72 FISHES OF THE PACIFIC COAST 



pounds, goes in close schools, though sometimes break- 

 ing up, and is to be compared to the fresh-water 

 pickerel as a game fish; it is, in fact, a failure com- 

 pared to the rest of the finny tribe found in these 

 waters. It appears in early spring in vast schools 

 coming from the south, and is followed with net and 

 line, sardine or bone, by the professional fisher- 

 men, who consider it one of the most valuable sum- 

 mer food fishes. I have taken it with an eight-ounce 

 split bamboo, and some individuals afford some sport 

 on such tackle; but the average fish comes in very 

 readily and shortly gives up the fight. 



THE MACKEREL 



In early spring vast schools of mackerel come up 

 the coast and afford good sport for anglers with light 

 rods. The fish is not the same as the famous Eastern 

 mackerel, nor is it so good a food fish ; but as game on 

 a light split bamboo no one would criticise it. When 

 the fish are biting they are exceedingly voracious, and 

 the angler can cast at them with an exaggerated fly 

 made of a piece of white or red cloth and take them 

 in unlimited quantities. These fishes are migratory; 

 now in one place, the next day in another, disappear- 

 ing in the fall for some unknown resort. 



ROCK BASS 



Another small fish to be caught in unlimited quan- 

 tities is the rock bass. It is shaped like the black bass, 

 and altogether an attractive fish, with brilliant blue 



