CHAPTER IX 



THE YELLOWTAIL 



" The pleasantest angling is to see the fish cut with her golden 

 oars the silver stream and greedily devour the treacherous bait." 



SHAKESPEARE. 



WHEN the green tones of Southern California 

 merge into gray, and the islands alongshore rest 

 like emeralds in settings of azure, the yellowtail, 

 the gayest cavalier of these summer seas, often tints 

 the ocean a golden hue as the vast schools tarry 

 in the shadows of the island mountains following 

 their short migration. The yellowtail is the fish 

 of the people. It is willing to try conclusions 

 with the veriest tyro when it is in the biting 

 humor, and can be caught with almost anything ; 

 but when not excited, when in its normal condi- 

 tion, with a bold and unaffected camaraderie it 

 disdains the arts of the cleverest wielder of the 

 rod and literally defies him to his face, often at 

 mere arm's length. 



I have taken the yellowtail nearly every month 

 in the year "in the Santa Catalina channel and at 



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