344 Life in the Open 



vast hall, music room, or dancing pavilion far out over 

 the water, not to speak of a hotel in the form of an 

 ancient galleon. Here is an imitation of Venice, Italy, 

 and one may enjoy the delights ot the gondola, as well 

 as go a-fishing. At Ocean Park and other places these 

 piers are seen, all patronised by anglers, who seem to 

 possess all the qualifications of Walton, patience, so- 

 briety, and a peaceful mind. The game is usually 

 though not always small : the surf-fish of the coast, 

 smelt, rock-bass, and occasionally halibut, yellowtail 

 and white and black sea-bass. But the smallness of 

 the game does not discourage your real fisherman ; it 

 is not all in the game, but the art of fishing, the 

 anticipation. 



The pier is high above the water, to clear the long 

 rollers that at times come piling in ; hence the majority 

 of the anglers use long stiff bamboo rods and big reels 

 by which the fish can be lifted, and the renting of rods 

 and the selling of bait is a remunerative business along- 

 shore. One may see the sides of these long piers 

 crowded day after day by anglers men, women, and 

 children ; a remarkable demonstration of the universal 

 fascination which angling has for mankind. There is 

 nothing quite like it, except along the Thames, where 

 at times hundreds of men may be seen patiently and 

 philosophically holding a rod for game of the smallest 

 size. Doubtless the anglers hope to land a five- or six- 

 pounder, and without hope and patience there would be 

 no anglers. But the secret is that these fine piers with 



