598 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



The oil- shark fishery, which is confined to the lagoons, was at one time largely carried on in 

 this county. Five years ago some 3,000 gallons of oil were made at Newport, and a largo quantity 

 at Anaheim Landing; the amount produced has lately fallen off very much. The oil is simply 

 tried out and strained through coarse sacking. 



The oil-shark (Galeorhlnus galcun] enters the lagoon for reproductive purposes, and is taken 

 with hook and line. Any small fish will do for bait. Large hooks are used in order to prevent 

 small sharks and other fish from swallowing them. 



The products of this fishery could be greatly increased by the use of seines, but the expense 

 would also be increased, and lack of capital forbids the attempt. 



These sharks average 4 to 4 feet in length and weigh about 40 or 50 pounds each. They yield 

 from two- thirds of a gallon to a gallon of oil. They breed in June, July, and August, runs taking 

 place from May to August. In 1880 the run was a small one, only 170 having been taken at 

 Anaheim Landing up to July 20. In 1870, 150 were taken at one haul of the seine. The fins of 

 this shark alone are dried and sell for 12J cents a pound. 



VENTUKA COUNTY. The coast-line of Ventura County runs northeast and southeast, and 

 consists of a narrow plain, somewhat sandy and bordered by high mountains. This county is 

 separated from Los Angeles by the lofty ridge of the Sierra Santa Monica, which terminates in 

 the rocky points of Duma and Conversion, and from Santa Barbara by a spur of the Santauez 

 Range, which forms the headland of El Rincon. Through this county flows the Ventura River. 

 This is the most southern river on the coast of California which is not alkaline at its mouth. Into 

 no stream, therefore, to the south of this does the salmon enter. Brook trout are, however, found 

 in the headwaters of the Los Angeles and San Luis Rey Rivers, and even in some streams in the 

 San Jaciuto Mountains, in San Diego County. There are but two coast towns in Ventura County 

 County San Buenaventura and Hueneme. The fishing in each of these is unimportant. 



In Hueneme there are no fishing boats and no fishermen. Occasionally some of the villagers 

 catch a few fish from the wharf, simply to pass the time away. At Point Magu, 9 miles south of 

 Hueneme, is a party of Chinamen, who combine the two labors of fishing and gardening. At this 

 point is a considerable lagoon into which various sorts of fish enter. These are caught in 

 seines. Some of the fish are peddled with the vegetables in Santa Paula, Hueneme, and San 

 Buenaventura. The others are soaked iu salt water, dried and shipped to San Francisco in the 

 usual fashion. Near Hueneme is a lagoon from which salt is occasionally obtained. 



There is now no fishing of any importance at San Buenaventura. Some few Chinese and 

 Californians fish from the wharves, and two or three farmers at Laguna Ranch, near by, fish 

 occasionally with a seine. The proceeds of these catches are bought up by an Italian, who sells or 

 exchanges them for vegetables, &c. At this place there is but one professional fisherman, who lias 

 in his possession two gill-nets and one seine. The average price per pound which he receives for 

 his fish is C cents, but, even at that figure, the market is very limited. There is no good market 

 in this thinly-populated county, and the harbor is too exposed to south winds to make it a safe 

 anchorage for small boats. Some crawfish are taken iu lobster-pots and dip-nets, These crawfish 

 are sold in Ventura for about 5 cents apiece. 



