THE TUNA CLUB AND BRANCHES 83 



passed protecting the spawning grounds of the bay. 

 Members have fought for the legal protection of the 

 gulls and sea birds. In every field relating to the inter- 

 ests of the State or the islands the club has taken 

 an active hand, always for the best and for logical 

 reform. 



The average citizen has a very hazy idea of the 

 economic value of sport to a State. The State of 

 Maine estimates that its fishing, game, etc., bring into 

 its area five millions of dollars every year. If this is 

 true, those of California bring to the Pacific Coast 

 even more, as the Channel Islands and the California 

 trout streams are the great playgrounds of the world, 

 and with the opening of the Panama Canal the islands 

 will doubtless become winter yachting grounds of the 

 Atlantic fleets and clubs. Avalon Bay is the favorite 

 anchorage of the South Coast Yacht Club, and is 

 often filled with beautiful yachts, some of which are 

 the Comfort, of Mr. C. G. Conn; the Compredore, the 

 beautiful steam-yacht of Captain William Banning; 

 the Cricket and La Paloma, of Mr. Hancock Banning; 

 the Vixen, owned by Don Arturo Bandini; the grace- 

 ful Lurline, by Commodore H. H. Sinclair; and many 

 more, which when at anchor surround the Tuna Club 

 with a variety of craft resplendent with color. 



It can be said that the tournament idea was suc- 

 cessful from the very inception, and the attractive 

 collection of trophies, medals, cups, etc., tells the 

 story of the evolution of sea-angling in California. 

 The tournament began with the opening of the tuna 

 season and ended on the first of November. The 

 following is a tournament announcement for 1908, 

 showing the prizes: 



