FLORIDA AND THE WEST INDIES 99 



present it to his club or hang it in his own billiard- 

 room as a reminder of the sunny days and royal 

 battles that he fought when he was young and full 

 of adventure. For the fish-liar there are few wall 

 decorations more encouraging than a tarpon, for to 

 the eye accustomed only to the fishes of European 

 waters it looks so huge that it will carry the 

 imagination of those who behold it to the most 

 desirable degree of credulity. The local charge at 

 Useppa by Messrs Shaw & Jack for mounting 

 tarpon is about i per foot, and there are some 

 extra charges for skinning and packing. The 

 freight home is expensive, and by the time I had 

 got a couple back to Devonshire, each measuring 

 some inches over six feet, I found that they cost 

 me not far short of 



