196 THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 



glad to pilot me to all the best shooting and fishing grounds 

 in the neighborhood ; that they will go with me fire-hunting 

 and fire-fishing at night, and many other things equally in- 

 jurious to the mental equilibrium of so enthusiastic a devotee 

 of the rod and gun as myself. We spent the evening 

 discussing these and other interesting topics, until eleven 

 o'clock, when we retired for the night. I dreamed all night 

 of hunting deer and fishing, and many were the noble speci- 

 mens of the antlered and finny tribe that fell victims to my 

 prowess that night. 



I arose at day light the next morning and called Captain 

 Lancaster on deck. He responded promptly and accepted 

 my invitation to remain with me and spend a day or two 

 fishing. We rigged our tackle and after a square breakfast 

 hastily eaten, boarded the "Sky Lark," and sailed across the 

 bay into Little Sarasota Pass, for our first day's fishing. As 

 soon as we entered the Pass I attached an artificial minnow 

 to my line and cast out for a troll. I had scarcely reeled out 

 half of my two hundred and fifty feet of line, when whiz-z-z ! 

 it went across the pass and back to the other side in less time 

 than it takes to tell it. Maurice luffed up and ran in to shore. 

 I was using light tackle, and finding that I had a game fish to 

 deal with, I was compelled to play him a few minutes before 

 attempting to land him. I soon wore him out sufficiently to 

 be able to bring him aboard, when I found him to be a hand- 

 some specimen of the Cavalli, locally known as the jack-fish. 

 He weighed four pounds, and was seventeen inches .long. 

 This fish closely resembles the pompano, both in outward 

 appearance and flavor. He is one of the most delicious 

 fish in the Gulf waters, is frequently served at hotels and 

 restaurants in the southern cities under the name of pompano, 

 and none but an experienced palate can detect the difference. 

 There is a streak of dark meat along either side of the back- 



