The Tarpon 261 



from personal experience with all the fishing- 

 grounds. A leather rod-rest or socket is a con- 

 venience. They come for the boat seat or waist 

 and cost from two to three dollars. One for the 

 seat is not only a luxury but a necessity. Such 

 an equipment, and it may be varied, will be a 

 pleasure aside from its actual use, and if the fish- 

 ing is in out-of-the-way parts of Florida, it is almost 

 essential, though at some points good tackle can 

 be purchased. At Aransas Pass the best tarpon 

 tackle is for sale, but if the angler is starting from 

 New York, he will have better "luck" to equip 

 there, thus taking no chances, as small dealers 

 are liable to be out of certain rods or reels. 



Arriving at the grounds, the angler selects his 

 boatman, a man of experience, in a short time 

 learning the peculiarities of the grounds. On the 

 morning appointed he finds himself in the Pass. 

 The rod-rest is screwed on to the seat between his 

 legs. The line which has been stretched, if new, 

 the night before, is wet ; and the boatman lashes 

 the reel to the rod whether it has a patent fastener 

 or not, reeves the line, fastens the snell to it, and 

 baits the hook, while the angler, seated in a com- 

 fortable chair, reels off the line with his left hand 

 the number of feet suggested by the well-posted 



