The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-28
TAKING THE SILVER KING.
Experiences Of an "0uter" Among the
Reefs and Islands Of Florida.
Two Hundred Pounds of Flashing TarpOn on
the String-An Ideal Land for the
Angler and the Canoeist.

TURPEN SPRINGS, Fla, June 24-The differ
srce between the eastern and western coasts OF
Florida is marked by strong contrasts which go
far to explain why the former should be so much
ahead of the latter in everything that goes to the
making of a thrifty seaboard country. The
eastern coast for $50 miles is approachable di
rectIy by the broad Atlantic, and possesses
numerous deep, safe harbors. where frst-class
ships may safely ride at anchor. tbs this fear
ture that builds up maritime cities. The west
coast, the contrary, is marvel OF shoals,
sand-bars mangrove thiekets and keys, that
make navigation quite impossible for a vessel of
heavy tonnage, and dangerous even to the small,
shallow skimming dishes of ten to forty tons in
which the coast trade is mainly carried on. Oc
casionally moderate sized steamer Of light
draugnt is placed on the coast for passengers and
freight. But she usually spends too much time
aground among the reefs and keys to make any
thing like schedule time, and is soon withdrawn.
These keys are the most notable feature of the
coast. They are mostly long, narrow, palm
covered islands, lying parallel with the main
land, though some show no vegetation save a
little coarse marsh grass, and others are mere
mnd bars covered at high tide. There are keys
iaad. to which a man may wade
without getting wet above his
breast; and there are villages along the coast
that cannot be approached nearer than two miles
at low tide. Wherever there isa chance for safe
anchorage i'll deep water, with passage to itand
to wharf that will always show seven to ten
feet of water, you are pretty sure to find sea-
port town of respectable size, as at Tampa. Pen
saeola, Cedar Keys, etc 1t happens, unluckily
enough, that such places can only be reached
through tortuous, staked channels so difficult
that the shippers Of large craft choose to avoid
them; whence it may be inferred that no large
maritime town is ever likely to grow up on the
gulf coast of Florida. If any further obstacle
were wanting it is found in the tedious and diff
cult passage around the Florida capes and among
the Florida keys, the dangerous nature OF which
is attested by the abundance of wrecks, wreck
age and wreckers for more than 80 miles of
coast, from Biscayne Bay to the Dry Tortugas,
in fact. The commerce of the gulf coast, in the
future in the past, is destined to be carried on
in small, ightdraught sloops and schooners.
And the growth of the coast towns is pretty
likely to DO somewhat in proportion to the depth
of their harbors and the size of the craft that
enter them
1t happens, however that the conditions most
inimical to commerce are the very elements
which combine to make the gulf coast paradise
to the health-seeker, the outer angler, yachts
man, gunner or canoeist In no land can there
be found healthier ground for the worn invalid
than these palm-covered keys. 1t is here that
the native Cracker comes with his wre-grass
pony, two. wheeled cart and ague-stricken family,
ito eat fish and get we'll" he says. And they do
it. It is here that the Northern invalid has
learned to resort when suffering from disorders
of the respiratory organs, and he finds more GER
tain relief than the sunniest lands of Europe can
afford. The average outer finds better camping
grounds, finer boating, fishing and sea bathing
than he has ever found in the frigid north. The
angler is apt to be little astonished at first by
the size and strength of the fish that take his
lure. For instance, last February northern tour
list was fishing in the bayou within mile of the
springs, when he got a strike" from large
channel bass He gave line as slowly as posi-
ble but the fish headed down the river for the
gulf, made dead runaway of it. and took the
last inch of 100 yards of cuttyhunk, linen-lad
line When it came to the final tug the gentle
man lost his grip somehow, and fine Hemshal
rod went overbS2rd with line, feathered spoon
and so patent rees Sharks are plenty and
provoking nuisance to the angler. They do not
often seize spoon or spinner; but other fish do,
and then they take your fish, spoon and line,
and get away with the whole business. The
alligator gar also is troublesome. and cordially
hated by every angler.
There are fourteen varieties of fish to be found
on the coast that will rise to the fly and twice
hat number that may be taken with spinning
oait. 1t is only here that the regal tarpon, the
speed and lasting powers he beads the
list of game fish. As the royal stag
is to the mounted hunter. even
so is the silver king to the ambitious angler.
I..l L. L.
speed and peculiar tactics usually enabling him
10 get rid of the hooks in few minutes. In
weight he runs from fifty to two hundred
pounds; the average is net far from one hundred
pounds. When hooked there is possible way
of checking his first mad rush If checked too
hard he will tear his own jaw to shreds in his
frantic efforts to get rid of the hooks. 1t is an
exciting and beautiful sight to see him making
straight out to sea, with constant succession of
high leaps and short runs under the surface,
for, as he darts into the sunlight he looks like
glitterlng streak of FURNISHED silver and he
never ceases his leaping until. thoroughly ex-
hausted he lies supiney on his side and allows
the boat to come alongside. Even then he is to
be approached with caution. He is getting his
second wind, and on seeing the boat is pretty
certain to make a second wild race, but only
short one, when he may be secured with grappe
or gaff. though the better way is to shoot him
in the head, which quiets him at once and saves
all further trouble. Recently an enthusiastic
angler came the coast with rig specially
gotten up for the tarpon, the special points
being very short, strong rod, and reel of the
best make, carrying 1000 feet of the best line
He succeeded in capturing tarpon of hun
dred pounds. and / see no reason why, with such
an outfit. he might not capture one almost every
day during the season. The local fishermen of
the coast very successful with the .arpon by
granting i. O., spearing them with two
tined spear A spear is made fast to each end of
line 200 TO 800 feet long, and the fish
is usually struck from a common row.
boat. The handle fits loosely in the
socket of the short spear, that it may draw out
when the fish is struck, and ride parallel with
the line, to which it is made fast by half bitches
What with hard holding by the fisherman and
towing heavy boat after him. the silver king
generally turns up on his side before the end of
the line is reached, and then the boat is cautious
ly pushed up to him, and he is given the reserve