THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 217 



seemed to really enjoy its influence. We captured several of 

 them, and I preserved the head of one, which I have added 

 to my collection as a relic of the occasion. 



We killed over a hundred pounds of fish during the two 

 or three "hours we were out, among which were the sea-trout, 

 drum, grunter, mullet, mangrove snapper, red-fish, etc. Mr. 

 Griffith killed one drum that weighed over eight pounds. A 

 regular old bass drum, as it were. 



As we passed over a sand bar about nine o'clock a great 

 white shark came alongside to inspect our cargo and see what 

 our headlight was made of. Captain Squyer had the harpoon 

 in hand at the time, and when the old monster came within 

 easy reach, plunged it through his body just back of the head. 

 Mr. Shark's curiosity was satisfied at once, and he headed for 

 deep water with all the speed he could command. There 

 were thirty feet of line attached to the harpoon and made fast 

 to the bow of the boat, and as he took it out, Will, who was 

 then at the helm, threw the bow straight toward the fleeing 

 carcharion, and as the line tightened up away we went across 

 the bay at the rate of about fifteen knots an hour. He towed 

 us back and forth, up and down, at this exciting rate for fifteen 

 or twenty minutes before his strength failed him in the least. 

 The ladies shrieked with fright occasionally as he made a 

 sudden turn that well nigh capsized the boat, but we went 

 through the hazardous ordeal safely. Finally he weakened, 

 and Will poled us up near enough to give him one of the 

 smaller spears. This, by a lucky shot, broke his back, and 

 nothing now remained but to tow him ashore. When we 

 reached land all hands went ashore, united their strength and 

 hauled him up. He measured eight feet four inches in length, 

 and weiged 227 pounds. 



With this capture we closed the evening's entertainment, 

 and went home. 



