Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-07

the title, enchanted isles that some
enthusiasts have bestowed on them.
"All Of the California islands are
rough and most of them too small to be
abundantly supplied with water. They
are therefore of little Importance
agriculturally. On several of them,
however, sheep and goats are raised in
considerable numbers. The largest of
the islands, Santa Cruz, only about %
miles south of Santa Barbara, has
some vineyards and orange groves.
Santa Catalina, which has been de-
yeloped as a pleasure resort, is the
best known of the islands. On a beau
tiful little crescent bay of that island
facing the mainland rs miles to the
east the town of Avalon has been built.
Thousands of tourists visit the place
every year in the steamers which run
regularly from San Pedro. Avalon is
the main Pacific coast Headquarters
for big game fishing the adjacent water
Astounding in tuna, sea- base and sword
fish The little town has built UP quite
an industry in the mounting of speci-
mems of these great fishes that they
may adorn the trophy room Of sports
men.
The greatest and most appealing of
Catalinas charms are its under sea
gardens. Scores of boats with glass
[ bottoms, ranging in size from row
boats to river steamers, ply the waters
| in and about Avalon Bay. From these
novel craft thousands Of visitors to the
island look down into the clear waters
where they may see beautiful vege-
table forms that make up sea mea-
dows and forests and the interesting
| fishes. and other creatures that thrive
abundantly in this sheltered sea nook.
1t is estimated that more than 500, 900
is invested in the glass bottom feet
| of Catalina
California owes her off-shore ISL
ands not to drifting sands as the
southern sections of the Atlantic coast
owe theirs, but to the fact that the
State is the center of one of the most
active regions geologically in the world
| in recent geological times. San. Gle
mente, the southernmost of the islands,
! has risen from the sea, according to
| biologists until its topmost peak has
| an altitude of over 1900 feet. Santa
| Catalina, on the other hand, has been
| sinking, though evidences of the slow
/ movement are not apparent to lay
men.
None of the California islands is Of
any great extent. Santa Cruz, the
largest, is 81 miles long and has an
! avera ge width of five miles. 1t is also
reaches an altitude of z,407 feet, Santa
/ Barbara Island is only one and one
! half miles long and one mile wide. The
three Anacapa islands which almost
| touch, are together slightly larger, but
| the individual sections are smaller
These Islands are generally considered
one.
The Farallones, though small. are
probably the most useful of the Cali
! IL =.
| rocky isletS about 20 miles directly of
the Golden Gate, the entrance Of Sar
| Francisco's wonderful harbor. Pas
these islets streams an important par
Of the commerce, of the word and
from them are flashed by submarine
cable reports of arriving ard depart
ing ships. On the largest of the islet:
is situated Farallone light which
throws the first welcoming beam o.
America to ships bound. to San Fran.
cisco from across the Pacific and gu
of the South Seas.
1.-THE California islands played
part in the history of the west coast
Cabrillio, the first European to sal
north of the present Mexican line OF
the Pacific coast discovered them ii
1912, died on one of them and wa
buried there. Viscaino, another Span
ish explorer, surveyed them in 1902
gave them their present names AM
| strengthened Spain's claims on their
There was no actual occupation of TIL
islands until after 1853. when the frs
settlement in Alta California was mad
at san Diego, on the mainland nea
the islands. During the gold rush o
'49; Catalina was occupied by Unite'
States troops.
When Mexican Independence wa
gained the islands passed with tn
mainland from Spanish to Mexiea'
sovereignty. 1t has been assumed tia
when the United States took title t
California by the treaty of .Guadaloup
Hidalgo in 1S4S the islands passed Wit
the mainland. They are not specificsl