570 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The capital invested in the fisheries amounted to $113,356, with 198 
fishermen and LOO shoresmen employed. Sardines comprise about 
one-fourth of the products. This is the only branch of the fisheries in 
which vessels are used. The catch is made with purse seines. Since 
the introduction of California sardines their superior quality has 
caused a steadily improved demand. During 1899 the pack of the 
cannery at San Pedro amounted to 13,000 cases, of which 5,000 cases 
were one-quarter and 3,000 cases one-half flat, packed in olive oil, 
spices, and mustard; the remainder, 4,500 cases in one-pound tall and 
500 cases in two-pound tall cans, were labeled mackerel. Nearly all 
of the sardine catch is canned. 
With the exception of sardines used in canning, the products of the 
fisheries were disposed of fresh. Bastard halibut (Paralichthys cali- 
fornicus) which are included with flounders in the accompanying: sta- 
tistics for California, furnished 1,080,463 pounds, or about one-third 
of the quantity sold fresh. The demand for this fish always exceeds 
the supply. It is sold under the name of halibut, and weighs from 10 
to 30 pounds. In 1899 gill nets were first used in the fishery for this 
species, the nets being set on the bottom. Proving a decided success, 
they soon came into general use. Trawls and hand lines are also used, 
but gill nets are preferred for bastard halibut, on account of no bait 
being required. In this fishery the catch by gill nets was fully as 
large as that taken previously by trawls. 
California is the only part of the United States in which the abalone 
fishery is prosecuted. The abalone is taken exclusively by Chinese 
and Japanese, and its consumption is mainly by those races. This 
fishery is located 4 miles northwest from San Pedro, at the extreme 
southern end of Los Angeles County. The camp has an American 
superintendent, with 20 Japanese, 9 of whom comprise the fishery 
party, the others working on shore. At this point the shore is rough 
and rocky, the abalones being found attached to the rocks, from which 
they have to be removed by the use of a stout chisel. The products 
in 1899 amounted to 60,000 pounds of dried abalone and 30,000 pounds 
of shells, of $7,800 value. 
This catch was made by divers without armor in from 20 to 25 feet 
of water. The apparatus used is simple and inexpensive; a small keg 
is anchored over the abalone bed; to this a netted bag is attached to 
receive the catch, the buoy simply being used by the divers to support 
them fora very brief rest between dives, at which time any abalones 
brought up are placed in the netted bag. The taking of abalones by 
diving is of a comparatively late date. The abalone fishery is the only 
one in the United States in which diving armor is used. 
A head diver is paid from $75 to $100 per month; an assistant who 
acts as diver when necessary, from $60 to $75 per month; head curer, 
$50 per month; all others, $20 per month. In addition to these wages 
the men receive their board and lodging at the camp. The diving 
