254 Big Game Fishes 



" norther " in November sends them south, the 

 season closing by the first of December, when 

 tarpons appear to be crowded out by the ducks. 

 To Dr. H. W. Howe of Mexico lovers of this 

 strenuous sport are indebted for the discovery 

 that the tarpon winters as far north as Tampico, 

 and that there is excellent fishing here in January, 

 February, and March ; hence the travelling angler 

 can find tarpon fishing if desired every month in 

 the year, between Florida, Texas, and Tampico. 



In an interesting and valuable series of articles 

 in Forest and Stream, Mr. Waddell gives many 

 interesting facts relating to this gamy fish in its 

 winter home. He believes that it is more gamy 

 at that season. According to Mr. Waddell, the 

 Mexican tarpon ascends the river Panuco forty 

 or fifty miles, and a small one was taken in the 

 Papaloapam River one hundred and twenty-five 

 miles from the Gulf. The Mexican tarpon record, 

 according to the same authority, is a two-hundred- 

 and-twenty-three-pound fish, six feet eight inches 

 in length, caught at Tampico by Dr. Howe of the 

 city of Mexico. 



This catch will stand as the world's record. In 

 a letter to me Dr. Howe said : " My fish weighed 

 223 pounds six hours after it was caught, Its 



