194 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [10] 



rufescens was the one principally used by the Indians in making their 

 shell money, but is now rare and is usually found to the northward 

 of San Diego. All the species are known on the coast as "Abalones," 

 a name originated by the Spanish-Americans. 



The Abalones dwell upon weed-grown rocks, and feed upon marine 

 alga. They have a broad, flat, muscular foot, adapted rather for hold- 

 ing than for locomotion, by which they cling to the rocks with great 

 tenacity. Through the small, circular holes, near the margin of the 

 shell, the animal, when clinging to its support, receives its supply of 

 oxygen and, by means of the small tentacles which protrude through 

 them, is warned of the approach of danger. No species of the genus 

 Haliotis are found on the eastern coast of the United States, but on the 

 western coast the trade in both shells and flesh is of considerable value. 



The fishery is carried on mainly by the Chinese inhabitants, who 

 preserve and eat the flesh, which is said to be nutritious but indigest- 

 ible. The method of preserving is the simple one of drying and salt- 

 ing, after which the major portion of the crop is exported to China. It 

 is estimated that about six tons of living animals must be gathered to 

 obtain one ton of flesh, and as there were some 388 tons of meats gath- 

 ered in 1879-'80, that amount indicates that nearly 2,400 tons of living 

 Abalones were taken during the season. The fishery has of late years 

 become so severe that the coast of California has been swept and the 

 fishermen are compelled to resort to the islands lying off the peninsula. 

 The usual method is for Americans to supply the necessary capital and 

 transportation to the islands and the Chinese fishermen to do the work, 

 the former taking the shells and the latter the flesh obtained from the 

 season's fishery. The tenacity with which the animal clings to the rocks 

 by means of its muscular foot is so great that it is not always easy to 

 remove it. Several methods are used ; a trowel or spade is employed, 

 usually, to slip under the animal and so dislodge it; and another method, 

 not so generally used, is to pour hot water over them and then push 

 them suddenly adrift with the foot. 



The fishery is, however, not very laborious and in no way hazardous. 

 . The animals live but a little below low-water mark, and the islands 

 and coasts on which they are at present found are remarkable for 

 equability of climate. The growing scarcity of the animals alone pre- 

 vents the fishery from assuming greater importance. The shells are 

 exported in large numbers to Europe, and are there used in various 

 ways. A smaller number are retained and used in ornamental manu- 

 factures in this country. 



The value of the fishery for the year 1879 was: 



Value. 



Meats, 777,600 pounds $38, 800 



Shells, 3,833,500 pounds 88, 825 



Total 127, 625 



