FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
29 
and tlie establishment of the fact that valuable food species were taken 
there was a matter of much gratification to the fishermen of San Diego, 
who anticipated, in consequence, an increase in their operations. 
Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. Navy, who commanded the 
Albatross , reported that he found numerous species of food-fish in great 
abundance on Cortez Bank, all of which took the hook readily. Among 
these were fat-heads, whitefish, yellow tail, rock-cod, four species of red 
rock-cod, jewfish, cultus-cod, and sea bass. 
When informed officially of this abundance of fish “the citizens of 
San Diego raised a fund for the purpose of chartering and equipping 
a fishing schooner for making exploring expeditions so as to determine 
their extent. A number of trips were made in the summer of 1889, and 
many thousand pounds of fish were taken, fully substantiating the 
Government report as to the abundance and quality of the fish. * * * 
No fishermen have as yet gone to the Cortez Bank, though occasionally 
some of them go as far coastwise to the south. The fact that no fisher- 
men have been at the Cortez Banks is perhaps the reason why so much 
intore^t is taken by them in the explorations of the Albatross. As an 
addition to the fishing grounds skirting the coast these banks are of 
value to San Diego fishermen.”* 
, FmeZs.— The vessels employed in, the sea fisheries from San Diego, 
exclusive of the Chinese junks, which will be described elsewhere, are 
small, ranging from less than 7 tons to between 24 and 25 tons register. 
In 1888 they numbered 7 schooners and 2 sloops, and had a total tonnage 
of 136.15 tons. The number varies considerably from year to year. In 
1880 and 1881 there were 6 vessels, aggregating 78.61 tons, but in 1882 
the number decreased to 3 vessels of 33.03 tons; and to 1 vessel of 9.38 
tons in the year 1883. The fleet increased to 5 vessels, of 45.80 tons, in 
1884; 7 vessels, of 79.16 tons, in 1885, while the next year saw only 3 
vessels, of 28.2 tons, engaged in the fisheries, though in 1887 they 
again increased to 5 vessels, of 52.90 tons. It will readily be seen that 
vessels of this description are not suitable for carrying on an extensive 
fishery, and the fact that they are all tight-bottomed craft renders them 
poorly fitted for taking to market any fish other than those which are 
salted, unless caught near the harbor under circumstances specially fa- 
vorable for reaching port. Elsewhere reference will be made to sugges- 
tions advanced by the writer for improvements in fishing craft used from 
San Diego. 
* San Diego Sun, October 31, 1889. Since the above-quoted statements appeared in 
the San Diego Sun, and not long after the investigation of the banks by the Albatross , 
a fishing company was formed at San Diego for the purpose of prosecutiug voyages 
to these grounds. Several trips were made, but, according to the best information 
obtainable, the enterprise was not a financial success. Its failure was largely due to 
the fact that (notwithstanding the report to the contrary made by the Albatross ) the 
enterprise was started on the false assumption that the true cod (Gadus morrhua ) 
could be taken in abundance. Other species were plentiful, but the lack of demand 
made their capture unprofitable. 
