606 



GEOGRAPHICAL EEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



Statement of tlie number of pounds of fish shipped by rail and steamer from three fishing towns to San Francisco, by months, 



in 1879. 



Grand total catch eqnals 500,000 pounds net. 



SANTA CLARA COUNTY. The short coast line of Sauta Clara County consists entirely of a 

 shallow mud-flat at the head of San Francisco Bay. At Mayfield, the only coast town, no fishing 

 is done. 



SAN MATED COUNTY. The fisheries of this county are very inconsiderable. The towns along 

 the ocean Pescadero, San Gregorio, Purissima, and Half Moon Bay are all too small to offer any 

 local market, and their means of communication with the interior are so imperfect that they cannot 

 compete with Monterey and Sauta Cruz in supplying the San Francisco markets. The towns along 

 the bay shore are small, and the shore itself is unfavorable for fishing. In supplying the San Fran- 

 cisco markets they could not compete with fishermen living in San Francisco, who go down the bay 

 in their boats and return when they have a load. 



On the bay side of San Mateo County there is only one towu which contains any fishermen. 

 Here a company of seven Chinamen seine in the bay and salt and dry their fish for the Chinese mar- 

 ket of San Francisco. Both San Mateo and Redwood City are principally supplied by fish peddlers 

 from San Francisco, who sell along the road from San Francisco to San Jose. Nearly all of the 

 bay shore of this county consists of a mud flat, bare at low water; behind this flat lies a salt-marsh. 

 This marsh renders fishing unfavorable to the local fishermen. 



At Pescadero there is only one professional fisherman. He fishes with a gill-net at the mouth 

 of Pescadero Creek. An attempt is being made here to stock ponds with native salmon and trout. 

 These ponds are located 3 miles up the creek. They will also be stocked with carp. These 

 are easier to raise and bring a god price, being preferred especially by the Germans. Tourists 

 from San Francisco fish here for salmon in its season. The run of salmon up the creek is said to 

 have been lessened, owing to the seals, 20 or 30 of which are often observed, in spawning season, 

 to take up a position at the mouth of the stream, almost entirely preventing the salmon from run- 

 ning up. Those who escape alive, when caught bear marks of the seal's teeth. 



At Purissima there are no professional fishermen, but a great deal of hook-and-line fishing for 



