The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1895-03-29
THE FISHERMAN'S PARADISE.
An Interesting Letter from the Home of the Finny
Tribe. in Which Numerous Fish are Fully
Described.

Two years ago wrote an article for
publication descriptive of trip down
the coast to Sanibel Islands. In speak
ing of the fishing said that Gasparilla
Pass was huge aquarium. might
have applied the term to almost any
portion Of the island waters bordering
the Florida coast.
l have thought that description of
a few of these fish would be interesting
to your readers.
THE MULLET.
The fish used most freely for the
table is the Mullet. They vary from
to pounds in weight, and from 10
to l6 inches in length. These fish are
at their best about two months before
spawning, they are then very fat; the
flesh is white and firm, and for the
table, in the opinion of the residents,
they are equal to any fish that swim.
They are not taken with the hook, but
by seines and gill nets, and sometimes
with the spear and jack light. 1t is
not uncommon to see them in large
schools one-fourth of "a mile long, when
they are running in the passes or skirt
ing the shore on the Gulf side, or in
the Bay, which covers the surface of
an acre. 1 have mentioned this fish
because from their great number 1
consider them the most valuable of all
on the Florida coast. Thousands of
barrels are sent inland every winter
from this western coast; salted like
White fish OF Mackerel.
THE PANHANDLE.
The Pampano, or Pampanole, is also
taken very freely about the passes,
usually Oh the Gulf side. This fish,
for the year round, stands at the head
of all salt water fish for taste. It is
smooth and glistening white, with
hardly Il perceptible scale; flesh white,
firm and fine grained. 1t cannot be
surpassed. They usually weigh from
2 to 5 pounds, although sometimes
taken as large as Z pounds. They
command the highest market price.
SPANISH MACKEREL.
In about the same quantity Spanish
Mackerel are taken here, and, although
not as fine as the Pampanole, some
times sell as high AS 80 cents pound
III northern markets. They are a
beautiful fish, looking something like
a common Mackerel, dark on the back.
graceful i'll form as a brook trout,
mOttled on the sides, the belly silver
white. They dispute the palm at the
table with the Pampanole, but in
these waters the latter is certainly the
better fish.
SEA TROUT.
In great numbers also are taken the
Sea Trout; dark on the back, shading
to pure white on the belly, sides spot
ted like a Brook Trout. They are
"A good table fish and take the hook
freely. This fish is ID game fighter and
weighs from 8 te 6 pounds.
sHEEPs HEAD.
Sleeps Heads are very plentyful,
weight from l to pounds, shaped like
Il sunfish, sides white, perpendicular
bars, striped like zebra; takes the
hook freely and fights game. The
mouth is filed with strong teeth, has
Lard bony head, good tastign fish,
ranks with Perch or Bass; nothing
unusual to catch 80 or 40 in an after
neon's fishing.
GROUPERS.
The Black and Red GrOuper deserve
special notice, in weight they will go
from to 50 pounds The Black Grouper
is longer than the Red in proportion to
his weight; he is mottled, slate -colored,
flesh white and fiaky. The Red Grouper
is a heavy built fish, dark on back. red
on sides, shading to white on belly:
flesh very firm, white and flaky. They
resemble fresh Goldfish; are capital for
| chowders, and as an ail-round fish of
the large kind are No. /. They take
the hook freely. The Black, think.
is the best fighter, but if you are a
fisherman either will make your nerves
tingle. The Red Grouper is remark
able for this, the inside Of ITS mouth is
a beautiful carmine. A Black Gronper
caught here this winter weighed %
pounds.
There are multitudes of smaller fish
-Mang-ove Snapper, Sailors Choice.
and other nice pan Ssh, but too small
fo- description.
THREE OTHER KINDS.
have reserved for the last the des.
crIption of three fish that rank yery
high for the table, but perhaps are
better appreciated by the angler. First
of these combining the qualities fo,
table and sport is the Red Fisb n,