THETARPON 45 



Mr. John Smith, who at that time was living at Fish- 

 erman's Key near Punta Gorda, was his guide. In a 

 recent letter now in the author's possession, Mr. Smith 

 states that Mr. Wood's fish was the first one caught 

 by rod and reel. Mr. Wood caught three more near 

 the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River on March 31, 

 1885. All these fish were taken with rod and reel and 

 for some time it was believed that the record of cap- 

 turing the first good-sized tarpon by rod and reel was 

 held by Mr. Wood. In May, 1885, Mr. S. C. Clarke 

 wrote to the same journal: 



"Mr. Wood's capture is, however, not the first 

 of that kind. A tarpon was killed in the Indian 

 River, East Florida, with rod and reel by S. H. 

 Jones of Philadelphia, some years ago, I think 

 about 1878. This specimen measured over seven 

 feet in length, 32i/^ inches in circumference at the 

 dorsal fin and weighed 174 pounds. The contest 

 lasted more than three hours and was carried on 

 from a boat which was towed some distance by 

 the fish. I heard of thi^ affair in Florida the year 

 after it happened and got the dimensions of the 

 fish from the boatman who waited on Mr. Jones, 

 who himself gave an account of the capture to an 

 angling friend of mine; so I have no doubt as to 

 the correctness of the story." 



As Mr. Wood's exploit was widely published and as 

 Mr. Clark's communication was disregarded, it ap- 

 parently was generally believed that the record for 

 the first capture should go to Mr. Wood. 



