832 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



ceased; the school had moved, and the anglers found 

 it several days later at the Isthmus, fifteen miles up 

 the coast, where rare sport was enjoyed from the fine 

 sandy beach, the fish being played up and down in 

 water as smooth as glass. Two days later the anglers 

 of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands had them. 



As with other fishes, the white sea bass, which is the 

 Cynoscion nobile of science, varies much in individuals. 

 Some of the large specimxcns are said to be poor game, 

 others are extraordinary fighters. One is recalled, 

 taken in a charming bay from which lofty cliffs and 

 mountains reached away, that played, or rather fought, 

 half an hour, then being taken by the remarkable 

 agility of the boatman, who had all he could do to 

 keep the angler facing the game, so fierce and rapid 

 were its rushes in great circles about the boat. Per- 

 haps the peculiar feature of this fishing is what might 

 be termed the sociability of the fish which come 

 alongside, and I have hooked a fish directly at the 

 boat when reeling in to replenish the bait, the great 

 fish suddenly dashing out of the depths to seize the 

 remnant of a sardine and dart away, making the reel 

 fairly scream. 



The bass follow the kelp which lines the shores of 

 the Channel Islands, swimming into the undulations; 

 thus they are caught within a few feet of the shore, 

 the boat slowly moving, the angler either trolling or 

 casting. 



Little or nothing is known as to the habits of these 

 fishes. They may spawn among the Channel Islands, 

 but no small fishes are ever found here, though the 

 large ones are filled with spawn. In 1908 a large 

 school of medium-sized fishes, weighing from tv/elve 



