VII 



OTHER FISHING 



That the tarpon is the end and aim of our pilgrim- 

 age to the Gulf coast goes without saying, but, while 

 consecrating our best efforts to cultivating his ac- 

 quaintance, we need not overlook the presence of a 

 number of other interesting fish on the same 

 grounds, all of which would be deemed excellent 

 game for the rod if there were no tarpon to 

 monopolise our admiration. 



Of those encountered incidentally in the Pass, 

 and there, I regret to say, regarded in the light of 

 vermin, the chief are the 



Jewfish {Promicrops itaiara) 

 Black Grouper {Garrupa nigrita) 

 Red Grouper {Epineplielus morio) 

 Kingfish {Scomberomortis cavalld) 

 Channel Bass {ScicBnops ocellatd) 

 Cobia [Rachycentron canaduvt) 



and a variety of sharks and rays, some of the latter 

 leaping high in the air to throw off the irritating 

 remoras that cling to their skin and falling back in 

 the water with a resounding splash that startles 

 newcomers unused to such apparitions. If one of 

 these great rays were to fall on the boat, there 

 would be an end of its occupants, but no doubt the 

 fish sees the boat overhead and takes good care to 

 leap wide of it, else accidents of the kind must have 



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