The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14
Banner Fishing Season
Gives Members Most
Exciting Days Expe-
rienced Since Once,
Despised Horse
Mackerel" Came In
to His Own


preceded the tuna, vice versa, the far
flung fame of Catalina rests upon one of
the gamest varieties of fish that swim.
Sportsmen from all parts of the world have
paid it visit. All of these have chanted
it's praises, but solely on account Of the
tuna. Wielders of the split bamboo from
every State in the Union have pitted their
skill and endurance against the strength
and ingenuity of the Pacific tuna.
1t is a far cry from Maine to California.
1t Is mere jump from Maine to Block Isl
and For the best part of three centuries
the fishermen of Block Island have braved
old ocean in nearly all it's moods. For more
than two hundred years before the birth of
the power boat they went far from land and
made great catches in their double enders.
the safest sailboats on the Atlantic coast.
They made these boats and they sailed them.
When the wind failed they took to the oars,
and many crew has rowed twenty miles
to reach their island home before night fell
The Long Scorned Horse Mackerel
Did the Block Islanders know that tuna
in great schools swarm in the waters of
Block Island Sound? Until 1914 they knew
nothing of tuna. They were acquainted init
mately with horse mackerel. They knew it
as a fighting fish, withAmore red blood in its
veins than in any other fish. They knew
that it ranged in size from fifteen to seven
hundred pounds; that it difficult TO find
a market for it and that it put little money
In the family Golfers. At the suggestion that
horse mackerel might be good eating they
shook their heads 1t was too bloody they
said. Besides 1t was too large for family
consumption.
In 1914 the Block islanders were awak-
ened to the Importance of the despised
horse mackerel. The lowly exalted with
celebrity that was staggering. This sud-
den awakening was due to that prince of
fishermen, Charles w. Willard of Westerly,
r. /. 1t required the assurance of man of
Mr. Wizards prominence and wide infor-
nation to convince Block Island fishermen
that the horse mackerel was identical with
the tuna, that drew so many visitors to
Catalina Island.
The natives of Block Island are rather
'sot in their ways" There were many argu-
ments among them, but upon one point
they were agreed-that Mr.. Willard must be
sure of his ground. They knew that he took
great interest in the propagation and dstri-
button of fish in the inland waters of Rhode
Island. They knew, also, that he chair
man of the Inland Fisheries Commission
and treasurer of the American Fisheries
Society. The fact that tuna was a moro
aristocratio name than horse mackerel did
not influence them, but an advance in the
market price of the fish decided all but a
few hardshells that ii would be well to for
get the lowly horse mackerel and vaunt the
virtues of the tuna.
1t from a desire to inform sports
men of the splendid tuna fishing in Block
ISlo af,6 odf fhot Nv
Willard founded the Atlantic Tuna Club on
Block Island. The incorporators were Charles
w. Willard A. Julian Crandall, George l..
Shepley and Daniel &. Fearing. all of Rhode
Island: DR.. c. K. Stillman, Connecticut Fl.
Vernon Foster, oklahoma Frederic S. Dore-
mus. New York city, and L. Dana Chapman,
Boston.
Mr.. Willard was the first president of the
club and held the position until his death
in 1916. 1t was the intention of the mcor-
porators to build clubhouse. Plans were
drawn, at a cost of $400, for a two story
building that would cover a plot of ground
that measured so by 20 feet. The contract
was given to Frank Hayes, but the
broke out and building operations were sus-
pended cottage owned by C. c. Ball
high ground behind the Ocean View
Hotel was leased in 1914 and has been the
home of the club ever since. The new club
house will be built next year and the MEM
bers are clamoring for ii, their present
quarters are much too small.
Easier to Get Out Than In.
Article l. of the bylaws is as follows:
THE members of the club shall consist OF
gentlemen anglers who shall have been pro-
posed and seconded by a member of the
club in writing and unanimously elected by
the committee on admission"
II is much easier to get out Of the club
than TO get into il. The rules that govern
the sport are very strict To break one OF
these Intentionally is equivalent to n loss of
membership. The latter on this account,
and for other reasons might be termed
floating. There were about 200 members in
1916. There are about 100 at this time.
Though the initiation fee is only $25 and
the annual dues $40, the Atlantic Tuna Club
l.. not intended for gentlemen who are run
ming close TO the wind. Here Is an illus
tration that will make this clear. Two years
ago Hobart J. Park of New York city entered
the clubhouse at the close of a days fishing
and said: II caught one tuna and IL has
cost me $1,000"
How do you make that out?" asked an
other member.
II was on the Pacific coast" replied Mr..
Park "when I read in THE Sun the daily
record of the Atlantic Tuna Club. | took
the next train East and / arrived here yes
terday with a thousand dollars worth of
tackle. ] have spent about $1,000 to get
here and catch that fish,
a doctor from New Hampshire was in
the club at the time. He had never fished
for tuna After hearing Mr.. Parks story
he said. aft must he great snort I'd like