138 Big Game Fishes 



miles apart, are the centre, giving about one hun- 

 dred miles of coast-line, bays, and coves for the 

 angler, one-half of which will be found smooth 

 water that rarity on the Pacific coast. The 

 yellowtail follows up the mainland coast-line and 

 can often be taken two or three miles off the 

 beaches from Coronado north; and at ports like 

 Redondo, where deep water cuts inshore, it is 

 sometimes taken from the high piers. At the 

 islands offshore the north or east coast is the lee, 

 and does not experience the heavy trade-winds ; 

 and here is the home of the yellowtail, the waters 

 in which the angler finds conditions far out to 

 sea which call to mind some inland lakes. A 

 large percentage of the visitors to these angling 

 islands try conclusions with the gamy yellowtail, 

 and as a consequence, boats and boatmen peculiar 

 to the place have developed. The typical fishing 

 boat is a sixteen or twenty foot yawl or launch 

 with a two or four horse-power engine run by 

 the boatman, who is also gaffer and an expert 

 in his calling. The boat has two chair seats at, 

 and facing, the stern. Attached to the seat is a 

 cup of leather to receive the butt of the rod when 

 a large fish is being played, while overhead is 

 an awning, lifted when the strikes come by the 



