lOG REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tlie bhu'k cod inliabits the deeper Avateis, liall-;4r()\vii individuals also 

 being" found in moderate depths, together with the ling or Paciiic whit- 

 ing'. Large red prawns of excellent (piality aic likewise very abundant 

 aiul widely distiibuted, having been captured fre(j[uently in consid- 

 erable numbers in the beam trawl. 



Although gales are of rare occurrence in thi« region during the sum- 

 mer months, yet the coast winds blow constantly from the northward 

 and maintaiu a boisterous sea and strong currents. During the fall 

 and winter southeasterly storms are fre<juent. OwMug to the scarcity 

 of good harbors, the tisheiineuhave, therefore, many hardships toc(Ui- 

 teud with, and the lack of sutticient markets to handle a large catch 

 interferes at present with the rapid develoi)ment of the fishery. 



Cajje Mendocino to Point Conception, California. — During March and 

 April, 18i)0, the coast waters between l*oint Arena and the Santa Bar- 

 bara Channel, including the important fishing-gronnds oft" San Fran- 

 cisco, w^ere surveyed by the Albatross, and in September of the same 

 year the region from Caiie Mendocino to Point Arena was examined, 

 thereby completing the preliminary investigations on the California 

 coast. Capt. Tanner reports that he found the sloj^e very abrupt near 

 Cape Mendocino, but it gradually widens toward the south, the 200- 

 fathom curve off Point Arena being distant about 12 miles from shore. 

 There are no fishing-banks properly so called within these limits, but 

 the same fishes which are commoidy met with farther north are distrib- 

 uted also through this district, and the beam trawl may be used oft' 

 Point Arena, although some rocky i^atches occur in places. 



BetAveen Point Arena and Point Conception the width of the conti- 

 nental platform into depths of 200 fathoms varies considerablj-, the 

 extreme range being from less than 1^ to 20 miles. Within these boun- 

 daries the nu)st active fisheries on the California coast are now T)eing 

 conducted. The character of the bottom is generally very uniform, 

 the area between the Golden Gate, ]*oint Pillar, the Farallones, and 

 Point Peyes being sandy and free from rocks, except in the immediate 

 vicinity of the islands or of the shore. South from Pillar Point rocky 

 ])atches frequently occur near the shore, with fine gray sand farther 

 off, finally merging into green mud at varying distances from the land. 

 ]iocky spots also exist in depths of 30 to 70 fathoms on sand and mud 

 bottoms. 



One hundred and eleven trawling and fishing stations were made in 

 this region, and a very large variety of fishes was obtained, many being 

 of excellent food quality. Flounders, including several choice edible 

 species, composed the princii)al features of every haul. The beam 

 trawl and other corresponding forms of drag nets are the only appli- 

 ances by which these forms can readily be secured. Several sj^ecies of 

 rockfish were also common. 



