THE YELLOWTAIL OF CALIFOEIfIA 



tackle, but is a class of the Tuna Club. So many ' buttons ' 

 and prizes may seem puerile and unnecessary to the seasoned 

 a'Ugler, but there is method in the madness. Thousands of men 

 visit the islands and nearly all fish. It is fair to say that fifty 

 per cent, have never heard of the ethics or high standards of 

 sport, or even dreamed that a fish should be given a fighting 

 chance for its life. If such men were not attended to, and taught, 

 they would go out with four or five hand-lines or small ropes and 

 their definition of sport would be to see how many fish they could 

 bring in. In 1886 this was the every-day disgrace of the most 

 beautiful sea angling region in the world. Boats went out with a 

 number of hand-Unes and tons of yellowtails were brought in, 

 many to be hung up and photographed, then thrown into the 

 channel. 



Listen to William C. Prime on this subject in I Go a-FisMng, 

 written years ago : 



' There is always that distinction to keep in mind between going to get 

 fish and going a-fishing. There is no possibility of convincing the general 

 run of people that the old angler has his enjoyment in the going for fish, 

 and that the getting of fish is but a minor part of the day's pleasure. 

 This distinction grows more and more marked as we grow older, The 

 young angler — I speak of young in experience, not young in years — ^the 

 angler who has not had many years of enjoyment in the gentle art, counts 

 much on the fullness of his basket, on the rivahy with companions, on the 

 glitter of his catch, when to appreciate the innumerable joys which dwell 

 on the banks and in the waters of the rivers and lakes, and which are 

 surely to be taken whenever one goes a-fishing. And therefore the old 

 angler has always a successful day, catching that which he went out to 

 catch with great certainty, and coming home with a load of beauty in his 

 heart, and beauty to talk and teU about, though there be not a fish in his 

 creel.' 



It was to stop- this gross over-fishing, and to inculcate an 

 idea of sport as it is understood by civiHzed people, by gentle- 

 men, that the Tuna Club is organized for gentlemen, and it is 

 a matter of gratification to the distinguished men who joiaed 

 the Club, and lent to it their moral support, that a complete 



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