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PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 193 
VENTURA COUNTY. 
Less than half a dozen fishermen, with headquarters at Ventura, 
represent the fishing industry of this county. Fish 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 Railroad 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 alge. 
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 perfect and they 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 Rosa, the fishermen being Americans 
and Chinese. The former give attention to sea lions and sea otters, 
while the Chinese take most of the alge and abalones, and prepare the 
dry fish which are exported. 
Sea lions are taken at San Miguel and Flea Islands and on Richard- 
‘son’s Rock. 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 
' 6,470 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 Rosa, 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 “ 
