NOTES ON THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
285 
The result of this venture is thus described iu the Examiner of June 10 : 
“The fish war which has been agitating the local fishermen for the jjast ten days is now over 
for the present. Capt. D. Johnst)n, of the schooner Elwood, who came down from the northern 
waters Avith a cargo of halibut, has sold out, and it will be five or six weeks before lie Avill be 
back with another load. When the Elwood's cargo arrived halibut was retailing at 25 cents a 
pound, and it was scarce at that. Captain Johnson offered to sell all his fish to the Fishermen’s 
Union at a very small ]u-ice, but they Avoiild not accept it, and the captain opened up a fish 
market on the deck of the schooner, selling retail at 5 cents a pound. He kept two men busy 
cutting up the fish for customers, and iu five days the whole cargo of 75,000 ]>ouuds was sold. 
When the Italian fishermen heard the Elwood was coming with a cargo of halibut they informed 
the customs officials that the schooner was coming down the coast with opium. That informa- 
tion was sent to the sound, and when the Elwood was'passing Cape Flattery a revenue cutter 
overhauled her, but only fish and ice Avere found on board. AVlien the A'essel tied up at the dock 
the health inspectors were informed that she had a.cargo of rotten fish, and an inspector Avas 
sent to her at once, but he bought the largest fish he could find and took it home for his own 
table. None of the fish-dealers dared handle the halibut for fear of being boycotted by the 
local men, and Captain Johnson Avas forced to open a market or throAV the fish overboard. 
“As soon as he began to sell the local men got into their boats and every net. in San Francisco 
was set for fish. They hoped to make a good catch and glut the market, but luck Avas against 
them and they returned almost empty. There Avas consequently a big demand for halibut, and 
noAV the schooner is cleared of her cargo. The local fishermen say that another cargo shall not 
be sold in San lYancisco.” 
Paralichthys californicus. Halihut. Commonly sold under the name of halibut. 
Psettichthys melanostictus. Sole. Only a few seen. 
Pleuronectes stellatus. Flounder. This was the most abundant and constant llmrnder in the 
markets. Enormous quantities Avere observed only 6 or 7 inches long. The largest weighed 
about 15 pounds. Much the largest part of the flatfishes which reach the San Francisco 
markets is caught by steam vessels fishing with paranzellas oft’ the mouth of Drake Bay. 
Ill addition to fisli proper, a very extensive trade is done in other fishery products 
iu the San Francisco markets. In fact, the value of the mollusks, crustaceans, and 
reptiles which enter into the fish trade of the city is greater than that of the fish. 
The followiug products, which constitute all the principal economic aquatic objects 
additional to fish, were observed in the markets iu greater or less abundance: 
MOLLUSKS. 
Ommastrephes tryoni. Squid. Consumed chiefly by the Chinese, although also eaten by natives of 
southern Europe. On one occasion a Portuguese woman was seen to take a small fresh squid 
from a counter, bite off its head, and devour it with apparent gusto! 
Octopus punctatus. Octopus; Devil-fish. Usually exijosed for sale by suspending from hooks in the 
stalls or at the doors of markets. Eaten by Chinese. 
Ostrearufa. Native Oyster ; California Oyster. Sells for $3 to $4 per bushel. The flavor is “ coppery,” 
and the oyster can not be relished by one not accustomed to it. 
Ostrea virginica. Eastern Oyster. The annual sales are over 100,000 bushels, Aualued at about $4 per 
Ijushel. The supply comes from San Francisco Bay, and dejiends Avholly on seed and plants 
brought from the East. 
Tapes staminea. Hard Clam. 
Mya arenaria. Soft Clam. 
Modiola capax. Mussel. 
CRUSTACEANS. 
Cancer magister. This was the only crab seen in the markets. It weighs from 1 to 4 pounds, the 
average being 1-J or 2 iiouuds. Next to oysters, it is the most valuable of the iuA'ertebrate prod- 
ucts. The annual sales amount to 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 crabs, liaAflug a value of 5 to 7 cents 
each. The supply is largely from San Francisco Bay. 
Panulirus intermptus. Crawfish ; Lobster. Reference to the sjAiny lobster will l)e found in a separate 
chapter. The name crawfish, by which this is often called, is an unfortunate misnomer. 
