HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 503 



tained a population of thirty-five thousand souls, 

 "whereas, the present population of the same districts 

 is only seven thousand. 



The agricultural products of Lower California are 

 maize, sugar-cane, potatoes, dates, figs, grapes, quin- 

 ces, lemons, and olives. A considerable quantity of 

 hides, beef, cheese, soap, sugar, figs, raisins, &c, is 

 annually exported to Mexico and Upper California, 

 flour and merchandise being received in exchange. 

 The vegetable market of Mazatlan is also in part 

 supplied from the valley of San Jose*. 



But the value of Lower California does not result 

 from its being either a grazing or agricultural country. 

 Its fisheries, mines, commerce, and the influence of 

 its geographical position, are matters of much higher 

 importance than its agricultural productions. 



The whole coast of the peninsula abounds with fish ; 

 clams and oysters are found in great plenty and of 

 every variety. The islands of the gulf abound with 

 seal, and the whaling grounds on the Pacific coast are 

 of great value. During the past year Magdalena 

 bay alone has, at one time, contained as many as 

 twenty-eight sail, all engaged in this fishery. The 

 pearl fishery is also exceedingly valuable. Formerly, 

 when it was conducted with system and regularity, 

 the annual produce of a single vessel with thirty or 

 forty divers, between the months of July and October, 

 usually amounted to about $60,000 ; and now, badly 

 as the fishery is conducted, the annual exportation of 

 pearls amounts to between forty and fifty thousand 

 dollars. Tortoise and pearl shells are also articles of 

 exportation. 



Lower California contains valuable mines of gold, 

 silver, copper, and lead ; but, for the want of capital, 



