H. De Vere Stacpoole

“ Avalon, facing the Californian coast, and tucked away in its little bay, is the fishing village where millionaires are the fishermen, and where kings of sport, like Colonel Moorhouse, von Hoffe, and Holder, may be seen walking about like ordinary folk, when not engaged in warfare with tuna, bass, yellow-tail, and the other kings of the sea.
The first fisherman down this morning was Colonel Calhoun. He was crossing the shingle to the sea-edge, carrying a rod, and followed by his gaffer and his boatman. ”

“ Then he ordered the boatman to unbuoy and roust up the engine, and came to his seat in the stern, where he began to overhaul his tackle, whilst the Sunfish, free of her moorings, began to make a bow wash against the glittering sea.
There is no fishing-ground in the world to compare with the waters round Santa Catalina Island, none so varied, none go rich. ”

“ Micky, the boatman, having seen that the buoy end of the mooring rope was foul of nothing, and ready to be cast overboard at a moment's notice, was cleaning up the little engine, and Joe, crouching with his gaff beside him, and his chin on the starboard gunnel, was brooding upon the waters.
"I'm thinking it's a good day for the bass," said Joe in an undertone, half to himself and half to the Colonel. "Water's got the feel of bass, this greasy swell keeps the kelp movin' just about enough to make 'em comfortable in their mind, and I haven't seen no durned sharks about." ”

“ Each man was obsessed with the idea of grievous injuries done to him by the other, and now Fate had drawn them and their families into the little circle of Avalon, and George Calhoun had fallen in love with Maria Pinckney, dancing with her last night, to the families' disgrace, at the Presidio ball, and capping the business by proposing to her in the balcony of the hotel, to the sound of the music of the band and in the light of the great Southern moon. ”

“ They were approaching the great kelp beds, and the boatman was getting ready the anchor.
You anchor for black bass fishing, and the boat end of the anchor rope has a buoy attached to it which can be flung overboard, so that the boat may have freedom of movement when the fish is on the hook.
"This is about the best spot," said Joe. "Shut off the engine, Micky, and get ready to heave."
The tune of the little engine ceased, and the Sunfish was suddenly surrounded by a great silence, broken only by the far-off crying of gulls and the hush of the surf from the coast of the island. ”

“ The boatman, as cunning as the fish, bad the yawl's stern pointing on this new course in no time, so that, when the strain came on the rod, the engines going astern helped to reduce it.
Half a mile they were taken like this, and then of a sudden the strain on the line eased, and the rod straightened.
"He's off!" cried Micky.
"Off! Not he," replied Joe. "He's comin' back. Look out, Colonel!"
The Colonel, reeling in, shouted to Micky to put the engine ahead, and then, as the pluck of the fish came again, ordered it to be put astern. ”

“ After the bass, is he, with Bill Bobbins for gaffer? Why, the last time Bill got within strikin' distance of a bass he gaffed the line instead of the fish, he did so. Sand dabs is his game—sand dabs and a paternoster."
"I hope they'll keep clear of our water," growled the Colonel.
"They're makin' for a pitch haff a mile from this," said Joe. "Not near as good as here. But, Bill, he don't know. Give him the choosing of a dozen pitches, and he'd choose the worst. That's the way fools do—it's onnatural for them to choose the best. ”