194 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Of late years abalones have been more abundant. The low price of 
shells which had for some time prevailed offered small inducement 
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 algz, which they dry, pack in bales, and export to 
China, where it is used in making soups. During 1892 13,490 pounds 
of dried alg were shipped from Santa Barbara. 
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. 
Compared with the extent of the fisheries shown in the previous 
report the fishing industry of this county has undergone a slight 
increase, as gauged by the quantity and value of the products taken. 
Port Harford, 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 whaling 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 off from 50,000 pounds to 750 pounds. 
In close proximity to Port Harford are Pecho Rock and Lion Rock, | 
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: 
| 
Pelts. 
Liat etal Oil. | 
Years oe | | 
* | Pounds. | Value.| Gallons. | Value. 
2 = | - | 
Tea Hee Ba actin es Roa tate Spur gi Te a ee epee 53 | 3,577 | $143 292 $73 
SUT yee eee NU one eee ne oe rae 133 | 8,978; 359 732 183 
TIE Dae Nee DR PY OIE Miia MR CREAR Seo bee 95 | 6412 | 256 522 130 
| 
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: 
il ‘ 
k Whales | 3 Oe 
Years. killed 7 
| os | Gallons. | Value. 
=| 1 
10) Sn eee ee eas She a Grete bee ce ASS Ee 5 4, 000 $1, 600 
TEST ea ee ne ea RL yer tate Meee CAN shah Ne Se ies 5 ois SiG amabers 7\ 5, 000 2, 000 
MB OTRAS 5 boisiok Site larrs asa heoin dre lel ats ya eS See Oca OU eae batons eee ere eae lias Ba 7 5, 000 2, 000 
IGS) ae Se ee eee A in Re PNR er eer ee aa a bk a ee 5 4, 000 | 1, 600 
} 
MONTEREY COUNTY. 
The fisheries of this county have a peculiar 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 | 
