The Mermaid

John Gary runs a summer hotel at a charming spot on the seashore, but he has been unable to induce people to stop there, and at the opening of the picture is seen lamenting the fact that there is not a single guest's name on his hotel register. At this juncture his daughter, Ethel, returns from school. Ethel is an expert swimmer, and on reading in the paper the rumor that a mermaid has made several appearances in the waters of the Atlantic, he decides to have his daughter pose as the mysterious Lady of the Sea. He wisely conjectures that a handy mermaid will bring guests. With Ethel clad in appropriate costume, and seated upon the rocks in true mermaid fashion, her father persuades the reporter of the local paper to take a look at the phenomena. The newspaper man is greatly impressed with the spectacle and obtains a photo of the mermaid, which he publishes. The mermaid gains wide publicity and vacationists arrive from far and near to see her. Tom, Dick and Harry, a trio of city sports, jump into bathing suits and the water, each bent on capturing the mermaid. She eludes them all, however, and the mystery is not cleared up until Ethel, in a pretty tailored suit, presents herself to the guests and explains the joke. By this time Gary's hotel is famous, and the owner is certain of a big summer business. - IMDb