The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-13
TARPoN BIs hing.
A Guides Feat e Taking the Fish
Singlehsnded.
From the Ne,g YorL Erening Post.

4 1AAAA Ia IA4-A ~HA- ~a---lt0hn
among the dense everglades Of Dover Flor
ida, surrounded by an interminable grow Ii
of cypress trees, palmettoes and saw grass,
the sportsman finds game of every descrlp-
ton to compensats him for his toilsone
march through the wilderness. Penetrating
the everglades until the great tributaries Of
the ocean are reached, the gun Is dispensed
with, and the rcd aud reel are brought
/ forth to hook the gamy denizens which
I inhabiS these warm waters. The fishes
off the Florida coast, and Ia its rivers
aud inlets. nre more famous than any game
OF the woods, and thousands of men are en-
gagged in red snapper fghing, grouper fish
ing, mullet fishing, Spanish maokerel fish
ing and green turtle fishing. But the great
/ quantities of the most of these make the
| pleasure of the sport far from exciting. The
choice tarpon of the southern waters is a
different fish, however, and weeks and
months of fruitless effort are looked on as
amply paid for, one OF these kings OF fishes
cen be caught.
There Is no game fish which requires more
skill and practice than the royal tarpon,
but with all Of the new lines, hooks, and
modern methods Of landing the big fish. the
native hunters frequently show a superior
know Wedge by clinging to their old methods.
Dom Pedro lived among the everglades,
spending most his time in hunting, and his
oNSOhAh VI pun may luEHlau
thought for reflection:
al obtained my knowledge of the tarpon
from the Indians who live in the Everglades
For many years | observed them In their
work. They would drop their bait over
board and wait until the tarpon snapped at
1t. As soon as the fish found that he had
swallowed something that was hurting him,
he would rush TO the surface and Jump out
of the water with powerful leap, looking
like polished piece of steel flashing in the
sunlight. Then was the time when the
Indian hunters showed their skill The
man holding the line would suddenly JERK
it with a deKterous movement, turning
the fish over on bis back, making him
strike the water with a loud splash. As
soon as he recovered from this shock he
darted away through the water like a flash
But the Indians never allowed him t. get
away. While the silvery monster was fall
ing on his back to the surface of the water
some strong-armed Seminole would direct
a spear at the upturned breast. These spears
were made of long bamboo handles, with u
heavy iron head with a crook in it. They
were similar to small harpoons, and the In
dians could throw them with
be nearly killed by the blow,
and though he would make despei ate efforts
to escape, the spear would be too heavy for
him. The line would be played out and
the monster would soon be landed The
Indians caught the tarpon for food and not
for spot. but there were times when it was
exciting fun for them. 1t is not an easy
matter to throw one of the long spears
twenty or thirty feet at the right moment
aud strike the fish as it is flying through
the air. A good warrior seldom missed his
mark.
But this kind of fishing requires two,
and generally three men, in the boat One
must steady the boat, another handle the
line, and the third send the spear l have
killed great many sharks in this way. A
shark can generally be brought up with a
tarpon-line. be will not jump SO far out
of the water, but for an instant, when he
reaches the surface, he displays his broad
sides. One Of the huge tarPon spears will
generally settle his fate. although he will
fight longer than the tarpon. and will some
times carry the spear long distance before
dying.
"When hunting for tarpon alone gem
orally select a river that has good bank on
it. | can then land one alone, partly after
the Indian fashion, and partly after your
modern style. All of the rivers in Florida
are deep and narrow and not many OF them
are more than 100 or 200 feet across.
In these narrow but deep rivers the tarpon
often runs after fooi. aud it is at such times
that find my best game Taking a small
DOdb 6uCuOT ~ Ill ullII-StT6diil OF let UOaL
along with the current. A good bait OF
mullets is put on the hook and
dropped overheard. The rod is fastened in
the stern aud the reel arranged so that it
will play out when anything pulls on it.
Everything is quiet around, and would
never suspect the presence IF tarpon in
the placid water. But suddenly there seems
to be flash Of light, or a silvery streak,
astern of the boat. The next moment the
halt 10 alinxarad rho 70
with it and then leaps out Of the water with
tremendous jump. His sudden jerk has
fastened the hook in his stomach, and re-
leased the reel SO that the line plays out. He
next gives dive for the bottom of the
river, and rushes swiftly up or down the
stream. With 500 yards of line there is not
much danger Of his playing it all out.
row as rapidly as possible toward the shore,
taking good care TO keep the line taut, for
that is one Of the most important things.
Frequently have to follow the tarpon some
way up the river TO do this successfully. He
is lively creature, but with a little
practice you can learn to get to the shore
safely.
Then comes the question OF playing
with the fish. Anchorlng the boat, take
my spear aud the line and rod. When the
tarpon runs up stream follow him, giving
him occasionally little jerk to check his
Roadway aud to fatigue him more. Then
down the river he runs with equal CELEBRITY,
often keeping me on dead run for ten
minutes. Keeling and unreeling the line
to make 1t taut all of the time keeps one
busy. In this fashion the race and battle
are kept up for a long time. The line will
more than reach across the river, and he
cannot get beyond my reach in that way.
1t Is either up or down the river that he
must go, and l can follow him in either
direction. Gradually it becomes weari-
some work to drag SOD feet of tough
linen line through the water at such a
rapid rate, and the big fish allows himself
to be drawn nearer the shore. The critical
moment is coming then. The line is jerked
to stimulate the f1sh into more activity,
and so ell will be answer these jerks that
he becomes completely exhausted
Then he allows me TO pull him so near
to the shore that | can get good glimpse of
him. he jumps at the sight of me and
PUSHES back. l let him go a short distance
and then pull him in again. He z Is &C
customed to the sight of me. draw him
nearer each time. Finally, when he is
within proper distance, prepare for the
final blow. Balancing my spear over my
head, jerk the line fercely and then drop
1t so as to not disconcert my aim. The tar
pom gives plunge and exposes part of his
body above the water The spear is bal
anced an instant and then hurled with all
my might. 1t seldom misses the mark, and
the tarpon is practically caught. He fights
little longer for life, but / am soon en-
abled to haul him ashore. The spear aud
line together are too much for him. That
Is how l catch the tarpon, and many OF
them too