The California Sheepshead 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, Eyézofocide, 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 
