Harbour of San Francisco. Imports and 

 exports. The grape in California. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Salmon fishery. Water mills. 

 Sheep and hogs. 



303 



fluence enters the bays of San Pablo and San 

 Francisco. 



The Sacramento is navigable for boats to the 

 distance of one hundred and fifty miles, and for 

 vessels as far as New Helvetia. The upper por- 

 tion of it, near the Prairie Butes, overflows its 

 banks, and submerges the whole of the Sacramento 

 Valley as far down as the San Joachim. This 

 inundation is probably caused by the united effects 

 of the Sacramento and the Feather rivers, as there 

 is not in its bed sufficient room to discharge so 

 large a quantity of water. 



Upper California may boast of one of the finest, 

 if not the very best harbour in the world, that of 

 San Francisco. Few are more extensive or could 

 be as readily defended as it; while the combined 

 fleets of all the naval powers of Europe might 

 moor in it. This is, however, the only really good 

 harbour which this country possesses ; for the 

 others so called may be frequented only during the 

 fine season, being nothing more than roadsteads, 

 affording little safety and but few supplies to 

 vessels. 



The principal articles imported are cotton cloths, 

 velvet, silks, brandies, wines, teas, &c. ; in return 

 for which they receive hides and tallow, skins, 

 wheat, and salmon. The attention of the inhabit- 

 ants has been principally directed to the raising of 

 cattle, and the greater part of the wealth of Cali- 

 fornia may be considered as consisting of live stock. 

 The exportations, on the average of years, is about 

 one hundred and fifty thousand hides, and two 

 hundred thousand arrobas of tallow. From four 

 to five hundred sea-otter skins are brought in by 

 the American hunters, and are valued at thirty 

 dollars each. The beaver skins are comparatively 

 few. Wheat has been exported to the Russian 

 posts, to the amount of twelve thousand bushels. 



The yield of wheat is remarkable, and in some 

 places, where the land is well situated, very large 

 returns are received. Mr. Spears, of Yerba Buena, 

 informed me that he had delivered to an active 

 American farmer thirty bushels of wheat for seed, 

 at a time when it was difficult to procure it, under 

 an agreement that he should have the refusal of 

 the crop at the market price. In the July follow- 

 ing, he delivered him three thousand bushels, and 

 on its delivery, he found that the farmer had re- 

 served six hundred bushels for himself; and this, 

 without estimating the loss from bad reaping and 

 treading out with horses, would give one hundred 

 and twenty for one. This is not considered a fair 

 criterion or average, as the land was remarkable 

 for its richness and was well attended to; but Mr. 

 Spears and several others assured me that the 

 average would be as high as eighty bushels yielded 

 for one planted. 



Indian corn yields well, as also potatoes, beans, 

 and peas. The cultivation of vegetables is in- 

 creasing rapidly, and supplies in these latter 

 articles may be had in abundance and of the finest 

 quality. 



The country appears to be well adapted for 

 grapes. Those that have been tried at the mis- 

 sions yield most abundantly; and about two hun- 

 dred casks, each of eighteen gallons, of brandy, and 

 the same quantity of wine, are made. The culti- 

 vation of the grape increases yearly, but is not 

 sufficient for the supply of the country, as large 

 quantities of foreign wines and liquors are im- 



ported, which pay an enormous duty ; and although 

 California may not boast of its dense population, 

 every intelligent person I met with agreed that it 

 consumed more spirits in proportion than any 

 other part of the world. The wine of the country 

 which I tasted is miserable stuff, and would 

 scarcely be taken for the juice of the grape. 



The salmon-fishery, if attended to, would be a 

 source of considerable profit, yet I was told that 

 the Californians never seem disposed to attempt to 

 take them. The general opinion is, that they are 

 too indolent to bestir themselves, and they natu- 

 rally choose the employment which gives them the 

 least trouble. Above every thing, the rearing of 

 cattle requires the least labour in this country, for 

 it is only necessary to provide keepers and have 

 their cattle marked. This done, they can support 

 themselves by the increase of the stock. At the 

 missions, the manufacture of various coarse articles 

 had been undertaken by the missionaries as a step in 

 the education of the neophytes. Among these were 

 blankets and wearing apparel sufficient to supply all 

 the Indians; but with the decline of these establish- 

 ments, the manufactures have in great part been 

 discontinued. Soap of a good quality is manufac- 

 tured in considerable quantities, and it is thought 

 that it might be exported at a profit, if the proper 

 arrangements were made to use the grease that is 

 now thrown away. The necessary alkali is very 

 abundant. Leather of an excellent quality is also 

 made and well tanned, but in such small quantities 

 as to be hardly sufficient to supply the wants of the 

 country. 



There are in California only two or three water- 

 mills for grinding flour, and these are owned by 

 foreigners. The mills in general used in the coun- 

 try, are composed of no more than two burr-stones. 

 To the upper stone a cross-beam is secured, to 

 which mule-power is applied. In most of the 

 estancias there is to be found a mill in an apartment 

 adjoining the kitchen, if not in it. The whole is as 

 primitive as well can be, although I have no doubt 

 it answers all the wants of this rude and indolent 

 people. 



From all accounts, besides cattle, the country is 

 well adapted for the raising of sheep, which simply 

 require watching, as they can find plenty of nutri- 

 tious food the whole year round; but there has 

 been no attention paid to this sort of stock, and the 

 wool is of very ordinary quality. The mutton is 

 thought to be of very fine flavour. 



Hogs are raised in some parts, and might be fed 

 to great advantage on the acorns which are abun- 

 dant on the hills, where the land is not susceptible 

 of cultivation. Pork may be packed at three dol- 

 lars the hundred-weight. What adds to the facility 

 of doing this business, is the fact that large quan- 

 tities of salt collect in the ponds in the dry sea- 

 son, which may be obtained for the expense of 

 carting it. 



As respects trade, it may be said there is scarcely 

 any, for it is so interrupted, and so much under the 

 influence of the governor and the officers of the 

 customs, that those attempting to carry on any 

 under the forms usual elsewhere, would probably 

 find it a losing business. Foreigners, however, 

 contrive to evade this by keeping their vessels at 

 anchor, and selling a large portion of their cargoes 

 from on board. Great partiality is shown to those 

 of them who have a full understanding with his 



