THE GREAT WHITE BASS 



By F. L. HARDING. 



MASHING rec- 

 ords is always 

 stirring business. 

 As a people, our 

 leisure moments 

 are largely de- 

 voted to athletics 

 and open-air 

 pursuits, and the 

 surpassing of 

 standing limits of previous achieve- 

 ments is keenly followed by us all. 

 A feat requiring great delicacy of touch 

 combined with an alert mind and ready 

 arm compels the interest and admira- 

 tion of sportsmen in general. 



This tale of "record-breaking" takes 

 us to Southern California, to the unique 

 islet of Santa Catalina. Until recent 

 years comparatively unknown, its fame 

 has spread with amazing rapidity. This 

 is largely due to its perennial climate of 

 genial warmth, which assures im- 

 munity from the weather's discomforts. 

 The disciples of Walton have long 

 since known the wonderful wealth of 

 "big fish" that frequent its precipitous 

 shores, and have not been slow to revel 

 in it. The Tuna, the colossal jewfish, 

 the sportive yellowtail — all have en- 

 deared themselves to ardent anglers 

 from the world over, and tales of their 

 prowess are retold over bait and tackle 



to the wonder of the uninitiated. With 

 ordinary good fortune a stay of two 

 weeks in the summer should be re- 

 warded with many yellowtail, a couple 

 of jewfish, or, perchance, the great 

 leaping tuna himself. 



But the white bass — and here enters 

 the hero of this yarn — as erratic and 

 mysterious as the "Flying Dutchman," 

 appears in great schools in an hour 

 and after a few days vanishes with un- 

 canny abruptness. Seen through the 

 crystal water in hundreds, poising, ad- 

 vancing, hesitating, moving forward 

 again in concerted deliberation, it 

 seems an. easy matter to soon fill the 

 launch with them, but one obstacle pre- 

 vents this rosy dream. And this one 

 has taxed the ingenuity of the local 

 boatmen to its utmost for many years. 

 It is the apparent ability of this aristo- 

 crat to live indefinitely without eating, 

 resulting in its usual complete indif- 

 ference to all lures, however tempting. 

 At dawn and at twilight, a fresh flying- 

 fish will occasionally break the charm, 

 and it is then that most of the catches 

 have been made. Remembering that 

 these fish average thirty pounds, are 

 vigorous and prolonged fighters, with 

 an exceedingly sporty style, its persist- 

 ent and untiring pursuit by the rodmen 

 is understood. The local anglers' ren- 



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