May 6. 191 t . ] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
715 
TARPON AT TAMPICO MEXICO. 
The fame of the Tampico tarpon fishing 
grounds seems to have spread to remote parts 
of the world, and it attracts hundreds of sports¬ 
men to this place during the season. At one 
time recently nine foreign private yachts were 
anchored in the harbor, each of the vessels con¬ 
taining a party of sportsmen. 
Most of the yachts came from England; two 
were from New York and one from Germany. 
In the English parties were men and women of 
title. It was said by the English owner of one 
of the yachts that he spent nine months out of 
each year visiting remote parts of the world; 
that he made journeys of many thousands of 
miles over the seas to try his hand at various 
kinds of fishing and big game hunting. From 
Tampico he and his party of friends went to 
Vera Cruz, and from there they will proceed to 
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec for tiger hunting. 
The early spring will find them fishing off the 
coast of South America. 
It is only within the last few years that the 
Tampico fishing grounds have become well 
known. The establishment of a deep water har¬ 
bor at Tampico took place not so very many 
years ago and previous to that time the town 
was little known to the outside world. 
The ship captains and crews who came to 
Tampico carried to various foreign ports the 
news of the wonderful fishing that was to be 
had here, and visitors began to come to 
Tampico for the purpose of enjoying a season 
of the sport. Each winter the number of 
visitors has increased until there are now so 
many of them that the hotels are filled to over¬ 
flowing. 
The chief fishing for tarpon and other deep 
water fish is done in the Panueo River, the 
grounds where the best catches are made ex¬ 
tending from the mouth of that stream to a 
point about three miles above Tampico, mak¬ 
ing a total distance of about nine miles. The 
river is broad and ranges in depth from forty 
to sixty feet. Owing to the salt water which 
comes in from the gulf water of the Panueo 
for some distance from its mouth is the home 
and . playground of myriads of gamy fish, the 
leaping tarpon leading this class. 
It is in the Panueo River that the deep water 
harbor is situated. The wharves and custom 
house are immediately in front of the city. 
Within five minutes’ walk from the hotels the 
sportsman may step into a gasolene launch or 
rowboat and in another five minutes begin 
trolling for tarpon. 
The fisherman does not even have to worry 
about the arrangements for his outing. If he 
leaves word with the hotel man the night before 
he will find everything ready for him when he 
starts out early the following morning. A boat¬ 
man is on hand to carry his tackle and lunch, 
which have been supplied by the hotel; the 
bucket of mullet bait is in the boat, and all the 
fisherman has to do is to take a comfortable 
seat, grasp a handle of the 34-ounce rod, reel 
out 50 yards or so of line and wait for the 
tarpon to take the bait.’ 
As a usual thing the fisherman does not en¬ 
joy his ease long after he has set his hook and 
bait afloat. The boatman pulls the little craft 
slowly along. Suddenly the line becomes taut 
and just as the fisherman takes a firmer grip 
upon the rod high out of the water jumps the 
tarpon. Its silvery sides glisten in the tropical 
sun; it gives its head a twist and its symmetrical 
tail a flirt in an effort to loosen the hook from 
its mouth and then drops back into the water. 
This first leap of the tarpon is the most criti¬ 
cal moment for the fisherman. The chances are 
about even that the giant fish will throw out 
the hook in this first effort to free itself. If it 
fails to do so and the wielder of the rod suc¬ 
ceeds in keeping the line taut without pulling on 
it too strongly the prospects are favorable for 
eventually landing the tarpon. 
These fish range in size from 4 to 6'/ 2 feet. If 
one smaller than four feet is caught it is re¬ 
placed in the water. The first hooking of the 
fish, particularly when it is of unusually large 
size, marks the beginning of a desperate 
struggle between the sportsman and his victim. 
The PARKER GUN Again a Winner! 
On January 11-13, 1911, The “OLD RELIABLE" 
PARKER GUN, shot by Howard D. Bates, of 
Ridgetown, Ont., again won the Grand Canadian 
Handicap at live birds, killing 25 straight and 9 in the 
shoot-off, from the limit distance of 31 yds. Mr. Bates 
shot at 54 birds during the tournament and killed them 
all. This is Some Shooting ! 
Send, for Catalogue 
PARKER BROS. 
New York Salesrooms: 32 Warren St. Meriden, Conn. 
New 
Model 
27 
marlin «r s 
The only gun that fills the demand 
for a trombone (“pump”) action 
repeater in . 25-20 and 
. 32-20 calibers. 
Shoots 
high ve¬ 
locity smoke¬ 
less cartridges, 
also black and low pres¬ 
sure smokeless. Power¬ 
ful enough for deer, safe to use in 
settled districts, excellent for target 
work, for foxes, geese, woodchucks, etc. 
Its exclusive features : the quick, smooth working "pump" action • 
the wear-resisting Special Smokeless Steel barrel; the modern 
solid-top and side ejector lor rapid, accurate firing, increased safety 
and convenience. It has take down construction and /oory Beach 
tront sight; these cost extra on other rifles of these calibers. 
Our 136 page catalog describes the full 77Zar/ifl 
line. Sent for three stamps postage. Write for it. 
7fie 77Zar/in firearms Co. 
27 WILLOW STREET, . new HAVEN, CONN. 
Two Guns 
in One 
OnTrFishing Trip 
You always find good fishing holes when without a rod 
fine game when minus a gun. No fishing outfit is complete without a 
good, handy gun, and 
Marbles game getter gun 
is the best made. It is light, compact and powerful. Barrels 12, 15 or 18 inches long; upper 
shoots .22, lower .44 (shot or ball). Stock folds up for insertion into holster. Fits you 
for anything from target practice to deer shooting. 
Ask your dealer. Will send Sample Nitro-Solvent Oil for his name. Also send for 
catalog of Marble’s 60 Outing Specialties. All guaranteed. 
MARBLE ARMS & MFG. CO. 5 2b Delta Ave., Gladstone, Mich. 
Successor to Marble Safety Axe Co. 
AMERICAN DUCK SHOOTING 
By GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL 
600 Pages. Library Edition, $3.50. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO.. 127 Franklin Street. New York 
