ee 
PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 149 
In the foregoing figures, the products have, wherever practicable, 
been reduced to the common unit of a pound. In the following table 
such products as crabs, clams, oysters, etc., that are commonly sold on 
a different basis, and the pelts of marine mammals of which only the 
value is given in the above table, are shown by number, bushels, ete., 
as the case may be. 
Species. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 
DE IPE ee ee ROS r eae ee oN ita ptavaycim syaimiayed number..| 676, 800 696, 667 782, 700 954, 107 
DSA ALO sole fee mas hoe = seme sacl ataie cases sc bushels. . 8, 153 7,314 6, 440 6, 850 
ONDE STC EES PM Sao ee ee ee ea eee Gow 42\\) ) 1SnG45 21, 033 25, 256 33, 620 
a a ees ee bau saan See a celes aac ees do..--| 35, 0u0 45, 000 49, 968 48, 000 
PIRIEESER Pee e ets tag ee as nie miceae mleimia © sie hl = ao ).m aie do.--.| 146, 150 151, 325 158, 130 178, 645 
air-seal and sea-lion pelts...-.-.-----.----------- number. - 814 639 573 535 
mnr-seal pelts..--.----2+------2- Ss bec KOMSe 1, 691 5, 818 8, 948 14,710 
Sea-otter pelts --- Pe 307 293 163 235 
OTT aw yt SER se eas ee Ee ee ere gallons. .| 201,344 | 298,122 | 235,198 209, 979 
SHAD AND STRIPED BASS. 
_ Among the most interesting and important information that may be 
presented regarding the fisheries of California is that concerning the 
remarkable success attending the introduction of shad and striped bass 
in the waters of the State. While much has already been said and 
written on this subject, the following data, representing the personal 
inquiries of the writer, are thought to contain some points of interest 
not before generally known. 
Soon after the shad first began to be caught in the gill nets of the 
salmon fishermen of San Francisco Bay and Sacramento River, the fish 
were protected by State law, and the few examples occasionally smug- 
gled into the San Francisco market sometimes brought the fishermen 
$5 apiece. The rapid increase of the fish, however, soon made it appar- 
ent that further protection was unnecessary, and, accordingly, in 1889 
the restrictions on capture were removed. In the year named the fish 
were so abundant that at times they sold for 10 cents per pound. In 
1892 the catch had become so large that the price at which the fish were 
retailed in San Francisco was only 2 or 3 cents per pound, two fish often 
being sold for 25 cents. At times the San Francisco Bay fishermen 
were able to sell their catch at only 1 cent a pound. In other parts of 
the State, where only a small number of shad are taken incidentally 
during the salmon fishery, much higher prices are received in the local 
market. 
The catch of shad in California waters is made chiefly in San Fran- 
cisco Bay and Saeramento River. Monterey Bay continues to be the 
southern limit on the coast at which shad are found. More fish are 
taken on the north side of the bay by the Santa Cruz fishermen than 
elsewhere in that region. The mountain streams which enter the bay 
at Santa Cruz may be responsible for the presence of the shad only on 
that side of the bay. The fish is also taken in small numbers in all the 
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