Letter from Ernest Hemingway to Erl Roman, May 8, 1935

Two-page autograph letter is accompanied by an envelope signed in pencil, addressed in Hemingway’s hand to “Erl Roman Esq. / Miami Herald / Miami / Fla.” And signed by Hemingway on the verso, “E. Hemingway / Yacht Filar / Bimini / B.W.I.”

Will make this very short on acct. Bill Fagen leaving. May 8 (193S]

Dear Erl,

Yesterday May 7 Henry H. STRATER, widely known painter, of OGUNQUIT Maine, Fres. Maine Tuna Club, 1shing with me on Filar landed Blue Marlin which weighed S00 lbs. on tested scales after all of meat below anal 1n had been torn away by sharks when 1sh was brought to gaI – Had him ready to take in when sharks hit him – Fish 12 feet 8½ inches – Tail &8 inch spread – girth G2 in. (will send all other exact measurements when have chance to use steel tape on him) Fish hooked oI Bimini, hooked in corner of mouth, never layted, jumped 18 times clear, brought to boat in an hour such a heavy 1sh jumped hell out of himself. We worked him fast our system. Had him at boat when shark hit him. Strater has football knee, went out of joint, had hell with it, we wouldnt handline 1sh, he got him up himself, in one hour &0 minutes, we got him over the roller after Some lifting boy, all blood drained, meat gone below anal 1n to tail, but 1sh completely intact, Fred Farke is mounting it –

Had two buckets full of meat that knocked oI but wouldnt weigh it as didnt

want try to beat Tommys record with any conniving.

Fish would have weighed between 700 and 900 – He weighed S00 before 20 some witnesses. We could have brought him plenty up above that by weighing the loose meat. Same day I landed 128 lb. white Marlin on light out1t and a G8 lb. white Marlin –

Straters 1sh on 12-0 Vom Hofe – Vom Hofe 20 o> Hickory tip – 39 thread – strip dolphin belly, 1S foot cable – 11/0 FRueger Sobey hook –

One other boat caught 1sh – Bill Fagen – Fish was hit by shark same way as the record Zane Grey 10&0 lb. 1sh was – with S minutes more would have had him – was reaching for leader when they hit him.

Dont know anything more this morning except I would trade you this hangover for any reasonable oIer –

On board boat 1 Strater, Dr. McCullough (Bill has his initials) me, Albert Finder, Key West, and Hamilton Adams, Key West,

‌Flease copyright any and all Fics in my name – Take best one out of pack I’m sending for the Faper – Flease Send all back by Bill Fagen on Sunday.

Have tropical camera place do 2 of each and send prints and negatives by Bill – fG.00 enclosed for expenses – Will pay Bill if costs more –