The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-14
CATALINA ISLAND
The Many Attractions az Avalon-The
Sportsman's Paradise

The Many Attractions a. Avalon-The
Sportsman's Paradise
AVALON, Catalina Island, Aug. B.-The
beauties Of Catalina as a summer resore
have been so often told by pen and brush
that there seems little that can be said, but
the advantages of Avalon certainly i'm
prove every year. 1t is sportsman's para
disc. whether it be with the gun or the rod.
There is no place on the face OF the earth
where such varied delights for the nsner-
man abound. The bathing here this year
is better than ever and is enjoyed by nun
treds Of people daily. The water is never
too cold to take bath in, and its pellucic
and buoyant qualities are justly famous.
It is very seldom that anything In the water
interferes with the bathers One day this
summer, 1t is true, the water was fairly
alive with tiny jelly fish, but since there
has not been sign of those little nuisances.
The fishing this year has been and is
splendid. Yellowtail are being caught in
larger numbers than ever. and the monster
Jewish also regularly adorn the racks on
the beach. The tuna have been on on
vacation and steadily refuse TOT take the
bait o1ered 10 tnem- Ane Hsline tor The
kwfish IS generally done from whitehall.
and the grounds are on the south side OF
the island. The start for the grounds is
made early in the morning in tow of one
Of the numerous launches, for the best time
for fishing is just as the sun is rising. Once
the grounds are reached the lines are put
down in about forty feet of water, and then
comes a wait until some inquisit1ve or hum
cry fellow comes along and takes the bait.
The Jewish strikes differently from the
tuna. He strikes in a slow kind of way
and chews on the bait sometimes for as
much as five minutes. Once he is satisfied
that all is right, he swallows IT, and then
"a the time to set the hook II seems as
though the setting OF the hook had put
some powerful machinery In motion, and
avav goes the line whizzng from the reel
NJ a rapid gait. II the first rush Is not
checked or the boat gotten under way dis
astrous results follow. Usually the boat is
gotten away, and then the line is set hard
and fast by the pressure on the thumb
brake. These monster fish have been known
to tow a boat with two men in it for over
three miles and then go down to the but
TOM and sulk. only to start off again on
another rush as mad as the first. At last.
when the fish is tired out, comes the SUI
preme moment. When the attempt to gaff
him is to be made, If 1t is not successful at
the first attempt, there is another long and
firing rush to be fought with all the
strength that can be mustered. II the first
attempt is successful, the fish is hauled into
the boat and the return to Avalon made.
One fish Is about all that the average man
can stand, although there have been five
taken by one man In one days fishing.
Besides the yellowtai and jewish. there
is the leaping tuna, who makes fight SIM
liar to the Jewish, only with longer and
more vicious rushes.
For bottom fish, the rock bass and sand
dabs furnish sport for those who like TO sit
and think, only stopping that operation to
are the best eating fish that swims the Pa
cific ocean.
For the gun. the goats may be counted
next to deer in point of sport. The goats
are being shot this year in quantities that
are fast thinning their numbers. The best
place for goats is just the other side of Bell
mountain In a place called Goat Swamp
The finest set Of horns that have been
brought In for years have just been
mounted by the local taxldermist. The
goat was killed by Professor Dozier and
the horns measure across the tips thirty
one and half inches. The goat was a
magnificent black and must have been if-
teen years old, a true monarch of the
mountain.
Some interesting accidents sometimes be-