pacific: cod fisheries 407 



profitable price. This was the only fare of cod to be landed at 

 Portland. 



For the first few years of the fishery no suitable facilities were 

 in existence at San Francisco or elsewhere on the coast for curing the 

 fish. In certain cases the fishermen received their share of the voyage 

 in fish, which, after being cured in a good, bad, or indifferent manner 

 by themselves, were hawked around the city. 



The late Thomas W. McCollam, of San Francisco, enjoyed the dis- 

 tinction of having been the first man on the Pacific coast to establish 

 *die industry on a permanent basis. In 1867 he bought his first cargo 

 of cod, and the next year he bought and cured several cargoes at Old 

 Sausalito, but as this locality was not satisfactory he soon after estab- 

 lished a new station at the mouth of Kedwood City Creek, about 30 

 miles south of San Francisco. 



Having decided to engage directly in fishing himself, Mr. McCol- 

 lam went east in 1868, and in New England purchased the fishing- 

 schooners Riffling Wave, Wild Gazelle, and Flying Mist. The 

 first was lost on the passage in Magellan Strait; the others arrived 

 safely and were outfitted immediately and sent north to the Shu- 

 magin Islands for cod. In addition to handling his own fish, he also 

 continued to buy the cargoes from other vessels. 



In 1873 a partner was taken into the business and the firm was 

 then known as Thomas W. McCollam & Co. In 1874 the schooner 

 Alfred Adams was added to his little fleet, while the Flying Mist 

 went sea-otter hunting on the Asiatic shore. 



In 1876 the firm again changed the location of its home curing 

 station, removing to Pescada Landing, opposite Sausalito, on Rich- 

 ardsons Bay, where its successor, the Union Fish Co., still carries 

 on the business. In 1883 several new members were admitted into 

 the firm and its name changed to the McCollam Fishing & Trad- 

 ing Co. 



The first shore fishing station for cod in Alaska was established 

 by this firm at Pirate Cove, Popof Island, in the Shumagin Group, 

 in 1876, a more detailed description of which will be found in the 

 chapter devoted to the history of the shore fishing stations in Alaska. 



In 1893 the Pacific Marine Supply Co. was organized in San 

 Francisco for the purpose of engaging in cod fishing and the carry- 

 ing on of other business. The first published record we have of the 

 company engaging in cod fishing was in 1896, when the former 

 whaling schooner La Ninfa (also given as LaNymfha) was outfitted 

 and sent to Bering Sea. In 1904 the name was changed to the Alaska 

 Codfish Co., and the business has been operated under this name 

 since. In addition to a fleet of vessels the company also owns and 

 operates a number of shore stations in Alaska. 



In 1898 a combination of several San Psancisco firms operating in 

 the cod fishery, notably the McCollam Fishing & Trading Co. and 

 Lynde & Hough, was formed and the name Union Fish Co. was 

 selected for the new company. 



From the very beginning San Francisco has occupied the premier 

 position in the fishery; in fact for many years it was the only place 

 on the coast where cod vessels were outfitted. The industry fluctu- 

 ated much and the changes in the personnel were frequent. The late 

 Charles P. Overton, for many years before his death connected 



