16 



of the net, which assumes the charucter of a bag, is, with the Chinese, 

 opened by untjdng a string, and the whole catch is dropped into the 

 boat with ease. The net is then closed again with the string and put 

 back into the water to remain until next slack. Three of these nets 

 generally load a large boat, which are all of a large and commodious 

 class. 



"Saucelito Bay is constantly used by the Italians, smelt being the 

 principal fish, with soles, flounders, sardines, and anchovies. In some 

 cases nothing but crabs are taken, which destroy the nets and irritate 

 the men so that they are inclined to leave them on the beach to die; but 

 I have had, in all cases, everything that was not marketable put back 

 into the water. In fact, crabs are the only fish that are left upon the 

 beach, all other kinds being taken out of the nets with tin pans, the nets 

 being in about from one to two feet of water. All that part of the 

 catch that is desired is taken and thrown into the boat without coming 

 in contact with the sand and dirt, and the small fish are permitted to 

 remain in the water; nevertheless, large quantities of the young fish die 

 from pressure or other cause arising from the fact that they have been 

 compressed as it were among so many thousand into the contracted 

 space of a few feet, and are unable in their most strenuous etibrts to 

 release themselves from their perilous condition. 



" They are to be found in large quantities, floating ujjon the water, 

 completely drowned. Still a very large number revive, and swim off" 

 again. Whereas, heretofore, the custom appears to have been to dump 

 the whole catch upon the beach, and, after picking out all they wanted, 

 the young were invariably left upon the beach, becoming, in many parts, 

 a most intolerable nuisance to persons residing in the vicinity. A new 

 order of things has been inaugurated this year, which is found to work 

 to the mutual benefit of all parties concerned. Five boats are generally 

 to be found in difi'erent parts of this bay; and fish are taken at all times 

 of tide, both day and night. Two boats are generally emploj'ed between 

 the bay and the Golden Gate. They cast on both shores, north and 

 south, for the same kind of fish; and also in Kashaw's Harbor, two and 

 sometimes three boats are found both night and day, at all times of the 

 tide. During the night fires are made ujjon the beach, and frequently 

 these fires can be seen, not only on all the dift'erent beaches in Saucelito 

 Bay and Kashaw's Harbor, but also on both sides of Eaccoon Straits, 

 giving a most picturesque and cheerful aspect during the long and gloomy 

 nights which j^revail in most parts of our harbor at this season of the 

 year. ^ 



" These Italians are a singular and peculiar peoj)le, always sober and 

 industrious, and, like the Chinese, they pursue their avocations in silence. 

 During the silent and tedious hours of the night some are found sleep- 

 ing in close proximity to the fire, with their harness on, face down, which 

 appears to be the universal practice among all classes of the different 

 races of people who are accustomed to sleep upon the ground in the 

 ojien air. From Eaccoon Straits to the Chinese fishing station, on the 

 north shore, aie several favorite places where the nets of the Italians 

 are cast, with various success. The same class of fish being taken from 

 the 'Sisters' up to Petaluma, nothing but sturgeons are found until we 

 come to Vallejo, where there is a mackerel trap fishery. 



'■ Dovm on the south shore we find two (2) Italian boats on the San 

 Pablo flats, and two more at a favorite point to the north of Sheep 

 Island, where there is another mackerel traj) fishery. 



" Two boats are employed at Sheep Island. They not only cast upon 



