CHAPTER XXXVII 



SOME GAME FISHES OF SOUTH AMERICA 



' I will give thee for thy food. 

 No fish that iiseth in the mud.' 



Becmmont amd Fletcher, 1611. 



THE great continent of South America, covering many of 

 the degrees of latitude of America of the north, possesses, 

 especially in its sea angling, many fine game fishes, which find a 

 prototype in those of the north or Europe ; Germany, England, 

 France. Many European countries have sent their people to 

 South America, and they have taken their angling tastes with 

 them ; hence we find American and German trout, and English, 

 American, Germain, Spanish and Portuguese methods all over the 

 continent. In the north, along the Amazon and its tributaries, 

 are found some of the most interesting fishes in the world, from 

 the weird electric eel to little fishes, veritable man-eaters, and 

 along the British, Dutch and French Guianas are many sea 

 fishes which lend themselves admirably to the rod and reel. 



The tarpon is found along the north South American coast 

 and in vast numbers at Tampico, Mexico. The Caribbean Sea 

 is noted for its big sea game, the Jacks (Caranx), especially being 

 fierce, large and numerous. One of the large and extraordinary 

 fishes of South America is the Arapaima, Studis gigas, found 

 in the upper reaches of the Amazon, and giving South America 

 the claim of having in all probability the largest of fresh-water 

 fishes, as the big, pike-hke Arapaima, a cousin of the herrings, 

 attains a length of fifteen feet, weighing from three to four 

 hundred pounds, and is a match for half a dozen natives. 

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