The herald., 1894-07-15
LITTLE RODS AND BIG FISH,
Piscatorial Sport at Santa
Catalina.
A Fish Bill Of Fare That Would
Tempt a Roman Emperor.
An Intsrssting Description OF Summer
Life and Pleasure at
This Isle of tho
West.

special correspondence OF the HERALD.
AVALON, July 12.-The strike has not
reached Avalon, except in the case OF
sea bass. They struck probably for dif-
ferent bait this week and few have been
caught, giving way to yellow tail and
though this morning the To-
cal fishermen brought in some magnifi-
cent sea bass; one Weighing 40 pounds,
another 35 and another %. DR.. Fitz-
patrick has caught five 80 far on light
rod, and, as the fish is not 30 active as
the yellow tail. he describes it as famous
sport.
Mr.. r. H. Calender of Los Angeles
has carried off the honors this week in
the fishing line. He used q 12-ounce
lance wood rod with nearly 500 feet OF
the finest line, and has brought in fine
catches Of yellow tail, rock bass and
barracuda. Yesterday he landed in
front of the Metropols with 100 pounds
OF fish. One yellow tail weighed 26
pounds and some OF the rock bass ran
up to eight. This is magnificent sport,
and the fisherman received an ovation.
He fished from Seal rocks to Church
rock.
Professor and Madam Rosewald OF
Metropole for two weeks, had an excit-
ing experience yesterday. They were
fishing off Church rock, having two
light rods out and hand line, the lat
ter being worked by the fisherman.
Suddenly yellow tail struck the hand
line, which WAS passed to Professor
al NJ h..< tat ha Eoh
the boatmsn taking the rod. At this
moment q fish struck tho rod and the
boatman exchanged rods with Madam
Rosewald that she might have the pleas
ure of catching the fish. just as the e1-
change was being made fish of mighty
proportions struck the other rod, and
then began piscatorial pandemonium.
Each fish was big enough to tow the
triangular duel, hauling in different di-
rections, and it took about three min
utea for the three fishes to make COM
bination that reduced those three lines
to total wrecks. The loss was estimated
at 500 feet Of line. three hooks and 80 or
20 pounds OF yellow tail. Professor
Rosewald 10 member OF the Bohemian
club, but it ia doubtful if he ever in
dulged in high iinks exactly like this.
Later the party took some tish.
Captain Fowler Of the Second cavalry
and his young son have taken some fine
fab, the latter two large yellow tail on a
very light rod and email fine line.i
A yellow tail rod has appeared, but to
my mind it is too stiff. Any light, pill
able rod will answer, and the lighter the
better, q large reel for 400 or 500 feet
of line being saving measure. AS an
illustration party from the metropolis
went out yesterday to Seal rocks. The
outfit was an eight-ounce split bamboo,
fitted with an oil silk trout line and q
multiplying reel, and 12-ounce bass
rod, long and slender. A lady welded
the split barn boo and tho idea was to
see how large fish could be taken on
the rods that had hitherto been used ON
trout and black bass in the east. OF
Seal rocks, when the water assumes a
rich opaline hue, the fun began, and
soon tie eight-ounce rod was in service.
The fish ran clear away with 30 feet,
then was rounded up deity, the little
rod standing the strain in fine shape, its
fine movement in the desperate rushee
evidently tiring the fish. A dozen times
the barracuda was gotten to the surface
and as many times went away. finally
making deep dive which, owing to the
ightness of the rod. made it difficult to
raise. but he was finally brought
within reach OF the gaf and landed.
and found to weigh between
eight and nine pounds. q notable catch
for 90 light rod, that had hitherto
been devoted to small trout. The fight
between rod and fish took about 80 min
utes, and was fine sport and an exhibit
ton OF skill on the part OF the lady. A
tine catch Of large barracuda was taken
in this way. Fishing for big game with
a light rod is science and an art, and q
good test OF the iisherman's head and
nerve, as O slight rattle" and the line
is broken, as it is not very large. 10
hand line fishing. of course, large,
coarse line ls used.
A dieh was served at the Mstropole a
few DAYS ence not ON the menu. A
large octopus was caught and a portion
cooked for % gentleman, who pronounced
it excellent, resembling abalone. In
point of fact, in France and Italy the
octopus is considered a great delicacy,
and in New York the Fish club give a
dinner each year in which many of the
strange animals OF the sea are served.
Such dinner could easily be arranged
at Catalina, and the following might be
included in the bill of fare: Sharks
fins. This is a Chinese delicscy, so 900
being annually caught in the Malay
archipelago alone. Sea urchins. This is
an animal about the size OF an egg, COW
cred with spines five or six inches in
length, most uncanny object; yet in
north OF France echimus edulis 10 lux
urv, Professor Rosewald of San Fran
cisco brought in very large echinus a
few days ago. and kept it alive in the
Mstropoe Office for some time, where it
attracted 10 little attention. Trepang,
several kinds being found off Avalon in
deep water, could also be served. This
IL also chine bon bouche. The writer
remembers tasting it at famous tish
club dinner in New York. Its color was
SO called elephant; breath and the taste
old shoe. Then comes the murra, the
hideous sea eel of these waters, that is
really fine eating fish. In the days OF
the old Roman epicures it was served in
stews and fed with human flesh to give
it flavor. In the north OF France mar
kets the sea anemone ia delicacy OF the
gourmande. The nooks and crannies
about the Avalon rocks abound in them,
80 grilled sea anemone, the famous dieh
OF epicnres, could be served here. AS
the aaemons is coral animal without
the corai, it might be called boned
coral, stated with champignons, and
smothered III chapis or Borgundy.