The California Sheepsbead 185 



trout fisherman of the party remarked that they 

 equalled in game qualities any of these fishes he 

 had ever taken. Ten or more minutes would be 

 occupied in landing a fish, and with trout tackle 

 it would have taken a much longer time to bring 

 the largest to gaff or net. 



The whitefish is one of the most valuable of 

 the California food-fishes, and one of the most 

 attractive, in its demure coat of gray, drab, or 

 olive. It is not a migrant, being found about the 

 islands from the Coronados north at all times. 

 The attention paid to angling in Southern Cali- 

 fornia is well illustrated at certain points, as 

 Coronado Beach, Long Beach, Terminal, and 

 Santa Monica, where long piers have been built 

 out into the surf, upon which anglers who are 

 satisfied with small fry can indulge in the pastime. 

 Here the mackerel, halibut, and various kinds of 

 surf fishes, Embiotocidce, are taken, which, if it 

 were possible to fish for with trout-rods, would 

 afford fine sport, as the fish weigh from one to 

 five or six pounds, and are gamy ; but the exigen- 

 cies of the case require stiff rods, and the long 

 bamboo pole is chiefly used, as by it the fish can 

 be lifted to the high piers. Large fish, if hooked, 

 are led ashore and hauled upon the beach. The 



