40 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
the fish being* packed in a closely covered section of the boat, the catch 
would generally reach port in good condition. Then with a little more 
ice it could reach a much wider area of distribution than is now pos- 
sible, while the increase in demand would doubtless more than repay 
the fisherman for auy additional outlay or effort. 
It is believed that the fishing interests of this section will be materi- 
ally advanced when these suggestions are acted upon. The public are 
not slow to appreciate whatever tends to improve the food supply, and 
the introduction of advanced ideas in the fresh-fish trade will corre- 
spondingly increase the demand for this class of food. 
Marlcets and shipments . — Although Santa Monica, AlemidosBay, and 
Newport Landing have local markets aud direct trade with the inte- 
rior, the principal part of the fish taken in this county is first sent to 
San Pedro and Wilmington, whence the products are shipped to Los 
Angeles, 25 miles distant, Pasadena, Riverside, Long Beach, and -other 
communities on the line of the railroads. There is also some local 
demand at San Pedro and Wilmington. Los Angeles, with about 
70,000 inhabitants, is the principal market aud distributing center for 
the fishery products of the county. It has five firms engaged in hand- 
ling fish. About two-thirds of the products landed at San Pedro and 
Wilmington are shipped by express to Los Angeles, while about one- 
third is taken in teams from Wilmington, which peddle the fish en 
route to the same city and dispose of a considerable quantity therein. 
The fish salted and dried on Santa Catalina Island are cured for the 
San Francisco market, to which they are sent from San Pedro. The 
fresh-fish trade, as has been indicated, is comparatively local. 
The following tables show in detail the statistics of the fisheries of 
this county : 
Persons employed. 
