The National tribune., 1902-02-13
WASHINGTON THURSDAY

able in the waters from Barnes Sound to
the Bay Of Florida. Every time we tried
it we brought IN half dozen weighing
about six pounds apiece, as the result of
an hours fishing.
At Indian Key we. found few tarpon
and caught three large ones, the biggest
weighing 66 pounds. Bad weather con
tinucd, however, and so we pushed on to
Bahia Honda, where we found fairly
goOd-sized school. Ia
had only been fishing n short time be
fore | caught one. and soon after one of
our party, Mr.. George, killed another
very quickly, as 1t apparently had in some
way injured itself in striking the water
on it's first big jump-which weighed 2l3
pounds, or three pounds more than Mr..
VOm HOfe's tarpon, which then held the
record As Mr.. George wanted his fish
mounted and its weight attested, we made
sail for Key West at once, reaching there
about Midnight. This one was seven feet
and two inches long. and 46 inches in
girth, measurements which exceeded those
of the record fish.
On returning to Bahia Honda, we found
more fish than when we had left two days
before; and they were biting very well.
But more inhabitants of the deep, not
nearly so much priced, had appeared; IN
other words, the bay was full of immense
sharks that persistently followed each boat
us soon as IL tDHtHtu lut Ndltl A1'N
ever, we caught three tarpOn with deal
of trouble rs all were torn by the shaiks
before we could land them. One large tar
pom was bitten in half as cleanlv as though
cut with a knife, just as Mr.. George was
about to gaff it: another which took me
long time to lard. as it was hooked on the
outside near one of the fins, was twice
attacked by sharks. and Mt last had a
piece torn out of its stomach. To have
nf t,U1y fGinrS rngh RIGHT tg
the stern of the boat in an effort to get
at your fish was not altogether agreeable
When the second shark took hold on my
tarpOn, it was not six feet from the boat,
and | hit it over the head with an oar
before it would let go; even then it came
M to the side of the boat, and would not
quit until had given it several more
hard raps. They could so easily have mp
set the boat, had they sense enough. that
it made us all somewhat uncomfortable
for fear clever one might happen TO be
among them. Sharks are very cnwardly
until they taste blood after which they
are fierce and aggressive. The furious
lunge Of big shark at a fish is suggestive
of its ferocity and the ease with which the
one bit in half a tarpOn nearly seven feet
long and ~ inches in girth. left little
doubt as to the chances n human being
would have against one them in its ma
tive element
That evening we put out a shark line,
which was almost at once seized, and we
set the hook. and as soon rs the shark
felt it. he gave n lunge which nearly Jerked
US overheard. He swung the stem Of our
5O-foot schooner around against both wind
md tide, and threatened 10 break our stout
manila rope like Il thread. He was not
very large, measuring only II feet hut
seemed TO be very fhickset and muscular,
md II was all that five of us could do to
drag him un on the beach. Next morn
ing we were so closely followed by these
savage. dull-brown shadows, that 1t was
evident we could not hand n fish if one was
hooked. so relrctRntlY we made for Sable
Hivnr. on the West caast.
The only remarkable thing we saw was
the dcvil-iish. nreMeXiean mania. not an
octopus, hut Il species Of ray, which grows
20 measure 30 feet or more across ITS
wings The gulf near Punta RaSa is a
'avorite haunt OF theirs. and on warm,
calm days they can often he seen lying
m the tide streaI5s. swallowing the foam
and weeds, which they sift for minute
insects. Their broad. black backs make
splendid mark for n harpooncr, and
was told they can tow small boat great
distances before giving up.
IT is much pk,nsantcr TO fish in the
'hanneIs on the East coast than the passes
of the Gulf. as the former are always
comparatively calm, and there is never
danger of breakers because of the reefs
+hree miles out WHICH take the force Of
the waves long before they reach the land.
The water is like that of the Gulf Stream.
beautiful in color and very clear, quite diff
ccrpnt from the dpad-looking liquid in the
0asses on the Gnlf Moreover. there is
always TO be had finc fishing Of some kind
IN case tarpon fail to appear. The reefs
lre alive with grouners running from one
ssn A.r-I. Il va.N
7mher- lacks: the last two are fine fighters
and grow very large. Near Miami is !
splendid king-fish ground. probably Tivaled
only by that near Key West. A king
Ssh is large species of maclerel, WEIGH
ing from 10 to 20 pounds, which makos
' sharn though short fight. On days when
Ill conditions are perfect they can be
caught in great numbers. and often peo-
he fishing with hand-lnes bring in as
many as 100: more than ran poSS hlv he
used. and therefore more than should be
allowed, as it must eventually ruin the
ground
The reef fishing is very exciting. for one
never ran tell what he may hook. and
must be prepared for almost anything.
from a small mutton-fsh to a big amber
iack. The fish often follow a hooked one
nm to the boat. and I have several times
thrown another bait into the midst Of %
or 30 and watched them rush for it.
though usually if is taken bv a groupcr
which never stops to examine but will
swallow ANYTHING.
In the Gulf Stream, which lies only four
or five miles off the East coast, the fish
ere again of different varieties, includin"
dolphin. bonitO sword and other dcep-sea
fish. The colors OF the dophin are. of
nourse renowned. but though | expected.
to see an attractive fish. no ina giration
IAN picture the beauty of its irridesccnt
fints and brilliant markings Dolphin and
ronito are among the most agile fish in
The world and il is all but imnossible.
even when the boat is going from them. t.
reel in the slack fast enough when they
come toward yOu.-Outing.
Stress of War in South America.