CHECKMATING A TARPON 



Panther Keys and off Gomez Point I had a men- 

 tal picture of the old man for whom it was named 

 as I last saw him at his home. He was then well 

 along in his second century and year by year his 

 recollection of the first Napoleon, under whom 

 he served, became clearer and the details of their 

 intimacy more distinct. 



Sand-fly Pass, leading to Chokoloskee Bay, 

 was our goal for the night and nothing but a 

 nose was needed to find it even in Cimmerian 

 darkness. Its mouth was guarded by a pelican 

 key from which a rookery of the birds sent forth 

 lines of stench as a Fresnel lens radiates light. 



In the morning we entered Chokoloskee Bay 

 and crossing it anchored within the mouth of 

 Allen's River, near the Storter store. 



For nearly two miles Allen's River is a con- 

 siderable stream. Beyond that distance it di- 

 vides and spreads over flats until it is only navi- 

 gable to a light draft skiff. Near the mouth of 

 the river we caught and released a few tarpon of 

 good size, but when a mile up the stream I struck 

 a ten-pound fish, I returned to the Irene and 

 rigged up an eight-ounce fly-rod. The fish rose 

 best to a tiny strip of mullet, cast and skittered 



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