ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 223 



eight pounds. All through the channel nearly to the western end 

 they are always in evidence. 



Pumpkin Creek is deep, six to fifteen feet, and at times Snappers 

 and Groupers are very plenty. The other creeks are all good for all 

 the variety of Key fishes. The western approach is not good. The 

 Mangrove Snapper is usually in clear water a very shy and wary fish, 

 so sometimes when you can see literally hundreds of them you can 

 catch but few. I think cut fish bait for them here is better than any 

 other. 



Angle for Angel-fish the same as at Sands Cut. There are more 

 of them here, in my opinion, than anywhere on the coast. You are 

 quite sure to catch some while fishing for other fish. There is little 

 inducement to troll in these channels and passes among the Keys, as the 

 tides are strong, making the rowing hard, and you can catch fish in 

 more scientific ways. Of all the places on the entire East Coast, 

 Capt. John and I are agreed that we like Angelfish Creek somewhat 

 the best. 



The usual route for sport fishing from here to Indian Key is 

 through the inside waters, as they afford far better sport than the out- 

 side. This arises from the fact that outside we have for twenty-five 

 miles the blank shores of Key Largo, with two or three inside sounds, 

 which are supplied with salt water only from the outside, no connec- 

 tion through to Card Sound, etc. 



I will now take you by the inside route to Indian Key. 



STEAMBOAT CREEKS. 



SIX MILES FROM ANGELFISH CREEK, AND THIRTY-TWO 

 MILES FROM MIAMI. 



There are three of these creeks less than a mile apart at their Bay 

 entrances. They enter Key Largo from Card Sound, describe part 

 of a circle within the Key, and come out into Little Card Sound to 

 the south, varying in length from one to two miles. 



The fishing in these creeks is not much affected by the tides, and 

 only the most northerly one is navigable for sailboats, launches, etc. 

 I have had very good success in them, especially for Mangrove Snap- 

 pers and Groupers, the best ground for them being in the first, or 

 north, creek, all the way through it — being somewhat the best com- 

 mencing about half a mile from the entrance and continuing- about a 



