Five Ton Catch of Albacore, Avalon, Santa Catalina, Calif (NYPL b12647398-68886)

Postcard series number: 10778Ironmonger, photographer; (c) 1902; Albacore fishes on a large hanging rack comprising a weighing station; in the foreground a group of twenty-two persons, sea anglers and boatmen with rods and gaffs sitting on a beach; hills in the background; on the right striped awning and shop sign "AVALON SHELL PALACE" under two bow windows, front-gabled houses facing the beach; two persons on a balcony.Henry and Jane Elms who had moved from England to California and in 1888 from the mainland to Santa Catalina Island opened the first souvenir shop - Avalon Shell Store - located in a tent along the Avalon Bay Beach. Island Indian relics the family found were also sold. Their son Harry Elms (1866-1962) became Avalon's first postmaster in 1889, a well-known boatman, taking customers out in his launch Mildred.[1] and is also mentioned as guide and expert curio collector (Los Angeles Herald, September 12, 1896, p. 7), displaying bemong other exhibits whale bones in his Shell and Curiosity Shop at the north corner of Whittley and Crescent Avenues. (Catherine MacLean Loud diary, February 1893).
Photo taken at Avalon Bay Beach, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California, USA.

First appearance of 'Phostint' tradename.