SHARKS AS FISHERMEN 



aft with the tide. It had scarcely cleared the 

 canoe when it was caught by a six-foot tarpon 

 which shot more than its length clear of the sur- 

 face of the water. It nearly swamped the canoe 

 as it fell, only to rise again a few seconds later. 

 This time the fish grazed the Green Pea and sent 

 several gallons of water over the Camera-man 

 and his weapon, at the same time sending hook 

 and bait flying twenty feet into the air. 



Ten minutes later I had another strike, but 

 the tarpon was fifty feet from the canoe when 

 he jumped and fully three hundred by the time 

 the captain had the anchor aboard and the canoe 

 pointed for the fish. I put little strain on the 

 line, though the captain paddled hard, until the 

 motor boat anchor was up and the Camera-man 

 approaching. Then the paddling became fierce. 

 I put a twenty-pound strain on the line and I 

 worked the handle of my reel as if it had been a 

 windlass. Soon we were over the frightened tar- 

 pon which leaped beside us three times in such 

 quick succession that there was only one chance 

 for the camera. 



I supposed I had tired the tarpon as much as 

 myself, but he started away with renewed vigor 



63 



