The Haunts of the Black Sea-Bass 



the sea. Near its northern portions two 

 harbors extend in from opposite sides, the 

 island evidently at one time having been 

 separated, the isthmus, as it is called, being 

 but a few hundred feet across ; from this 

 it widens out to six miles or more. The 

 island is really a gigantic mountain range 

 projecting from the ocean. The cliffs are 

 majestic, beetling, rising sheer from the 

 sea, broken into strange forms, and tinted 

 with folds and splashes of color. The only 

 beaches are at the mouths of the canons, 

 or perhaps where the continued falling of 

 rocks in land-slides caused by the winds 

 have formed a vantage-ground for waves. 

 On the west coast the sea assails the cliffs 

 with sullen roar, and the inshore wind 

 whirls up the canons, beating the fog 

 against the rocks, and bearing it aloft, 

 where it is dissipated by the radiating heat 

 of the mountains. On the east the water 

 is calmer, often like glass, affording favor- 

 able conditions for boating and fishing. 



The air of this island in the sea seems 

 redolent with romance. Three hundred 

 years ago Cabrillo, a Spanish adventurer, 

 cast anchor in one of its harbors, and 

 named it La Victoria, after one of his 

 vessels. In 1602 Viscaino visited and gave 

 it the present name of Santa Catalina. 



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