Giant Fish of Florida 



thing that will tempt a sucker from its comfortable position is a 

 small and suitable bait dangled near it. Thus lured, it will 

 frequently swim away from its host, and allow itself to be caught. 



The scales of the jewfish are somewhat curiously formed, 

 and those of sufficiently active imagination profess to see in 

 the centre of each an accurate and unmistakable full length 

 portrait of the Virgin Mary. Many, however, will, I venture 

 to predict, look for this in vain. 



Before quitting the subject of the many successes achieved 

 by women on those hunting grounds, I may mention one in 

 which an enormous whip ray was foul-hooked, and the lady 

 obligingly stood on her victim that the camera might do its 

 share. On the whole, fishing in Florida seas may be said to 

 offer thrilling sport to such ladies as are venturesome enough to 

 give it a trial. There is just that spice of danger which sports- 

 women never resent, without the need of prolonged roughing it, 

 that tries them far more than sudden calls on their endurance. 

 As long experience and angling skill are not required, at any 

 rate at present, a lady has on her first outing as good a chance 

 as any one of hooking the record fish of the season, tarpon, 

 jewfish, or shark, as the case may be ; nor is the ordinary work 

 of tarpon fishing, though beyond doubt arduous, such as to 

 alarm any woman of average aptitude for outdoor sport. When 

 you have fairly hooked your tarpon, you sit comfortably back 

 in the armchair, your rod resting in a socket screwed on the 

 thwart or suspended round the waist, and thus you pit your 



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