Tarpon Fishing" m Mexico. 25 



gigantic porpoises, as we do indeed every diiy, and I feel nither 

 happier when my boatman tells me that there is war between 

 them and the sharks, who in\-ariably come off second best in the 

 encounter. A pocket English-Spanish, Spanish-English dictionary 

 is at times very comforting. We are not forced, however, to trust 

 ourselves to the protection of the porpoises, and arrive at Tampico 

 in time for dinner. 



This evening I discover that Mr. C. is also a keen 

 photographer, so I arrange to sit in his boat and photograph 

 some of his fish, and to afford him similar facilities. 



In the morning we start fishing just off the town. According 

 to the inhabitants there are not quite so many fish here as at the 

 Barra, but they run larger. Now that I can concentrate my 

 whole attention on photography, it is an entirely different matter. 

 I know exactly how much line C. has out. and as the tarpon 

 seldom runs any distance before his first leap, I focus accordingly, 

 and sit watchin^f with mv camera on my knees. I am also aware 

 of the fact as soon as my friend, whenever a fish strikes, and 

 at the slightest touch, I aim my camera in the direction in 

 which the line is pointing, and so manage to pick off five or 

 si.x first ap|)earances. {V , \T, VII. \'III.) The subsequent 

 leaps too are fairly easy to photograph, the locus being the 

 only real difficulty. 



With regard to when and where I am given ample 

 warning by the point of junction of line and water, which 

 rushes away when the fish is about to leap, and of course 

 closely in the direction in which the fish will break water. A 

 tired tarpon can often be induced to leap (Xs), and within 



