The Still Angler 345 



their bands, dancing halls, lectures, organs, and ship 

 hotels, afford the people a voyage at sea, its delights 

 and pleasures, without any disadvantages. The green 

 sea comes piling in in tidal measure, the surf high, a de- 

 lightful spectacle as it breaks, affording the angler the 

 perspective, the spume and dashing spray, all free as air, 

 and the angling thrown in. I do not know who invented 

 the angling pier, but he was a wise man in his day a 

 public benefactor. 



While the majority of the game is small from the 

 pier, there are fishing launches near at hand, and you 

 may go outside and troll for barracuda, bonito, or yellow- 

 tail ; or you may anchor in deep water and fish for the 

 big black sea-bass. These boats and others take you to 

 the great breakwater of San Pedro, a harbour which cost 

 five million dollars, and to Point Firman and Portuguese 

 Bend, the home of the mainland abalone fisheries. At 

 the former point can be seen at low tide during or after 

 a storm some of the most remarkable waves on this or 

 any coast, well worthy a visit even if a winter gale is 

 blowing. Off the point a rock rises out of the sea from 

 a great stratified platform ; as the sea comes piling in 

 it strikes the rock, and is sent whirling, it is said, three 

 hundred feet into the air, the dome of water assuming 

 many beautiful shapes as it rises and falls, at its climax 

 or maximum height resembling a splendid fountain, or 

 some terrible explosion which has forced tons of water 

 into the air in the shape of silvery pompons. 



At night, when the darkness is intense, this 



