Chapter 16 The North Pacific Coast

Catalina stands in stark contrast with the North Pacific Coast, as it receives less than 12 inches of rain per year on average, as opposed to the latter which receives up to 230 inches at the extreme and is generally very moist and has alot of biomass and tree growth. Both share large areas that are isolated from people and deveopment though, and have the Pacific Ocean as a common influence concerning climate effects and general geographic impacts. As the coastal tribes and local ones on Catalina depended on the ocean for sustenance, fishing and boating are a shared trait for both areas from the beginning of man's presence. Today, commercial fishing in the open ocean and local aquaculture is still a major economic focus in the Pacific Northwest region, but not on Catalina Island, where recreational fishing is popular and done with fishing poles and spearfishing. Abalone cannot be legally caught south of just north of San Francisco, and there are other fishing restrictions that differ between the two. It is interesting to note that the Tongva on Catalina got there canoe materials from the north and strong storms originated in the north produce large waves which effect the islands ecology and physical structure all the coast.
http://www.catalinachamber.com/images/Photos/Low/AvalonEast.jpg
Avalon looking east