The Expedition party purchased two cypress skiffs before departing Fort Myers, Florida. They transported them to Fort Shackleford via carts, and then used the boats as they crossed the Everglades, carrying men and supplies. They had expected to be able to ride in the boats more frequently, but they ended up completing portages across the thick saw grass. Skiffs usually are shallow, flat-bottomed boats with square sterns and pointed bows. After abandoning one of the wooden skiffs in the Everglades, the party named the remaining skiff the "Tarpon."
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For other topics referenced in the Expedition texts, please refer to the Index to Subjects and Names.
1892 Everglades Exploration Expedition : Three Digital Texts, 2015