24 Tarpon Fishing in Mexico. 



next day I resolve to try to perpetuate some of these aerial antics, 

 so I set out with my camera, a half-plate Ottamar Anchutz, with 

 a Goerz lens, working at 6*8, and a focal plane shutter, capable 

 of a minimum exposure of r^^^ second ; and the most rapid films 

 obtainable. We go to the Barra by train, and find the fish as 

 numerous and as hungry as ever. But as my bait is only a foot 

 or so below the surface, and the tarpon makes up his mind to leap 

 with lightning rapidity, I find it extremely difficult to get a 

 photograph of his first effort, which it always the most impressive. 

 It is also nearly always considerably nearer the boat than any 

 other which carries him clear of the water. The moment I have 

 struck a fish I hand the rod to my boatman, and pick up the 

 camera, which is ready at my feet. I know the length of line I 

 have out, and so am able to get the focus of his first appearance 

 with tolerable accuracy. But my boatman is no fisherman, and 

 all but breaks the rod by allowing it to come in contact with the 

 edge of the boat ; and there are many disadvantages in connection 

 with this method, the most serious of which is that I am never 

 in time to take the first leap. I get two or three photographs, 

 but realise that I cannot do much good in this line by myself. 

 (IV.) In spite of my defections to the camera, I have made 

 acquaintance close enough to secure two or three scales of 

 three fair tarpon ; and flatter myself that not one of them feels 

 any worse than one does after a long day's hunting, when it is 

 one's first of the season. 



The strength of the wind nearly always increases towards 

 sundown, and now quite a strong " Norther " is blowing right up 

 the river, and the boat seems very small and light. We see many 



