Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-04

The trout fisherman may sheer at the
Jew-fsherman, or the fisherman who
would spend half day in taking ten
foot shark, vet | maintain that either
of the latter, if properly managed and
taken fairly, Single-handed, in a small
boat. requires large amount OF fineSSe.
In the struggle with the striped bass
the danger is the escape or Il broken
rod: with the shark or jewish slip or
a wrong move often means capSize,
possible fatality; in short, as in cross
country riding, there is an element OF
danger in it. So in taking the big jew
fish of this coast the fisherman lands
his game after mighty struggle, and
comes off victor after doing the Office Of
four or five men. The Pacific coast offers
many inducements TO the marine sports
man. IL so he can be called, and the
summer days now approaching WOO him
10 incOntinent indulgenceS in tackle OF
various kinds.
The most attractive fishing ground,
so far as the personal experience OF the
writer goes, is among the islands OF the
Santa Barbara channels, off Los Aage-
les. and especially at Santa Catalina.
Here we have what is virtually noun
tain range twenty or more miles long,
four or five wide, rising from the sea
thirty miles off ShOre-a lofty spur that
has apparently strayed away from the
mother range, the Sierra Madre. This
island extends parallel to the coast, con-
shutting a perfect barrier or wind
break, so that its eastern shore IS
series Of snug harborS. Here IS the
fshermanS paradise. The water is so
clear that objects at distance OF thirty
or forty feet deep can be seen very
plainly, while the rocks abound with Il
variety of aquatic verdure that cannot
fail 20 attract and please the most
polegmatic individual.
The island rises precipitately from
the sea, often i'm sheer cliffs, the bases
of which are worn out into caves, lined
with kelp and other weed, into which
the waves roll with Sullen roar. The
little harbOrS are the mouths or en-
frances of the various canonS which cut
the range ia every direction and are
picturesque in the extreme. Some are
the summer homes of the Southern Cali
fornianS, who love the sea and have
penchant for boating and fishing. As
the people gather so do the fish. Many
varieties of the tnny tribe that have
been wintering in deep water, or pos
Sibly somewhere far TO the south, come
north or in shore To deposit their eggs
i'm the quiet bays along TO rOck-bound
shores, and from June or July TO Au-
gust there is series OF piScatOrial APP
pearanceS gratifying To the SOjOurner.
The barracuda, big sea bass, yellow
tail, Jewish, and many more each have
their seasons and afford abundant sport
TO the summer toilerS of the sea.
OF all these fishes the yellOw-tail COM
mendS itself TO the lover of true sport.
In general appearance il might be taken
for salmon, at first glance resembling
this fish. In size il attainS four feet,
and i'm weight ranges from ten TO thirty
and even'forty pounds. The yellow-tail
or amber fish is an ally of the mackerel,
distant cousin, yet near enough TO
have the wandering bohemian spirit OF
the latter, with the courage and even
ferocity OF many OF its compeerS. In
its moods the yellOw-tail is like the sal
mon. | have seen the water fairly
tinted with yellow for many acres,
changing in marvellous way TO
blue, then green 10 yellow again.
Entering the area of changing
hues the cause was found to be count
less Numbers of yellow tails packed side
by side, their huge plump bodies not
ten feet from the surface, now standing
idly. drifting as it were with the cur
rent, then breaking and moving grace
fully by within touch Of the very oar
on which YOU are resting. The most
delicately prepared bait-a struggling
sardine-failS to attract at this time
Why? Who can tell?
You sit and feast your eyes upon their
goodly proportions alone; watch the
flashing colOrS of their fins. look into
the big expressive eyes as they pass you
i'm review by tens, hundreds, thousands
and-well, your satisfaction is
in the looking. Perhaps half
an hour later, after you have returned
aud your boat is summing itself on the
beach, a man is seen upon the stands
going through some extraordinary evO-
lutionS. He pulls in violently. casts Il
line. waves his hat in the air, pulls
again, and finally in frenzy Of excite
ment ruSheS into the water. coming out
with his arms about a cleaning Silvery
monster that beats his legs and face,
producing smiles Of pleasure and de-
light. Even now YOU sit quietly: bnt
the old fisherman who daShes past with