CHAPTER XXIII 



THE SMALL GAME FISHES OF FLORIDA 



' Yo-ho, yo-ho, and away we go. 



Away o'er Biscayne Bay. 

 With a larboard side and a starboard side. 

 And off at the break of day ! 



We trimmed our craft both fore and aft, 



And sped on the flowing tide ; 

 With a jolly crew and mountain dew 



We cast aU cares aside, 



Our boat did laugh at the briny chafE, 



A gallant craft was she ; 

 A school of porpoise passed by, 



A-swimming lustily. 



A leopard shark played tag with our bark, 



A sea-cow chewed her hay ; 

 On a limestone rock a crocodile crocked 



" Three cheers for Biscayne Bay ! " 



A flying fish flew 'midst our merry crew, 



A dog-fish barked with glee, 

 As we chewed the tail of a youthful whale. 



And growled at a stingaree.' 



Anon. 



ALMOST any one would like to fish with the man who wrote 

 these jingles, as it is evident the poet not only knows 

 how to fish, but knows what to take to preserve the peace. No 

 systematist stickling for mere truth and veracity, but an old- 

 fashioned angler, of an ancient vintage. If the fish the lady 

 catches is light in weight, and a cause of sorrow and tears, he 

 sees that it is loaded with sinkers ; he has seen the crocodile, 

 even at sea. He went to school with the sea-serpent, and is a 

 blood relation of a merman ; and as for romance, he will teU you 

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