70 Tarpon Fishini^ in Florida. 



fish, as the members of his species are gourmands and not 



gourmets. 



After my first rebuff I manage to defeat two tarpon {XXV, 

 XXVI) but only after two long struggles, and as we fish our way 

 back to the houseboat I feel that I have had some splendid 

 exercise. On this occasion by far the greater number of hsh that 

 struck were caught. In fact, one of our American friends to-day 

 con\erted 13 strikes into 12 fish: on another tide out of 13 

 strikes but one fish would be cauoht. A shoal of cat fish had 

 taken up their abode round and under the houseboat and almost 

 as we arrive one takes my bait. These fish are unwholesome 

 lookino- brutes with Qrreen backs and white bellies. Those in our 

 shoal were on an average 8 inches long, and they would 

 scramble for anything that was thrown overboard. They are 

 protected by three strong sharp spines each about i^ inches long ; 

 one on the back just behind the head, and one on each side of the 

 neck. These they can erect at will. I do not immediately pull 

 my cat fish out of the water, but drag him about dead beat among 

 his comrades, who promptly do their best to devour him. They 

 have however nothing worth mentioning in the way of teeth, and 

 can do him no harm. A small shark has also been waiting 

 around to see if anything was to be picked up ; he spots the disabled 

 fish, and up he comes to further investigate. All the spines are 

 stiffly erected, " Bah, spikes ! " says the shark, as he sullenly 

 returns to wait for something less prickly. I get rid of the 

 cat fish with some care, as our guides inform us that the spines 

 are poisonous, and I hav^e no wish to experiment in person. 

 Here comes the ladies' jew fish (XXVII) which we weigh with 



