FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
37 
small. It is reasonable to anticipate marked changes in the demand 
for these mollusks in the near future. 
Several beds of native oysters occur between San Pedro and Wil- 
mington, in San Pedro Bay and other localities, notably at Newport Bay. 
The oysters attain a fair size for indigenous species, and, according to 
Wilcox, do not have the strong coppery flavor characteristic of native 
Pacific oysters in many other places. They are eaten to a limited ex- 
tent by the old settlers, who are said to have no objection to the pecu- 
liar flavor which is almost an insurmountable obstacle to the use of the 
species by newcomers. A few oysters are utilized, but the demand 
for them is so small that they are commercially unimportant. In New- 
port Bay the fishermen occasionally cull the oysters and peddle the 
selected ones through the country, but this business is of slight impor- 
tance and scarcely deserves mention. Native oysters are found in Ale- 
midos Bay, but they are too small to be in any demand for food purposes 
at the present time. 
In 1888 one shad weighing 2J pounds was taken in San Pedro Bay. 
This is the only known occurrence of the shad so far south on the 
Pacific coast. 
The oil shark was formerly the object of a considerable fishery, being 
taken in the lagoons where it went for reproductive purposes. It at- 
tains an average length of 4 to 4J feet and a weight of 40 to 50 pounds, 
and yields from two-thirds of a gallon to a gallon of oil. The fins of 
this shark were formerly considered quite a delicacy ; they were dried 
and sold for 12J cents per pound. This fishery appears to be entirely 
abandoned as a commercial enterprise, for Wilcox could learn nothing 
of its prosecution in recent years. 
Fishing grounds .— The fishing grounds resorted to by the residents of 
this county may be classed under three headings : Those about Santa 
Catalina Island, the u banks V lying between the island and the main- 
land, and the shore grounds (including clam and oyster beds, etc.) situ- 
ated along the coast or in the lagoons, bays, etc. 
The immediate vicinity of Santa Catalina Island is one of the most 
important fishing grounds, of this county. The bottom is generally 
rocky and in many places cof ered with kelp; but the water is very 
clear, while it is rather shallow about the island. For the most part 
fishing for bottom species is prosecuted in depths ranging from 10 to 20 
feet, where it is practicable to watch every movement of the fish, if the 
surface of the sea is unruffled by a breeze. The most important species 
are barracuda, bonito, rockfish, and jewfish. Large schools of herring 
are frequently seen about this island. Seals aud sea lions frequent 
Santa Catalina Island and the adjacent waters ; one may be occasionally 
shot, but beyond being an annoyance to the fishermen, whose nets they 
rob, they may very properly be omitted from mention. 
The so-called offshore bank lies between Santa Catalina Island aud 
the mainland, being much nearer the latter. Its northern limit is 
