THE BOOK OF THE TARPON 



serpent on a rock, and the other things that were 

 beyond his comprehension. 



We sailed to the south end of Chokoloskee 

 Bay, where Turner's River connects it with the 

 network of waterways through which tidal water 

 flows in all directions around the big and little 

 keys of the Ten Thousand Islands which extend 

 from Capes Romano to Sable. Channels, navi- 

 gable to tarpon of the greatest draft, connect 

 Turner's River with the Gulf of Mexico, while 

 from scores of tiny streams and shallow water- 

 courses it collects the output of many tarpon 

 nurseries. 



I began business on Turner's River with an 

 eight-ounce fly-rod and soon was fast to a ten- 

 pound tarpon which thirty minutes later was 

 captured and freed half a mile up the stream. 

 Scarcely had a fresh lure been thrown out when 

 there was a tug on my line and, as I Jbelieye, the 

 largest tarpon that was ever caught on a fly-rod 

 shot a dozen feet in the air. Three times in quick 

 succession it leaped violently, shaking its head to 

 dislodge the hook. 



Down the river the tarpon dashed till only a 

 few feet of line was left on my little reel. The 



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