182 SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



eight-ounce rod, a mascalonge weighing thirty-two pounds, 

 ip twenty minutes. 



But, it is under the palms and live-oaks of Southern 

 Florida that the angler is more likely to encounter finny 

 giants that will test the strength and endurance of his tackle, 

 and exercise to the full his stock of piscatorial skill and 

 finesse. 



A few days after Christmas, in the winter of 1881, my 

 wife and I were fishing in San Sebastian river (opposite 

 Kane's cabin), a half mile above its confluence with Indian 

 river. We had been up one of the branches of the river 

 fishing for Black Bass, and I was using an eight-ounce, ash 

 and lancewood Henshall rod, and ordinary Black Bass 

 tackle. 



On this occasion, and with this rod and tackle, I killed a 

 redfish, or channel Bass, in twenty minutes, that weighed 

 fully thirty-five pounds, though, as I did not weigh it, 1 

 called it thirty. It was a heavier and gamer fish than the 

 mascalonge alluded to above ; and, as I have weighed a 

 good many redfish running from twenty to forty pounds, I 

 can certainly guess within five pounds of the weight of one 

 within these limits. 



I was casting the minnow for Black Bass, on another oc- 

 casion, up the St. Lucie river, in Southern Florida, and 

 with the same rod and tackle just mentioned I hooked, 

 killed and landed a tarpon of thirty-three pounds, in fifteen 

 minutes 



I have, with the same, or similar rods and tackle, killed 

 many pike, mascalonge, tarpon, groupers, salt-water trout, 

 etc., between ten and twenty pounds, but merely mention 

 the above instances to prove the power of the minnow- 

 casting Black Bass rod of eight ounces in weight and eight 



