38 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNL\ 



caravels of Cabrillo and Vizcaino sailed, and watched 

 the signal-smokes which probably announced their 

 presence from native town to town, from valley to 

 mountain. What mysteries are buried in these deep 

 caiions — what stories the listening waves could tell 

 of the buccaneers and navigators of old! 



Higher rise the hills, and deeper grows the blue haze 

 about the island that once belonged to Philip III of 

 Spain, and finally, doubtless, became a Spanish grant 

 to some of the conquerors. Later, to follow its modern 

 history, it was granted by Mexico to Governor Pio 

 Pico, deeded by him to Nicholas Covarrubias, Sr., 

 and was finally purchased by James Lick, who fought 

 the squatters who had established themselves here, 

 defeated them in the courts, and gave it over to herds 

 of sheep and goats. 



It was then bought by Mr. G. Shatto, who cut it up 

 into lots, during the great boom of 1885. Then an 

 English syndicate purchased it for the silver in its 

 deep canons. From them it was purchased by the 

 Banning Company, who control its destinies, though 

 the town of Avalon is owned by hundreds of property 

 owners from all over the country. The entire island 

 is a part of Los Angeles County, and but a little over 

 two hours by fast steamer from the city of Los Angeles. 



I first knew the island when it was owned by the 

 Lick estate, and used as a sheep ranch; and its soft 

 winds, its big game fishes, the radiant days of summer 

 all the year around, made a deep and favorable im- 

 pression, that time has only increased. 



There were a few settlers on the island years ago. 

 Others, drawn by the delightful climate, allured by its 

 natural hospitalities, by the perennial summer that 



