FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
127 
winter. The u north shore,” between Duxbury Point and Bodega Head, 
a distance of about 40 miles, is a favorite fishing ground at all seasons. 
The catch on trawl lines is made from £ to 5 miles from the shores 
above mentioned, and also oft* Noonday Rock, and the North, Middle, 
and South Farallones. The catch consists chiefly of the numerous va- 
rieties of rock-cod and cultus-cod, with an occasional halibut and greater 
or less quantities of other species taken on hooks. 
Fishermen , lay , etc . — The market fishermen of San Francisco, ex- 
clusive of the Chinese, are, with very few exceptions, from the south 
of Europe. Italians predominate, but Slavonians, Greeks, Porluguese, 
and Spaniards are numerous. They have brought from their native 
lands the peculiarities which distinguish fishermen of those countries; 
and one standing on the market wharf at San Francisco watching the 
arrival of the fishing feluccas, and noting the dress, manner, and lan- 
guage of the fishermen (for many speak their mother tongues), might 
easily imagine kimself the witness of a fish-marketing sceue on the 
Mediterranean coast. The men are hardy, are reputed to be brave and 
skillful, are industrious, and are willing to work for small returns if 
necessary. It has been said of them that — 
The fisherman’s life is full of hardship and \v«>rk. The dangers of the calling are 
manifold. They are hardy, temperate, and frugal. Their days are spent on the 
water and their families see hut little of them. They are generous aud kind to each 
other. They are keen in business matters, and do not allow themselves to be cheated 
by dealers on shore. Some of them have amassed a competency aud retired from 
business. There are but few instances of poverty to be seen among them, and nearly 
all of them have a snug sum put by for emergencies. * * * They are seldom idle. 
After a trip has been made and the boat’s load of fish sold, they may generally be 
found on their boats or the adjoining wharf, repairing or drying their nets aud seines, 
making lines and adding hooks, or doing some kind of labor on their boats, preparatory 
to another fishing voyage. (San Francisco Chronicle, November 11, 1883.) 
This rose-tinted picture of success and u competency” is undoubtedly 
overdrawn. It is true that some have been moderately successful, aud, 
by close economy, have become boat- owners or dealers on shore. But 
the majority have not been so “lucky,” and, though there may be little 
actual destitution, the earnings are no larger than those of the New 
England fishermen who follow their trade throughout the year. There 
has, however, been a marked improvement in this respect in the past 
ten years. A decade ago Jordan found u the wages earned by the bay 
fishermen in San Francisco pitifully small, very few of them earning more 
than the $3 per week, necessary to pay their board bill.” Earnings 
vary greatly in different seasons, but in 1889 it was stated that the 
“ high line” of the fleet shared $700, while the smallest share was esti- 
mated to have been $300. The average wages was placed at $400 by 
competent authority. Naturally they are clannish and opposed to hav- 
ing others secure anything like a controlling influence in the trade. If 
occasion calls for it, they have the reputation of standing by each other 
to the bitter end, and this spirit of trade union has, no doubt, been a 
