98 SUNSHINE AND SPORT IN 



quite recently had news of the capture of tarpon at 

 Colon), and who cross the Atlantic by the Royal 

 Mail boat and not via New York, it should be quite 

 possible to buy the requisite tackle of English 

 makers. Messrs Hardy of Alnwick supplied me on 

 this occasion with a rod, reel and other tackle on 

 which, with very little difficulty, I caught a couple 

 offish weighing 80 lbs. or so ; and Messrs Farlow, 

 Holbrow, and others, also make a speciality of 

 tarpon tackle, as far as can be done without first- 

 hand knowledge of the sport. 



Costly as is the outfit, it is fair to remember two 

 facts with regard to it. In the first place, the chief 

 items are so well made that they should, with fair 

 treatment, serve on later visits. In the second 

 place, those who go back home without any inten- 

 tion of paying a return visit, and who have there- 

 fore no further use for the tackle, should have very 

 little difficulty in disposing of it by private sale to 

 others similarly placed, to whom the listed price of 

 a brand-new outfit seems exorbitant for so short a 

 holiday. 



III. Expenses on the spot may be roughly set 

 down at seven dollars (just under 30s.) a day, 

 including board and lodging, boat and guide, but 

 with no margin for liquor or cigars. Bait costs 

 a further sixty cents (2s. 6d.) a day, and it is usual 

 to give a gratuity to the guide at the end of the 

 trip if he has given satisfaction, not to speak of 

 sundry small tips to the servants at the inn. 



The one further item of expense is incurred 

 through the ambition of everyone successful in his 

 fishing to have at anyrate one specimen fish 

 mounted by the local " naturalist," that he may 



