The herald., 1895-07-24
THIS IS VERY NOVEL SPORT
Shoe ting Flying Fish When on
the Wing
IS NOW THE LATEST TRICK
Professionals Only Can Land the Big
Horse Mackerel
Over at Catalina the Sports Have Found
New Pastmes-The New Rod
and Gun Club
BY SENIOR X


known Los Angeles gentlemen boarded
the yacht Linda to make the famous
crack ride from the sthmus to Little har-
Dor. One of them took shotgun, and as
soon as the Linda's he ad was pointed up
the west the game began to appear-game
that is always in season ut Santa Cata-
lima, namely, flying fish. These birds of
the sea would rise from eight to ten feet
from the bow Of the boat ard soar away
on either side in graceful curves, present.
ing a most attractive spectacle. The
sportsman sat on the little upper deck Of
the pilot house, and the fish rose
like quail. now 'one on the left, the
two, first one and then the other, like
pigeons. Then four or five would rise
together and soar away high into the
air, blown by the fresh wind, but in no
case did this fine shot miss flying fish.
The California firing fish is q singular
creature and very few understand its mo-
tions. 1t is called the flying fish, but il
does not fly. ~ can see the wings
move" shouted one of the party. Here
comes one over the boat, y" cried another;
''get the kodak" Sure enough the fish
was headed straight for the Linda, and
straight for the writer. so it happened.
who was lying on his back taking it all
in. The fish started two hundred feet
away and came OH the wind. slightly
tipped to one side. ITS big eyes showing.
] reached for it, but it passed tfty-four
inches above my head. and if I had been
standing l could have caught it with
ease. In the few seconds that it was four
or five feet from my head I saw that its
wings were rigid. and that the fish was
not lying, but soaring. On other occa-
sions have watched the flying fish. not
only in these waters, but in the sur: of
the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlanic. ana
it is always the same. The fish leaves the
water because it is alarmed. and the mo-
tion is produced by violent screw-like
the water, when the side fins and the
ventrals are extended, giving it four large
parachutes or sails, which, by press
ing against the wilma as the fish moves
violently along. bear it up. just as a bird
scars. The flying fish moves until its
momentum is exhausted. then its tail
drops and touches the water, and the vio-
lent screw-like motion of this organ is
| renewed. This gives the entire body
| tremuIous motion, even imparting to the
| is "fase flap and only for the second.
| AS the body clears the water the wings
| or fins are set or locked" apparently,
and the fish moves away for another two
hundred feet. The writer has seen them
| drop the tail and renuw the motion foYr
that they disappeared IN the distance.
| and it is positive that the fish can soar
this way for an eighth Of mile. So the
flight" of the flying fish is not flying
the Hermosa by standing on the bow.
the actions OF the fish can be readily
! seen. The most remarkable aerial display
of these fishes was observed by the writer
| at the sea in and near where the fishing
| barge is to be anchored. We had Just
1 dad ptS mi q
big sea bass that had been landed on a
| light rod. when suddenly a band of tunas
rushed through the green water near
shore with a terrific roar and foam. In an
instant several hundred flying fish, which
had evidently been feesing along shore.
dashed into the air and filled it for the
moment like SO many brilliant dragon
flies. The wind was blowing brskly from
the west and caught them lifting them
high in the air at least twenty-five or
| thirty feet, forming one OF the most beau
tiful sights it has ever been my good for
tune to see. The agility OF the tunas was
well displayed here, as | saw them follow
the hyIng fish by sight and next moment
the unfortunate fish dropped exhausted.
The tuna was directly beneath it and lit
| ma recalls the fact that the energies of the
crack local admirers OF the rod and reel
are laying for this remarkable fish that
attains a length of more than nine feet
| ana WelBnt OF luOU p0unuS. Inc tuna
is q big horse mackerel and is found in
nearly all waters. Several years ago thir.
| ty were caught at Cape Cod weighing 3d..
200 pounds. A tuna, has never been
brought into Avalon by All amateur fish
erman, though one has been taken this
year by a professional. The fish was sent
to Governor Budd as 4 present, so it is
said, and is one of the most delicious fish
| found in these waters. So much interest
is being taken this year in fish and so
| many fish catches are made at Catalina
and San Clemente that possibly line
about tackle may be of interest. A fish
ing club is being formed among the gem
| tlemen who fish at the island, the
object being to keep record OF the fine
catches. to encourage the protection OF
the fisheries. and to con fine the fishing 40
much as possible to the light roo.
Among the gentlemen who have teen
| asked to JOIN are Stewart M. Bland, New
! York; Alexander Badlam, San Franciscoj
| DR.. Johnson. Alhambra: J. Neal Plumb.
| New York Frederick Stratton, San Fran.
cisco; Henry T. Lee. Los Angeles; II. q.
Osborne, Los Angeles; J. M. Elliott. Los
Angeles; Z. f. Holder, Pasadena. and
about twenty IN ore gentlemen from vari.
GUS parts of the state. all OF whom are dc.
votees OF rod and reel fishing. The club
will have no dues or special organization.
except to use its influence in preserving
the fine fishing in the waters OF Los An.
geles county. All these gentlemen fish
with rod and reel for rock bass OF from
three to eight pounds.