The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-01
THE GREAT TARPON.
A Florida Sportsman Tells Something
About This Carney Fish.

A Florida Sportsman Tells Something
About This Carney Fish.
As vaulter the tarpon is unequalled.
and his aerial feats must be seen to be
appreciated. On one occasion my
friend g. and a companion were row.
ing through Salt river Ga tributary of
the Homosassa) in sixteen-foot White
hall boat. A tarpon was summing him.
self in the grass, and, being disturbed,
made for deep water. Finding the
water shallow and the boat in the way,
he endeavored to clear it at an angle
The head of the fish came into contact
with the side of G's companion, which
detected him from his course. and he
passed under one of the boat seats A
pocket knife was used ito settle his
hash," but it would not penetrate the
| ivory-like arnor of the fish. Oars were
used to dispatch the prisoner, but it
was found that if he were interfered
with the boat would suffer from the
vigorous blows of his head and tail. G.
seated himself in the stern and his COM
panion in the bow, and for the time the
fish was awarded the post of honor I'M
molested. When peace was declared
the gentlemen resumed their oars, but
the one who DETECTED the silver king in
his course found that he could not
paddle his own canoe" for several OF
his ribs were fractured. G. rowed the
boat to Jones Landing. on the Homo
sassa, and the tarpon was weighed,
tipping the scales at 1873 pounds. The
above statement is not in the least ex-
aggerated.
Among other instances cited, one in
which the captain of the Water Lily
suffered is remarkable. The captain
was seated on chair in the center Of
the forward deck with his back to the
pilot house on the steamer while en-
route from jacksonville to Maysport.
AS the boat was passing St Johns
bluff frisky tarpon leaped from the
water, cleared the guards, and landed
in the captains lap. The captain was
knocked over by the shock, but the
briny vaulter was secured, weighing
sixty-eight pounds.
The capture of .arpon with hook
and line is a difficult undertaking.
Every summer many are hooked. but
few are landed. Il have had on many
occasions" writes Dr. Kenworthy,
'these fish seize my bait and run with
lightning-like rapidity for twenty or a
hundred yards, then leap into the air
and shake their heads, like terrier
shaking rat. and eXpel the bait. The
colored gentry have learned by ex-
perience never to interfere with tar
pom while in his playful moods, for one
of their number, while fishing in Trout
creek few years ago, had the sinker
thrown at his head by a frisky member
of the family. The fish had taken the
bait and rushed off only few rods,
when he vaulted into the air and threw
the bait, sinker, and all clear into the
the boat. striking the man on his head.
He never attempted the experiment
again.
The able writer continues in this
strain to give his experiences. and final
ly gives a complete description of a
barbarous and msportsmanlike rig for
the capture of this noble fish. He uses
piano wire, and makes three joints six |
inches long and three or four inches in
length. He soldiers the joints, tins them
to prevent rust, and attaches brass
swivel two and half inches in length |
Two hooks are soldered in each link. |
and two lines of hooks are presented |
when completed. Plenty of fine copper
wire is used in wrapping the hooks and
links together, and with solder the
union is perfect. The bait used is a
mullet cut from head to tail. Each link
is attached to the bait by fine Irvine,
and an attractive bait is offered with |
hooks partially concealed and an invis-
ible snood. This tackling possesses
great strength. for sharks nine feet in
length have been captured with the rig.
Jacksonville, (Fia.) MeWs-Herald.