FLORIDA AND THE WEST INDIES 139 



Guide. 



Considering that fish were taken only over a 

 period of five weeks, and, with the exception of 

 eight, by a party of six fishermen, this record of one 

 hundred and twelve tarpon, thirty-three of them 

 exceeding a weight of 100 lbs, compares not un- 

 favourably with even the golden days of Useppa. 

 True, over three hundred and thirty fish were re- 

 corded for the year 1903, and one hundred and 

 eighty-three for 1902, but a great many more fisher- 

 men and ladies took part, as many as forty in the 

 year 1903 and over twenty in the previous year. 

 Moreover, the season was much longer in both 

 cases, fish being taken during eight weeks in 1902 

 and during eleven weeks in 1903. The season of 

 1906 may therefore be regarded as up to the 

 average. The record for 1904 was not quite up 10 



