JULY, 1920 
FOREST AND STREAM 
407 
and Cuban rum were drunk in seven 
languages, but with moderation, it was 
productive of no unseemly conduct, 
though as a matter of fact soft drinks 
seemed to be the favorite tipple. 
The very air of Key West was redo- 
lent of fish and sponge, comingled with 
the tang of the salt sea breeze. Every 
one in Key West eats fish; it is the staple 
diet of the inhabitants, while, yellow or 
black, and the fish are fresh, delicious 
and of pleasing variety. A number of 
small sloops, known as “smackees,” de- 
part daily for the coraline reefs, where 
the fish are caught with hook and line. 
The bait is the sea-crawfish, as large as 
a lobster, which is cut into small and 
suitable pieces. I have been out with 
the fishermen many times, when it was 
my pleasure and good fortune to fish or 
cut bait with the best of them ; and many 
rare species I have collected in this man- 
ner. This fishing is still carried on in 
the same old way. 
Each vessel has a well in the center 
which ^communicates with the outside 
water, and in this way the fish are kept 
alive until sold. The fish are of many 
varieties and species, and are of many 
and diversified colors, the butterflies of 
the sea. They are mostly panfish, and 
many are very odd and even grotesque 
in appearance, while their names are 
descriptive if not euphonious, and are 
mostly of Bahaman origin. In addition 
to the many snappers, groupers, hinds, 
porgies and grunts, there are John Paw, 
Tom Tate, Slippery Dick, mutton-fish, 
pork-fish, angel-fish, moon-fish, nigger- 
fish, parrot-fish, pudding wife, yellow- 
tail, turbot, scamp, gag, coney and many 
others; but the favorite breakfast fish 
is the grunt, and no Key Wester is happy 
unless he begins the day with fried 
grunts. 
Late in the afternoon it was the cus- 
tom of the people to repair to the fish 
wharf and select such fish as they re- 
quired for the next day. The fish were 
taken from the wells, killed and dressed, 
and several strung on a strip of palm 
leaf and sold for ten cents, grunts being 
always included. All other provisions, 
such as meat, poultry, vegetables and 
fruit were brought from the mainland, as 
nothing of the kind was grown on the 
rocky soil. These products were invaria- 
bly sold at auction every morning. 
During the Chicago World’s Fair a 
gentleman and his wife and daughter, 
whom I had known in Key West, visited 
the great exposition. The daughter had 
never before been away from her island 
home, having been educated at the con- 
vent in Key West. On one of the nights 
set apart for an illumination and a pyro- 
technic display I took them to the tower 
of the Fisheries Building to get a com- 
prehensive view of the magnificent spec- 
tacle. The Court of Honor was illumi- 
nated in a gorgeous galaxy of color, the 
electric fountains spouted jets and 
streams of water tinted with all the pris- 
matic colors, the eaves of all the great 
buildings of the White City were outlined 
with thousands of electric lights, while 
the battlements and towers were ablaze 
with flaming torches, and far out on Lake 
Michigan was an unsurpassed exhibition 
When you send 
for a Joe Welsh 
Leader remem- 
ber you get a true 
Scotch Product, 
made by Wm. 
Robertson, Glasgow, Scotland. 
Japanese imitations “go to pieces” — the 
Joe Welsh never. 
No Fish too Large 
For Fresh or Salt Water 
Hurry — Get a sample before you go fishing. 
3 ft. 25c — 6 ft. 50c — 9 ft. 75c. Add 50c 
evil Darning Needle. 
JOE WELSH 
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 
Exclusive Agent 
Jnited States and Canada 
BOOK OF THE 
Small Mouthed Bass 
By Prof. W. J. Loudon 
Inch For Inch, Pound For Pound 
The Gamest Fish That Swims 
Every Angler Should Secure 
A Copy of this Great Book 
Based on many years observation and 
study of both small and large mouthed 
bass. This work describes in full detail 
the life and hahits of this ever game fish. 
It tells where, when and how to catch 
them. The bait and tackle to be used — 
as well as how to keep and cook them. 
Cloth Bound, price $1.00. Delivered any- 
where in the United States or Canada. 
A Special Free Gift — Subscribe now for 
Forest and Stream at the regular yearly 
rate of $2.00 and we’ll mail you a copy 
of Professor Loudon’s Small Mouthed Bass, 
without any additional cost. 
FOREST & STREAM 
9 East 40th St., New York City, N. Y. 
Time’s here 
fvzit Boo* 
BUCK T A I L 
after the fightin* ones 
In going after the “big ones” — the gamey fightin’ fellows that 
“strike” with a drive and dash, which nearly unseats you • — go 
with tackle that has a reputation for getting the "big ones.” Go 
equipped with 
SOUTH BEND 
QUALITY TACKLE 
To get the genuine thrill and keen joy which bait-casting gives, your equip- 
ment should include the new South Bend Level- Winding Anti-Back-Lash Reel. 
This is the reel, which makes every cast perfect— which needs no thumbing— 
which automatically winds your line even and level upon reeling in. It’s the 
reel for beginners; experienced anglers highly recommend it, while for women 
anglers, it is the most practical reel made. 
The Surf-Oreno— shown here, comes in regular sizes 3% inches and Midget size 
2% inches. It is a surface minnow which rides high in the water — it’s spin- 
ners creating a swirling and churning motion, most alluring to the ''big" game- 
fish. Made in 13 colors. 
The Weedless Spinner Back-tail can be used in the thickest of weeds, docks or 
lily pads. Is a most effective lure, especially when used with pork rind. 
The Fuzzy Body Buck-tail Spinner is a rough body fly used in casting for 
gamey small mouths. 
Get “The Days of Real Sport “ — FREE 
‘‘The Days of Real Sport" illustrated by Briggs the cartoonist, gives proven and valuable angl- 
ing hints. Shows in color our complete line of hundreds of baits and lures. A postal brings it 
All live sporting goods dealers sell South Bend Tackle. Demand it in golden-rod 
yellow boxes bearing the below trade-mark. 
SOUTH BEND BAIT CO. 
10292 Hijgfh St. South Bend. Ind. 
and get a Blue [ 
