The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-09-04

portatlon is cooperating to the ex-
tent that docks have been con-
structed in such a way that pro-
duce can be unloaded direct from
the boat to the train, or vice
versa.
| didn't learn the mean depth
of the channel, but from the num-
ber of docks in sight there must
be a lot of boating going on. l
also mentioned fish, but | had
reference to my favorite bird
from the sporting point Of view,
and not commercial one, so here
is point to think over. What do
you think of the ten million
pounds of fish shipped from here
last year? Sounds like the Eng
lish war loan, doesn't it? And an
average Of eight carloads of fish
leave from the different docks
every week in the year. This fish
story you don't hear every day, I
think. From this fish item you
must naturally conclude that
there is quite sizeable payroll in
connection with the fish business.
From Punta Gorda to the Gulf
is about twenty miles, and lying
at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor
are those islands so famed in song
and story as to the old-time habit
at of the pirates. Your modern
man has a chance to raid the fish
la pirate, if he so wills, and it is
Iso written that no man ever leaves
these islands that is thereafter
able to tell the truth-that is his
reputation after he tells the true
story Of his fishing experiences to
friends in other parts. Thus
have those beautiful gem-like is
lands of Gasparilla, Cayo Costa,
Captiva, Sanibel and the big one,
Pine Island, destroyed the souls of
men in their seductivencsS, |
have been to them, and while | do
not feel that my hopes Of a here
after are forever shattered there
by, | do know that ! have had
some fishing experiences not u.s.
ually enjoyed by most men.
Paramount in the growing line
| believe pineapples reign sup
RENE here-although | may be
challenged in this statement. 1t
IS all according to the point of
view. But there is an attraction
to me in the growing of pine
apples, that aside from the abso-
lutte deliciousness of quality Of the
grades produced here, appeals to
me. One enthusiastic grower
told me that the finest pineapples
in the world were produced at
Punta Gorda, but again | say, it
is according to the point of view.
If close pressed | might say that
they are as fine as any | have ever
come in contact with and leave
the settlement of any ensuing
argument to those of perhaps
more experience. There are
many growers here, and almost to
a man they swear by the product
as raised at Punta Gorda. And
as they are by no means beginners
in their line, then their statements
should carry some weight.
Almost without exception the
finer varieties are grown under
a Slated roof that admits only a
part of the sunlight. | have seen
at least ten acres under shade that
looked like a remarkable pro-
duct of the sub-tropical fruit. |
believe there are many thousand
acres Of similar land around the
section that would produce as
well, if it was cleared and put
under cultivation; consequently |
you will see that it is not a special !
ty for one man or group of men.
All may join in and get the bene-
fit of the experience of those who
have been successful. If there is
one thing / like more than another