PACIFIC COAST: CALIFORNIA. 



597 



The other fishing grounds, chief among which are San Pedro, Anchorage, and tho^Creek, are 

 visited by fishermen from Newport, Anaheim Landing, Wilmington, Salinas Ranch, and Santa 

 Monica. The most important of these is Wilmington. To this port belong four lateen-rigged 

 boats, two or three skiffs, which go to the "creek," and three Chinese junks, aggregating G tons, 

 which combine hook-and-line fishing with the gathering of abalones. 



At Newport the only regular fishing is that prosecuted for the capture of the oil-shark, in 

 which fishery men from Wilmington, Westminster, and elsewhere join. 



At Anaheim Landing there are five persons employed by the Lighter Company; these fish 

 when not otherwise occupied. They catch smelt, flounders, cabrilla, surf-fish, &c., which are ped- 

 dled in the neighboring towns. In a lagoon near the landing, at a certain time of the year, oil- 

 sharks are captured. 



Statement showing the amounts in pounds, of the various species caught in Los Angeles County during 1879. 



The men employed in the salt factories at Salinas Ranch engage in fishing when time permits. 

 Their fish are peddled in Los Angeles. The hotels and residences at Santa Monica are supplied by 

 semi professional fishermen. They ship occasionally to Los Angeles. The tourists and winter 

 visitors fish here with hook and line. There are at present no pounds or weirs in this county; 

 one is reported to have been used at Wilmington some years ago. 



The Italian and French boats owned in this county carry a large mainsail and a small foresail. 

 There is a deck of rude construction in the forward part of the boat, upon which, in lieu of a live- 

 box, are thrown the fish. The fishermen use. gill-nets in the winter and seines in summer. 

 There is so little demand for fish that the owners of the boats are ready at almost any time to 

 charter their boat to an excursion party. In the winter, herring and sardines are taken near the 

 shore. 



The fishermen own eight gill-nets, about 300 feet long, with a 2-inch mesh. These nets are 

 used chiefly in the winter, when the fish swim low. Two persons can easily manage a net. The 

 average annual catch of each boat is 25,000 pounds of fish. Twelve seines are also in use, each 

 500 feet by 12 feet, of 1-inch and 1^-inch mesh. Three men manage a seine. They are used chiefly 

 in summer. 



Some oyster-beds, almost valueless, occur, and a few clams and scallops are to be found. 

 There is no regular market for them. 



A whale fishery formerly existed at Portuguese land, north of Wilmington ; this fishery was 

 abandoned some five years ago on account of the difficulty of obtaining water at that place. 



Sea-lions abound along the coast and are a source of considerable annoyance to the fishermen 

 in robbing the nets of fish. They are occasionally shot for their oil. 



One man is engaged in fishing for crawfish ; there is no regular market or price for his catch. 



About 250 tons of abalone shells are sent to San Francisco by white men residing in this 

 county, and 150 tons by the Chinese. They sell for about $45 a ton. 



