NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 
207 
THE GAME-FISHES OF FLORIDA. 
The fame of the game-fishes of the State of Florida extends throughout America, 
and beyond. Wherever there are anglers and rod and gun clubs, the prowess of 
the “silver king” is known and talked about. The one great hope of every angler 
is that he may go to Florida and kill a tarpon before his fishing days are over. But 
while the tarpon or silver king is the king of the game-fishes of this State, it is by 
no means the only game fish. Some of the largest black bass known have been 
caught iu Florida waters. The sunfishes are the largest of their kind. The ladyfish 
and the bonefish are thought by many to equal their relative, the tarpon, in real game 
qualities. Trolliug for kingfish, jack, crevalle, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and spotted 
sea trout, at Indian River, Lake Worth, Key West, or Biscayne Bay, furnishes sport 
of the most exciting kind; while still fishing for sheepshead and mangrove snappers 
at Indian River Inlet; for chubs, porgies, porkfish, yellow- tails, snappers, and grunts 
at Key West; or for red snappers, red groupers, and others of their kin on the 
Snapper Banks, furnishes sufficient variety to please any angler, in whatever mood he 
may chance to be. I have fished in every State and Territory in the Union but three, 
and from Siberia and Bering Sea to the gulfs of California and Mexico, and, all things 
considered, regard Florida as unequaled in the richness and variety of its attractions 
for all sorts of sport with rod and reel. 
THE NECESSITY OF A BIOLOGICAL STATION IN FLORIDA. 
The only station for biological research on the coast of the United States which 
receives Government support is that at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. While it has 
never received the support which it should, and has never been fully equipped, it 
has nevertheless been one of the most important centers for biological study in this 
country. The location is iu many regards admirable. In addition to a rich local 
fauna and flora, many forms of marine animal and plant life are brought there by the 
Gulf Stream, thereby greatly increasing the variety of life in that vicinity. But 
the station is kept open only for a few months during the summer, the winters being 
too severe for satisfactory work. 
The ideal marine biological station must be located at some point not only 
where the local fauna and flora are rich both in species and individuals, but where 
the climatic conditions will permit investigations and observations to be carried on 
throughout the year. The region should also be one in which are found in abundance 
many of the species of animals and plants which are of special interest to biologists, 
those the study of whose development and life-history will add greatly to our knowledge 
of the relationships of the larger groups. 
There is no other place on our coast where these conditions are so fully met as on 
the southern coast of Florida. The climatic conditions are all that could be desired. 
Investigations could be carried on throughout the year. The waters fairly teem with 
hundreds of species of fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, corals, sponges, 
marine algae, and many other groups, while the abundance of individuals of many of 
the species is marvelous; and, what is of prime importance, many of the species are 
permanently resident and can be observed and collected at any time throughout the 
year, thus enabling the investigator to make a study of the complete life-history of 
the species. 
