48 THETARPON 



Wood took a fish on May 6, 1886, 6 feet 5 inches long 

 and weighing 140 pounds on a 15 thread line and a 

 No. 10 O'Shangnessy hook rigged onto a three-foot link 

 chain. He used a five-foot bamboo rod and a Silver 

 King reel. Dr. Henshall and Mr. A. W. Dimock very 

 early took tarpon in both brackish and fresh waters 

 with a fly on a heavy fly rod. The fish so taken 

 weighed from ten to forty pounds. 



All the sporting periodicals were filled with accounts 

 of tarpon being caught with tackle suited to the in- 

 dividual tastes of the particular angler. Gradually, 

 makers of tackle evolved reels, rods and lines suited 

 to the battle. Fishing began at Texas points and, 

 finally, Tampico became noted for its tarpon fishing. 

 Panama is now coming into its own. In all probability 

 the best place to fish is not yet known. Central Amer- 

 ica may prove to be the Mecca for the lovers of this 

 splendid sport. 



It is unnecessary to recount the progress made by 

 anglers during the years between 1884 and the pres- 

 ent, save to say, that the indiscriminate slaughter of 

 the fish so that photographs of the catch may be ex- 

 hibited is rapidly passing away. They were taken on 

 light tackle many years ago ; but up to the present time 

 the tackle used by most fishermen has not given the 

 fish a fair chance. 



This chapter cannot be closed in a more fitting way 

 than by quoting from Mr. McLaren's article in Field 

 and Stream of July, 1912, describing his capture of the 

 world's record tarpon. 



