194 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Of late years abaloiies have been more abnudaut. The low j)rice of 

 shells which had for some time prevailed offered small inducemeut 

 for even the frugal Chinese to take these mollusks, which consequently 

 had an opportunity to increase. The Chinese gather from the rocks 

 large quantities of algi^e, which they dry, pack in bales, and export to 

 China, where it is used in making soups. During 1892 13,490 jwunds 

 of dried algae were shipped from Santa Barbara. 



SAN LUIS OBLSPO COUNTY. 



Compared with the extent of the fisheries shown in the jirevious 

 report the fishing industry of this county has undergone a slight 

 increase, as gauged by the quantity and value of the products taken. 

 Port Ilarford, with the steamboat and railroad connections, is the most 

 important of the several fishing stations of the county, the others 

 being located at Morro and Cazucos, 15 and 21 miles, respectively, 

 north of Port Harford, and at San Simeon, a shore Avhaling station 

 some 20 miles farther north. 



The catch of food-fish in 1892 was unusually light, owing to scarcity 

 of mackerel and barracuda; the catch of the former at Port Harford 

 was 105,000 pounds in 1891 and only 7,300 pounds in 1892, the catch of 

 barracuda falling ofl' from 50,000 pounds to 750 pounds. 



In close proximity to Port Harford are Pecho Rock and Lion Eock, 

 which are favorite resorts for a large number of sea lions, which are 

 hunted for their pelts and oil. The extent of this branch of the fish- 

 eries in the years 1890, 1891, and 1892 was as follows: 



The shore whale fishery, which was at one time carried on with con- 

 siderable activity from a number of stations along the California coast, 

 is now restricted to the limited operations of a few fishermen at San 

 Simeon, at the northern end of this county. The results of the busi- 

 ness during the past four years were as follows : 



MONTEREY COUNTY. 



The fisheries of this county have a ])eculiar interest in that Monterey 

 Bay, the principal fishing-ground, represents the limit of migration of 

 many fishes; shad and salmon, for instance, are here found in some 

 numbers, but do not occur south of Monterey Bay, while a large variety 



