FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
15 
10. SUGGESTIONS. 
In studying the various phases of the west coast fisheries, and having 
in mind the condition, methods, etc., of similar industries elsewhere, it 
seems proper to offer some suggestions which may prove timely and 
helpful. In taking this action I am not insensible to the responsibility 
incurred, nor is there lack of appreciation of the disadvantage I labor 
under in not having had the opportunity to personally inspect the condi- 
tion of the Pacific fisheries. Nevertheless, it seems eminently desirable 
that attention should be called to the followiug matters: 
Improvements in fishing vessels and boats. — In no other direction, per- 
haps, can certain fisheries be benefited to a greater extent than by the 
introduction of improved types of vessels and boats. Small, properly 
rigged auxiliary steam vessels of suitable model can be much more ad- 
vantageously used than sailing craft in many of the fisheries on the 
Pacific. It is true that small steam schooners are now employed, but 
the schooner rig seems rather unhandy for a steamer, and from all the 
information obtainable the form of these vessels is not the best that 
could be devised. 
In no other branch of the fisheries is a change in vessels and boats 
apparently so much needed as in the market fishery. Reference is 
made to this in discussing the market fishery of San Francisco and 
other places farther south. There is a general need of the adoption of 
welled boats, in which fish, crustaceans, etc., can be kept alive until 
they are brought to market, and the day may not be far distant when 
welled steamers may be profitably employed. In a country where ice 
is scarce and costly, it is especially important that every improvement 
should be utilized which will result in placing fish products upon the 
market in the best possible condition at the least expenditure. The 
use of steam smacks is not exactly an experiment, since vessels of 
this description are now employed to bring fares of live halibut from 
Iceland to England. Perhaps the time has not yet arrived when the 
demand for fresh fish in Pacific ports is sufficient to warrant the employ- 
ment of steam welled vessels, but it is well known that sailing smacks 
can be used without any increase of expenditure, while the advantage 
of being able to offer live fish for sale might be very great. 
The macker el fishery. — At present there seems to be au opportunity 
for the establishment of a mackerel fishery on the coast of California 
south of Monterey. There is a remarkable consensus of statement 
as to the moderate abundance of the bull’s-eye mackerel ( Scomber 
eolias) along the California coast, and it would seem to be entirely 
feasible to make catches with comparatively small outlay for vessels 
and equipment. The common mackerel ( S . scombrus) is now exception- 
ally scarce in the western Atlantic and perhaps may not be abundant 
for a series of years. In the meantime, the demand for salt mack- 
erel is partially supplied by importations from foreign countries, and 
large quantities of fresh fish of this species are also brought from 
