THE GAME PISHES OF THE WOELD 



band across one shoulder ; but it is neither as large nor as plentiful as the 

 spot-fin. AU the croakers are taken the year round in the breakers, 

 back of the breakers, and in the bays. The same tackle is used for yellow- 

 fin and croakers as for the surf-whiting. 



' Fismo clams, a large quahaug clam, are used chiefiy for bait in 

 angling for all the varieties named in the foregoing ; sand-crabs are used 

 in the summer when the shells are soft. The surf- whiting and the croaker 

 bite equally well on either, but the yeUow-fin (Ukewise the sharks) are 

 partial to sand-crabs. 



' Many pier fishermen fish almost exclusively for the smaller fish, 

 such as mackerel, pompano, smelt and herring, which call for long cane 

 rods and half a dozen very small hooks. Pompano bite best on shark 

 or craw-fish bait, while mackerel are partial to the flesh of their own kind. 



' Rock-bass, halibut, and in season, sea-trout, are also taken from the 

 piers. The sea-trout, which is nothing more or less than a young white 

 sea-bass, running from one to sik and eight pounds, is best taken with live 

 sardines for bait. Halibut run from two or three pounds up to thirty 

 and thirty-five pounds. 



' Several varieties of sharks and stingarees are numerous in Southern 

 Califomian waters, particularly during the warm months. While they 

 are not classed as game fish are very apt to seize the angler's bait, and 

 they put up a very interesting argument, and are great tackle smashers.' 



Affecting the rocks and the great kelp beds is the Atka fish 

 (Fleurogrammus), common among the Aleutian Islands where 

 it is called Atka mackerel. Dr. Jordan says that when hooked 

 in water over twenty feet deep it comes np readily, but as soon 

 as it sees the boat, dashes away and makes an extraordinary 

 fight for liberty. His ship was out of provisions, so nine men 

 began to fish for the Atka mackerel. In four hours they landed 

 five hundred and eighty-five fish, or seventeen fish per line per 

 hour, all of which were used by the crew. The fish averaged 

 about two and one-half pounds each, and were beautifully 

 coloured. The dorsal was large, calling to mind that of the 

 whitefish ; the pectoral fins very large, the body yellow, with 

 jet-black cross-bars. 



Allied to them is the blue-cod, which I have taken at Santa 

 Catalina nearly four feet in length and weighing thirty or more 

 pounds. It is a large, long, slender savage-looking fish, the 

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