THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 199 



cast out as far as possible, and let the hook lay on the ground. 

 We caught a number of very fine ones, weighing from four to 

 six pounds, and about three o'clock pulled up and went home, 

 well satisfied with our day's work. We had over a hundred 

 pounds of fish, including, besides those mentioned above, 

 drum, sheepshead, grunters and sea-trout. 



I shall never forget this day's sport, no matter what other 

 rich or varied sports I may enjoy in the future, so great was 

 the variety of fish caught and so exciting the nature of the 

 fishing. 



For instance, I was trolling for sea-trout, but when I 

 hooked a fish I never knew what it was until I got it up to the 

 boat. The same state of affairs existed when fishing with cut 

 bait for redfish. 



