Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-09
FISHINGAND HUNTING

Avalon still is in a state Of excite
ment over the big catch made Monday
by w. w. Simpson of London, England,
consisting of siXty-and-one-halI-
pound yellowtail. 1t weighed seven
teen pounds more than any other hsh
ever brought to gaff under the rules
of the Light Tackle club OF Catalina
According to the measurements mace
by G. B. Parker, taxidermist, the nsn
measured forty-eight inches and not
fifty-six and a half inches, as some
were tmade to believe.
Simpson left Avalon last Monday
morning in the launch Juanita. he
was accompanied by George Michaells'
boatman, and A. M. Morse. s. A. Bar
ron of Mexico City. MI Odell, prom
inent mining man, and w. II. Mathews,
boatman, followed in the launch san
Toy.
Michaelis was presented with a check
for $50 by w. w. Simpson, who prom
ised him that amount If record catch
was made by any of the party while on
the trip. A remarkable incident Of the
catch is related by the party. One of
those in the San Toy had the fish bit
ing at his hook and the engineer OF
the boat stopped the engine to join In
the fun, when the boat drifted away
from the fish, which chewed OF the
line. The Juanita was directly De-
hind the San Toy and when the former
boat drifted away Simpson cast his
| line, with the result the big hsh was
brought to gaff after fifty minutes OF
most exciting play, and only Tor the
skill displayed by Simpson would have
escaped. Six hundred feet OF line was
let out and, although Simpson took
fifty hooks with him on the trip, he
| lost only four, these being caught IN
the kelp beds.
After the fish is mounted 1t Will be
shipped to England and placed upon
exhibition by the delighted English
man. In addition to the glory Of get
ting a worlds record, Simpson VIII re-
ceive numerous prizes.
A. NJ. Morse caught one white sea
bass, one yellowtail, which weighed
seventeen pounds. and about eighteen
rock bass, after a few hours casting
off the isthmus. s. A. Barron of Mex
leo City brought to gaff a gold button
fish, shortly after the big fellow was
caught. 1t weighed forty-four pounds
and was taken on light tackle in nine
minutes.
The Playa del Rey Of yesterday and
the Playa del Rey of one year age
yesterday almost were two different
places, as far as the angling crowd
was concerned. Hardly a foot of the
wharf was unoccupied by some f1sh-
erman casting his line and reaping q
harvest from the unusually fine run OF
pompano. Everybody ON the pieI
l Joined in the sport nearly, and good
baskets were the result in every in
stance. In addition to tho excellent
run of pompano, one angler brought tC
gaff a big calico bass, which tipped
the beam at four pounds. 1t had
strayed from its home in the kelp beds
and wandered down the coast to Plays
del Rey to feast upon the small Span.
ish mackerel which were being used
for bait Victor Burroughs Of Santa
Monica was the lucky fisherman. The
yellow beauty put up a game fight and
the youth showed considerable skill
with the light tackle in bringing 1t tc
gaff.
A few sea trout also were taken. but
as the sardines are not coming In tc
shore this class of fishing is poor, al.
though those that we're caught were Of
good size. Excellent sport with this
fish is promised as soon as the bait re.
turns. A few surf fish and a limited
, number of corbina that had fingered
inshore near the breakers were caught