54 FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST STATES IN 1904. 



5 gasoline, boats. The products in 1904 amounted to 913,140 pounds, 

 worth $36,023, of which output 650,346 pounds were spiny lobsters, 

 which are more plentiful in this section than anywhere on the Pacific 

 coast. 



Gill nets and lobster pots are set about one mile from the wharf at 

 Santa Barbara, and about the islands of Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, 

 and Santa Cruz. Five Chinese on Santa Cruz Islands and 2 on Santa 

 Barbara Islands are engaged in fishing. Their output in 1904 

 amounted to 13,430 pounds of abalone meat, 8,730 pounds of abalone 

 shells, and 18,910 pounds of seaweed. Two Chinese also fished for aba- 

 lone around San Miguel Islands. Here the abalone are pried from the 

 rocks at low tide, none being found in deep water. The fishing is car- 

 ried on during April, May, June, July, and August. Seaweed also is 

 pulled from the rocks at low tide. After being given one washing it 

 is dried on the shore, packed in bales, and shipped to San Francisco. 

 During April and May sea lions are taken alive from Ana Capa and 

 Santa Barbara islands, 26 being captured during 1904. These animals 

 have been so much hunted that they now resort to the caves on the 

 islands, but thither they are followed. The hunters enter the caves in 

 boats and fire off guns, which frighten the sea lions out into a strong 

 gill net which has been stretched across the opening of the cave. 

 Animals of proper size are shipped to various parts of the world for 

 exhibition purposes; the others are killed for their pelts. One hundred 

 and fifty young lions and pups were killed recently. The nets used in 

 their capture are 15 fathoms long by 4 fathoms deep, with an 8-inch 

 mesh. 



Sea otters were formerly plentiful around the Santa Barbara Islands, 

 but they are now nearly exterminated. The only one reported in 1904 

 was shot off San Miguel Islands and sold for $250. 



San Luis Obispo County. — The fisheries of Port Harford for many 

 years were of considerable importance. The shipments in 1899 

 amounted to 341,330 pounds. In years past the harbor was full of 

 kelp, among which were many species of fish; gulls and pelicans in 

 large numbers followed the fish quite near to the wharf; and the adja- 

 cent rocks were rookeries for sea lions, of which many were killed for 

 oil and pelts. Within the past few years, however, tank oil steamers 

 which have loaded here with oil, on their return pumped their water 

 ballast into the harbor to the destruction of the fishing industry. All 

 marine plant life and shellfish soon died and the fishermen were 

 forced to leave. For a time Monterey labored under the same con- 

 ditions, but the city authorities passed a law protecting the fishermen 

 from oil steamers. 



Ventura County. — The principal port of this county is Ventura, a 

 few miles southeast from Santa Barbara. Like the latter it is quite near 

 valuable fishing grounds, and in a rich, well-settled country, with rail- 



