The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
ATARPON THAT WON The GAME
BUT 1T WAS EXCITING FIRST on
THE LOUISIANA COAST.

osruggle for an Hour and Han with
o PiscatoFial Giant whe was Old and
wise and suous Enough 70 Fight tho
Man to q Finish and Beat HIN Out.
The Planter told them good.by after
they killed the wildcat, for the season
was drawing to close and IL was time that
the winter sports should cease. As they
drove back to the houseboat they noted.
perched high on the very topmost branch
Of an oak, q male hooking bird swinging
blithely and pouring out his full soul to the
blue sky and the sun. The Farmer shook
his head slowly.
That's the sprins song he said. Lays
over anything = that Mendelssohn ever
dreamed. That loafer's wife Ii down below
working like q mailer to build the nest and
he's furnishing. the music
30, next morning. the rope was cast
from the trunk Of the tree around which
It had been wrapped for weeks and the
6keeter drifted slowly down Bayou Marie
toward tho Gulf. They iookeo about them
half sadly at the wide plain, the marsh and
the far-o6 depressions that marked the
SIENNA ponds. The pine hills rose blue and
misty to the north, the old boat Gagged and
staggered as she drifted down, and the
Farmer. his feet wide apart, grasped q long
pole and Tended her from the banks. A
slow wind behind them half filed her square
san and she raced along at two miles an
hour.
II IL not often that keen sportsmen grow
tired OF shooting. but this party had. as
the Doctor expressed It, shot itself out
The jar Of the gun and smell Of nitrate
powder had grown to be distasteful. They
had all agreed upon this the night before.
and had taken the guns apart, cleaned
them and put them in their cases.
In tho hold of the Skeeter. lying on the
etraw-covered ice. were nearly q thousand
head of geese. ducks, snipe and woodcock
which they could not eat. They would
be used. Of course-given to friends-but
shooting pals when the appetite begins to
fail. They had had enough Of the open
air and began to think longingly Of oosey
restaurants and newspapers and the iostle
Of the streets. So they were home
ward bound with memories Of . perfect
outing.
The bayou widened a. they drifted and
on It's green banks here and there were
spangles OF flowers. The air was soft
with the balms Of spring and the sun shone
from a Reckless sky. Late In March on
the Louisiana coast the recreating work OF
nature Is far advanced. Civilized folk
had been eating homegrown Strawberries
for weeks. roses were budding. and on all
Of the plantations were the smell OF newly
turned earth and the sight Of green grow
ing things. They heard the steady boom
Of the surf, and looking afar. could see the
rolling whitecaps of the Gulf.
Now there was no need for the Farmers
pole, 20 the Journalist stood at the rude
tiller his feet nautically planted. and made
believe to steer. Gradually the banks
spread apart until there was q good hun
dred yards Of smooth water between them.
The Engineer stood near the bow. his black
pipe in his mouth. his cap on, the salt breeze
ruffiing his scant hair.
whats that?- he asked Of the Farmer.
pointing a long finger ahead.
From bank TO bank the water was pittsd
and dimpled and little bits Of silver In thou
sands few out OF IT and fell back again.
Above the dimplings which was the bayou's
width, and quite a quarter Of . mile long.
gulls, fishhawks, avocats and kingdshers
SCARED and swooped.
.Mullet school," said the Farmer, SEN
tentiously.
The words were scarcely out when back
of the dimplee the water shouldered up in
Q long ridge and the mullet spranG In air
in an almost solid mass. To the right was q
similar rush. and TO the left. Some great
fish were striking at the smaller crowded
ones, and IL was wonderful to see them
work Lying a yard under the surface q
single stroke Of the powerful hules would
send them twenty yards with the speed
OF light, and where they went was multi
tudinous death.
-Tarponi' said the Farmer. They are
at work q little early on the mullet.
Mostly they do not show UP until well along
into April
-Tarpon?' said the Engineer. and his heart
was on FIRE. i've got to have one.
couldn't 60 back home and say I'd seen
'em working and never had try
-That's easy" said the Farmer. Il
haven't seen a tarpon fight since last fall.
myself"
He turned the blunt nose OF the Skeeter
TO the left bank and made fast to . small
blackberry. The Engineer dived below
and came up with rod he had brought
South with him in expectation Of big fab.
It was seven feet long. made Of green
heart. and the butt was a. big as q mans
wrist The craftsman who made this rod
and jointed 1t with thick brass ferrules in
tended It to hold a mule. Its weight was
against 1t, but the strength and elasticity
were there
The Engineer had rubber-plated double
multiplying reel half as big az q hat, and
600 feet Of beautiful brown silk line shot
with green and tested TO breaking strain
of eighty pounds. His hook, a single steel
one Ave inches long. with an inch curve OF
bowl and shank an eighth Of an inch thick.
had q gimp Of piano wire a yard inlength
with a strong swivel at it's upper end. He
jointed his rod and fastened his reel, strung
his line. put on the piano wire and an
nounced that he was ready.
The one skin Of the Skeeter had been
lowered to the water and the Farmer took
his place with the oars. The Journalist
got into the bow as q looker-on in Vienna
and the Engineer sat In the stern. The
Doctor strolled along the bank.
The Farmer headed his little craft straight
out to the Gulf. When they struck the
school OF mullet he took up dip net. scooped
half gallon Of them and placed them in
. minnow bucket. One he threw to the