34 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
and 15 were early exploited by the same company. Areas 4, 16, and 17 commenced 
to be intensively exploited about 1917. Area 6 was not fished intensively before 
1927. No real effort was made to fish areas 8, 9, and 20 until 1928. 
Table 7. — Average size of catches in barrels in individual areas 
The conclusion logically follows that the general trends of abundance previously 
presented do not give the true state of affairs in so far as particular areas are con- 
cerned. The fishery has not been confined, and as the abundance in the exploited 
areas commenced to decline the fishery pushed on to new areas. This process has 
been going on for so long a time that it can not be adequately shown within the space 
of a few years. Evidence showing such a shift has been published in a previous 
report (Rounsefell, 1930, p. 237). 
DECLINE OF OLDER FISHING GROUNDS 
That there has been an extensive shift in the fishing grounds is certain, but direct 
evidence bearing on the subject is scant. Moser (1899) mentions the Killisnoo plant 
operating 3 purse seines, 125 to 150 fathoms long, 12 fathoms deep, and K-inch-mesh 
