SMALL PACIFIC COAST SUA PISHES 



' A shoal of dolphins tumbling in wild glee, 

 Glowed with such orient tints they might have been 

 The rainbow's offering, where it met the ocean.' 



The Tuna Club has a dolphin cup, presented by Dr. Mattison, 

 and recognizes the beautiful fish as one of the hard fighters of the 

 sea, comparing well with the yellowtail. I have seen them 

 caught off the Santa CataUna ' doldrums,' and lying on the 

 deck, I gazed down into the deep blue water and saw this 

 golden-green harlequin of the sea come slowly up on Mr. Potter's 

 liae, changing colour from green to yellow to old gold, blue and 

 other hues — a marvellous spectacle. I have taken the Atlantic 

 species from among the sargasso weed patches not far from 

 Bahama, and in the Gulf Stream, and know it to be a fine game 

 fish. But it has never been my good fortune to take one in 

 California though I have hunted the seas many days. 



Another rare fish at Santa Catalina, game in every sense, is 

 the Lady fish, Albula vulpes, that has been taken here and at 

 Santa Monica two feet in length. It is a singular appearing 

 silvery fish that performs many strange antics when hooked. 

 Approximating the English conger, taken by the members of 

 the British Sea Anglers Society, is a murray, common in South- 

 ern California, also called the Conger eel {Gymnothoraso modax). 

 Specimens over six feet in length and weighing forty pounds 

 have been taken. It is a ferocious appearing fish and coils like a 

 snake, and looks Uke one. 



The California barracuda, Sphyraena argentea, is one of the 

 commonest of the small game fishes, arriving in vast schools 

 early in the spring, and breaking up. It is taken with rod and 

 reel near shore. Its maximum size is about fifteen pounds. 

 On a light rod it wiU often make an interesting play, but call- 

 ing to mind the fresh-water pickerel. 



The Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus sierra, is taken at 

 Santa Catalina and San Clemente occasionally, but is not com- 

 mon. Equally rare is the Pomfret, Brama rati, while the 



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