FISHES OF THE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 165 



were few and far between, and B. reclined backwards on the stern 

 sheets of the boat holding the line between his finger and thumb. 

 One of these fish seized his bait and started off, and before he could 

 clear his finger from the line it was cut to the bone. During the 

 summer it is common to meet amateur fishermen on our streets, 

 ?,nd they will exhibit their scarred fingers and laughingly reply 

 "I hooked him but he left." 



For vaulting exploits tarpon cannot be equalled by anjthing in- 

 habiting ocean or river. Among the colored people in the neighbor- 

 hood of Trout creek they have the reputation of throwing sinkers 

 at the fishermen, and when one of these gentry is fishing for channel 

 bass, and hooks a tarpon, he reclines on the boat seat, and permits 

 the silver king to vault and rush unmolested. The lead-throwing 

 notion is the result of the jumping proclivities of this fish. Several 

 years since, a representative of the colored persuasion hooked a large 

 one, and attempted to land him by "Scotch navigation." When the 

 fish neared the boat, he went through one of his aeri.al performances, 

 and his head was high above the boat. The darkey kept a taut line; 

 the hook tore out; the traction of the fisherman caused the sinker to 

 come in-board, and the darkey's pate came in contact with a heavy 

 piece of lead. From information obtained I have reason to believe 

 that in the southern portions of the State these fish vault in the air, 

 when they are in a frolicsome mood; but in all my wanderings in 

 that portion of the State I never witnessed the performance, but 

 have frequently seen them break water like a bluefish. 



The capture of a tarpon with a hook and line is a difficult under- 

 taking. Every summer many are hooked, but few are landed. Dur- 

 ing the past season in this section but five have been captured, the 

 smallest weighing 125 and the largest 198 pounds, or an average of 

 147 pounds. We frequently read of the excitement attending the 

 capture of a bronze backer or a speckled beauty, but those who give 

 their experiences should hitch on to a tarpon, and they would dis- 

 cover " music in the air " worth recording ; for the capture of a sil- 

 ver king is a bright spot in a fisherman's existence, and a fact worth 

 referring to at a camp-fire. 



The other day my friend Dr. Q. informed me that during one 



