252 Big Game Fishes 
fishing or so many fish constantly in evidence. 
This is best illustrated by some of the records 
of the Tarpon Club and the Tarpon Inn. Up to 
August 8, 1902, the rod catch of the latter place in 
the half season was over three hundred, and Mr. 
J. R. Wainwright of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, had 
taken one hundred and seventy-four fish, ranging 
up to six feet in length, his best catch being thir- 
teen in one day, the fish ranging from five feet 
ten inches to six feet three inches. A number of 
ladies have made records at the Tarpon Club, and 
Miss Houston, daughter of Judge Houston, vice- 
president of the club, killed the record fish of 
the season of 1902 after a hard contest with the 
gamy silver king, which was six feet six inches in 
length. Miss Hampton, daughter of General Wade 
Hampton, brought fifteen tarpons to gaff during 
her visit to the club. 
Not alone in Texas do ladies hold records, as 
previous to the capture of the two-hundred-and- 
ten-pound tarpon at Captiva Pass by Mr. Edwin 
vom Hofe, the record was held by Mrs. George T. 
Stagg of Kentucky, who, single-handed, brought 
to gaff in May, 1901, a silver king which weighed 
two hundred and five pounds. 
From July 20 to August 17, 1901, Mr. J. T. 
