THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 183 



the Gulf must always have its charms, and when accompanied 

 by a companion possessing so many of the attributes of a 

 perfect womanhood as does my better-half, who accompanies 

 me on this trip, it is rendered doubly delightful. Then to 

 add to the pleasures of the trip still more we soon make the 

 acquaintance of Captain Jackson and Purser Swingley, of the 

 "Valley City," whom we find to be gentlemen in the highest 

 sense. of that term. They improve every opportunity to con- 

 tribute to the comfort of their passengers, and are ever ready 

 to give any desired information regarding points of interest 

 along the coast. 



A few miles out of port, as we sat upon the forecastle, 

 enjoying the beautiful scenery before us and chatting pleas- 

 antly with the captain, the steward of the vessel came and 

 called us to the quarter-deck to see a kingfish he had caught. 

 We responded with alacrity, and were rewarded with a view 

 of a magnificent specimen of this noble fish which he had 

 just landed on deck. He was twenty-eight inches long and 

 weighed thirteen pounds. He is appropriately named, for 

 he is certainly the king of the finny tribe. He bears some 

 resemblance, in general shape, to the Northern lake trout, but 

 has a slimmer and handsomer head. His back is of a rich, 

 dark-green tint, changing to a lighter shade along the sides, 

 while the belly is nearly white. The scales are very small. 

 The flesh is fine in texture and of a delicious flavor. It 

 grows to a great ske, frequently measuring four feet in length, 

 and weighing thirty to forty pounds. They are frequently 

 caught by trolling from these gulf steamers with one hundred 

 to two hundred feet of line. No bait or even spoon is used. 

 They are attracted simply by a piece of white cloth tied on 

 the hook. They are very gamy when hooked and make a 

 most obstinate fight, frequently jumping to a height of ten 

 feet above the water. 



