186 Transactions op the State Agricultural Society. 



their vocation at San Francisco, declare that the fish are the genuine 

 sardine, possessing more delicacy of fibre than those obtained in Europe. 



A late authority says that the sardine is a small and well known fish 

 of the herring family. It is regarded by some as identical with the fish 

 called the pilchard, of the coasts of Great Britain, though Cuvier made 

 it distinct, giving it the specific name of sardina. 



On exhibition, on the lower floor of Agricultural Hall, is a display of 

 California sardines in tin cases of two sizes. They are the product of 

 the California Sardine Company of San Francisco, and are exhibited by 

 ex Senator T. N. Wand, one of the leading men of the compan}', and to 

 •whom we are indebted for some facts in relation to this new and import- 

 ant enterprise. 



Some time last Spring, a few gentlemen having satisfied themselves 

 that the true sardine was an inhabitant of the Pacific Coast, also know- 

 ing that California is a great olive-growing country, and that if the 

 presence of the fish could once be established, the copious production of 

 native olive oil would soon follow, the determination being to give the 

 matter a thorough and practical test. Machinery was ordered from the 

 East, arrangements were made for the importation of oil, and every- 

 thing necessary for pushing the new business to a success or a failure 

 was resorted to, but owing to the delaj' always attendant upon the in- 

 troduction of such a Dew enterprise, they did not get to work till late 

 in the season, and now for the first time the California sardines are laid 

 before the public through the medium of the State Fair. 



Being now assured of entire success, the company will soon have 

 arrangements completed to work next season on a large scale. The 

 fish run about seven months, commencing in March. AVhen we con- 

 sider that they have the whole United States for a market, and that 

 several millions of dollars worth of sardines are annually imported 

 from foreign countries and consumed in our own, it is at once apparent 

 to the average mind the importance of this heretofore uuthought of 

 source of California wealth. 



Your committee carefully examined, touched, and tasted the samples 

 submitted to them, and they have no hesitation in certifying that they 

 have found the fish neatly and artistically put up in boxes, and, what 

 was of still greater importance, they found the quality of the fish, in 

 points of sweetness, tenderness, and delicacy of flavor, fully equal, if 

 not superior, to the imported article; in fact, they are the finest sardines 

 we ever tasted, and we take the greatest pleasure rn advising our 

 citizens to encourage this pioneer sardine company in the prosecution 

 of a business which must undoubtedly in a few years assume such pro- 

 portions as to add largely to the wealth and prosperity of California, 

 the cherished home of our adoption. 



W. W. LIGHT, 

 D. S. BOSS. 



