FLORIDA AND THE WEST INDIES 85 



New York vary in quality, but the same might be 

 said of most tackle supplied in most cities. So 

 much American tarpon-tackle is perfect that a rare 

 flaw need not be made of too much account. 



Given a sporting chance on tackle less per- 

 emptory, the tarpon would, I am convinced, acquit 

 himself to even better purpose, and the average of 

 captures to strikes, which experts complacently 

 regard even now as one in three, would be fewer. 

 Even with such a handicap as that imposed under 

 present conditions, he jumps superbly in the fierce 

 glare of the noonday sun, jumps again and yet 

 again, throwing off golden showers of iridescent 

 spray as he impetuously shakes his bristling head 

 from side to side in mad endeavour to throw out 

 the cruel hook. In the pale radiance of a full 

 rnoon, im wunderschonen Monat Mai, the fish looms 

 a gigantic vision of black and silver, projecting 

 itself in the air beside the boat, its form distorted, 

 magnified, blurred by the deceptive lamp of night. 

 Comes an evening without moon, and the summer 

 phosphorescence of the warm Gulf water gives the 

 weirdest effects of all ; for sudden pale gleams break 

 the blackness below and mark the pathless dash of 

 sharks over the hidden dwellings of the coral 

 creatures, to whom they must seem as meteors 

 flashing through the night, and the tarpon rushes 

 like a signal rocket, setting the water afire and, as 

 it jumps, breaking into wondrous coruscations as 

 the cold fire drips from it in its fall. 



Each experience has its niche in memory's 

 album. Those who fish for pleasure only, pre- 

 ferring comfort to the making and breaking of 

 records (an unbridled passion for which is the 



