238 Big Game Fishes 



piscatorial Wandering Jew. If it is very hot, there 

 is more chance for an early strike, as the tarpon 

 evidently prefers warm weather and the resultant 

 warm water. Some wit has described this phase 

 of tarpon fishing as sitting in a Turkish bath 

 holding a string ; but the heat in this part of Flor- 

 ida is cool compared to the still days where I have 

 fished far down on the outer reef. Despite this 

 uncertainty, the angler should take for his motto, 

 Nunquam non paratus, and live up to it, as a 

 strike is liable to come at any time. There are a 

 thousand and one diversions in Florida to occupy 

 the angler, who of course is a lover of nature, even 

 if the fish are not biting ; and again it may be the 

 day of days when the game is in the Pass and 

 fish are seen at once rising all about, flashing here 

 and there. Such a day Mr. O. A. Mygatt of New 

 York found at Boca Grande on May 26, 1898, 

 when he took twenty-two tarpons, which I believe 

 is the record ; while at this famous locality Mr. 

 W. H. Grenfell of London took one hundred fish 

 between April 19 and May 10, both of which 

 cases illustrate the possibilities in this sport of 

 sports. 



We may assume that it is a fishing day. Pres- 

 ently the line begins to run out, and you aid 



