18-NOTES ON A RECONNOISSANCE OF THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC 
COAST OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1894. 
By HUGH M. SMITH, M. D., 
Assistant m Charge Division of Statistics and Methods of the Fisheries. U. S. Fish Commission. 
NARRATIVE OF THE TRIP. 
Under date of May 8, 1894, I was directed by the Hon. Marshall McDonald, U. S. 
Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, to proceed to the Pacific coast “ for the purpose 
of making a study of the apparatus and methods of the fisheries of that region.” I 
was instructed to make observations on the condition of the salmon industry of the 
dilferent sections that it was deemed advisable to visit; to consider the develoinuent 
of tlie market fishery and the sardine industry; to investigate the history, growth^ 
and present extent of the sturgeon fishery of the Cohnnbia Eiver; and to look into any 
other branches of the fisheries that possessed special interest. I was directed to give 
particular attention to the shad, the striped bass, the black bass, the catfish, the carii, 
and the eel, which liave .been artificially introduced from the east, especially observing 
their distribution, size, commercial importance, and food value. 
I was ordered to leave Washington on or about May 10, and to return not later 
than July 10. Pursuant to these instructions, I left Washington May 18 and arrived 
at San Francisco May 24. Ten days were spent in that city, devoted chiefly to an 
inspection of the fish and other water ])roducts exposed for sale in the markets; to 
visits to the fishermen’s wharf w'here the catch is discharged, the nets are dried, and 
the boats are moored; and to an examination of the books of the wholesale dealers for 
the years 1893 and 1894 for the purpose of taking off an account of all shad, striped 
bass, carp, and catfish handled. The American Union Fish Company, A. I*aladini, 
G. Camilloni, and J. II. Kessiug very obligiuglj^ permitted this examination of their 
records when the object of the inquiry was made known, and are entitled to the thanks 
of the Commission for this and other courtesies shown. Several other dealers whom 
it was not possible for me to visit, owing to the short time available, later gave to 
representatives of the California Fish Commission figures similar to those furnished to 
me, copies of which were forwarded to this Commission by the California Commission. 
On June 2,1 went from San Francisco to Los Angeles and San I’edro, chiefly in 
order to examine the sardine iudnstry centering at the latter place and to interview 
the -proprietors of the cannery, who had offices in Los Angeles. Through the courtesy 
of Mr. A. P. Ilalfhill, vice-president of the canning comiiany, who, in San Francisco, 
had given me a letter of introduction to the superintendent of the cannery, I was 
enabled to make avery satisfactoiy examination of the methods of this new, interesting, 
and important branch of the fisheries during the two days passed in this part of the 
State. I returned to San Francisco June 0. 
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