XIV 



AVALON, THE BEAUTIFUL 



IF you are a fisherman, and aspire to the study or 

 conquest of the big game of the sea, go to Catalina 

 Island once before it is too late. 



The summer of 1917 will never be forgotten by 

 those fishermen who were fortunate enough to be 

 at Avalon. Early in June, even in May, there were 

 indications that the first record season in many years 

 might be expected. Barracuda and white sea-bass 

 showed up in great schools; the ocean appeared to 

 be full of albacore; yellowtail began to strike all 

 along the island shores and even in the bay of Avalon; 

 almost every day in July sight of broadbill sword- 

 fish was reported, sometimes as many as ten in a 

 day; in August the blue-fin tuna sm-ged in, school 

 aftCT school, in vast numbers; and in September 

 returned the Marlin, or roundbill swordfish that 

 royal-ptirple swashbuckler of the Pacific. 



This extraordinary run of fish appeared like old 

 times to the boatmen and natives who could look 

 back over many Catalina years. The cause, of 

 course, was a favorable season when the sardines 

 and anchovies came to the island in incalculable 

 numbers. Acres and acres of these little bait fish 

 drifted helplessly to and fro, back and forth with 



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