FISHING THE PACIFIC 



every one yet caught that weighed in excess of 60 1 pounds, 

 with the exception of one in New Zealand waters and three 

 off Peru, was taken off the north coast of Chile. 



On top of that you have wonderful food and find un- 

 bounded hospitality everywhere. Chileans are a sporting 

 race. The women are beautiful, the men gallant, the children 

 appealing, as in other South American countries. 



The commercial fishermen have been well trained as rod- 

 and-reel guides and, like the Peruvians, are fearless when it 

 comes to handling big fish and handUng a boat as she should 

 be handled. 



Northern Chile is completely arid. It probably rains only 

 two or three times a year there at most, and as this book 

 deals primarily with salt-water fishing, I shall confine myself 

 to this northerly region. The first port, southbound, is Arica, 

 where there is a very good hotel, with swordfishing if there 

 are boats available. A little over a hundred miles farther 

 south lies Iquique— one of the most attractive cities I have 

 ever visited, and the Gloucester or Louisburg of Chile. Here 

 there is energetic commercial fishing for swordfish and there 

 are several tuna canneries. The citizens are interesting and 

 hospitable. 



Iquique is the Palm Beach of Chile, boasting the best swim- 

 ming beach I've ever bathed from in that country. It has a fine 

 Union Club, a Spanish Club, an airport within the city limits. 

 Most important attribute is its fine new Hotel Pratt, built a 

 little over three years ago, only 100 meters from the dock, 

 with forty single rooms and bath plus four suites. Here one 

 gets excellent service and may feast on fine Chilean delicacies 

 such as congriOy the Chilean lobster (American crayfish), 



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