The sun., 1919-07-06
MONSTERS OF DEEP
IN FLORIDA KEYS
49, .u,a',
Harpoohtng Sharks and Sting
and Whip Rays Excit-
-: fng Sport.
MANATEE FAMILY SEEN
Acrobatic Iadyfish; Jumping
Jacks and Powerful Bonitas
Give Pleasure.
MANATEE FAMILY SEEN
ny JOSEPH w. STRAY.

The four weeks spent at Useppa
Island, Lee county. Florida, passed very
pleasantly; the weather was me, tam
psrature 80 TO 50 degrees during the
Gay and falling to about &c degrees
during the night; on only one day did
the Thermometer register over IS; the
mosquitoes ..were not in evidence and
the rainy season had not set In. The
fishing was excellent; nearly ali visitors
devoted their time exclusively to catch
Ing tarpon: other FISH taken by them
were hooked clshile drifting or trolling
for tarpon or. by making short casts
from the boat while running up 20 begin
another drift.
My own take OF tarpon was small,
IL In all, IL drifting or trolling and
with the harpoon one OF the eleven.
weighing 1lS pounds. was taken one
very dark night in Captiva Passon a
Vom Hofe regulation, light tackle rod
and thread line; the water was
foush' tide wes running strong ebb and
the capture of this fish vas not en-
5oyed a bit. Then and. there II was
resolved that such light tackle would
In the future be used by men only
during the daytime, while stlll fishing
on the fats.
Monsters of Deep In sAalIows.
Most OF the days were spent in
cruising about the less frequented and
uninhabited keys, running into little
coves and bays and narrow brackish
estuaries where the water was scaroely
deep enough to float the launch, which
had draueht Of but fifteen inches.
In these quiet, shallow places
sawhsh were located, but none taken !;
II sharks In all were harpooned the
largest being a great hamnerhead. IL
rect inches In length and weighing
about 500 pounds; sting rays, ali
small ones. and s spotted (whip) rays,
the largest being feet 9 inches across
also great jew fish weighing ass
pounds.
Once, while the launch was being
poled around bend into a small bayou
family OF manatees was found II
consisted OF big bull about - feet
lons' "a COW about 8 to 10 feet long
and a calf 4 to feet long This
family was under observation for more
than an hour before It moved out
70 the channel and was lost sight of
In the deeper water
The manatee IL a warm FLOODED ma
rine mammal does not eat fish. but lives
on marine grasses and roots the calf
IN TINS group. while seemingly eating
grass and srtfboing with the others for
roots, was certainly not weaned, for
twice II was seen to suokfs. Manatees
are great natural curiosities. are harm.
less and are few in number. They are
protected by law, and tho Killing OF one
II reported TO the proper Authorities. will
cause severe punishment to be melted out
to the offender.
Heron ms Tall as Man. -.
This part OF Florida fairly teens with
bird life and some visitors And greater
pleasure in watching the birds than In
angling. The great blue Florida heron.
can be seen every day, sinsly or in
couples never in groups This bird,
when standing erect, is nearly rs tall as
the average human being and IL all legs,
neck and feathers. the body being a mere
rack OF bones covered with ekin.
The brilliantly colored fiamingo can.
occasionally be seen, though these birds
are rare. The varieties OF cranes and
herons are many and are often seen In
large. numbers, especially at or near a
rookery.,
The snowy heron, is increasing in
numbers. as Is also the white egret
these birds being no longer killed to pro-
vide plumage for millinery purposes.
The beautiful wood duck IL also protect
ed and an increase in the numbers OF
this handsomest member Of the duck
family now seems assured.
The pink spoopbill curlew u another
handsome bird, and its strange shaped
bill makes II an object OF interest to
tourists alwaya The pelicans are there
by the thousands and May being the
Matching season. the nests all hold
youns These are beautiful snowy
white and are very curious and stupid
looking. The color changes with growth
and the feathers become OF brownish
drab color when the young birds are
about able to fly. In some localities the
war hawks are nearly as numerous
as the pelicans. They belong to the
kite family, and while their food Is gath
cred from tho water, these birds never
wet their feet. They sweep down in n
most graceful and swift dash and with
their bills pick food from the water In
the most dainty manner imaginable.
Occasionally a group of crippled ducks
will be seen. These have been wounded
during tho shooting season. have recoY-
cred health, but because OF broken leg
or shattered plnion are not able to
toin in the flight north. They breed. but
their young always leave with the north
bound flight the next spring.
wild Turkey In Everglades.
Florida is one OF the few States
whore the Wild turkey still exists In
some numbers these birds are mostly
In the Everglades district, and because
of the automobile hunter with his auto
matte shotgun are in danger Of ex-
tinctlon.
The E1oriua Legislature, in an effort
to protect these noble birds, recently
passed a law prohibiting the killing of
hen turkeys; this act will be without eff
fect-will afford no protection what
ever for the wild turkeys--for the hen
turkeys killed will be eaten In the bush
and only the gobblers brought out. The
only way In which to- prevent the killing
Of all wild turkeys in Florida 10 to do
clare closed season of not less than fve
and preferably OF ten years.
fishing for Acrobatic Lady Fish.
The last day OF my stay was one of
the most pleasant; the water was
smooth, and while cruising about, five
lilies out IN the Gulf looking for a devil
Ssh (Which was not foundD a school OF
what was thought to be mackerel was
sighted, while running over to- Il 4 light
tackle. rod and fifteen thread line was
rugged up with two mackerel jigs and
q No. 8 spoon. When close TO the school
ne FISH proved to be lady FISH, three or
Tour acres of than.
II did seem as though all the lady
Ash in the ocean Were in that bunch and