The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-29
GULF TORTOISE IS
 WISE IN METHODS
 Of MULLETPURSU|T
Hiden Tells Some Tall Stories of Unique Catches in BayouS Along Gulf
 Coast
nr RonERT c. nIpEN

The intelligence and shreWdness of a porpoise in quest of food down in the tributries of the Gulf are no less wonderful than interesting to us fishermen while casting for trout or trolling for red fish in those waters.
 If you've ever witnessed two porpoise rounding up Q school of mullet in the cove of R sound or bayou In that region you have a treat coming About the "Narrows" of Santa Rosa sound running some 10 miles east of Pensacola are numer- ous coves, some only a few hundred feet wide. Here mullet run in large schools frequently numbering thou sands. They usually stay near the bottom in water four to 10 feet deep. and frequently play in these coves. Athletic by instinct or taste, they are often seen jumping one to three feet above the waters surface, sometimes one or two at time, again half dozen or more together.
 For the love of Mixer ex- claimed, while watching hundreds of mullet leaping and splashing with apparently great excitement in the end of a cove: What's up?"
 "Oh, couple of porpoise rounding 'em up," exclaimed my fishing com panion who lives down there. Never seen It done?" he asked. Then watch"
 Two poropise were moving stealth fly around opposite sides of the cove for the final dash. Now and then their sleek backs appeared above the surface, then disappeared only to reappear little nearer the end of the cove.
 More and more restless became the mullet. as If fully conscious of ap- preaching danger, until there was general commotlon with dozens of fish leaping and splashing at oncs.
 Noisy splash
 Finally came a dash with noisy splash from each side the cove, and the porpoise had the school of mullet in the end of the cove on rush to run the gauntlet. In the first round up each poropise got mouthful of food. several pounds of fresh mullet. Then such a scurrying for coverl The school leapign, splashing. darting for escape around each side of the cove for broader and safer waters.
 It's one of the interesting sights frequently witnessed along the Gulf tributaries.
 A Pelican Experience
 
 there two incidents were unusual, but can be proven by trustworthy wit nesses. One of them was quite hu- morous. Near the head of a small bayou extending half mile from Choctawatchie Bay, a large pelican, m assuring some six feet from tip to tip, had fed and loafed so long that fishermen casting for trout had no fears for him. He swan and flopped around within 100 feet or so from motorboats and launches. and seldom became alarmed when lures splashed 30 feet from him. A well known Pen sacola caster sent his 'floater" near the pelican, and started snatching his rod in such way as to tease and tempt the bird which made a dive for it., and came up hooked. The reeling was carefully done and despite his struggles the pelican was carried to the boat and the hook gently re- moved.
 The pelican made straight shoot down the full length of the bayou and out into the bay. He has never been seen in that locality since.
 The other incident, somewhat simi- lar. can also be proven. Two of us were making long overhead casts near a sand-bar where numerous gulls were lowering around. We noted several of them betrayed inter est. some darting toward the lures in the air. Finally one big bold fellow, apparently undertaking to impress his companions. made full swoop at a minnow just as 1t reached its drop ping point and was firmly hooked. He was reeled to the boat and re- leased. Needless to say. he and his sportive friends disappeared on a fast schedule.