458 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
dredging station 2939, 27 fathoms, latitude 33° 36' N., longitude 118° 
09' 30" W.; the second in 26 fathoms, Fermin Point bearing NW. by 
W. (magnetic) and the south end of Catalina Island S. § W. (magnetic). 
In both of these localities the bottom consisted of sand and broken 
shells, and consequently no fish were taken on either trial. 
A short distance from the latter position a few small boats wer^ no- 
ticed, some at anchor, the others under easy sail. They were employed 
in fishing on South Bank, which extends SE. by E. (magnetic) from 
Fermin Light. This bank is 3J miles wide and covers an area of about 
30 square miles ; the good fishing-spots are confined to a much smaller 
area, however, being generally in depths of 20 to 28 fathoms. About 
25 small fishing boats are engaged in fishing on this bank the year 
round. Flounders, red rock-cod (called groupers locally), herring, bo- 
nito, mackerel, and smelt are caught in their proper seasons. Red rock- 
cod are taken during the entire year and are in greatest demand. 
Herring, mackerel, and smelt are caught in gill nets and drag seines, 
and frequent chiefly the shoaler water close to the shore. Mackerel 
are often trolled for as in the San Diego region. 
Los Angeles is the principal market for all fish taken on this bank, a 
uniform price of 5 cents per pound being paid for all the species except 
mackerel. The price of the latter fluctuates according to the supply 
and demand ; 200 pounds of fish is considered a fair day’s work with 
hand lines. 
The fishing for red rock-cod is carried on in a manner not unlike that 
for grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. When the ground is reached, the 
boat is luffed up into the wind and a sounding made with a baited 
hook attached to the lead. If no fish are found on two trials, the boat 
is again given headway, and a new berth taken a short distance from 
the first one. This operation is repeated until a place is found where 
the fish are abundant, when the jib is hauled down, the main boom 
guyed out, and the boat allowed to drift a short distance. If the fish 
continue to bite, the anchor is lowered. The fish feed upon small spots 
and ridges covered with kelp, and, as they can not be tolled away from 
their feeding ground, an anchorage has to be made as nearly as possi- 
ble over these localities ; otherwise very poor results may be expected. 
Fishing is actively continued until the place is exhausted, when a new 
berth must be sounded out. Frequently one or two boats will have ex- 
cellent fishing while a dozen or more may meet with no success. These 
fish appear to move about from place to place, and the good fishing 
grounds of one day may be entirely deserted the next. 
Most of the boats belonging to San Pedro that fish on South Bank 
and vicinity are sloop-rigged and keeled. They average 20 feet long 
and 6£ to 7 feet wide. Their accommodations are as good as could 
be expected on boats of their size, and are far better than on similar 
boats farther south. Herring and salt-water crayfish or rock-lobster 
( Panulirus ) are used for bait. 
