert suprem- 

 acy until the tide begins to ebb. At this time it is only 

 those who have faced the Maelstrom of Pointe Girod, or the 

 Scylla and Charybdis of Pointe Courante, who can fully 

 appreciate the force of the currents, and the skill of those who 

 navigate them. 



For the sporting tourist, no finer or more complete change 

 can be found from the cold grey winters of Europe and 

 America, than that offered by the Bocas islands, lapped by 

 the stimmer seas, whereon he can lead the aforesaid " gentle 

 life" as depicted by Charles Kingsley in "At Last," exhila- 

 rated with the chase of the " Silver King," A fine, dry cli- 

 mate, warm it is true, but not any hotter and far healthier 

 than Florida (the great resort of the tarpon fisher both Eng- 

 lish and American) ; inexpressibly finer scenery than the 

 Gulf of Mexico can show, and from June to November plenty 

 of tarpon. The north coast of Trinidad is simply teeming 

 with fish the year round, but as I have said before there is no 

 living accommodation for tourists ashore, so for at all events 

 some time to come, their " point d'appui" must be the Bocas 

 Islands. 



