FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
73 
1889 40 of the fleet cruised in Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean ; the 
others fished exclusively in the Okhotsk and Japan Seas. Seventy - 
one whales were taken by the Arctic fleet, and 76 by vessels cruising 
on the last-mentioned grounds. 
The most noted cod-fishing grounds are the banks in the Okhotsk Sea, 
in Bering Sea, and close inshore about the Shumagin*Islands. Recently, 
in the summers of 1888 and 1889, the U. S. Fish Commission steamer 
Albatross discovered and investigated large areas off the Alaskan coast 
that are excellent cod-fishing grounds, while others heretofore known 
to exist have been surveyed and their value determined by extensive 
research.* 
The shore or local fishing grounds of San Francisco and vicinity are 
extensive and important. The region about the Farrallone Islands is a 
noteworthy fishing ground, nearly 20 miles long, with an average width 
of about 6 miles. Over a large part of this area trawl-line fishing is 
pursued by the San Francisco market boats ; the same boats fish along 
the coast south of the Golden Gate from April to October; their prin- 
cipal ground for trawl-line fishing begins about 6 or 7 miles south of 
Point Lobos and extends to Pigeon Point, about 30 miles further 
south. Occasionally a boat goes as far as Monterey Bay. Between 
Duxbury Point and Bodega Head, along the coast north of the Golden 
Gate, is a favorite fishing ground for the San Francisco market fleet, as 
well as for the local fishermen ; trawling is pursued here throughout the 
year. Drake’s Bay is a good locality for gill-net fishing for smelt, her- 
ring, and perch. Tomales Bay is one of the best fishing grounds on the 
coast. Russian River, about 15 miles farther north, is a salmon and trout 
stream of some importance. 
Practically the entire area included within the boundaries of San 
Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bays is fishing ground, upon which 
many species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, etc., are taken, aud almost 
an endless variety of apparatus and methods are employed. Over a 
considerable portion of each of these bays the water is shallow, being 
within the 6-foot curve ; the area between this and the 18-foot curve is 
comparatively small, while the channel, with a depth exceeding 18 feet, 
is extensive in dimensions and affords ample opportunity for navigation 
by vessels of large size as well as a suitable depth for prosecuting certain 
fisheries. At the south end of San Francisco Bay, and in coves on the 
west side, 10 to 15 miles south of the city, are important oyster beds, 
which will be referred to further under the head of the oyster fishery. 
The map, plate vi, shows the principal localities for fishing in these 
bays at different seasons, and with various forms of apparatus. For 
this reason it is not considered necessary to enter into greater descrip- 
tive details. 
Vessels and boats . — In 1888 the fleet of fishing vessels sailiug from San 
*For more extensive details see vol. viii, Bulletin U. S. Fisli Commission, 1838; 
also notes on cod fishery in this review. 
