28 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
often numerous in the spring and fall, though no attempt is made to 
capture either. Sea otter and fur seal, once abundant, seem to have 
been almost exterminated or to have abandoned this locality. This 
will be apparent when it is stated that, while the result of the fur-seal 
fishery in 1879 was 2,000 skins, in-1888 only 25 skins were taken. Hair 
seals are quite numerous, but receive little attention. 
Other objects of the fisheries are abalones ( Haliotis splendens), clams, 
and crayfish or rock lobster ( Panulirus interruptus). The supply of 
abalone shells has decreased very materially. Clams of a large size, 
resembling the deep-sea clam of the Atlantic, are abundant on the 
flats in the bay and are used to a small extent both for food and bait* 
Scallops are abundant at times and a few are picked up on the flats at 
low tide, but there is no fishery for them. Edible crabs are very 
scarce; the small fiddler crab is the only representative of this tribe 
which occurs abundantly. 
Fishermen. — The fishing population of San Diego is very heterogeneous 
in its character. In 1888, out of a total of 159 fishermen, only 46 were 
Americans;* the remainder included 52 Chinamen, 27 Portuguese, 
6 Italians, 5 Swedes, and 13 of other nationalities. The Chinese have 
exclusive control of the junk fishery and frequently engage to a greater 
or less extent in t he fisheries of the bay. The Americans and Europeans 
control the vessel and sailboat fisheries. • 
THE OFFSHORE FISHERY. 
Fishing grounds . — The fishing grounds for bonito and barracuda can 
not be definitely described. In general, however, they extend along the 
coast from north of San Diego to a long distance southward, off 
Mexico. Sometimes, when fish are not found in abundance near the 
home port, the vessels go from 200 to 300 miles to the southward for 
fares. In spring a favorite fishing ground for bonito and barracuda is 
from 6 to 8 miles about SSE. from Coronada Hotel, which is a little 
over 3 miles eastward of Point Loma. Fishing is also prosecuted from 
6 to 8 miles outside of the kelp beds, from Point Loma to Palse Bay, 
and gill nets as well as trolls are used in that region to a small extent, 
more particularly by boat fishermen. 
In the winter of 1888-89 the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross 
discovered and made a thorough exploration of Tanner Bank, which 
lies directly westward of San Diego, about 95 miles distant. This 
bank is 7 or 8 miles long, and about 2 miles wide. The Albatross also 
made a comprehensive investigation of Cortez Bank, which lies about 12 
miles south of Tanner Bank, and has a length of 14 miles and a width 
of from 3 to 5 miles. These were found to be important fishing grounds, 
* Professor Jordan, reporting on the fisheries of San Diego in 1879, says : “All of the 
fishermen of this county, excepting four Americans and their employes, are Chinamen. 
Two Americans and assistants are employed in seal-hunting, the rest in gathering 
kelp, and, in their seasons, bonito and barracuda fishing.” 
