The Yale expositor., 1895-11-22

ture. The old military records kept at
Fort Dallas show that the mean varia-
ton of the temperature between win
ter and summer is only about ten de-
grees, that Of the winter being 40 de-
grees and of the summer so degrees.
1t was our desire, however, TO learn
what advantages this section possess
es, which are peculiar to itself, and not
found elsewhere In South Florida. We
wanted to know what there was that
would especially attract the tourist and
home seeker. We think we are sue
cessful on this point The climate of
Biscayne Bay must always be a great
attraction. To say that it is superior
to that of any other part of Florida
would not convey our meaning. 1t is
simply Incompatible. Indian River
and Lake Worth are really land-locked
waters connected with the ocean. The
air which arises from these waters
mingling with The breeZes from the
ocean, produces n balmy, sunny tenn
perature, which is restful and sooth-
ing to the invalid, to the wornout man
Of business, and the nervous female.
The breeze is restorative in its effect.
Standing on the wharf at Cocoanut
Grove, we felt for the first time the
peculiar vitalizing effect of the indies
scribable breeze of Biscayne Bay. We
tried TO satisfy ourselves as to the
cause of it's peculiar quality. 1t was
apparent that the bay, ten miles wide
and fifty miles long, which was tide
water, clear as crystal, was different
from the Indian River and Lake Worth
inlets, and one would expect the breeze
to be stronger. fresher and purer; but
bear in mind ii was far ahead OF any
thing we had ever felt on the face OF
the ocean. There was a peculiarly ex-
hilarating effect about it, so that one
might walk for miles in the sun over
the rocks and yet not feel tired. When
we emerged on our cruise from Angel
Fish Creek into the open ocean, and
saw for the first time the Florida reefs,
it was revelation. The waves dash
ing against these thousands of rocks,
and dashed into a foam and clouds of
spray. The trade winds blowing from
the southeast, blows steadily in
through these clouds of salt water,
sparkling and glistening in the sun
shine. This peculiar condition, we be-
lieve, explains the peculiar quality of
the breeze which is so charming and
so eXhilirating at Biscayne Bay. AL
most everybody will recall the condi-
ton on n hot summer day when the
sun is shining and a sudden thunder
squat comes up. While the rain is fall
ing, with the sun shining, and breeze
is blowing through the rain, ii strikes
the check with n peculiar freshness.
There is some peculiar electrical con-
dition present. 1t is so with the breeze
at Biscayne Bay. AS the breeze passes
through this cloud Of spray, caused by
the Florida reefs, and continues some
ten miles inwrad until it reaches the
west shore of Biscayne Bay. passing
through the glorious sunlight, it ac-
quires peculiar quality. 1t is just
right. 1t is indescribable, and who
ever feels it for few days will ever
afterwards long to return to its infu-
ence. Many people have felt this
breeze and yet have not realized it's
peculiar quality. There are those who
prefer a cup of rank, strong Rio cof-
fee, or n cheap cigar, and there are
people who. when they taste a cup of
genuine Java or Mocha, properly
made, or a fine Havana, know that
they have found something rare.
Those are the kind of people who will
appreciate the Incompatible breeze Of
Biscayne Bay. 1t is only a question
of time when this locality will be the
most noted resort in the United States.
We stated in one of our letters that
we would relate some fish experiences
| in the waters ef Florida. We wish to
| say to start out with that we do not
expect these stories will be believed
| except by those who have gone over
the same territory that we have. Yet
| like experiences can be had almost
every day of the year. We did not
| not 60 hunting exciting adventures
but met with them while upon our
trip to the Biscayne Bay country. We
will not repeat concerning phosphor-
escent fish mentioned in our last.
While passing down the New River
Sound on our trip down our boat run
| into n school of salt water mullet full
| ly half mile wide the width of the
| sound) and a mile or more long. The
mullet were being chased by school
of dozen or more sharks. AS the
| mullet passed up the sound in their
efforts to escape the sharks they
| would lay over one another out of the
water, some of them jumping several
! feet high and striking the water any
where up to fifteen feet from the
point where they left ii. 1t was not
| one fish or a dozen fish that were
| jumping in this manner, but hundreds
Of thousands of them, until the whole
surface Of the otherwise quiet water
was dashed into sea of foam. The
| tug boat, as it passed along, would
throw hundreds of them out of the
water. The whole bed of the sound
seemed to be a solid wall of fish.
These mullet vary in size from two to
eight pounds. Had we our rifles on
board at least three or four sharks
could have been killed. Some Of them
weighed at least thousand pounds,
and none of them paid attention to
| our boat in their mad chase for food.
These sharks are not of the man-eat-
| ing kind, but are what are known as
Shovel nose"
While returning from the south we
stopped an hour at New River inlet
TO fish for red snapper, blue fish and
cavallia. 1t was at the flow of the
tide, when it had nearly reached its
height There were four of use. We
had supplied ourselves with lines about
200 feet long and about the size of a