142 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
enters the head of the bay. .This stream is quite celebrated for trout 
fishing in spring; a few salmon also run into it. 
The bay is noted as a fishing ground, and its upper part is so near 
Drake’s Bay, another excellent locality for fishing, that boats and appa- 
ratus can readily be transported across the narrow neck of land divid- 
ing them. The fisheries of the region are vastly benefited by the rail- 
road that skirts the eastern side of the bay, passes through the small 
settlements, and affords important facilities for the rapid transportation 
of the products to market. The southern terminus of the road is at 
Sausalito, on Richardson’s Bay, where it connects with a ferry running 
to San Francisco. 
Fishing centers, etc . — The principal fishing centers are Bodega, Free- 
stone, Fisherman’s, Marshall, Hamlet, Tomales, and Point Reyes; these 
are railroad stations on or near the shores of the bay and therefore con- 
venient as shipping-points. Large quantities of fish are shipped to 
San Francisco (by express) from several of these stations. In 1888 
88,440 pounds went from Fisherman’s, 68,472 pounds of fish and 
46,095 pounds of clams were sent from Marshall, while the shipments from 
Hamlet amounted to 95,945 pounds of fish. The species sought are 
practically the same as have been mentioned. Fish are abundant in 
Tomales Bay in their seasons, more particularly smelt, perch, herring, 
and sea bass ; there are only a few salmon, and flounders are not numer- 
ous. The bulk of the catch is smelt and herring. 
Glams of two species are abundant on the shores of the bay ; one is 
the round hard shelled Tapes and the other a large soft-shelled species; 
only the former is utilized. Oysters have been planted at the head of 
Tomales Bay ; they did not thrive, and were ultimately taken up and 
the beds abandoned ; oyster-shells occur in places in the bay, and some 
think natural beds may yet be found as a result of the planting referred 
to. Some years ago an attempt was made to carry on a frog farm, but 
the enterprise did not prove successful. 
Sea lions and seals follow the schools of herring and smelt into the bay, 
and are plentiful and active, but are seldom or never seen at other times. 
Boats and apparatus . — The fishing boats at Tomales Bay are generally 
from 17 to 20 feet long; they usually carry centerboards; some are 
sharp aft and others have square sterns. A sprit rig is generally used. 
One of these had the following dimensions : Length, over all, 20 feet ; 
beam, 5 feet 10 inches; width of stern, 3 feet 8 inches ; mast stepped 
3 feet 8 inches abaft upper end of stem. They are not designed for 
service outside of the bay, and seldom go out into the ocean. If it is 
necessary to work in Drake’s Bay, the boats are usually hauled across 
the narrow strip of land that separates the head of Tomales Bay from 
the seacoast. The only loss of life here in ten years was in 1887, when 
two fishermen were overtaken by a storm, which swamped their boat 
while attempting to reach Drake’s Bay by the ocean. Drag seines and 
gill nets are the principal apparatus of capture. 
