The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
Now Anglers Prepare to Hook With
Delicate Tackle the Mighty Tuna Of the Pacific

IN a short time hundreds Of Fishermen
I'll over the country will turn longing eytt
toward Santa Catalina Island, Oh the ooat
Of southern California. From May ] unit
Oct 1 they will arrive from North, East
South and West-irom London, from Paris
from other points Of Europe. It even said
that Russian Grand Duke will thiA yea
join the tuna squad al Catalina, II Provi.
dence or bomb doesn't interfere.
All the tuna experts Of the island predict
that this will be a good year for the big
tsh. Capt. Nick, Jim Gardner and Mexi.
can Joe, who scarcely ever agree on any
thing, are united in the belief that the tuna
record will be broken. Col. c. p. More
house Of Pasadena, Cal, doesn't believe
this.
Col Morehouse holds the record-25i
pounds and consequently he is biased
BE has held the record since 1900, and he
Gays that II there Is any breaking 20 be done
he will be on hand to attend to 1t himself
AZ any rate, when the members Of the
Tuna Club meet for their annual banquet
and election Of officers at the Hotel Metro
pole az Avalon In June, there will be such
. gathering Of piscGtorial experts az would
make that dear old humbuR IzaRk Walton.
who knew more about the philosophy of
living than about fishing turn In his grave
from sheer excess Of envy. Avalon lie the
only town on the island, and Il il from hero
that the devote6is Of the sport start out In
quest Of the ganest fish taken in any waters
with rod and reel.
To land tuna is the ambition Of every
fisherman who has ever trolled the Catalina
l. l.. Of, l. l.. a
70 hook a tuna on days when they are biting
hesiy, but to land one is quite another
natter Prob ably not one fish in a hun
5red that strikes ia captured. And then
H. case Of hew tackle.
But once yo u have captured tuna weigh
hg at least 100 pounds-it must be 100
pounds to fntitle you to admission into
he Tuna tlub-you feel like the General
Of old wb1 sighed because there were no
more Worlds to conquer. Once you catch
q tuna 1T spoils you for any other sort Of
hhing,. Your whole ambition ia then
Hntned in catching another and bigger
0e,.
During the past winter a tourist started
|g a conversation on the beach at Avalon
Vi tn a bronzed man in a brown homespun
nit who seemed to know all the boatmen.
During the course OF conversation the
ronzed man vouchsafed the information
shat his name was Manning-ThomAs S.
Manning Of Philadelphia.
MY home ia in Philadelphia, too" said
he tourist. How long have you been
bere7-
Three years. replied Mr.. Manning.
n came out here three years ago for the
luna fishing, and I've been here ever since
How long do you expect to stay''
The expatriated Philadelphia scratched
hs head rehectively.
i really don't know he said slowly.
1T depends. l may get the record catch
mis- season, and then maybe III be satisfied.
But don't know. You can't tell
And Mr.. Manning's attitude Is character
stic OF the confirmed tuna fisherman. Few
Of than have the leisure to wait three years,
but all have the inclination.
To realize the true significance Of the
Tuna Club II must be known that nowhere
ncept In the waters adjacent to Santa
Catalina Island is this prince Of fish taken
With rod and reel. Tuna are occasionally
aught in the Mediterranean, but only In
the nets Of the fishermen who supply the
markets, and then they create such havoc
hat they are gladly liberated with as little
tamage as possible.
But in the clear water Of the Pacific, In
nat marvellously clear channel between
Catalina Island and San Pedro on the main
land, they come every summer to disport