Page:The Pacific Monthly volumes 1-3.djvu/146

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

are religiously followed, and it offers a gold medal which is fished for every year and held by the angler taking the largest tuna. The line allowed is a 24-strand, which gives the fish every chance, suggestive of the idea which holds among the members of the Tuna Club which is to protect game fishes and give them every advantage.

Tuna fishing is a popular one at Santa Catalina, which is 3! hours from Los Angeles, and in May, June and July the island is the Mecca of sportsmen from almost every state in the Union. The waters of California teem with game fish. In the south the yellow tail is taken with rod and reel from San Diego to Santa Catalina and beyond to the islands off Santa Barbara. The sea bass and black sea bass are others. The latter is taken at Santa Catalina on rod and reel up to 327 pounds, the record being held by F. V. Rider, secretary of the Tuna Club, who took a fish of this size on 24-strand line in 50 minutes.

The ordinary sea bass is taken all along shore to San Francisco, specimens weighing 75 and 100 pounds having been brought to gaff. San Luis Obispo is a famous place for these gamey fish, while at the mouth of the Santa Inez steelheads tipping the scales at 20 pounds delight the wielder of rod and reel. The variety of game fishes which can be taken along the Pacific shores is remarkable. The salmon comes into Monterey in July and affords great sport to San Franciscoans who go to Santa Cruz and various places along shore and catch the gamey fish in great numbers. This sport has made the harbors and bays of the country along the coast to the north famous in the annals of sport.


Vashti to Ahasucrus.

"And when the wrath of the king was appeased, he thought of Vashti.—(Esther 1:2.)

We had a bitter, bitter feud,
My angry lord and I;
And men said, "Oft is Fate thus rude,
So passes Love to die."
But oh I laughed in my glad heart,
For well, well could I see,
That never earthly quarrel could part
For long my king and me.


The dark-haired Esther on his arm
At night sleeps by his side;
All wonder that I wish no harm
To her, who is his bride.
Beloved! 'tis only I who know
The thought that breaks thy rest,
Thy soul yearns for the long ago,
When I lay on thy breast!


Some day they'll say, "Thy lord is dead."
Then wonder much to see
My eyes yet sparkle, lips still red,
Not pale as grief should be.
My own, not death, wedlock or pain
Can stop Love's mighty sway;
And we shall kiss and love again,
When these have passed away.

Adonen.