It was all hands to the deck when The Reefs staff, past and present, honoured US tourist Larry Caso on his 125th visit by dedicating a new wooden balcony in his honour.

In 40 years of visiting he has become a firm favourite with staff -- some of whom have stayed with The Reefs as long as he has.

The party terrace - dubbed `The Deck at Caso's Point' has near panoramic views of the South Shore.

But Mr. Caso knew nothing of the gesture until it was announced at a bash for repeat visitors on Thursday night.

Mr. Caso, 77, said: "I was flabbergasted -- they had some of the older staff members there.

"You can see the sweep of shoreline from Elbow Beach nearly into Somerset.

"They are trying to get the Government to designate the area as Caso's Point.'' But Mr. Caso's loyalty isn't the only thing which had guests flocking to the get-together. Over the years he has become a very popular patron at the Southampton hotel.

The Reefs Assistant Manager Debbie MacMillan explained: "He's very generous -- he buys all the dining room staff a drink every Monday.'' "And he knows them -- we have long-term staff who have been here for 40 years.

"He's an avid fisherman -- once he's caught them he gives them to a member of staff -- he has a list of staff -- and he goes through the list then starts at the beginning of the list again.

"The staff eat well when he's here -- he's caught four fairly large fish this visit. He's very sparky, there's a sparkle in his eyes and he's witty.'' When Mr. Caso made his first trip from America back in 1960 he wasn't in such sparkling form as he was still groggy from a gruelling six-hour operation to remove skin cancer from his head.

He said: "I had it in the middle of my forehead. They started operating at 10 a.m. and they finished at 4 p.m.'' After getting the all-clear, he headed straight for travel agents.

"I went home and told my wife we're going to Bermuda. She said `Great, when'? "I told her tomorrow! But she was packed in time.'' Bermuda made a big impact, says Mr. Caso.

"I thought it was so beautiful, no poverty or slums like most other islands.

The people are very accommodating.

"If they hate you won't know it, but on other islands they let you know straight away.'' Mr. Caso's fondness for fishing means he has become a bit of an expert on islands.

The Chappaqua, New York resident says: "Of all the places I have been in the world nothing beats Bermuda and I have been to a lot of islands.'' And the fishing has been good this summer.

"I got a 28-inch grouper, 27-inch and 25-inch snappers and a 30-inch horse-eyed jack.'' But in memory of what brought him to Bermuda in the first place he is careful when spending long hours in the sun.

"I put plenty of sun block on now,'' he says with a chuckle.