The Tarpon 235 
developed, well schooled in all the requisites, and 
the sport can be fully enjoyed. Tarpon fishing 
with the rod is like tuna fishing—a modern 
sport —and was brought into public notice by 
Mr. W. H. Wood, of New York, the first tarpon 
having been taken in this way by Mr. S. Jones 
of Philadelphia at Indian River Inlet. This his- 
toric tarpon weighed about one hundred and 
thirty pounds and was six feet in length, and 
fought the angler over two hours before it was 
brought to gaff. The fortunate boatman who 
shared the reflected honor was John Weier of 
New Smyrna. I well recall the interest aroused 
among anglers when it was announced that an 
angler wagered the expenses of any one to Flor- 
ida who would take a tarpon with rod, reel, and 
light line. This was rash, as the fish had already 
been taken by Mr. Jones, but it was the intro- 
duction of this remarkable sport. 
We will assume that the angler is at some of 
the resorts mentioned, or at St. James City, at 
Pine Islands, to reach which the train is taken 
from Jacksonville to Charlotte Harbor. Once on 
the ground, arrangements can be made to fish in 
the vicinity or any of the localities farther south. 
The question of tarpon tackle is important and 
