Paul Bueller.

25 miles south of Los Angeles lies the Bay of San Pedro, now officially known as Los Angeles Harbor.

Discovered in 1542, 239 years before the city of Los Angeles was founded by the renowned Spanish navigator Juan

Rodriguez Cabrillo. For 300 years San Pedro remained as fashioned by nature, a

picturesque little port with less than two feet of water at the harbor entrance at low tide.

Fishing and trading and hides were the only commercial activities, even as late as the 19th century.

However, during the last 20 years, a huge expenditure in federal and municipal money has enabled engineering genius to make of San Pedro Bay,

one of the finest artificial harbors in the world. Leaping into prominence at the close

of the World War, in various phases of shipping, Los Angeles Harbor is now rated from first

to sixth place among the seaports in the nation.

And to her hospitable waters now come ships from all over the world, Europe, the Orient, Australia, the Philippine and

Hawaiian Islands, to moor at her capacious docks with passengers and cargo. The harbor is also the

seat of a government military post, Fort MacArthur, and during six months of each year is a

maneuver base for the Pacific Battlefleet.

In April 1925, I was stationed at the port, detailed to the Detective Bureau, then under the

command of captain, now chief of detectives, H. H. Klein. My partner was Detective A.J. Farrell, now captain of detectives, in command of the

Harbor Division. In addition to the usual problems that confront the police department in any

teeming industrial city of 60,000 population, we encountered others of special difficulties at San Pedro.

For instance, there was that problem presented by every big seaport the world over,

involving the sailors ashore after weeks of monotonous ship routine.

Hail, hearty, high-spirited young fellows craving at the most elemental of pleasures, wine and women.

And at San Pedro, despite all the official effort to curb these baleful influences, the speak-easy,

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