CHAPTER VII 



HARPOONING A MONSTER 



I REMEMBER another exciting adventure, which resulted in 

 the capture of a giant ray, weighing many hundred pounds. 

 The wind had just gone to the south after many days of 

 cold northers, and, whereas it would require several days of 

 such wind to bring the tarpon back to a feeding humour, 

 this first breath from the south was sufficient to stir up a 

 long line of foam and slush that means food to the devil- 

 fish. Twenty feet and upwards across these monsters may 

 measure, and they have been taken weighing over 4,000 Ib. 

 In the corners of the mouth, which gapes like a letter-box, 

 are coiled fans that are used in waving the food into the 

 throat. Three of these devil-fish we saw on the day in 

 question, coming along and raising breakers as if they were 

 steam-propelled rafts. With the tips of their great wings 



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