610 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



COMPANIES. There are uow two companies usiug these drag-nets. They used to work in 

 opposition, but now form a sort of pool or partnership and divide the profits equally. Each com- 

 pany owns three boats, about five or six nets, and employs twelve or thirteen men, one of whom is 

 constantly engaged selling the fish in the market. The stock is mostly owned by persons not them- 

 selves fishermen. It is seldom that the actual fishermen own any part of the stock. As it is, stock 

 is divided in the most irregular manner, one man owning a net, another a boat, &c. Out of the 

 gross profits are paid first the entire expenses, including provisions for the men and the wear of 

 boats and nets. The remainder is divided into shares, one share to each boat, one to each actual 

 fisherman, and a half share to each net actually in use. In the two companies, therefore, as there 

 are six boats, two nets (in use), and twenty-five men, the net profits would be divided into thirty- 

 two shares. 



The men are mostly Italian, Greek, and Spanish. Like all other fishermen of these nationali- 

 ties they are improvident, spending their money as soon as earned. But, although without money, 

 they have plenty to eat, drink, and wear, and seem to have a good time. The captain of the boats 

 is sometimes given one and a quarter shares. 



BOATS AND NETS. The boats are similar to those employed by Italians in other fishing, but 

 larger. They are keeled, decked-over lateen, or, as some insist, " catalonia "-rigged, and from 6 to 9 

 tons burden. They are intended to be stanch enough to stand the rough winter weather- outside 

 the harbor. When new, the boats, with rigging and everything complete, cost from $700 to 

 $1,000 each. 



The nets are simply seines with short wings and very long bag. They vary from 15 to 25 

 fathoms in length, the bag being usually a little longer than the combined length of both wings. 

 The wings have a mesh of about 1 J inches; the mesh of the upper part and sides of the bag is 

 about three-quarters of an inch, becoming larger towards the bottom. The lower side, which drags 

 in the sand, is made of very coarse twine and has a mesh of from 2 to 4 inches. The bag has, above 

 or on one side, n, lengthwise slit of about 2 feet, this slit being knitted up while the net is dragged 

 and afterwards opened for the fish to be scooped out. The lead and cork lines are so adjusted as 

 to keep the net vertical in the water, with the lead line on the bottom. When being dragged the 

 wings are 6 feet high; the bag about 8 feet high. The nets are worth from $250 to $300 each. 

 The present value of each company's stock approximates $3,500. 



FISHING GROUNDS. For this kind of fishing it is necessary to have a smooth sandy bottom, 

 with a convenient anchorage, affording sufficient protection from the prevalent winds. The only 

 suitable grounds within reasonable distance of San Francisco are from Point Eeyes 10 miles to 

 the southeast. During the winter, when southerly gales may be expected, the anchoring-grounds 

 are at Point Reyes, which affords sufficient protection from the storms. During the settled summer 

 weather, when prevailing winds are from the northwest, a good anchorage is found near a group 

 of small islands about 8 miles nearer San Francisco. 



They fish every day but Saturday throughout the year. One boat of each company remains 

 on the grounds all the time, and is manned by three men, or, in winter, sometimes four. The other 

 two boats, with four men each, alternate in carrying the fish to market. 



METHODS OF FISHING. The boat that has carried the fish to market starts from Sail Fran- 

 cisco with the low tide the following morning, and reaches the anchorage sometime during the 

 day. Nothing is done till early the next morning when, with the other boat of the same company, 

 it proceeds to the fishing grounds. As soon as the morning breeze springs up, the net is set in the 

 water and allowed to sink to the bottom in from 20 to 40 fathoms of water. Each boat takes a 

 line, but little sail is made at first, and pulling obliquely away from each other they stretch tlm 



