604 



GEOGRAPHICAL 'BE VIEW OF TLTE FISHERIES. 



the colony is an American citizen, and speaks English well. From 200 pounds to 800 pounds of 

 fish are shipped daily to San Francisco. They consign their fish to the Clay-street dealers. Both 

 of the colonies now considered dry an immense quantity of abalone meats and sell the shells. At 

 certain seasons many tons of devil-fish, squids, and other ccphaloids, etc., are thus prepared. 



In 1873, fish were very abundant at Monterey, but the bay has been overfished, and there is a 

 great decrease in the abundance of certain species, especially the flounder. Before the completion 

 of the Monterey railroad, which has been referred to, the fish were shipped to some point whence 

 they were sent by stage to Salinas and on by rail to San Francisco. The excessive handling and 

 length of time requisite for transportation were the causes of many lots being spoiled. 



There is a colony of Italians and another of Portuguese. The former has five sail-boats and 

 three skiffs. They own two hundred pieces of seine, each 240 feet long. With some they catch 

 smelt; with some, barracuda; and with others, salmon. They have twenty gill-nets and forty 

 bunches of set-lines. In the gill-nets are chiefly caught rockfish, blue-cod, and rock-trout. With 

 the set-lines the red rock is taken in deeper water. This mode of fishing is chiefly practiced by 

 the Portuguese and Chinese. 



The Portuguese colony have the same number of boats as that settled by Italians. Most of 

 their fishing, as above suggested, is done with set-lines; hence the species most commonly taken 

 by them is the red rockfish. The price per pound for this fish, cleaned, is 6 cents. Most of the 

 others obtain only 3 and 4 cents per pound. 



The common bait is the flesh of Hypsurus caryi, which is caught around the wharves in a dip- 

 net baited with crushed crab. 



At Moss Landing, two miles from Castrovalle, there are one or two fishermen with a boat. The 

 fish caught are sold in Castroville or shipped to San Francisco. 



Monthly slripmcnls offish to San Francisco from Monterey from Fdruary 1, 1879, to February I, 1880. 



These figures are from the books of Wells, Fargo & Co. The above total represents about one- 

 fourth of the total catch for the county. Two-thirds are rockfish. 



In Monterey County are two whaling companies one at Carmelo, the other at Monterey. 

 Captain Mariano commands the former. This company owns three boats. In 1879 they took one 

 finback, three humpback, and three gray whales. There are a great many fine whales on this part 

 of the coast, but the sea is so rough in winter that for months the men dare not venture out. 



The company at Monterey is commanded by Captain Verissimo. It was started in 1855. In 

 1879 fourteen whales and two basking sharks were captured. Three boats belong to this com- 

 pany. 



At Monterey various sorts of crabs are abundant. They are never shipped, and seldom 

 eaten. 



