TARPON FISHING IN THE PASS 



off Gasparilla Island, waiting to dash at such tarpon as are 

 being landed on the beach. They circle round each boat on 

 the chance of a fish being hooked, and thereby rendered an 

 easier prey than when free to outdistance their pursuit, and 

 they seem devoid of fear or respect of the fisherman and his 

 little skiff. There are large brutes among them, for we found 

 that even the largest shark hooks that could be had in New 

 York were all taken away, the chain being snapped through 

 like so much rotten gut. On one occasion, when we were 

 towing some tarpon to the yacht, I counted no fewer than 

 eighteen large sharks following in our wake, and a vigorous 

 splashing with an oar barely made them keep their distance. 

 Another time, when returning from the fishing grounds at 

 night, than when there is no better time for enjoying the full 

 excitement of playing great fish that you cannot see, I just 

 managed to see a great fish closely following our boat. Its 

 form was barely discernible, but the protruding back fin pro- 

 claimed the nature of our convoy, so, as its attentions became 

 rather pressing, I tapped it on the back with an oar, quite 

 respectfully, and merely as a reminder that its company was 

 not needed. Apparently I did not irritate or insult it, for 

 it obligingly made off in the darkness, unlike that which Mr. 

 Mygatt once hit unceremoniously with an oar, with the result 

 that the shark first bit the oar in two, then charged the boat 

 with sufficient violence to upset its occupants, and subsequently 

 pursued it to the yacht, for which they hurriedly made tracks. 

 I do not suggest the likelihood of any shark deliberately attack- 

 ing a boat, but it is advisable to bear in mind that these fish 



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