The herald., 1898-06-20
The TUNA TAKERS
MEN WHO LOVE THE BIG GAME
OF THE SEA
cATALINA's GREAT SPORT
The Fine Catches That Have Warmed
the Hearts Of Fishermen
Of Late

SANTA CATALINA. June 16.-The gay
and festive tuna. The fish that out leaps
and out pulls any living fish. has taken
Avalon by storm, and for the past month
some fine catches have been made here,
e. l.. Doran holding the record for the
greatest number for the season, namely
eleven, and for the greatest number in
one day, he having taken three. Now, in
emulation of the Tarpon club, which -four
ishes in Florida, the tuna fishermen have
Tuna club, to which are eligible all men
who have taken a tuna over 100 pounds in
weight, with rod and reel. and a line of not
more than q strands. This may not at the
first glance seem much of an ordeal, yet
when 1t Is remembered that the line Is little
larger than one would use on an eye glass
1t is something of feat to take a fish, and
such is the peculiar makeup of anglers
that many would give 800 or 5000 to take a
fish of this kind. AS might be expected, the
Tuna club is limited as to numbers, as few
men have taken the fish. The president Is
the man who has taken the heaviest fish,
and he holds office until some one beats his
record, and the vice-presidents range down
according to the weights of their respect
i've fishes, and as fish are constantly being
ally sliding up and down. At the present
writing the slate stands as follows, but If
the fish should happen to bite we'll today
the list might be altogether reversed and
changed by night: President C. F. Holder
of Pasadena, 1S3-pound tuna; first vice.
president, w. c. P. Morehouse, Pasadena,
$50 pounds; second president, M. c.
Arnot, Emira, N. Y, 14S pounds; third
s. Green Campbell, New York, 14O pounds;
fourth, H. G. Vachell, England, 1870 pounds;
fifth, H. K. Macomber, Pasadena ,13s pounds;
sixth, C. r. Leudder, st. Louis. 125 pounds;
seventh, E. L. Doran, Los Angeles, lie
pounds; eighth, ]. M. Studebaker, South
Bend, Ind, lis pounds.
One point is to be noted in this club, every
man holds office everybody except the
president is a vice-president, and it is an
open field for skilful handlers of the rod
and reel. A few days ago the Tuna club
turned out and had their pictures taken,
while the envious public looked on. and 1t
was a mighty showing. The fish ranged
from 1888 pounds down to 1870, and each one
represented fight on slender line of from
two to four hours, In which the slightest
mistake would have lost the fish. num-
ber of famous anglers are to be seen on
the beach daily, men who have fished in
every sea and whipped the streams and
lakes of every state. Such are c. r. Scud-
der of st. Louis, Mr.. Fitch Dewey of To-
ledo, Mr.. Studebaker of South Bend. Ind;
Mr.. Decking Of Riverside, famous tarpon
fisherman; Mr.. Schenck of Brooklyn, one
of the best-known anglers of New York,
and who is candidate for the Tuna club
presidency, and proposes to get 1t, If it
takes all summer. ME-. r. Stratton, from
Ell Past Is an Aransas Pass tarpon fisher
man, and a member of the tarpon club,
which has a fine club house at the Pass.
He carries around picture of 2OO-pound
tarpon and tells the story of its capture
to wondering audiences. Every morning
some of these and many more anglers of
national fame may be found at the stands
of the watermen-at Jim Gardner's, Chris
Ringsan's, or Mexican Joe's, where they re-
tail the experiences of the day or some
other day-anent new tuna hooks-discuss
rods and pass the compliments of the sea-
son with the members of the Ananias club,
whose badges glisten in the sunlight. The
layman hears some strange tales at such
times-stories of the 'unkers" that got
away, of the 300 FOUNDER that took 700 feet
oil line; Oh the Hsn tnat smashed 80 reel
and of another who jerked Mr.. ]. Neal
Plumb's 800 outfit overheard Off church
rock, when he and Mexican Joe were row.
ing along fast asleep, trolling for yellow
tails. Terrible jokers are some of these
men. The small, tired man with a record
kept tenderfoot hunting up the canon for
a week for frogs which he said was kill
ing bait for the Catalina tarpon, but there
are no tarpons and no frogs at Catalina. 1t
was Ex-Governor Markham, member of