256 Big Game Fishes 
its weight doubtless not over one hundred and 
twenty pounds. Mr. vom Hofe’s record fish was 
but six feet eleven inches, yet weighed two hun- 
dred and ten pounds; and Dr. Howe’s tarpon, 
which weighed two hundred and twenty-three 
pounds, was three inches shorter than the above. 
The truth is, that the maximum length of the tar- 
pon is about eight feet, a long, slender fish; but 
mature fishes, or those which have had very favor- 
able food conditions, fill out, become exceedingly 
robust, thus materially adding to their weight 
without affecting the length. 
The midsummer tarpon grounds of Aransas 
Pass are tempered by a cool, constant breeze. 
The health conditions are apparently perfect, 
with a complete absence of malarial taint and 
few, if any, mosquitoes. In fishing from eight 
to twelve, or four hours, daily, and sometimes in 
the afternoon, the angler may expect to take 
from one to five tarpons a day. In a month’s 
fishing by Mr. J. T. Mason, referred to, he drew 
but two blanks. On nine days he took four fish 
and over. On eleven days he took either two or 
three daily. This, with the remarkable average 
of Mr. Wainwright, of one hundred and seventy- 
five tarpons for but half of the season of 1902 
