PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 199 



of these old beds were found uumbers of mediuui-sized eastern oysters 

 ill good coudition. These were probably the outcome of spat that had 

 drifted with the tide from the cultivated beds of eastern oysters. 



Next in importance to the oyster industry is the shrimp fishery 

 carried on by the Chinese. At several points on the west side of the 

 southern part of the bay are located extensive camps of the Chinese 

 fishermen, while in close j)roximity to their camps along the borders 

 of the bay and as far out as the main channel may be seen hundreds 

 of their shrimp nets fastened to stakes. 



From the middle of January to the middle of June smelt are more or 

 less abundant and taken with nets along the west shore and along the 

 border of the channel. From November to February herring and smelt 

 are netted on the east side of the bay. From San Francisco to a dis- 

 tance 5 miles south smelt are caught during July and August, and a 

 short distance south on the east side of the bay smelt and herring are 

 found in December and January. 



The foregoing comprise all of the principal fishing done within that 

 part of the bay south of San Francisco. Just inside the Golden Gate 

 primitive traps to the number of several hundred are fished for crabs. 

 The first of the winter catch of herring is taken in Richardson Bay 

 north of the Golden Gate, in which is located one of the large stations 

 for the receiving and curing of cod. Another important station con- 

 nected with the cod fishery is found a few miles distant on the main 

 bay, these comprising all the firms that are engaged in the cod fishery 

 of California. From the harbor of San Francisco to the upper extrem- 

 ity of Suisun Bay salmon, shad, and striped bass are netted from April 

 to the middle of September, the principal part of the run of fish being 

 taken in or near the channel. On each side of the entrance to San 

 Pablo Bay the Chinese fishermen, whose operations were fully noticed 

 in the previous report, continue to have their camps and follow their 

 important fisheries for shrimp and the smaller species of bottom fish. 

 On the west side of San Pablo Bay sturgeon and flounders are taken 

 between February and May. 



The fisheries of Suisun Bay are limited to the taking of salmon, 

 shad, and striped bass. 



THE PACIFIC COD FISHERY. 



This branch of the Pacific fisheries is making history, although in 

 many respects differing from the much older one of the Atlantic. 

 Since the landing of the first cargo in 1864, up to 1893, the few firms 

 engaged in the catching and curing of codfish have seen many fluctua- 

 tions and changes in the business. The increase which the industry 

 has undergone has only been reached by seeking the widely separated 

 and distant markets of the Atlantic Coast, the Sandwich Islands, and 

 Australia. Changes have taken place in the mode of preparing the 

 fish for market. A small amount is yet called for in the old style, hard 

 dried with skin on and tied up in bundles of 75 to lUO pounds 3 but 



