88 



FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1908. 



cent was taken from that river. Humboldt Bay and 

 tributaries were next in importance, being credited 

 with 12 per cent of the total catch. Klamath River, 

 Monterey Bay, and San Francisco Bay ranked in the 

 order named as to the quantity taken, but in respect 

 to value the catch from Monterey Bay exceeded that 

 from the Klamath Eiver. The lower value per pound 

 of the Klamath River catch may be attributed to the 

 cost of shipping the product from Klamath River to 

 San Francisco or to other markets. 



Striped bass. In value of the catch striped bass 

 ranked second among the species reported for Cali- 

 fornia, although larger quantities of sardines, sole, 

 cod, barracuda, flounders, and rockfish were caught. 

 The quantity of striped bass reported for 1908 was 

 greater by 205,000 pounds, or 13 per cent, than that 

 reported for 1904, while the value was greater by 

 $43,000, or 47 per cent. 



Cod. This species, third in value of product, was 

 reported only by vessel fisheries, and was taken largely 

 off the coast of Alaska. Six vessels with a total net 

 tonnage of 1,889 were engaged in this fishery in 1908. 

 None of this product was reported as being sold fresh, 

 all being salted before the vessels returned from the 

 fishing grounds. The catch for 1908 was less by 

 2,325,000 pounds, or 41 per cent, than that reported 

 for 1904, when the amount was 5,623,000 pounds, 

 valued at $132,000. 



Barracuda. Barracuda increased both in quantity 

 and in value from 1904 to 1908. The product sold 

 fresh increased in weight 1,150,000 pounds, or 59 per 

 cent, and in value $40,000, or 90 per cent. The 

 salted product, however, showed a considerable de- 

 crease, the loss in weight being 104,000 pounds, or 

 48 per cent, and that in value $4,100, or 54 per cent. 



Flounders and sole. In the group of flat fishes, both 

 flounders and sole showed decreases, as compared with 

 1904. In 1908 the catch of sole was greater than 

 that of flounders, but the value of the latter was 



greater. The reports of 1904 show a product of 

 4,336,000 pounds of flounders, valued at $84,000, 

 while in 1908 the product was only 3,193,000 pounds, 

 valued at $80,000. The decrease amounted to 26 per 

 cent in quantity and 5 per cent in value. No salted 

 product was reported by California fishermen in 1908. 

 The quantity of sole caught in 1904 was 3,874,000 

 pounds, and in 1908, 3,487,000 pounds, a decrease of 

 386,000 pounds, or 10 per cent. The value of the 

 catch during the period indicated fell from $69,000 

 to $65,000, a decrease of 6 per cent. 



Oysters. The oyster industry, while of considerable 

 importance, has decreased gradually from 1899 to 

 1908. It is difficult adequately to explain this 

 decrease. There is no doubt that the year 1908 

 was a poor one, some beds not yielding more than 

 10 per cent of the usual catch. All of the oysters 

 reported at the present census were taken from private 

 beds and used for market purposes only. All seed 

 oysters planted during the year were shipped from 

 eastern beds for that purpose. No attempt was made 

 at the present census to show separately the yield of 

 eastern and of native species. 



Crustaceans. Crabs show a decrease between 1904 

 and 1908 of 67 per cent in quantity and 56 per cent 

 in value. Spiny lobsters decreased in quantity 

 during the same period 47 per cent, but the value 

 increased 60 per cent. The decrease in the shrimp 

 product was 47 per cent in quantity and 54 per cent 

 in value. 



Aoalone. The abalone industry in the United 

 States is confined to California and is materially 

 increasing in importance. In 1904 the total product 

 was valued at $9,400, while in 1908 the value was 

 $22,000, an increase of 134 per cent. 



Whale products. Whale products constituted the 

 principal products of the vessel fisheries of California, 

 but showed a decrease in value from 1904 to 1908 of 

 $261,000, or 66 per cent. Indeed, there has been a 

 steady decrease in whale products for several years. 

 In 1904 the Bureau of Fisheries reported 87,000 pounds 

 of whalebone, valued at $375,000, and 43,000 gallons 

 of oil, valued at $18,000. The whaling fleet comprised 

 seven vessels, of 2,328 tons net register. 



Sea lions. An industry of considerable importance 

 is the capture of sea lions, which are sold alive for 

 exhibition purposes. As but one fishery of this class 

 was reported, the product is included in the group of 

 "All other," to avoid the disclosure of individual 

 operations. 



