134 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
braces the shipment of quantities of iced fresh fish to interior cities and 
towns, a retail trade is carried on from the stalls in the following mar- 
kets: California market, Clay Street market,* New Clay Street market, 
Grand Western market, Central market, Bay City market, Center mar- 
ket, and Mission market.f 
These are important markets, in which a large general assortment 
of provisions is sold. The fish stalls are generally provided with mar- 
ble counters, and ordinarily present a neat and attractive appearance, 
while there are usually on sale many species to select from. While the 
list includes numerous kinds of fish, etc., the supply exposed for sale 
is not large, and considerable care is taken to keep the stock in as 
good condition as practicable in the refrigerators, with which each stall 
is provided. But, unfortunately, care and neatness are apparently not 
always prominent features of the San Francisco fresh-fish trade. The 
lack of these will be considered more fully farther on. 
There are 15 wholesale and retail dealers in fresh fish and 25 engaged 
exclusively in the retail trade. Besides these, there are street venders, 
who hawk their wares from house to house. As a rule the business is 
carried on in a primitive manner, no records or books being kept. 
Some of the marketmen are owners of boats and handle the bulk 
of fish taken by them ; nevertheless, prices are said to be usually fair 
and satisfactory to the fishermen. Although combinations are often 
formed by the dealers to control the trade, they are seldom of long dura- 
tion. In addition to the wholesale dealers, the small traders and peddlers 
(Italians, Portuguese, and Chinese) are among the purchasers. 
* In 1889 Dr. Bean found that the rent paid for small stalls in Clay Street market 
was from $50 to $60 per month. 
t A writer in the San Francisco Call (March 31, 1887) makes the following remarks 
concerning the so-called Wharf market : 
“It is a rectangular shed, about 125 feet long by 50 wide. Mr. Scotto rents stalls 
to fishermen at 2 bits per man per week. All around the inner wall of the shed run 
fish-stands, with a passageway behind them. When the market is in full blast these 
stands are piled up with fish, sometimes in boxes, sometimes lying loose. On stands 
where there are no fish, nets are heaped; when daylight comes the fishermen will 
unroll these and mend them. In the middle of the building are more boxes and 
stands covered with soft-shelled crabs and fish. Around these, and lounging at the 
stands by the wall, are the fishermen and their customers, the Chinese predominating 
among the latter.” 
The description given above applies to the building at the head of the dock and 
the conditions which prevailed at the time the article was written. It is proper to 
say, however, that those conditions have materially changed. On the many occasions 
when Mr. Wilcox visited the market wharf and entered the building no fish were ex- 
posed for sale, nor were there any indications that the structure had been used for a 
fish market for many months. The stands were invariably piled with nets. At present 
it is customary for fishermen to sell their products directly from the boats and deliver 
them on the wharf to the purchasers. The buyers usually go on board of the boats 
to inspect the cargo and inquire the price asked by the fishermen. If terms are satis- 
factory a bargain is arranged and the fish are landed on the wharf. 
