FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST STATES IN 1904. 55 



road facilities to a large market. Neither of the two places, .so far as 

 the fisheries are concerned, has taken advantage of the favorable con- 

 ditions, though Ventura shows some gain during the past few years, 

 its fisheries having increased from an investment of $638 in 1899 to 

 $4,875 in 1904, and its products from 74,000 pounds in L899 to 354,842 

 pounds in 11)04, the latter consisting of 137,314 pounds of spiny lobsters, 

 L04,800 pounds of flounders, and 112,728 pounds of other products. 



Los Angeles Count;/. — This county ranks second in the state in the 

 amount of capital invested and number of persons engaged, and third 

 in the amount of products taken. Compared with 1899, its fisheries 

 show a gain of $390,342 in the amount of capital invested, 269 in the 

 number of persons engaged, and 582,418 pounds, valued at $21,509, 

 in the amount and value of products taken. The leading fishing sta- 

 tions are located at San Pedro, Redondo, Long Beach, Santa Monica, 

 Wilmington, and Ocean Park. All of them are within 25 miles of 

 Los Angeles, the receiving and distributing point. 



The aggregate product yielded by the fisheries of the county in 

 1904 was 4,542,480 pounds, valued at $103,880 to the fishermen. The 

 following were the leading species, with the quantity of each : Barra- 

 cuda, 1,188,230 pounds; bastard halibut (tabulated under flounders), 

 839,465 pounds; Spanish mackerel, 507,700 pounds; rockfish, 636,456 

 pounds; sardines, 321,900 pounds; smelt, 134,307 pounds; sea bass, 

 75,082 pounds; chub mackerel, 66,392 pounds; perch, 57,500 pounds; 

 yellow-tail, 59,545 pounds; abalone, 196,518 pounds, and spiny lobsters, 

 47,002 pounds. 



The following increases since 1899 are worthy of note: Barracuda, 

 799,865 pounds; rockfish, 392,456 pounds; abalone, 132,588 pounds; 

 chub mackerel, 17,152 pounds, and Spanish mackerel, 507,700 pounds. 

 The decrease in some species is also noticeable, that of spiny lobsters 

 being 93,884 pounds; smelts, 28,855 pounds, and sardines, 6t»3,100 

 pounds. 



The increase in the fisheries of Los Angeles County is largely due 

 to the recent use of gasoline boats, of which there are 39, worth 

 $50,600. These boats carry double the crew and nets used by the 

 small sail boats, and make quick trips, leaving early every morning 

 and returning in time to have the day's catch landed, packed, and on 

 the evening express train. 



Spiny lobsters are packed in £ and 1 pound cans, lined with parch- 

 ment paper and labeled "lobsters." The spiny lobsters weigh, as 

 taken from the water, on an average 3 pounds each, and some as 

 much as 18 pounds. The present state law concerning both abalone 

 and lobsters is said to have been beneficial. These species were 

 reported more abundant in L904 than during the preceding five years. 

 Spin} 7 lobsters, either fresh or canned, are a very good substitute for 

 the genuine lobster, of which none is found on the Pacific coast. 



