The Washington times., 1928-07-18

1t proves that automobiles will go
wherever smooth travel il provided.
DuriE1g the first five months of It's
operation from January is to May
is OF this year, the Overseas High
way carried ALL incoming and
2,US5 outgoing ears, which carried
a total on the inbound and out
bound trips of 1898 passengers.
One hundred and fOrtyfive trucks
and 13 buses also made the round
trip. Part of the incoming cars
remained in Key West, which has
increased its car ownerships since
1t has found new places TO drive
to. Part went to Cuba by steamer,
| an suspicious augurv OF the day
when the Cuban Central Highway,
700 miles long, will be connected
with Key West. only 80 miles dis
tatit, BY daily autOInubils ferries.
Cars BY Steamer
In fact. the p. 4 q. steamers will
carry cars at the present time.
Since the Overseas Highway has
been In operation the hotels OF
Key West, in some cases, have
more than trebled the number of
their guests.
The Florida East Coast Railway
which strides over the ocean on
mammoth piers OF steel and con-
crete also enjoyed q record tourist
travel movement in passengers
bound for Havana via Key West
last winter.
II N ti.us that not many tarpon
have been caught from the over
seas Highway thus far. Few per.
sons know that they can be taken
either from the highway Itself or
from launches and row boats in the
adjoining water. One was caught
last summer from small bridge
by which the highway crosses a
tidal estuary on Boca Chica Key,
about eight miles from Key West.
The tsrpon, which is a member
of the herring group, spawns in
fresh water. During the late spring
and early summer 1t leaves the
ocean, cruising along near the
beach, and up channels and into
esfuaries. Several times while along
The FOitte Or lie Overseas Ifigh.
way the writer las seen tarpoIl
break water. leaping clear OF the
ocean in pursuit or mullet.
Then Hit Open Water
At Florida city, 80 miles south
OF Miami. motorists leave the Dixie
Highway and enter the Overseas
Highway. Ten miles more and they
strike open water, vistas of the
sea and distant green keys. Two
miles further is Card Sound,
crossed by the Steamboat Creek
bridge.
1'Iia sound IL d good place for
HAt+ .aa.l. -.
fish, sometimes Weighing To 9 900
pounds. Here Is found the swift
bone fish, h pale silyeP.green mem.
Der of the herring tribe which can
cut 500-footlong fllrrow In the
Swallows. II reaches 10 pounds,
but Is oftener caught between
three and six pounds.
From Steamboat Creek the high
way crosses to Key Largo, the
largest of the Florida keys. There
are a couple Of small lodging
places. gasoline stations, and fish.
ing plant al Jew Fish Creek.
The Overseas Highway. OF rolled
mari from the ocean, top.dressad
with asphalt, il smooth as q con
crete road. The keys after leaving
Key Largo begin to thin out ana
are further off In the ocean. Soon
you are at Islamorada, "a miles
| from Miami. The shoals on the
Atlantic side, the left, are brilliant
| green, fading into the deep blue Of
the Gulf Stream few miles out.
Seven miles out, on the left, is
Alligator Reef Light House, one Of
the finest grounds for amberjaekS
and barracudas.
The present writer has seen
school Of 30 big Jacks fooled up to
/ the surface on Alligator Reef by
holding caught barracudas on the
line. The amberjack Is the most
| curious fish In the world and comes
up to see what's the matter. One
caught on this reef by the writer
weighed almost 100 pounds.
On the right, the waters of the
/ Gulf OF Florida are sometimes milk
white or cream eolored, due to the
I churing OF the bottom mari by the
tides. But one may see almost
every hire in the waters, gorgeous
riotous bands Of color, Blue. green,