The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-05-03

mour's boat soon landed, and on being
rallied, offered to bet oD his boat, but
found no takers. When we got up to
the house the Captains wife came out
to get some venison to cook for dinner,
"and mourned because she found it
not"
Dinner, smoke and rest. Then Far
rell proposed fish. So he, Chapman
and ourself got some lines and went
out 20 the inlet. The first thing was
to get bait. After much digging and
poking around among the sand, we
found lot Of fiddler's crabs, which is
the only bait used here except mullets.
The fddler's crab is queer looking
specimen, of which there seems to be
nothing but legs, pincers and eyes.
The latter are very prominent and
very bright, sticking out like beads.
When discovered, they make off for
their holes in the sand, at speed that
is astonishing; the strange part of it
is, they run sideways. When cornered
they stop and put up their claws, ready
for fight, and are really a ferce-l look
ing little creature.
With dozen or two of these "in-
sects" we commenced to fish. But a
Il
few moments elapsed before Farrell
pulled out fish called the "blue cat"
which resembles our catfish, save that
its skin has blush cast. This fish is
not considered fit for food. We caught
several of these chaps. but could not
get any other fish. Finally our bait
gave out, and we cut up catfish, and
put large piece on our hook. Pres.
emily something took the bait, and we
observed our line going out moderate
IL, and pulled in. For an instant
there was considerable resistance, but
whatever had hold let go, and wepull-
ed up our BAIT; observed that it had
been violently tampered with. Threw
in again, with the same result, and
repeated several times. Finally we
gave the animal more time, and this
time came nearly getting it ashore
but about ten feet out our hook
Strengthened, aud we lost our "catch, "
also our temper. We supposed we
had lost a big fish, but upon explain
ing the circumstances to Capt. Ar.
mour, he told us that we had hooked
a green turtle, which would have been
more valuable than fish of the same
weight. We concluded We would
take stronger hooks when we next
visited that place,
On the morning Of the 26th, all
things being ready, We started fol
Sand Point, with fair wind. Chap
man was added to our former crew
and was valuable addition. Capt
Armour and Mr.. Moore going ahead
in the Dolly Warren" and plotting u
over the oyster beds, and past concf
bar. Here they took leave of us, ant
we were sorry to part with them, hav
ing found them very pleasant and gen
tlemanly fellows.
| will remark right here, that Mr.
Moore went to Florida, about fv'
years ago, expecting to die of con
sumption. He is now as hardy a
any man could wish to be, and has n,
; trouble whatever with his lungs.
Through Jupiter narrows we pulle'
easily, having Chapman, good oars
man to help us out. At the head Q
the narlows we stopped at "India
Camp" and cooked some dinner. Soo
we struck st. Lucie Bay, and sale
along briskly. On the ocean beacl
not far north of this bay, We observe
the buildings for "life-saving sta
: tion" had been commenced since "
went down. At these stations are
number of good seamen, placed by th
y government, with life.boats and app,
8 ratus to afford aid to vessels needin
9 it, and to rescue passengers and ses
$ men, should any vessels be wreeke
s. off their territory.
" Nothing of any moment occurre
until we reached St. Lucie P. O
g about 8 o'clock in the evening