154 FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
abalone meat, as compared with 1904. There has been an increase in 
abalone shells, but a decrease in pearls sold. Los Angeles supported 
an abalone industry in 1904, but laws passed since then have prac- 
tically prohibited a continuation of the industry. 
Kelp harvesters.—Kelp harvesters were employed in only - three 
counties—Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ventura. The total output of 
kelp in 1915 amounted to 5,000,000 pounds, having a value of $2,500. 
No comparison can be made with any previous report, as the industry 
has developed since the outbreak of the European war, when the 
importation of potash from Germany ceased. 
Dredges, tongs, rakes, forks, etc.—These forms of apparatus were em- 
ployed only in the shore fisheries, the catch consisting of clams, oys- 
ters, mussels, turtles, and seaweed. The total value of these products 
in 1915 amounted to $210,436. As compared with the output of 
corresponding apparatus used in 1904, there was a decrease of 
$453,655 in value, this being due mainly to the decline in both the 
native and eastern oysters. 
Miscellaneous apparatus.—Under this heading are included beam 
trawls, spears, dip nets, and nets for catching sea lion. The total 
catch in 1915 with all of these forms of apparatus combined amounted 
to 365,125 pounds, with a value of $12,065. The output consisted 
of chinook salmon, surf fish, shrimp, and sea lion. 
The beam trawls are used only in Alameda County, the output con- 
sisting entirely of shrimp, taken in San Francisco Bay. The total 
catch in 1915 amounted to 263,000 pounds, valued at $4,850. The 
beam trawls are ordinarily used from gasoline launches of about 6 
horsepower and are sunilar in construction to those used in Washing- 
ton, except that they are smaller. The beam is about 18 feet long, 
and the iron shoes upon which it rests raise it 18 inches above the 
bottom. The bag is made of flax twine knit by Chinese. The fishing 
is commonly done in about 2 fathoms of water. 
The use of spears is confined to Shasta County, the catch of chinook 
salmon with this apparatus being unimportant. 
Dip nets are used in Humboldt and Sonoma Counties, the catch 
in both counties consisting entirely of surf fish. The total output 
in 1915 amounted to 57,000 pounds, valued at $2,320. The fishing 
is done entirely in the ocean. The fisherman stands at the edge of 
the surf and holds his net under it as it is breaking, no boat being 
used. The net used in Humboldt County, when made to order, 
costs about $10. It is triangular in shape, two of the sides consisting 
of wooden strips 8 feet long connected at their outer ends by a string. 
The netting attached to this frame sags a little below it to hold the 
fish. A short distance from the point of intersection, and connecting 
the two strips of the frame, is nailed a short strip, which serves as a 
handle for the net. 
