THE BOOK OF THE TARPON 



end a slight upward toss to produce a pitching 

 effect. The fish is turning a bit to the left. This 

 gives you a better target, unless it goes too far, 

 when your iron will not penetrate the scales. 

 Now it is a scant twenty feet. Throw! There is 

 a crash in the water as the tarpon leaps before 

 dashing away, and as you see the line stream- 

 ing over the bow of the canoe you rejoice 

 mightily and taking it in hand too earnestly ac- 

 quire instantly a bunch of blisters that you will 

 not be able to forget for days. 



You soon learn to pay out the line without let- 

 ting it slip, gripping it alternately with both 

 hands as you get the canoe under way. The 

 canoeman, having picked up the harpoon pole, 

 helps with his paddle until the craft has taken 

 up the gait of the fish. Thereafter you have the 

 creature under control, paying line out when a 

 sudden spurt puts too great a strain upon it and 

 pulling the canoe up to the tarpon when you 

 want more excitement. Careful, now! You are 

 getting reckless and have pulled your fragile 

 canoe beside a creature that can knock it endwise 

 with a flip of its tail. Your boatman is sitting 

 on the bottom of the canoe, trying to balance it 



40 



