64 Tarpon Fishing in Florida. 



reasonable. Sharks, rays, tarpon, and porpoises abound, and these 

 latter have a most unpleasant way of rising to blow within a few 

 feet of the boat. If they happen to charge it from a flank or to 

 rise underneath it, in a blind or playful moment, the consequences 

 mio-ht be such that the " subsequent proceedings would " very 

 soon " interest us no more." In any case at the moment nothing 

 seems to me so repulsive as a porpoise with a penchant for 

 practical jokes. We row back towards the houseboat and lose 

 one more tarpon on the way. But the shoal now seems to have 

 passed on to the deep water, so we tie up our bark and exchange 

 it for the good solid old houseboat. I have only been back a few 

 minutes when in comes L. covered with slime and filth, his 

 rod smashed to splinters at the strongest place near the butt. He 

 is not long about telling the story of his discomfiture. He had 

 just put the bait over the side of his boat preparatory to letting 

 out line, when a tarpon seized it. He struck with his usual vigour, 

 and the tarpon after the manner of his kind, leapt, and straight at 

 his enemy. L. at once took in the situation, and attempted to 

 ward off the shock with the thickest part of his rod. This the 

 tarpon treated much as an equestrian treats a paper hoop in a 

 circus ; he then hit L. full and square on the chest, knocking him 

 back into the bilge water in the bottom of the boat ; next he came 

 in contact with the oar, and rejoicing in his victory over his 

 redoubtable opponent, slithered back into the sea, a free fish. L.'s 

 respect for the power and weight of a tarpon was so enhanced by 

 this incident, that ever afterwards he invariably cast his bait as far 

 as he could from the boat when fishing at night on the flats. The 

 other two sportsmen soon arrive. They have each got two or 



