The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-03-02
THE SOUTH IN WINTER.-V.
TAMPA. Fla. Feb. %, 1894.

port of Tampa, on the Gulf OF Mexico:
Narrow seats here 80 inches being all
the clear room in seat for two, regular
Sparkling seats you sec, but little I'M
comfortable i'll such warm weather.
Our first stop is at Tarpon Springs, some
So miles distant, located on the Anclote
river, at it's mouth This is one of the
pretty places in Florida, washed by the
tide waters of the Gulf, and the home
of the sponge industry. The bayou
which sets back from the Gulf, nestles
at the foot of the main street, and in
this bayou, springs enter from great
depth, fresh water, and some 800 feet
across. This is the home OF the cele-
brated Tarpon, large fish weighing, in
some instances, 2l5 pounds, and covered
with large scales from which jewelry is
made. 1t is grand sight to see them
spring from the water after flies, as may
be judged from their weight.
Mullet are here found in great num-
bers, which, with the fresh water ming
ling with the salt, attract the Tarpon.
Mullet do not bite but are caught in
nets. Tarpon fishing calls many de-
luded mortal from the North. We say
deluded, advisedly, because while there
is no greater fun to be had if one can
succeed in coaxing them to bite, yet few
can be had even after weeks of patient
and persistent fishing. A stout pole,
and line the size of telegraph wire,
and hook inches long, the Knobbed
O'Shaughnessy, or Sproat, furnished
with piece of Mulet, is allowed to lie
on the clear bottom in places where
there is no current. Now for Jobs pa
thence, and bite Patience, yet allow
yOnr victim to swallow it at leisure, let
out all your line, then hook him if posi-
BILE. Now, if hooked, you will see some
of the most exciting moments of Your
life. lie makes desperate leaps into the
air, dashes first here, then there, and
then there, and takes your boat and con-
tents along as if it were duck. If your
line holds, you can use three hours in
landing the game If it does not, his
next port is Cuba, and he soon reaches
it, Anglers inform us there is no sport
equal to this. The TarpOn leave shallow
water in cold weather fer deep channels
or the open Gulf, where temperature is
more equable. To catch one is to earn
an enviable reputation, but few succeed.
The bayou is surrounded by boat and
club houses. and fine residences and
walks. II. Disston of saw fame, Phila-
delphia, owns a very pretty residence
here, fronting the bayou. The
night we arrived, the teet
of 81 boats were Illuminated
with Chinese lanterns and cOlOred fire,
and fastened together with ropes. The
leader manGvered the fleet in such
shape as to spell out the name Stafford,
Vermonter by birth, and once governor
of Arizona, founder of the place, Tar
pom Springs, or at least very Prominent
L. l,,,;tl mt nd
in whose honor, the 18th of February is
celebrated yearly. The band, stationed
on small steamer in the centre Of the
bayou, discoursed music. while from the
point opposite the village. fireworks
filled in very pleasant evening.
The Tarpon Springs Hotel and CO..
tages accommodate 15e guests. Here
are several miles of sidewalks (some-
thing needed and appreciated in this
State) good hotels, handsome villas
fine schools and churches, Masonic
Lodge, and fine boats and fishing.
Small steamers ply the waters of the
Gulf and Anclote river daily. We were
interested in the sponge fishings, and
trust your readers will pardon an at
tempted description. Quite good sized
boats are fitted out and provisioned for
the trip, by the owner, who has half of
the receipts. These boats are manned
as a rule by the cook, captain and crew
of four men. We head the list with the
most important parsonage, as without
cook, the result would be disastrous,
and he is mighty parsonage. The ship
sails for the Anclote Keys, series of
islands few miles from the coast.
Here the small boats are placed in
charge of two men each, one in the bow,
with long bucket with glass bottom,
the other with hook like our potato
hooks, and with handle 40 feet long,
as this is as deep as the sponges can be
had. The man at the bow puts the
glass-bottomed tube or bucket down in
to the water and can see the sponges
which grow on the bottom of the Gulf.
When he discovers one, he calls out to
the man with the hook who must Judge
as to the exact location. 1t must be
remembers that he cannot see like the
man in the bow, and again, must allow
for swift running tide, which carries
his hook away from the object sought.
This requires great skill. When a
sponge is hooked, it is brought to the
surface, mass of jelly, but dies immed-
lately upon coming to the air. 1t is
placed in the boat and others follow I'M
til the boat is filed. The cook is left in
charge of the large boat, keeping in the
neighborhood as nearly as possible, and
at dinner time, sails for the largest num-
Der of boats in sight. The boats are
emptied on the deck of the large boat to
rot, and one cannot describe the effluvia,
when sufficiently rotCed. they are washed,
cleaned and strung on strings, which
must be four feet and four inches long,
the four inches being used to tie. This
string of four feet, will weigh from one
to one and half pounds. When pro.
visions are used up, or cargo secured,
they put into port, and stack the sponges
in great heaps on the dock. Here they
are inspected, by would be buyers. sorted,
the small ones put by and called rags,
the better ones sold. The crew are al
lowed to say whether they will accept an
offer or not, as their income depends up
ON the amount received. If a sale is
made, the captain gets one-eight, or if
he works with the crew during the voy-
age, which he usually does, he is en-
titled to one-fourth, the balance is di-
vided among the crew. A boat came in
while we were there, consisting of five
persons. They had been out our weeks
and refused $500 for their stock, asking
$500. Sponges which grow near the shore
are not considered worth over 80 cents
per pound, and are fished for from small
boats sent from the shore. The better
deep sea sponge, commands from one, to