282 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The conclitious seem excellent for the successful iutroductiou of the dimuoud-back 
terraiiiu to the west coast. Tlie extensive salt marshes around San Francisco Bay 
and in other places would doiibtless supply a suitable habitat for the animal, whose 
high food value would in time bring it into active demand and stimulate cultivation 
and a profitable trade, 
THE MARKET FISH AND THE FISH TRADE OF SAN FRANCISCO. 
There are few cities in the United States in which such a large variety of fresh fish 
is found in the markets or in which the supply is so constant as in San Francisco. Not 
only is there a varied fish fauna in the immediate vicinity of the city that is utilized 
by a large resident fishing population, but the fresh and salt waters of the three coast 
States contribute their rich resources to the city’s supply. Over 100 si)ecies may be 
seen in the markets during a season, and perhaps half that number may be found at 
almost any time. The quantity of fresh fish landed and sold in San Francisco, as 
determined by the agents of the Fish Commission, is from 9,000,000 to 12,000,000 
pounds annually, worth to dealers from |G00,000 to $800,000. 
Among the fishes which are handled in largest quantities in San Francisco are 
the salmon, flounders, herring, shad, smelt, sturgeon, suckers, anchovies, cultus-cod, 
viviparous perch, and rock-cod, of each of which more than 100,000 pounds are annu- 
ally sold. 
During the latter part of May and the first of June, when I visited the wholesale 
markets regularly, the following fishes Avere observed. The scientific names are 
necessary for their proper identification ; the common names given are those heard 
in San Francisco. A few data collected concerning these are added. 
FISHES. 
Acipeiiser medirostris. Green Sturgeon. Rarely exposed for sale. Brings about half the price of the 
white sturgeon. 
Acipenser transmontanus. Sturgeon; White Sturgeon. Of constant occurrence in the market. A great 
many small fish under 2 feet in length received. The hulk of the sujiply is from the Sacramento 
River region. 
Ameiurus albidus. Catfish. 
Ameiurus nebulosu.s. Catfish. These exotics are almost invariably sent to the market in a dressed 
condition; it is only in that state that they meet with any sale. The dealers do not encourage 
the shipment of catfish by the fishermen, and the quantities sold are disproportionate to the 
abundance of the fish. 
Ptychocheilus oregonensis. Pike. This large rein-esentative of the minnow family is sent to the 
San Francisco market chiefly from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The fish is large 
enough to be taken in salmon gill nets, but it has such little market value that it receives scant 
attention from the salmon fishermen. Fish weighing 4 to 7 pounds were seen. The price is only 
2 or 3 cents a q)Ound, and the demand is chiefly among the Chinese. 
Cyprinus carpio. Carp. The carp does not rank high as a food-fish in San Francisco, although con- 
siderable quantities are annually sold. The local Chinese fishermen catch a part of the suxiply, 
the remainder coming from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The receipts give no idea 
of the abundance of the fish, and doubtless the catch could be easily increased fifty times Avere 
it required by the trade. The a\"erage price of the carp is about 2 cents a pound. 
-Clupea sagax. Sardine. Very few sardines Avere seen, and, as elsewhere stated in this report, the 
fish is much less abundant in San Francisco Bay than it was comparatively few years ago. 
