The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-17
THE SILVER TARPON,
It Is Probably the Largest as Well as tn
Most Beautiful Game Fish.

1t Is Probably the Largest as Well as the
Most Beautiful Game Fish.
1t is only comparatively short time
since spOrtsmen have known that there
was such fish as the tarpon. 1t in
habits the waters of the Florida and
Gulf coasts, and is probably the largest
game fish in the world. To take tar
pom with rod and reel is feat to be
proud of, and sportsmen from every land
are yearly coming in increasing mum
bers to try their luck on the big fish,
The tarpOn is truly monster, rang
ing from fifty to two hundred pounds in
weight, and from four and one-half to
over six feet in length; not unlike a
cross between huge herring-to which
family it belongs-and huge bluefish
in its general proportions, with large.
protuberant eyes, and an ugly mouth
that opens on the fishs nose, so to
speak, covered on each side by a hard.
bony, semi-circular flap that gives the
effect of jowl.
Behind and contiguous to the dorsal
fin is sort of bony bayonet called the
feather some eight or nine inches
long, that prOtrudes into the air in the
direction of the tail, forming an acute
angle with the line of the back.
The body is covered with brilliant
argentine scales, which give the fish the
effect of having been laved in silver,
and which have won for it the title of
the ''Silver King" These scales, which
are circular and slightly scolloped on
the part of the edge that is overlapped,
vary from one to two inches and a half
in diameter.
The silvery epidermis covers only the
exposed portion, which is about one
fourth of the circumference. The re-
naming surface is slightly yellowish-
white. not dissimilar in hue to mother
of-pearl, though without it's iridescence.
translucent. but not transparent, and
shiny on the inner side. They are
hard, thin and of shell-like fiber.
After being removed from the fish and
dried. they curl up SO as to remind one
of Saratoga chip, but will, if moist
ened and compressed, regain, at least
for short time, their former shape.
The extreme brilliancy of the silvery
portion becomes furnished by degrees,
inclining either to yellow or black, but
the permanent color is still beautiful
and astonishing.
The back of the fish is black. and the
silvery effect gradually begins at line
we'll above the eye. Some anglers have
seen fit to perpetrate their triumphs by
having specimens of these monsters
mounted on panel. They form mag
nificent trophies for the hall or dining
room of large house: and when gazing
at hundred-pound tarpon. which
is certainly rather below than above the
average weight of the fish, one finds
difficulty in believing that it has been
captured with rod and reel Golden
Days
1t is absolutely essential that
every Maid of Honor employed in the
British Royal Family should be good
horsewoman and correct reader of mu-
sic at sight
There is lady in Rentoul. a Lam
cashire village. who runs a plumbing
shop and is practical hand herself.
She is said to be able to "wipe joint
with any workman, and is an expert
in finding out defects in plumbing in
houses.
Prince Bismarck has at Varzin g.
900 acres, of which 1900 are covered
with glorious forests of oak and beech.
His home farm comprises 400 acres.
md the remainder of the cleared land
. let in farms of about 700 acres each.
Mp one is able to write so long 6
sentence in so few words as the polio
isdge.-Kearney Enterprise.
Experts estimate the total value OF
ladies' cloaks produced In tho United
States at $1,000, 900 to s., 900, 900 year.
About three fOurths of the manufacture
ing of these cloaks is done in the city of
New York. Chicago comes next. Cleve-
land next Boston, Philadelphia and
Cincinnati do still smaller business. In
the last seventeen years cloaks have
driven shawls steadily out of the mar
ket. until they have almost disappeared.
There is about 25,OOO,0O capital in
vested in the ladies' cloak business OF
the United States. About S7.000.0O0
year is paid in wages to the workmen
To make $50, 900 worth Of cloaks
uses up about $25, 000.O worth of do
mestic goods and trimmings every year