May 14, 1910.] 
781 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Tarpon Fishing. 
Clearwater, Fla., April 22. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: As you invite communications on the 
subjects to which the pages of your magazine 
are devoted, I am taking the liberty of some 
comment on the tournament to be held March 1- 
Dec. 1, at Tarpon, Texas. 
I quote from your magazine of April 9: “The 
Aransas Pass Tarpon Club has been organized 
for the purpose of encouraging light tackle in 
taking tarpon in the waters of Aransas Pass for 
the protection of the tarpon and in the interests 
of a higher standard of sport.” 
Among the prizes offered in this tournament 
is the Jesse H. Jones cup. “For the most tarpon 
taken in any one day for three consecutive sea¬ 
sons. The three anglers taking the most tarpon 
as above during this period to compete for cup 
during the fourth season (1913) and the angler 
taking the most tarpon during any one day of 
this season to win the cup.” 
There is a foot note to the effect that “fish 
brought to gaff and released will be credited to 
angler.” 
There is no provision which compels an ang¬ 
ler to release, ungaffed, fish taken in this contest, 
and the reasonable presumption is that with so 
light a line, fishermen will make use of the gaff. 
The Aransas Pass Tarpon Club is, therefore, on 
record as encouraging as large catches as pos¬ 
sible, and most of these fish will not be returned 
to the water alive. Would it not be more sports¬ 
manlike to eliminate this, feature? 
The stipulations in regard to tackle seem well 
taken as far as they go, since these stipulations 
prescribe definite limits. Whereas, it could not 
make any practical difference whether the “tie 
back” were one foot or three, nor the leader 
four feet or eight, a prescribed limit forestalls 
wrangling and prevents an unfair angler from 
violating the intention of the club. If such a 
fisherman doubled back a hundred feet it would 
make a difference. 
On the question of length of butt it is just as 
well to limit it to eighteen inches, though a butt 
beyond that length is of no advantage where the 
length and weight of the tip are specified, par¬ 
ticularly if the tip be light. 
These limitations all indicate a technical knowl¬ 
edge of most of the conditions to be definitely 
settled. It is a matter of regret, however, that 
no mention was made by the Aransas Club of 
the friction or “drag” brake. On the subject of 
the friction brake this may be said: It elimi¬ 
nates what little skill there is in handling a tar¬ 
pon rod and reel. It does away with a great 
part of the physical strain, and certain patents 
make an overrun impossible. Once securely 
hooked, the fish has practically no chance what¬ 
ever, and with this brake a child may take tarpon 
without great fatigue. Some judgment and physi¬ 
cal endurance are the requirements of successful 
tarpon fishing. The drag brake makes these 
modest requirements unnecessary. 
Sportsmanship should prompt the hunter or 
the angler to give the hunted thing some chance. 
It is the essence of sport that the result be in 
as great doubt as possible, and the tarpon has a 
considerably better chance for its life when the 
friction brake is not used. 
It is possible that the Aransas Pass Tarpon 
Club does not permit the use of the drag brake, 
but if such is allowed, I desire under my per¬ 
sonal conception of sportsmanship to protest. 
The line and tip prescribed by this club are 
very light, lighter than we fishermen of the Flor¬ 
ida coast could use with even tolerable success. 
Sharks would get most of the fish. Our position 
is that the lightest possible tackle should be used, 
but an impracticable extreme in one direction 
and insufficient limitation in another do not 
necessarily balance the books. We do not be¬ 
lieve in the friction drag because it is too easy, 
and because it is unfair to the fish. We use an 
“open” reel and go as far as possible in the 
direction of light tackle. 
The tarpon is one of the greatest of game 
fish, light or heavy. Its speed is a revelation; 
its leaping unparalleled—none like it except the 
swordfish—and it fights to the last stage of ex¬ 
haustion. It deserves and should receive sports¬ 
manlike treatment. 
There is an element of commercialism which 
trout fly-casting for distance with five-ounce 
rods; classes, 70 feet, 85 feet and open. At 4 
o’clock, dry-fly casting for accuracy with five- 
ounce rods. At $ o’clock, dry-fly casting for 
distance with five-ounce rods. 
Saturday at 9 o’clock there will be bait-cast¬ 
ing for distance with half-ounce weights; classes, 
125 feet, 175 feet and open. 
Surf-casting will be held at 11 o’clock. 
Weights, 2 x / 2 ounces, lines required to lift 12 
pounds; classes, 200 feet and open. 
Half-ounce accuracy bait-casting at 2 o’clock. 
The final event will be distance fly-casting 
with heavy rods; classes, 70 and 85 feet and 
open. 
Several prizes are to be given in each event. 
In the bait events the average of five casts will 
count. In the dry-fly distance event, which is 
new, the best cast in five will be scored, the time 
limit to be five minutes. 
“Good gracious, boy! that’s a good catch.” 
“This ain’t a catch; this is the bait.”—Opinion. 
North Shore Casting Club. 
Chicago, Ill., May 3 .— Editor Forest and 
Stream: Owing to the unfavorable conditions 
of the weather it was decided by a vote of the 
club at the meeting Saturday night to declare 
the event held that afternoon (April 30) no 
contest. Members may cast the event at any 
regular half-ounce contest during the season by 
notifying the captain just previous to such con¬ 
test. Not more than one re-entry will be allowed 
on one day. 
The following scores were made: 
Geo. A. Hinterleitner. 98 2 
I. H. Bellows. 97 9 
F. E. Adams. 97 7 
Geo. Unkefer . 92 8 
Dr. A. M. Hall. 88 1 
T. A. Forsyth. 97 9 
Chas. Meick . 93 8 
R. E. Anderson. 95 9 
S. Cramer . 98 4 
W. I. Marshall.. . 97 2 
W Liddell . 95 5 
Visitors: 
Mr. Ball .98 7 
Mr. Ranney .93 8 
R H Burns.. 97 1 
E E Martin. 84 4 
Dr. C. A. Dorchester. 86 2 
Leonard Goodwin ... 89 8 
L. J. Closman. 97 4 
C. W. Bradley. 97 3 
N. C. Christman. 89 4 
C. R. Harris. 89 8 
E. L. Mason. 97 2 
E. M. Erckenbrock.. 88 5 
O. J. Waters. 92 3 
Mr. Woehle . 97 8 
Mr. Naylor . 97 9 
Conditions considered, these scores are very 
good indeed and the number of entries very en¬ 
couraging. We are particularly grateful to our 
visiting brothers for the interest shown. 
The next contest will be held May 14 and is 
quarter-ounce. 
Sterling Cramer, Sec’y-Treas. 
seems to creep into some clubs. Clean sports¬ 
manship promotes itself. It does not require a 
promoter; no more than do fishing tackle houses 
of established reputation. Give the best of qual¬ 
ity, advertise legitimately, and every concern 
manufacturing and selling fishing tackle will get 
its pro rata share of patronage. 
E. L. Pearce. 
Anglers’ Club Tournament. 
The Anglers’ Club of New York is holding its 
fifth annual fly- and bait-casting tournament in 
Central Park this week. Nine events will be 
cast off on the large lake near Seventy-second 
street and Central Park West. 
The events for Thursday, May 12, at 2 o’clock, 
are: Bait-casting with quarter-ounce weights 
for distance, average of five casts to count; 
classes, 125 feet and open. At 4 p. m., bait¬ 
casting for accuracy with quarter-ounce weights. 
Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock there will be 
The Bream. 
I had a bream which was not all a bream, 
Although the legend written on the case 
Declared it one; and further that it weighed— 
This Broxbourne monster-eleven solid pounds. 
Men came and wondered, doubted and passed on. 
Some said it was a carp, while one remarked, 
’Twas very like a whale; but what cared I? 
The time would come, and come with it would truth 
The time would come, and come with it would truth. 
A change came o’er the spirit of the bream. 
At exhibitions and at fishing clubs 
I showed this giant tin-plate of the Lea; 
And medals—gold and silver—were bestowed, 
So that my name grew famous in the land; 
And gray-haired men from many a river came 
To do me homage—Witham, Trent and Ouse— 
And gaze with hands uplifted at the fish. 
A change came o’er the aspect of the bream. 
Green spots appeared upon its silvery side. 
And in its round, unlidded eye appeared 
A dulness born of gazing on the world. 
Years came and went, springtime and summer, 
Autumn and chill winter, and still I kept 
This wondrous Daniel Lambert of the Lea. 
At last came one well skilled in finny lore. 
Who gazed on it with eyes incredulous, 
And ere my hand could stay him. tore it down 
And cast it at my feet; then was revealed 
The truth—’twas only painted canvas; 
And he—the world shall know his name—was 
Dragnet. 
—Fishing Gazette. 
