360 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



MARKET FISH 



Market fish are all those species of finfishes which do not enter 

 primarily into the canning trade — the salmon, shad, and mackerel 

 being: exceptions. The production of market species in 1927 amounted 

 to 60,079,974 pounds. Tliis was about a normal year's catch, and 

 was 12 per cent of the entire production of all fishery products in 

 California for 1927. The most important species in this group in 

 1927, ranked according to value, are the flounders or flatfish ("Cali- 

 fornia halibut," sole, and other flounders), salmon, barracuda, rock- 

 fish, white sea bass or squeteague, yellowtail, shad, and mackerel. 



LEADING SPECIES 



Flounders. — The production of flounders, the most important 

 marke^t fish in 1927, from the standpoint of value, amounted to 

 13,068,555 pounds, valued at $730,812. This is an average produc- 

 tion for the 3'ears since 1918. Flounders are taken primarily by ves- 

 sels operating paranzella nets in the San Francisco district. They 

 are marketed fresh or frozen. Quantities are filleted and packaged. 



Salmon. — Until the World War gave an impetus to sardine and 

 tuna canning the fishery for salmon (king and silver salmon) was the 

 principal one in California. Now salmon ranks second in importance 

 in value among the market fish. Prior to the war this fishery was 

 conducted primarily to supply the salmon canneries of California. 

 (See p. 357.) The fishery became depleted to such an extent that 

 canning became of minor importance, and now most of the catch 

 enters the fresh or frozen trade. Some of the fish are mild-cured. 

 The catch in 1927, amounting to 6,511,929 pounds, valued at $644,175, 

 was made largely in the Sacramento River and in the ocean touching 

 Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. The bulk of the catch was 

 taken mth troll lines, but a small part was taken with gill nets. 



Barracuda. — The catch of barracuda in 1927 amounted to 6,199,739 

 pounds, valued at $595,997. Practically the entire catch was taken 

 in the San Pedro and San Diego districts, but a small portion was 

 caught off the coast of Mexico. They are taken in purse seines, 

 himpara nets, gill nets, and on troll lines. The catch is marketed 

 iuainly fresh,- or frozen, although some of the fish are canned, the 

 production in 1928 being valued at $85,841. 



Rockfishes. — The catch of rockfishes in 1927 amounted to 6,377,179 

 pounds, valued at $292,631. These fish are taken in every district, 

 although most of the landings are recorded for the San Pedro district. 

 They are taken by paranzella nets, lampara nets, gill nets, and lines. 

 The catch is marketed fresh or frozen. 



White sea bass or squeteague. — This species is found in every district 

 in California from San Francisco southward, and off the coast of 

 Mexico, although the bulk is taken in the San Pedro and San Diego 

 districts. The catch, wliich in 1927 amounted to 2,273,407 pounds, 

 valued at $217,744, is taken by means of purse seines, lampara nets, 

 gill nets, trammel nets, and lines. These fish are marketed fresh or 

 frozen. 



Yellowtail— The catch of yellowtail in 1927 totaled 4,224,853 

 pounds, valued at $195,463. These fish are taken in the San Pedro 

 and San Diego districts, but principally ofl" the coast of Mexico. 

 Purse seines, gill nets, trammel nets, lampara nets, and troll lines are 



