52 THETARPON 



We beached the boat and the fish. Our only im- 

 plement of measurement was an oar, said to be 

 eight feet long, which proved to be somewhat 

 longer than my catch. Some bystanders said it 

 was the largest tarpon of the season. Though 

 glowing with my victory, I — ignorant of figure* 

 as to any record — did not have a thought that the 

 fish was exceptional. So I ordered the fish turned 

 back into the river and only when I saw that it 

 was bleeding from a cut in the gills which would 

 mean death by the sharks, did I resolve to keep it. 

 The body was carried to the Southern Hotel and 

 exhibited to the fishing throng. Soon the word 

 went forth that the Tampico record was beaten, 

 and I was the most surprised fisherman of all 

 when Mr. Wilson, British Consul, and holder of 

 the former Tampico record, courteously, but em- 

 phatically, insisted that my fish had won over his. 

 It remained for Field and Stream to inform me 

 that the fish had taken the world's record, so now 

 the records of Tampico and of the world are one, 

 tarponwise, and the fish hangs at Tampico, its 

 own witness. 



"Besides the prizes from Field and Stream, I 

 was presented with a magnificent Leonard No. 

 61/2 Tarpon rod, by Mr. N. M. George, of Danbury, 

 Conn., for my good fortune in exceeding his tarpon 

 record. This generosity and good sportsmanship 

 of Mr. George is greatly appreciated by me, and 

 I am as proud of the rod as I am of the record 

 cup." 



