The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters

, as he shoved his skiff from shore. "Take up your positions exactly

e three skiffs slowly crept ahead as

for a run. The old sailor deftly backed up his skiff and threw Charley the end of his net. The lad caught it and quickly made it fast

s swung around for each other. The last of Walter's net ran out just as Charley passed around the s

s boat. "We always want to turn when we have got just enough net left to reach eac

re so long. I thought my arms were going to break fro

long. Wait until you get one full of fish and it will seem forty miles long. T

how to frighten the fish into the nets by pounding on the bottoms

Walter suddenly exclaimed. "I can s

s chum were making in their excitement. Walter was beating the water frantically with his oar while the old sailor stand

rs and watched them with

hing that scares them is a vibration of the water they live in. That beating the water with your oar is the proper caper, Walter, only it happens that these fish are mullet and y

after considerable blundering due to their inexper

were beginning to ache but Cha

when some leads caught in the webbing and the pile turned over into

really and truly fishing it might have meant the loss of forty or fifty dollars' worth of fish. You must keep your loose webbing piled clear of your lead

s hard extra work," grumbled Walter with a flash o

nd supper before we start out for real work," sai

t mad a little too easily," he half apologized to his chum over the meal. "I didn't stop to think that you had been

hard on the temper." But the lad knew that the flashes of temper would come many times before his chum became a seasoned fishe

the night, and just as the sun went down, the three boarded the launch and wit

the Captain's memory for years to come. They had run abou

skiffs," he said. "These are strange waters and we

e them back to her, and the other lanterns were also lit

light frightens them worse than anything else. A flash of lightning makes them all scurry for dee

Of course, I understand how you can tell where they are in the day time, for if you can't

t fisherman can tell by the character of the bright streak the kind of fish that makes it. Each species makes a different kind of movement and an expert can read their trails like a hunter reads tracks. Nights when the water does not fire it is harder, for th

an I thought," Walter commented. "I sup

fisherman," Charley assured him. "I do not claim

arked, thoughtfully, "from running a ship up to running a nation. Th

ood hard work," Charley amended. "And it's time for us to begin ours n

loose from the launch, took to their oars bringing

ach other. Only the faint glow of the turned-down lanterns rising above

others seemed to run only a little ways and then stopped suddenly. But they all marked the passage of fish, and he soon began to wonder why Charley did not give the signal to circle them. At first, he consoled himself with the thought that his chum knew what he was doing, but as they rowed steadily on mile after mile through the flashing schools, he began to have doubts. After all, Charley had admitted that he was not an experienced fisherman. Perhaps Charley was not passing through the same school

r could stand

ailed, "there's lots

answer. "They don't look right t

t to his tired muscles seemed ages of weary pul

ht over"-A pause, then: "All

ent. He bent to his oars and sent his skiff flying through

e order and he swung his flying

to get around that school. Most of them outran me, but I guess we have got a few penned up in the circle. Put up your lantern and let's

smacking sound much like that made by a pe

ried in glee, "you are hearin