That there is but one Venice in America is the verdict of all who have
visited this charming sea-side resort. Its oriental architecture, and
its numerous canals, on whose surface floats in Italian ease, real
Venetian gondolas, give it an atmosphere suggestive of the
Mediterranean. But it is not of its Venetian aspect, nor its endless
chain of amusements, from its surf and plunge bathing to its
rollicking scenic railroad and hair-raising dash through its cavernous
rapids, or its hundred or more interesting pastimes for the pleasure
seeker, that the attention of the reader is herein directed.
It is to those forms of sea life that contribute to his pleasure that
his attention is called, for the waters of Venice furnish a wonderful
variety of these, as will be seen by a visit to the large aquarium
maintained on the pier by the University of Southern California. From
the wharfs he can angle for smelt, mackerel and perch, as well as for
halibut and other bottom fishes. From the beach, by bait-casting into
the surf, he is rewarded with croaker, whiting (erroneously called
corbina), and young sea bass, locally known as sea trout.
By taking a launch and going out into the open water, his ambition to
bring to gaff the larger species of the deeper sea can be gratified
with strikes from the tuna, the albacore, the bonito, the mackerel and
the yellow-tail that will give him a contest worthy of his metal.
These launch trips upon the bosom of the open ocean, are among the
chiefest pleasures of our beach resorts, for the angler not only finds
keen sport in the landing of these larger fishes, but an exhilarating
recreation, restful to the mind and healthful to the body.
Then, when his day's sport is over, whether his outing is only for a
day, or for the several weeks of his vacation, His comforts are to be
considered. In these Venice offers as wide a range as it does in its
amusements. At the splendidly appointed Hotel St. Marks he can find
the most luxurious accommodations; he can dine at one of its
deservedly popular cafes; or, if he wants to spend his vacation in
restful quietude with his family, he can take a furnished villa on the
bank of one of the canals, hidden away in a wealth of flowers and
forest trees, with the sea breeze tempered to a balmy zephyr. To this
sequestered home he can bring his fish, fresh from the sea, and
broiling them to his particular taste, enjoy the last delight of the
angler's day of sport.