Fish and Fishing 



the first thing to be done is to screw the rod rest 

 to the seat between the angler's legs; then the 

 line is unreeled, fastened to the snell, and the hook 

 is baited. Meanwhile, the angler is seated in his 

 chair reeling off with his left hand the length of 

 line which the boatman considers requisite, 

 sometimes thirty or fifty feet, according to the 

 location of the quarry. 



The best time to cast the bait is at the beginning 

 of the flood tide, though the change to the ebb tide 

 is good. When the mullet come in to the inner 



Mullet bait for tarpon. 



waters, the fishing is poor. An interesting arti- 

 cle that appeared in "Outing," says: "Tarpon 

 do not make a first attack upon their food with 

 their mouths. They have no teeth except a 

 roughening on the edges of the lips, sharp enough 

 to cut the best line instantly, if it comes in contact 

 with them. They secure their food by striking 

 with their tails, and then turning about to pick 

 up the fish stunned by the blow." As soon as the 

 tide has turned and the fish are feeding, having 

 the bait properly fixed on the hook ready 



Fishing to cast sav fortv feet astern of tne boat 

 the angler is waiting, holding the rod 



across his lap, right thumb on the thumb brake, 



the left grasping the cork grip above the reel ; the 



40 



