JUNE 29, I9OI.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
811 
Hall tarpon line stronger and heavier than the No. 27. 
If such there be, I want one, as no hne is too good for 
the silver king. 
A spool containing 600 feet of good tarpon Hne is worth 
$4, but it does not pay to buj' so much, because the ordi- 
nary reel will not hold it, even when it is dry, much less 
Avhen it is wet. I find that I can buy a spool of 900 feet 
of Empire City No. 36 for about $5, thus making two good 
lines at a little more than $2.50 each. A length of 450 feet 
is ample, even after it has been shortened by several 
weeks' u'se. 
For medium-sized fish, a No. 18 or a No. 21 Hall line is 
verj^ satisfactor}^, or a shorter piece — say 300 feet — of 
Empire City No. 36. 
For the small fishing there are many good, light lines, 
but it must not be forgotten that heavier line is needed in 
- salt water than is required in fresh water, for two rea- 
sons, viz. : First, the greater deteriorating efYect of salt 
water; and, second, the greater chance of hooking occa- 
sionally a large fish. 
Soells. 
The ordinary tarpon snell tliat one buys from a tackle 
store consists of a piece of steel wire 4 or 5 feet long with 
a hook at one end and a swivel at the other. This is not 
the proper thing at all. because at least three swivels are 
necessary to prevent the line from untwisting. 
Again, the wire is usually too weak. The general idea 
that to have the wire as strong as the line is sufficient is 
all wrong, because the snell is often put to far greater 
strain than the line could stand. For instance, a taropn is 
often beached by the boatman grasping the end of the 
snell and hauling the fish out on to the sand. Many a 
weak snell has failed under such a condition, thus losing 
the sportsman's well-earned prey. 
What is the best kind of wire to use for snells is still 
an unsettled question. The objections to steel are: ist — ■ 
If it has ever been coiled, it can never be made to stay 
even approximately straight, and a curved snell prevents 
one from striking the hook effectively into the fish, 2d — 
It is liable to kink and then snap off short. 3d — It rusts 
rapidly. 4th — It soon gets very brittle. 
Brass wire has been used by Dr. Howe, and he has 
found it to be satisfactory, but my experience with it has 
been unfortunate, for the roll I bought proved to be too 
■ brittle to twist properly, so I had to take out the temper 
near the end of each length by heating about 3 inches of 
the wire in a gas flame. Several of these snells broke at 
the eye, so I now have four dozen of them to cut up and 
remake with better wire. 
Next time I shall probably try copper, as it will need no 
annealing. I used a copper snell once, and it did not 
fail, although the wire was rather light. 
Some tackle makers insert a short piece of chain be- 
tween the hook and the wire, for the purpose of preventing 
the latter from being broken at the jaw of the fish. The 
idea is not a bad one, but the benefit from the chain is 
not equivalent, to the extra price charged for it — some 20 
or 25 cents per snell. I cannot remember ever having had 
a wire break for want of such a chain. 
■ Hooks. 
Brakes. 
The brakes sold with tarpon reels consist of a piece of 
leather a little narrower than the spool of the reel and 
about ■2[4 inches long, attached to the rear spreading 
bar of the reel in such a manner as to turn on it with con- 
siderable friction. Rubber belting is preferable to ordinary 
leather for this purpose, but the peculiar leather used 
lately on the Ed vom Hofe reels makes the best brake of 
this type. .'Ml of them, however, it is to be hoped, will 
be superseded soon by Pr. Howe's patent brake, which 
acts on the exterior of tlie .spool instead of on the line. 
Pressure on the latter must tend to wear it out. especially 
when, as is occasionally the case, some sand gets into the 
spool, 
There is an additional brake that I always use, consist- 
ing of a strip of rubber belting about an inch wide and 
3 or 4 inches long tied to the rod some 12 or 15 inches 
"above the reel seat. It is' operated by pinching the line be- 
tween it and the guard on the left thumb. It is very use- 
ful in relieving the right thumb from the long-continued 
strain of operating the main brake, and in preventing the 
reel from overrunning when one is attempting to shoot a 
fish. 
Belt. 
V This can be dispensed with entirely when fishing from 
a boat, but when fishing from the shore it is truly essential. 
It should be broad and stiff, and the leather socket should 
be deep. A similar socket to be screwed to the chair 
seat has come into use lately. It ought to prove to be 
quite convenient, but as I have not tried it I cannot in- 
dorse it at present. 
Cushion. 
This should be about 15 inches square and 3 inches 
thick. It should be somewhat pliable, so that the butt of 
the rod can be placed between it and the wooden seat of 
the chair. 
Scales. 
There is a combination scale for weighing both large and 
small fish, and costing ony a dollar and a half. It weighs 
by one set of levers up to 300 pounds, and by another 
set up to 40. While it is all right for heavy fish, I do 
not think it is sufficiently accurate for small ones, so pre- 
. fer to have also an ordinary spring balance, weighing up 
to 50 pounds, and costing not to exceed $2. 
Guards. 
Thumb guards .should be crocheted from coarse cotton 
and finger guards from wool. They should be made large 
enough to go over a glove, and are needed on the left 
hand only. 
I have evolved a combination of finger and thumb 
guards that works very effectively, enabling one to grasp 
the spooled Hne firmly with the tips of the fingers and 
thumb. It consists in running a crocheted string from 
- the lower end of each tip to a point on the back of the hand 
just above the wrist, and from there running two other 
crocheted strings to tie around the wrist in front. This 
prevents the tips from working ofif during the struggle. 
There is no really good tarpon hook in existence; some 
are better than others, but they are all bad, being lacking 
in strength, rigidity and toughness. The least objection- 
able kind is the latest pattern of the Van Vleck hook, but 
even these hooks fail continually by snapping off short or 
by corkscrewing. I have had as many as three broken 
or spoiled in a single forenoon. 
There seems to be prevalent an incorrect idea that it is 
essential to keep down the amount of metal in the hook for 
fear of frightening the tarpon. My experience with that 
fish leads me to believe that it does not give a blank for 
anybody or anything. If a tarpon wants the bait, it will 
take it almost regardless of all condiitons, while at times 
nothing will induce the fish even to look at it. Some 
fishermen contend that the snell should be of very fine 
wire, so as to be nearly invisible, while, on the other hand 
in Florida they still-fish with leather snells a quarter of an 
inch square and with pieces of strong rope of fully that 
diameter. 
The hook manufacturers ought to make some experi- 
mental hooks of about the ordinary size, but of tnuch 
greater strength, and have sportsmen give them a thor- 
ough test. I feel confident that they would prove satis- 
factory, if made of the proper material, 
Swivek, 
The best swivels to use are the large size, bronze, barrel 
swivels. I have never known one to break or to bind 
because of the action of the salt water on the metal, while 
on several occasions brass swivels have failed me by 
breaking, and I have often seen them refuse to operate. 
The bronze barrel swivels cost 6 cents each, which prob- 
ably represent a profit of several hundred per cent. 
Gaff. 
A gaff hook of polished steel with screw end. mounted 
on a good ash handle, about feet long, can be 
bought for $5 or less. It should have no barb, not onty be- 
cause it is unnecessary, but also because of the great 
tendency for it to break off. Portions of the handle 
should be wrapped with strong, coarse twine so as to give 
a firm grip for the hands; 
Sfokers. 
Lead sinkers shotild weigh from one ounce down. For 
tarpon fishing, they shottld alwa3^s be detachable, for a 
reason that will be explained in my next paper, which will 
treat of "how to fish." 
An easy way to make them detachable is to fasten them 
to the snell by two or three turns of fine copper wire. 
Hollow cylinders of lead made for fish nets are excellent 
for this purpose, being of about the right weight and 
convenient for attaching the wire. 
Floats. 
These are not often necessary, but in some places they 
are essential, so one should be prov-ided with them. The 
easiest way to make one is to tie some old tarpon line 
finnly around a piece of cork about 2 inches square and 
3' or 4 inches long, leaving the ends of the line hanging for 
3 or 4 inches so as to tie onto the snell by me^ns of a 
|9W HH''!^? in Pf^^?* that it m^y be untied x^9,i\ly, ' '' ' ' 
Boatman's Outfit. 
The necessity for two pairs of oars and row locks is not 
only to have spare ones in case of a break down, but also 
to enable the fishermen to aid the oarsman when he cannot 
make headway against wind and tide. 
The object of the anchor is to ease up on the oarsman 
when there is a strong tide running. The rope should 
be attached to a buoy in the boat, so that when a fish 
strikes, the buoy can be thrown overboard quickly, other- 
Avise the fish might get out too much line before the anchor 
could be taken in. A fixed buoy in the streain, having an 
eye on it to run a line through, would serve the same 
purpose, but the movable anchor is better, as with it the 
position of the boat can be changed at will. 
The chair should be a stout wooden one, having a 
back (but no arms) and a thick seat. It should be 
lashed very firmly to the boat so that it will not give in 
the slightest degree when the latter rocks. 
A sail is useful sometimes in going from one place to 
another, but should never be employed when fishing. 
The subject of bait will be taken up in the next paper. 
Clothing, Etc. 
A comfortable hat that will not blow off is a sine qua 
■noil for tarpon fishing, as is also a rubber coat or poncho. 
A hunting coat is preferable to any other coat because 
of its numerous pockets, in which can be stowed almost all 
the tackle one needs to take in the boat. 
Overalls are better than old pantaloons, because they can 
be washed. 
Undershirts should always have long sleeves that will 
come down well over the wrists in order to protect the 
latter from sunburn. 
Hip boots are useful if the shore is muddy, besides they 
can be worn with a rubber coat on a rainy day, so as to 
keep the fisherman perfectly dry and comfortable. 
Gloves are truly a necessitj'. not only as a protection 
against sunburn, but also to prevent the hands from being 
skinned by the slipping of the reel handle. 
If this list of tackle and outfit is not complete, I hope 
that some of the readers of Forest and Stream will make 
it so, and if any one knows of any better tackle than that 
which I have described* he would do his brother sportsmen 
a good turn by telling what it is and where to get it, as 
well as its approximate cost. 
Many readers will conclude that tarpon fishing requires 
too much apparatus. So thought a small boy at a railway 
station near Tampico last winter, who, seeing my com- 
panion and mj-self struggling with our burden of rods, 
gaffs, etc., and having with us only one fish (we had saved 
for ourselves but one out of the total catch), remarked, 
"What! All that stuff to catch one fish?" 
Certainly,- one can do without a great many of the things 
that I have mentioned herein, but to get the best possible 
results and to enjoy the sport to the utmost, he will sooner 
or later require them all. 
And now a word of warning to^ the would-be purchaser 
of tarpon tackle. Don't rely on the judgment and ex- 
perience of the tackle dealer or let him choose what you 
need, for some dealers will be pretty sure to foist upon 
you lot q| \vort;hle§§ stuff Xh^t the^ h^ve on ks,vf^ a,;^^ 
could not sell" to any one who knows anything about up-to- 
date tarpon fishing. On this subject I certainly know 
whereof I speak, for not only I myself but also several 
of my friends have been caught in that way. Specify 
clearly each article that you want to buy, its make and 
character, and let the dealer understand that you will 
accept nothing else. • « 
In conclusion I want to impress upon my readers the 
importance of these three statements : Tarpon fishing is a 
man's game, and requires man's tools; no tackle is too 
good for tarpon fishing, and but little is good enough ; 
and the idea of using very light tackle to give the fish a 
chance is a fallacy, because the chances are always in 
favor of the fish and against the fisherman. 
J. A. L. Waddell. 
The Salmon Fishing: Excursion. 
The' salmon fishing excursion projected by the St. Law- 
rence Steamship Co. has been abandoned. The reason 
for giving up the trip was that the number of those apply- 
ing for passage was insufficient to permit the scheme being 
put through. 
Mt. Geofgfe's Tarpon* 
The 2r3-pound tarpon killed by Mr. N. M. George, of 
Danbury, Conn., is now on exhibition at the store of 
Messrs. Wm. Mills & Son, No. 21 Park .plaee, this city. 
Fixiures. 
Sept. 2-5.— Toronto, Can.— Dog show of the Toronto Industrial. 
E.xhibition. W. P. Fraser, Sec'y. and Supt. 
Indttstfial Exhibition Association. 
Toronto, Ont., June 21. — The following is a Hst of 
judges who will officiate at the coming bench show of the 
Industrial Exhibition Association, Toronto, the dates of 
which are Sept. 2. 3, 4, and 5.. 
Toronto immediately follows Buffalo, which is only a 
journey of three hours, and special arrairgements are 
being inade for throtigh cars at greatly reduced rates for 
exhibitors. 
The prize list, which has always been a most liberal 
one at Toronto, with the small entry fee of $2, will be on 
much the same lines as last year, and will be ready for 
distribution in a' few days. 
The judges are : 
St. Bernards, Mr. J. S. Williams, Toronto. 
Mastiffs, bloodhounds. Great Danes and dachshunds, 
Prof. Wesley Mills, Montreal. 
Russian wolfhounds, deerhounds, greyhounds, pointers, 
setters. Chesapeake Bay dogs and miscellaneous classes, 
Mr. John Davidson, Monroe, Mich. 
Foxhounds, dogue de Bordeaux, poodles, beagles and all 
terriers except Yorkshire terriers, Mr. James' Mortimer, 
Hempstead. (L. I.), N. Y. 
All spaniels, pugs, Pomeranians and Yorkshire terriers, 
Mr. E. M. Oldham, New York. 
Collies and Old EngHsh sheep dogs, Mr. Robt. McEwen, 
Byron, Ont. 
Bulldogs, Mr. Tyler Morse, Danvers. Mass. 
W. P. Eraser, Sec'y Dog Show. 
Notice. 
All communications intended for Forest and Stxeak should 
•Iways be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., and 
not to any individual connected with the paper. 
Yachting Fixtures, 1901. 
Secretaries and members of race committees will confer a favor 
by sending notice of errors or omissions in the following list and 
also of changes which may be made in the future. 
JUNE. 
26. East Gloucester, evening race, Gloucester, Mass. 
27. Indian Harbor, special, Greenwich, Conn. 
27-28. Seawanhaka Corinthian, special. Oyster Bay, L. I, Sound. 
29. Boston, City Point, Boston Harbor. 
22. Savin Hill, open, Boston Harbor. 
29. Hull-Massachusetts, club, Hull, Mass. 
29. Atlantic, annual, Sea Gate, New York Bay. 
29. Burgess, Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay. 
29. Winthrop, class handicap, Winthrop, Mass. 
29. New Yorii, cup defender class, Newport. 
29. Seawanhaka Corinthian, annual race for Leland challenge cup 
, for raceabouts, Oyster Bay, Long Island Sound. 
JULY. 
1. New York, cup defender class, Newport. 
2, 4, 6. Newport, Y. R. A., cup defender class, Newport. . 
2. Indian Harbor, Greenwich, Long Island Sound. 
3. Columbia, City Point, Boston Harbor. 
3. East Gloucester, evening race, Gloucester, Mass. 
3- 8. Brooklyn C. C., cruise, Gravesend Bay. 
4. Beverly, open sweepstake. Monument Beach. 
4. Shelter Island, club regatta. 
4. DuxburVj club race, Duxbury, Mass. 
4. Boston City, City Pomt, Boston Harbor. 
4. Corinthian, second club championship, Marblehead, Mass. Bay. 
4. East Gloucester, open, Gloucester, Mass. 
4. Gravesend Bay Y. R. A., first open regatta, Gravesend Bay, 
4 Annisquam, open, Ipswich Bay, Mass. 
4. Larchmont, annual regatta and schooner races for Colt cup, 
Larchmont, Long Island Sound. 
4. Hartford, annual, Saybrook, Long Island Sound. 
4. Seawanhaka Corinthian, club, Oyster Bav, Long Island Sound. 
4. Pavonia, Mclnnis cup, Bayonne, New York Bay. 
4. Canarsie, parade, Canarsie, Jamaica Bay. 
4. Penataquit Corinthian, annual, Bay Shore, L. I. 
4. Columbia, Chicago, Lake Michigan. 
4. Burgess, Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay. 
4- 5. Lake Michigan. Y. R. A., Lake Michigan. 
4- 7. Biloxi, club, Biloxi, Miss. 
4. Coliasset, knockabout championship and handicaj) races, Co- 
liassel, Mass. 
J. Ouincy, handicap. Ouincy. Mass. 
5- lir Atlantic, cruise, Sea Gate, New York Bay. 
6. Shinnecock Bay, club. Shinnecock Bay. 
6. Hull-Massachusetts, club, Hull, Mass. 
6. Winthrop, special handicap, Winthrop, Mass. 
6, Mosquito Fleet, Citj; Point, Boston Harbor, 
6. Riverside, annual, Riverside, Long Island Sound,< 
