264 Fish Stories 



lightful place and in May is at its best. Mr. Ragusa, the 

 proprietor of the principal hotel, is a pleasant contrast to 

 most European landlords in that he takes a personal interest 

 in his guests instead of leaving them to the concierge. He 

 is also a naturalist and collector of repute. Mr. H. Pernull, 

 the genial tourist agent there, is another whose acquaintance 

 should be cultivated. He is an archaeologist and author in 

 his leisure moments, and is thoroughly familiar with Sicily 

 and its people. Between these two, the visitor will have no 

 trouble in securing the best boats and boatmen, information, 

 letters of introduction, permits, etc. Of course, a complete 

 tackle outfit should be taken along, as nothing of the kind 

 can be procured in Sicily, or Europe either, I dare say. As 

 the fish often run to such great size, there would necessarily 

 be a lot of smashed tackle — hence my advice is to take 

 plenty, a triplicate outfit at least. Palermo can be reached 

 easily from Naples by boat or train, the former being but a 

 night's passage and if moonlight, will never be forgotten. 



*' It will be a great disappointment to me if I am unable 

 to be on hand next May to try to be the first to take a 

 ' button tuna ' in those waters. Great glory awaits the man 

 who first demonstrates the possibility, besides grand sport, 

 and should I fail, my hope is that some member of the 

 original Tuna Club may turn the trick, and so shed addi- 

 tional luster on this, the parent organization. 



" Herbert St. Aubyn Earlscliffe, 

 " Santa Barbara, California." 



I wish to emphasize the fact that the tuna (yellowfin and 

 leaping) are the most unreliable of fishes, and no one should 

 go to the island of Santa Catalina, at least from England, 

 France, or Germany, or even from New York, expecting 

 to make a sure and positive catch, as the chances are that 

 they will be disappointed, so far as the tunas are concerned, 

 but not in the many other large fishes found there — as com- 

 pensations. Mr. Earlscliffe says in his interesting letter that 



