FISHES OF THE BAHAMAS, JAMAICA 



hundred pounds being known off the Florida reef and in South 

 American Waters. The fish is taken trolling (trailing), from 

 either a sail-boat or launch, any kind of bait or a spoon serving 

 the purpose so long as it is conspicuous, the angler using a tarpon 

 rod, a No. 21 Une, 'So. 10 hook, or a spoon or metal jig. 



To see these big racing mackerel come leaping at the bait is 

 a most exhilarating spectacle. Mr. St. John Newberry says : 

 ' To really enjoy this sport a good launch is advisable, and if the 

 sea is smooth, the angler should sit in a rowboat astern, and either 

 row or be rowed, and have the pleasure of fighting the kingfish 

 from a small boat.' This at Nassau. 



Occasionally on the reef, and more often south of Cuba, is^ 

 taken a hard-fightiag mackerel-Mke fish called the Peto, Acan- 

 ihocylium solendH. It doubtless exceeds the kingfish in size,^ 

 specimens having been reported weighing one hundred and 

 twenty-five pounds ; and one taken from a man-eater shark's, 

 belly must have weighed more : such a fish would have measured 

 nearly seven feet. Mr. Newberry shows in his book a large 

 specimen taken by him with rod and reel. 



Mr. St. John Newberry is one of the angling authorities on 

 Bahaman fishes. He has fished the waters from Nassau in every 

 direction ; and describes it as a most remarkable region for the 

 sea angler in winter. He did most of his angling for kingfish 

 from a sailboat, and when the strike came the latter was thrown 

 into the wind, while he played the fish. In the delightful volume,. 

 Caught on the Fly, he gives his graphic experiences with ' thirty- 

 eight, forty-one and fifty pounders.' 



The winter angler can find no more interesting trip than ta 

 follow down from Bermuda to Nassau, Bahama, and visit the 

 islands down to Barbados, then to Jamaica, ending at Tampico, 

 Mexico, where the winter tarpon fishing is excellent and com- 

 fortable. The fishes of all this region are interesting, often 

 beautiful, and include many that will meet the expectations of 

 the most critical angler. Goss, the English naturalist, has in- 

 vested Jamaica with a charm that a most searching investigation 



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