To ENgoy THE PERFUME oF TUE INDIEs. 451 
the small fishes which delay too long their weedy shelters 
by the hope of picking up fresh delicacies in approximate 
danger. 
By the following extracts from a letter by Isaac M‘Lel- 
lan, the poet, written at Smyrna, on Halifax River, inviting 
me to Florida, the reader will find further items of interest. 
The rivers along the coast are like the bays of New Jersey, 
separated from the sea by a sandy beach, or like the Great 
South Bay, protected from the heavy waves of the Atlan- 
tic by Fire Island. To quote: “In these rivers are found 
sheepshead and many other kinds of fish in great plenty. 
A Mr. B 
staying here for some time, and says the fishing is ‘too 
» from Brooklyn, who is a great angler, has been 
good.” We gets from fifty to one hundred sheepshead ev- 
ery time he goes out, besides many channel bass, of from four 
to twelve pounds’ weight each. This is the spot-tail bass.” 
** & “AS to shooting,” he states, “there is no end to the 
a9 
feathered and fur game. ee «eT get here: Take steamer 
from New York for Savannah, or take a through ticket to 
Jacksonville, by which you will save several dollars,and you 
may remain in Savannah, if wishing to stop, and thence you 
may either go by railroad or steamer on the through ticket. 
Heavy fishing-tackle, heavy spoons, such as are used on the 
great lakes, and such as are used in trolling for bluefish and 
Spanish mackerel.” [Also take the smaller feathered spoons, 
to troll on the rivers of the interior for the black bass, which 
is similar to the Oswego bass. | 
“Bring a double duck-gun, and a lighter one for the 
woods, and a rifle—breech-loader, if possible. Bring your 
ammunition, especially if you use fixed. You will want a 
row-boat and a cat-rigged sail-boat, with flat floor and a cen- 
tre-board. The boats you can procure here. 
“Tf at this place, you could be at a central point whence 
to sail up and down the rivers of bays, you would find it a 
real paradise for sportsmen.” 
The spot-tail bass is said to be numerous in the Gulf of 
