Joaquin takes it rise in the semitropical section of the southern part 
| of the State, and flows northward hundreds of miles through a warm 
region. The Sacramento, with its head waters among the perpetually 
snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains, flows south many hundred 
miles, and, through numerous passages, mingles with the San Joaquin 
and is lost in the tide waters of the bay. These two streams constantly 
carry with them a large amount of minute animal and vegetable life, 
much of which must find a congenial home in San Francisco Bay and 
furnish a large and varied quantity of food for the fish life of the fresh, 
brackish, and salt waters. 
Another interesting feature of the bay is the almost uniform temper- 
ature of the water, there being only a few degrees variation at any 
season of the year. That the conditions are extremely favorable to 
the support of aquatic life is demonstrated in the rapid increase and 
permanent residence of the several fine food-fishes introduced from the 
Atlantic Coast by the Government. Some of the fishes thus acclima- 
tized are naturally anadromous, but in San Francisco Bay, contrary 
to their usually migratory habits, they do not appear to have any 
desire to spend much if any of their existence in the ocean. 
Another feature which has its influence upon the quantity of animal 
life present in San Francisco Bay is the absence of fishing banks or 
submerged chains of mountains off the coast of California adjacent to 
the Golden Gate. Fishing-grounds such as are found off the coast 
of the Atlantic States do not occur within many hundred miles of the 
California coast. It may therefore be assumed that during very stormy 
’ weather numbers of the near-shore marine fishes would seek food and 
shelter inside the Golden Gate, where, finding favorable conditions, 
‘Many remain. 
PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 197 
THE MARKET FISHERIES. 
The fresh-fish business of San Francisco presents few changes or 
improvements. Fish are handled in the same primitive manner often 
described and always noticed by everyone that takes any interest in 
visiting the fish markets. The fish are seldom dressed and but a small 
amount of ice is used. Several of the dealers united as one company 
during 1892 and have made quite an improvement in having larger and 
more inviting quarters in which to transact their business. Six days 
in the week, every week in the year, with the exception of a few stormy 
days, the little lateen-rigged fishing boats sail out in the morning for 
the same fishing-grounds, with the same kind of fishing gear, nets, or 
trawls; with little trouble they catch the same varieties of fish, and the 
evening finds them back in their fishing dock. 
The use of steamers, recommended in a previous report, in place of 
Sail vessels is slowly taking place. The first steamer to engage in the 
market fisheries began work in or about 1885, This vessel was a tug 
that combined towing part of the time witb fishing, when not other- 
_ wise engaged. During 1891 several of the wholesale firms united and 
added two steamers to the busiyess, and in 1892 one more was added, 
