146 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
tistics given are estimates based upon the statements of those most 
familiar with these fisheries, including some of the Chinese, and upon 
a careful and intelligent consideration of the exportations of fishery 
products by this race, and the quantities disposed of for immediate 
consumption in the local markets, including San Francisco. While this 
is not entirely satisfactory, it is practically certain that the actual facts 
have been closely approximated. 
For several reasons there was great difficulty in obtaining reliable 
statistics from the Chinese fishermen of this regiou. First, it was 
impracticable for either Wilcox or Alexander to visit the camps during 
the height of the fishing season ; their visits were unavoidably made 
“ between seasons,” when comparatively little fishing is done, and wheu 
the camps are deserted by a large percentage of the fishermen, who 
seek employment elsewhere in winter. Second, the Chinese apparently 
have no idea of keeping accounts. Third, they are seemingly disinclined 
to discuss or to relate what they have done, evidently apprehending 
some purpose on the part of the investigator to get them into trouble. 
Feeling that they are opposed by all white men, and dreading ill treat- 
ment at the hands of the legal authorities or others, they are naturally 
suspicious and distrustful of the motive of inquiry, and are disposed to 
be reticent; this, together with the lack of familiarity with the lan- 
guage, the best of them being able to speak only a jargon of “ pigeon 
English,” renders it practically impossible to get intelligent and accu- 
rate statements from them. In many cases, however, much important 
information was obtained by a system of cross questioning adroitly 
adapted to the circumstances. 
So far as the size, character, etc., of the apparatus and boats are 
concerned, the data were obtained with great care and exactness ; the 
measurements were made on the spot, and whenever practicable the 
boats, camps, etc., were photographed. Indeed, all possible sources of 
information were utilized, and it is therefore believed the data collected 
are as accurate as it is practicable to obtain unless one could live at the 
camps during the fishing season. 
Fishing camps . — The Chinese fishermen do not affiliate with the 
market fishermen of San Francisco Bay, but form colonies or settle- 
ments of their own race, which are located near the fishiug grounds. 
These “camps,” as they are universally called, are composed of an 
aggregation of rude shanties and other needful accessories, such as 
drying-frames, etc., packed close together near the water. They are 
devoid of all suggestion of comfort or cleanliness and afford only the 
most meager quarters to these industrious people, most of whom find 
here only a temporary residence, and live in miserable squalor in tbeir 
rickety and filthy huts. There are several of these camps on San Fran- 
cisco Bay. These have incidentally been referred to under the head of 
“fishing centers.” Four are located on the south side of the bay, at 
Hunter’s Point (Point Avisadero on the map), Point San Bruno or 
