The New York herald., 1921-02-02
HARDING HOOKS Big
SAILFISH FROM SEA
President-Elect and Party
Have Fine Days Sport in
Florida Waters.
DAWES REPORTED OUT
UncOnfirmed RumOr Gives
Treasury Post to Lowdcn
or Andrew Mellon.

Special Despatch TO THE New YORK HERALD.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. Feb. IA man
whose iron gray hair and sunburnt face
were partially hidden by broad
brimmed straw hat sat in the stern OF
a boat early this morning and for forty
minutes enjoyed the thrills that all
Floridan anglers crave 1t was President
elect Harding playing a six foot sail
fish on light tackle. and he climaxed a
day and halfs fine sport by bringing
his prize alongside IN most approved
fashion.
Sailfsh was not the only catch the
party got. and Mr.. Harding was not the
only one to catch one of these, but his
was indeed q beauty 1t was ten inches
longer and ten pounds heavier than any
of the three others in the party took,
and already II is In the hands of the
taxidermist. VINO will mount and ship
1t to washington, where for four years
at least it will hang in the Executive
Offices.
Mr.. Harding and his fishing compan-
ions, including Senators Fall. Cummins
and Frelnghuysen. We're out and had a
twenty-five fish altogether. including a
fine kingfsh, two amberjacks. several
barracuda and two or three black
groupers Soon after daylight to-day,
however. they we're off in the quest or
the gamy sailfsh The President-elect
hooked his soon after the start. 1t was
an unusually quiet sea, and from the
moment the big fish struck 1t was plain
that Mr.. Harding had one that would
qualify him for membership In the ex-
elusive Sailfsh Club. The question was
could he fetch him to gaff.
"A piscatoral President. that's what
YOU are. SIR remarked Charlie Thomp-
son. famous Florida angler, as he slipped
the gaff into the prisoners gills, while
Mr.. Harding reached for his handker-
chief to mop the perspiration from his
face.
Thompson added some to the days
Snort by harpooning a giant turtle which
was brought ashore and presented with
Mr.. Harding's compliments to the Miami
Beach Aquarium. along with number
of smaller fish of various varieties found
in Florida waters. The freak catch of
the day was by George Christian Mr..
Harding's secretary, who hooked a fair
sized black grouper but when he pulled
In found only half fish. A giant bar
racuda. the voracious tiger of tropical
waters, had come and bitten the grouper
In two, just escaping the hook himself.
The fishing party were guests OF Carl
Fisher OF Miami Beach, and the excur-
sion to Camp Cocolobo was made in his
glass bottomed speed boat. Shadow V.
Mr.. Harding and his companions re-
turned to Miami Beach early this after
noon, where the President-eect enjoyed
a game of golf. Tonight he Is a dinner
guest of former Gov. William r. Durbin
of Indiana at a Miami hotel. and to-
morrow he will begin the northward
journey by motor as far as Fort Lauder
dale, where the Frelinghuysen yacht
Victoria viii pick the party up after
another round of golf. The next stop will
be Ormond, where more golf is on the
programme. but early next week will
find NJ. Harding back at st. Augustine
and engaged again In the conferences he
has arranged before inauguration. Mrs.
Harding Is expected to arrive in st.
Augustine from New York early next
week TO join her husband. Senator Fall
and Harry NJ. Daugherty left tonight
for Washington.
rumor tonight which lacked con-
flrmation was that Mr. Harding had been
advised that Charles G. Dawes of Chi
cago would not be available as Secre-
tary OF the Treasury on account Of pres
sure OF his own business affairs. and
that the place would be offered to either
Andrew w. Mellon of Pittsburg or Frank
@. LoWden of Illinois.