Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-17
CATALINA ISLAND.
An Attractive Resort to All

vi udhy JOoAo ehO ROSPAO Va t4io ohN
San Bernardino counties have been in the
habit of camping in some of the inviting
little valleys of Santa Catalina Island.
The favorite place has always been the
little valley formerly called Timms's or
Happy Valley, and now called Avelon.
The beach and bay fronting this valley
is simply perfect. There is little or no
surf at any time, and the water is always
buoyant and clear, inviting the bather
and swimmer to disport upon its pellucid
bosom. Boating and fishing are the ia
vorite pastimes, and as there are no sud-
den changes in the weather, perfect
safety gives an added pleasure to the en-
joyments Of life at this splendid resort.
Heretofore the drawback to the
casual visitor has been the lack of
accommodation. But now there is a
good hotel there, we'll conducted and at
reasonable charges. The great bulk of
the people, however. who 60 there in
families, continue the old camping sys-
tenn, and the beach in all directions is
covered with tents.
The hotel is located upon the very
spot where the aborigines OF the island
performed their funereal rites and buried
their dead. Tie mound that was for
merly there has been long leveled, but
for many years Indian trophies of various
kinds have been dug out of the black
earth of which the burial place seems to
have been formed. It was probably at
this point that the Spanish navigator,
Admiral Cabrillo, in 1912, was delighted
with the pleasant and handsome faces of
the native women and the manly forms
and light complexion of the men. In
deed, Cabrillo reported that all the
channel islands were inhabited by a
very superior people. And if we are to
believe the explorer. Viscaino, who WIS.,
tied the island in 1902, the natives were
an enterprising and warlike people, who
built great boats that seemed like little
barks alongside of his own junk-like
craft. They frequently made raidlng expe-
ditions to the mainland, and brought their
captives 20 the very spot upon which the
Metropole Hotel now stands, for immo-
lation upon the sacrifcial pyre. Cen
turies of cremating would account for the
dark, burnt color of the sand in this one
locality. One can also imagine how the
Pineugnas (the original name of the
island was Pineugna) here worshipped
two great black crows, which were with
them sacred birds, and which, according
to Galan, were probably species of vul-
ture, known in Mexico as the req de los
zopilotes, or king Of turkey buzzards. We
have also the authority of Hugo Reid and
other antiquarians for the information
that Santa Catalina was really the mint
which furnished the most valuable shells
used as money among the tribes on the
mainland. This would give the Pin
eugnas immense power, for it was doubt
less with the aborigines as with civi.
lized peoples, that the possession of the
purse gave efficacy to the sword-or
rather tomahawk.
There cannot be less than eight hun
dred people now in Avelon. Some of
these are invalids seeking for cure in the
pure ocean air and the healing waters OF
Neptune. Others are worn down with
application to work and business, and
soon find themselves restored to pristine
health and strength by short vacation
at this inviting resort.
Last week there were several hundred
new arrivals at Avelon and tents were
raised in all directions. Among the
campers were many of our oldest fami-
lies, who have been going there every
summer for years. These are the
people who enjoy themselves to
the utmost. They have their own
boats, they know just where to go to
find the most successful fishing, they un-
derstand the drift of the currents and
the variations OF the wind. and they can
map out for each day line of sport
which Is sure to result successfully.
The run of barracuda is nearly over,
although there are still great shoals of
them lying off the island. But rock and
sea bass and yellow tails, the largest and
gamiest OF fish in our waters, are still
plentiful. A close study of the habits of
these fish shows that they only bite at
intervals. Sometimes for several days
one may fish right amongst them and
not be able to land single fin. At
others, they are ravenous and seize the
hook wherever they find it. AS there is
no doubt that fish will be eager for bait
when they are hungry, it is equally GER
tain that they are not hungry when
they refuse it. This leads to the
reason why at times they are
hauled in in great numbers, and at
others but stray catch can be had.
The current seems to alternately oscillate
between the coast of the island and the
main land. The northwest trade wind
drives it down along the island shore until
it reaches the southeast end, then the
south and easterly winds send it over
to the main shore and return it to about
Point Firman, where it is again influ-
enced by the northwest trade and driven
along close to the island. 1t has been
observed that this current is almost liter
ally filed with fish food, consisting of
spawn, animalcul9 and variety of bronze
or sea pollen, upon which the fish satisfy
their appetites. When there is an abun-
dance of natural food in the water the
fish will not bite; but when this food is
carried by the current to the main side,
then they will eagerly seize the bait,
and fishing becomes sport of unsur.
passable enjoyment to those who delight
in the pastime of Izaak Walton. Last
week the fish were biting freely-this
week they are shy; next week they will
probably be eager for the hook again.
The best fishermen have observed this
irregularity in the habits of the fnny
tribes that infest Catalina, and whilst no
infexible law can be laid down with ref
erence to their movements, it is known
that few days. large catch are always
followed by few days of quiescence.
But whether the fish bite or not, there
are always sporting resources for the
Catalina camper. If he does not feel
like ploughing the water, he can take his
gun and hunt quails and doves in the