PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 193 



VENTURA COUNTY. 



Less than lialf a dozen lisliermeD, with headquarters at Ventura, 

 represent the fishing industry of this county. Fisli are abundant, 

 and the fishing business could no doubt be largely increased with profit 

 to the producer and benefit to the people of the interior, but at the 

 present time the entire catch is used locally. A branch of the Southern 

 Pacific Eailroad connects Ventura with Los Angeles. Within compar- 

 atively few years this section of the State has rapidly developed and 

 the valleys have been settled by farmers and fruit-growers. 



SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. 



The fisheries of this county are prosecuted from Santa Barbara and 

 the adjacent islands, and present few new features as compared with 

 1888. The branches of the fishing industry here followed are the 

 taking of the shore food-fishes, the hunting of sea otters and sea lions, 

 and the utilization of abalones and alg«. 



Fish are abundant at all seasons and the weather is mild and favor- 

 able for fishing throughout the year. The extent of the fisheries is, 

 however, quite limited and does not to any extent represent the 

 resources of the county. The few fishermen here, mainly Austrians 

 and Chinese, make a good living with little exertion, carrying on their 

 business only when the weather is x)erfect and tliey are so disposed. 

 Most of the catch is consumed locally, the demand being considerable 

 during the winter months, when thousands of visitors and tourists are 

 found in this section. In summer but small quantities of fish are taken. 



Three camps of fishermen and sea-lion hunters are located on the 

 islands of Santa Cruz and Santa Eosa, the fishermen being Americans 

 and Chinese. The former give attention to sea lions and sea otters, 

 while the Chinese take most of the algae and abalones, and prepare the 

 drj' fish which are exported. 



Sea lions are taken at San Miguel and Flea Islands and on Eichard- 

 son's Eock. They are hunted for their oil, which brings about 40 cents 

 per gallon, and their hides, which are worth about 4 cents per pound. 

 The skins are tanned and make serviceable leather. Many of the sea 

 lions are of large size. Of late years there has been quite a demand 

 for live specimens to be placed in public parks' and gardens in some of 

 the eastern cities, and a considerable number have also been shipped 

 alive to Europe. In 1891, 34 sea lions, weighing 9,580 pounds, were 

 shipped east from this county, and in the following year 17, weighing 

 0,470 pounds, were so disposed of. The sea lions sought for their oil 

 and hides are killed by means of guns, while those captured alive are 

 taken by throwing a lasso over their heads. 



Six American fishermen in three boats hunt the sea otters around the 

 islands of San Miguel, Santa Eosa, and San Nicholas. The number 

 killed is quite small and the animals are growing scarcer each year. 

 Thirty were taken in 1889, 20 in 1890, 12 in 1891, and 8 in 1892, the 

 pelts having an average value to the hunters of $150, 

 F. R. 93 13 



