TARPOX FISHING IX MEXICO. 



CHAPTER 1. 



S I know of no i)ublication which will cMiciblc a 

 would-be tarpon fisherman to set forth on his 

 5,000 mile journey to Mexico with any confidence 

 of success, and as the <4rcat majority of sportsmen 

 do not number amono- their friends any who have 

 caught the silver king, I may perhaps be excused 

 for bringing these reminiscences before the public. If this book is 

 the indirect means through which any of my countrymen can 

 number among their pleasant recollections the grand sport ot 

 tarpon fishing. I shall feel that I have amply repaid the goddess of 

 chance to whom 1 owe my acquaintance with the king offish. 



When I .set out from England in December, 1904, I confess 

 that the tarpon had nothing to do with my departure ; my 

 intention being merely to travel in the I'nited States and Mexico. 

 However, after visiting some of the many places of interest in 

 Mexico I found that towards the end of March I had a week in 

 Mexico City with no particular engagem.ents. I had heard a 

 great deal of the excellent tarpon fishing to be had at Tampico, 

 and having alwa)s taken great pleasure in dccci\ing any tish 

 from the salmon to the whiting. I resolved to try my luck. I 

 accordingly bought a slender lancewood rod about 6 feet long lor 

 fifteen Mexican dollars, i.f. 30.s\, one dozen tar[)on hooks, with 



