Tbe Tarpon 249 



caught the sun's rays, a blaze of silver, and before 

 the boatman could whirl the skiff about I saw it 

 gleaming in the sunlight over my shoulder, high 

 in air again ; then, despite my pressure on the 

 rubber brake, it was away, fifty, a hundred feet, 

 literally to rise into the empyrean like a bird 

 again and again, and with wide-open gills en- 

 deavor to throw the deadly hook from its jaws. 



While I was trolling, ten-pounders, here called 

 skipjacks, were darting into the air, their leaps 

 being very similar to those of the crazed tarpons. 

 For fifteen minutes or more this gamy creature 

 fought and leaped, then coming to gaff with vigor- 

 ous protest, and was only landed in the skiff after 

 great difficulty, though only five feet three inches 

 in length. 



Having taken all the tarpons I desired, I 

 devoted my time to observations of the vaulting 

 feats of this gallant and spectacular fish. Those 

 who have read the lines on tuna jumping will, 

 perhaps, have noticed my reticence, as I realize 

 how easily one may be mistaken ; and in the case 

 of the tarpon I have the same hesitation, yet fear 

 I may do injustice to this marvellous jumper if I 

 do not refer to it. I was particularly desirous 

 to determine the effect of the side swing of the 



