144 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



and almost the very moment we reached the east 

 end each would hook a yellowtail of from twenty-five 

 to thirty pounds, more or less. And so the game 

 would go on all day, the fish playing on the light rods 

 from twenty minutes to an hour, according to size. 



But in 1909 the reverse held. The yellowtails were 

 not there, or small ones were the rule if they were 

 caught. This does not mean that there was no fishing. 

 I fancy the Eastern angler would think our poorest 

 days a "piscatorial bonanza," but it happened that 

 all the tuna were caught this year at Santa Catahna 

 and the yellowtail as well. This was for September. 

 In June, July, and August, yellowtails were caught 

 at San Clemente in abundance. 



The game fishes of the region are the yellowtail, 

 sixty pounds; the bonito, twenty pounds; white sea 

 bass, sixty pounds; black sea bass, three hundred and 

 thirty-six pounds; tuna, two hundred and fifty pounds; 

 long-finned tuna, sixty pounds; yellow-finned tuna, 

 sixty pounds; oceanic bonito, twenty pounds; sheeps- 

 head, twelve pounds; swordfish, three hundred and 

 fifty pounds;* and a variety of rock bass, perch, and 

 others, making up a really extraordinary collection 

 of big fishes to be taken with the rod. 



It might be thought that anglers would waste many 

 fishes where there is such a plethora of game; but 

 the professional fishermen take the catch, and are 

 extremely glad to get it. They ice it and ship it to 

 Los Angeles, and in payment for it they provide anglers 

 with sardines and other fishes for bait. 



There is a small camp at Mosquito Harbor, where 



* These are the maximum rod record catches from the records of the 

 Tuna Club. 



