THE CAMERA-MAN'S DAY 



seized by a tarpon which in the haste of his first 

 jump nearly landed in the canoe. 



"Wow!" said the Camera-man as his shutter 

 clicked, while the fish was high in air almost over 

 the canoe, but he said something else a few sec- 

 onds later when two tarpon were in the air to- 

 gether beside the canoe and his refilled plate- 

 holder halfway in the camera. The fish crossed 

 and recrossed each other's paths until the lines 

 were hopelessly twisted. My tarpon was the 

 next to jump and it was my line that parted. 

 Again I took in the anchor and paddled for half 

 an hour, doing my boatman's work while he had 

 the sport for which I had come a thousand miles. 

 He had good luck with his quarry, for with every 

 leap came the click of the shutter. 



The tarpon that is working for the camera 

 must be treated with gentleness and judgment. 

 When plateholders are being changed lines must 

 be held as lightly and steadily as if they led to the 

 tender mouth of a nervous trotter. When the 

 Camera-man says "Ready!" a twitch of the line 

 should send the tarpon in the air as surely as the 

 "Pull!" of the trap-shooter is followed by the 

 flight of the clay pigeon. 



95 



