Marvels of the Universe 



477 



such acrobatic feats are performed no one seems 

 able to sax, at any rate when these are what we 

 may call spontaneous movements ; for similar 

 agility is displayed when desperate efforts are 

 being made to break the line or dislodge the hook 

 of an all-too-successful angler, and often with 

 success, for the inside of the mouth of the Tarpon 

 is almost " armour-plated." 



To reallj- appreciate what these leaps mean, 

 it must be remembered that a Tarpon may 

 measure some seven feet in length and exceed 

 two hundred pounds in weight. The careful 

 angler is never in a hurry to strike when Tarpon 

 fishing ; hurrv^ is fatal to success, but it requires 

 considerable experience and self-control not to 

 strike the moment the bait is taken. If the lure 

 is to achieve its purpose it must be gorged. 

 There are exciting moments while this is being 

 done, but they become much more so when the 

 \actim suddenly realizes that something is 

 checking his freedom of action. Then, with a 

 mighty rush he makes for the surface and leaps 

 six feet or more into the air. At the downward 

 plunge he races on at a furious speed till checked 

 by the Une. Then follow more leaps and more 

 wild rushes, till after an hour, perhaps, or more, 

 resistance fails and the gallant fish is slowly 

 drawn to the side of the boat and gaffed. The 

 seine fishermen in Florida ha\-e a wholesome 

 dread of the Tarpon. For, while dragging their 

 nets, as in the Pensacola and Homosassa rivers, 

 one of these giants is not infrequently caught. 

 Then trouble in real earnest begins, for one or 

 more of the unwilling captors have before now 

 been seriously injured, and even killed, by the 

 tremendous leaps which the enraged captive 

 indulges in, in order to make his escape. If the 

 men escape, the nets are ruined. Occasionally, 

 however, and much to the relief of all concerned, 

 the enclosed monster leaps clear over the edge of 

 the net. 



But though regarded as one of the greatest 

 of game-fishes, no one used to eat Tarpon. The 

 fishing was purely for sport, and all that was 

 saved from the carcase was the scales, which are 

 of huge size, measuring about four inches across. 

 They find a ready sale in the curiosity-shops in 

 Florida, while the rest of the body was either 

 eaten by vultures or used for manure for the 



I'/inIn I,:!] [J. .1. Dimock. 



In angling for this giant the expert endeavours to gorge 

 nis victim, and does not strike the moment the bait is talien, — 



Pholo bii] [./. A. IJlmock. 



— for if the Tarpon realizes that something is checking his 

 freedom he plunges and leaps frantically until exhausted 

 with the unequal struggle. 



