From Previous Issues
Answers & Questions

Knight's Key Dock was the subject of an article in KWHx #16. We found that story fascinating­ a man-made "island" that served as the terminus for both trains and ships and that only existed for six years before being destroyed. We tried, through words and pictures, to describe this unique structure and its location. Then, after we went to print (of course) we came across this simple yet eloquent hand-drawn map (above.)

There's the trestle branching off from the main line and curving around to the dock. There's the Knight's Key Bridge (the first section of what's now known as the Seven Mile Bridge) continuing straight to Pigeon Key. It's so much easier now to picture the reality of the Knight's Key Dock.

Then we noticed that little entry­ "world's largest fish caught here June 1 & 2, 1912." What?

Seems that Charles Thompson, a sportfishing captain out of Miami, had a charter that first week of June in 1912 to go tarpon fishing. Early on the morning of the 1st, just off the coast of Pigeon Key, the crew spotted a giant fish. The first harpoon was thrown at 9:30 that morning and, more than seven hours later, the pursuit was over. Measuring 38 feet in length and weighing more than 26,000 pounds, the catch isn't entered in any fishing record book because it wasn't taken on hook and line. It wasn't really a fish, either, but a whale shark. Nonetheless, Captain Thompson turned his catch into the kind of attention-getting (and moneymaking) opportunity available to entrepreneurs in 1912­ he had his catch stuffed and took it on a tour all over the country via the railroads (above.)

While we're talking about fish, let's talk about the ones Zane Grey caught at the Long Key Fish Camp shown in issue #16 (Middle, left.) Thanks to our regular reader Lenny­ a man who knows his fish­ we identified the catch incorrectly. Shown in the picture with the famous Western author and fanatical Keys fisherman are two sailfish flanked on both sides by marlin. Unlike Lenny, we don't know fish as well as we should, and we believed a written source that said these were all swordfish. KWHx promises to get its fish right from now on­ thanks, Lenny!

(Bottom, left) Here's Lenny following a recent successful swordfishing trip of his own.