The Tarpon 231 



Aransas Pass, lat. 27 50' north, early in March 

 of each year, coming from the south. During 

 the months of March, April, and May they may 

 be seen in schools of six to one hundred, coming 

 up the coast from the south. Reaching the deep 

 water of the Pass, they congregate in the gorge 

 of the Pass for a while, as though to rest and 

 feed, and then pursue their journey north along 

 the coast to Galveston, Sabine Pass, and other 

 points. From the middle of April to the middle 

 of May they do not appear to take the hook or 

 bait; during this time they are congregated in 

 large numbers in the shallow bays and flats and 

 can be approached easily in a small boat without 

 displaying any alarm, and no lure will tempt 

 them to take the hook. Apparently this is their 

 spawning season. . . . During the latter part of 

 May and in June the tarpon take the hook 

 readily and seem eager for the mullet. 



" The smallest tarpon I have measured was 

 2' 9" long and weighed eleven pounds; but 

 September 22, 1897, I hooked a tarpon which 

 appeared to be but twelve or thirteen inches 

 long. I lost it, so cannot say that I have seen 

 the young taken. About the first of December 

 the tarpon disappear entirely from the Pass. 



