68 THETARPON 



get attuned to the surroundings and be able to do 

 his best until several days of fishing have elapsed. 



Viscount Grey in his book on "Fly Fishing" de- 

 scribes the qualities which a man must possess to be- 

 come a good angler: 



"He must in the first place, have enough 

 strength and aptitude of body to enable him to do 

 a fairly hard day's work and manage both a rod 

 and a fish cleverly, though he will not require the 

 same exceeding quickness of limb, accuracy of eye 

 and strength, which are necessary to the greatest 

 success in the finest games. Quickness and deli- 

 cacy of touch, and a certain power of managing a 

 rod and line, akin to that individual cleverness or 

 genius which men show in the use of tools or in- 

 struments with which they are experts, are neces- 

 sary to success in angling." 

 Every word of this is true and applicable to tarpon 

 fishing. One needs delicacy of touch to fish deep and 

 yet keep off the bottom and to respond instantly to a 

 strike. One should be in fair physical condition to 

 withstand the severe exertions which a good day's 

 fishing entails. 



After these very general observations I should say a 

 few words about the guide. He should be carefully 

 selected and his instructions implicitly followed, for, 

 in all probability, he is well versed in the best methods 

 of fishing in local waters. His judgment has been 

 educated by much personal experience and observation. 

 So heed what he says and do not mistrust his ability 

 because other boats may happen to capture the most 



