Giant Fish of Florida 



herring, with scales four inches in diameter. It may 

 weigh over two hundred pounds, and the length of such a 

 monster would be about seven feet. The qualities that 

 recommend the tarpon to the sportsman are first, its 

 power of leaping clear of the water, which lends excitement to 

 its pursuit, since it may, and not infrequently does, land 

 in your boat ; and further, its mighty strength, endurance, 

 and cunning, which combine to render it a worthy antagonist. 

 It will, very often, indeed, completely tire out an angler, 

 who then hands the rod to his guide, leaving him to finish 

 off the half-exhausted fish, an alliance that, however un- 

 sporting it may seem to the hypercritical, may be absolutely 

 necessary if the fish, or, indeed, the tackle, is to be saved. 

 Not that the fish, except as a trophy, is of much use when 

 gaffed. As food it is of little worth, and it is quite a pity 

 that the pioneers in tarpon fishing should have thought 

 it necessary to gaff through the gills and kill every fish, 

 and leave it dead on the foreshore. Nowadays a more 

 economic and sporting spirit prevails, and fish are often 

 landed without being gaffed at all, and then allowed to go 

 free. 



Attempts have from time to time been made to compare 

 tarpon and salmon fishing, to the advantage of one or the 

 other, but the fact is that no such comparison is possible. As 

 well compare shooting trap pigeons and rocketing pheasants. 

 The salmon calls for skill, experience, and light tackle ; the 



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