FLORIDA AND THE WEST INDIES 93 



as Boca Grande and Captiva ? True, the com- 

 missariat in 1906 was open to criticism, being 

 indeed a little worse than even enthusiastic sports- 

 men cared about, even though they hankered not 

 after the cuisine of Sherry's or the Savoy. There 

 was, it is true, no single case of death from starvation, 

 but such rough fare, even with the difficulties of 

 transport, was uncalled-for at the very sufficient 

 charge of ^^ dollars (15s.) a day. 



The manager, Mr Sherman, was the soul of 

 politeness, but the resources at his disposal were too 

 meagre to enable him to satisfy even the moderate 

 demands on his catering, and the luncheon that was 

 sometimes put up for us to eat at the lighthouse 

 would have been the subject of complaint in a 

 workhouse. 



Otherwise, the arrangements are perfect. There 

 are boats and guides for all ; there is an oil-launch 

 in attendance to take us to and from the fishing- 

 grounds ; you can be called at any hour between 

 midnight and midday, and breakfast is served 

 when ordered. Everything is made subservient to 

 the fishing. If the truth must be told, Useppa 

 Island is inconveniently far from the Pass, but it 

 is the nearest ierra firnta accommodation available, 

 the only alternative being to charter a yacht or 

 house-boat, which costs a good deal more. 



Such, then, is the glamour of tarpon-fishing. 

 It appeals to all sorts and conditions of both nations. 

 Always just strenuous enough to give healthful 

 exercise, it is never taken so seriously as to consti- 

 tute a worry. It braces the body, but relaxes 

 the mind. To rich and poor alike it is a joy. 

 Millionaires go to it from Chicago and paupers 



