FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 



travel and moderate indulgence in mineral waters. Such teetotalism is 

 encouraged by the price and quality of the spirits served at the ordinary 

 fishing inn in the United States, and even mineral waters amount to an 

 item that will make the economist wince. The cost of such an expedition 

 falls under three heads. There is, as already mentioned, an item of £20 

 for tackle. First-class travel out and back, via New York, would amount 

 to about £75, including the cost of meals on the trains. Thirdly, we have 

 hotel accommodation and the fishing itself, and these together total, 

 roughly, to 32s. 6d. a day. There remains only a small sum for tipping 

 the guide and hotel servants. No allowance was made in the total estimate 

 of £150 for the cost of having one or more tarpon set up as trophies and 

 sent home to England. Taxidermists on the spot charge about £1 a foot 

 for preserving the fish, but the cost of packing and freight is considerable, 

 and by the time I had got a couple sent after me, they left very little 

 change out of £20. This seems a heavy price to pay for such souvenirs, 

 but, on the other hand, the pleasure of having these reminders, now that 

 the fighting days are over, is incalculable. 



The allowance of £20 for tackle for only a fortnight's fishing may also 

 seem excessive; but, as the accompanying details will show, it is prac- 

 tically irreducible. Most of the tackle hitherto in use is made by Vom Hofe, 

 of New York, and I personally went to his store in Fulton Street to get 

 my outfit on the spot. Since those days, however, Messrs Farlow, of 

 Charles Street, Haymarket, have fortunately taken up an agency for 

 all Vom Hofe's specialities, besides selling many of their own, which is, 

 in particular, a convenience for those sportsmen who elect to fish in 

 Trinidad or Jamaica, and who therefore have no need to travel via New 

 York, but can take the Royal Mail Steam Packet boat direct from 

 Southampton. The tarpon outfit is as follows : 



£ s. d. 



Rod (with spare top) 5 



Reel 900 



Lines (three at 12s. 6d.) 1 17 6 



Hooks (If dozen) 12 6 



Gaff . 18 9 



Rod Rest for boat 10 6 



Sinkers 10 



£18 19 3 

 As has been said, this seems a heavy tax for so short a period. In the first 

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