178 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATEiS FISH COMMISSION, 
able length of time, and since a boat or vessel may be delayed for days almost within 
reach of port, for want of wind, the need of some motive power which will make it pos- 
sible to carry the fish to market without loss of time is apparent. 
Small screw steamers, like those used by the Scotch and English, could, no doubt, be 
profitably employed in the fresh-halibut fishery which is just opening up from the 
ports of Puget Sound and Oregon. It would also seem that such vessels might find a 
fair field in the market fishery of San Francisco, either by working independently or 
as carriers for the fleet of sailing boats now employed from that port. It is, perhaps, 
possible that such small steam-vessels could visit grounds much more remote from San 
Francisco than those now resorted to by the sailing boats and bring thence to market 
fish in the best condition. 
If practicable, it would, no doubt, be financially to the advantage of the fishermen of 
San Francisco if arrangements were made whereby the daily catch of each boat could 
be put on board of a swift steamer and carried directly to market, the boats remaining 
on the ground, if the distance from port was such as to make the going and returning 
a matter of much moment. This would not only insure a larger catch of fish by a given 
number of men and boats, but also the placing of the products of the fisheries upon the 
market in such condition as to vastly increase the demand. 
D.— EMPLOYMENT OF STEAMERS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHERIES. 
Although the increase in pound-net fishing and the number of pounds operated on 
Chesapeake Bay has been something phenomenal in recent years, it is, nevertheless, a 
fact that there are localities in which it is believed excellent fishing could be obtained 
which are not now utilized. This is perhaps due to the fact that, up to date, steam has 
not been employed as it seems it might be. The fishermen, depending on sailing boats 
to carry their catch to market, or to the various landings on the bay for shipment by 
steamer or rail, are limited, of course, as to the distance to which they can extend their 
operations. If the weather is calm, as is frequently the case in spring and summer, they 
are compelled to depend upon rowing to reach the shipping point. 
A small steamer, which would be comparatively inexpensive to run, could carry fish 
from almost any point to a landing where they might be shipped to market, and thus 
many localities not now utilized could be made profitable for the fishery. Among those 
that may be mentioned are Wolf-Trap Spit, and in the vicinity of Smith’s Point. The 
last-mentioned locality is about 30 miles from a steamer landing, and it is evident that 
it would be impracticable to transport fish in a sailing craft that distance and be sure 
of making the landing at the proper time. 
E.— NEED OF SMALL WELLED VESSELS OR BOATS FOR THE MARKET FISHERY 
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 
At present, the coast towns of southern California are supplied with fresh fish that 
are taken in small boats (generally sailing boats), that go out to the grounds within 
easy reach. Fish are reported to be abundant in that region, but owing to the prev- 
alence of light winds and calms, and to the fact that ice is not used, the catch of the 
fishermen frequently, if not generally, is not in the best condition when it reaches the 
consumer; occasionally it may have to be thrown away before it can be sold. The 
