The Haunts of the Black Sea-Bass 



Father Ascencion, who accompanied him, 

 describes the inhabitants as sun worship- 

 pers, one of whose temples he found near 

 the two harbors. In these early days the 

 island had a large and prosperous native 

 population ; every well-watered canon had 

 its village, and I have found evidences of 

 them on some of the highest ranges. 



One of my first visits to Santa Catalina 

 was for the purpose of opening some of 

 the ancient graves of these people ; and 

 while thinking the matter over with 

 " Mexican Joe/' who has lived thirty 

 years on the island, I took out an old bass- 

 rod that had seen service on the St. Law- 

 rence, and began looking it over. 



" What you catch with that?" asked 

 my companion, with a curious look on 

 his strong Indian face. 



" Bass, black," I answered noncha- 

 lantly, whirling the reel, and listening to 

 the music. 



" What! " retorted Joe, laughing ; then, 

 " How much he weigh ? " 



" Five pounds," thinking of a certain 

 afternoon on the river. 



" Oh ! " continued Joe, " I thought you 

 mean black sea-bass." 



" Well, how much does he weigh ? " I 

 asked. 



166 



