194 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Such fish as are taken in the vicinity of Los Coronados and San Diego bring from 3 to 4| cents 
per pound. Very few are salted by the Italian fishermen, the salt-fish trade being monopolized by 
the Chinese. The Italians fish with both hand lines and line trawls, but chiefly with the former on 
account of their cheapness. Trammel nets are frequently used among the rocks close inshore, and 
fish that will not readily take the hook are often caught with them. A trammel net 30 fathoms long and 
21 fathoms or 40 meshes deep costs $25. A trawl of 500 hooks, completely rigged, and including tho 
basket in which it is coiled, is valued at $5. Baskets are used on this coast for the storage of the 
trawls in preference to the tubs of the Atlantic coast. The trawl hooks used by these fishermen are 
the same as those employed by the French fishermen on the Grand Bank and by the fishermen on the 
coast of Spain. * * * The best fishing about the islands is found between the Northern and 
Southern Coronados in 25 fathoms. Close to the southern side of the northern island the water is 
deeper, having an average depth of 45 fathoms. In this latter place red rockfish are the principal 
species taken. About 5 miles south of the southern island is a small shoal ground sometimes resorted 
to by San Diego fishermen. These two “spots” are the only offshore fishing-grounds known in the 
immediate vicinity of San Diego. 
The Italian fishing boat previously referred to was a primitive affair about 18 feet long, 7 feet 
wide, and 2 feet deep, with a flat bottom. * * * The hand lines employed were as rudely con- 
structed as some of those made by the Alaskan Indians. Many sizes of lines were noticed with pieces 
of lead attached. Each line is generally provided with from 3 to 5 hooks, fastened to short snoods 
arranged one above the other about 18 inches apart. This style of gear is found about Kadiak, Alaska. 
Demijohns of various sizes, tied to the buoy lines by their handles, serve in place of keg buoys. The 
reason for using the former, as well as many other inconvenient devices, is their greater cheapness. 
Mr. Alexander also furnishes the following notes respecting the mackerel, barra- 
cuda, and bonito in this region : 
While in San Diego several fishermen were consulted who were more or less acquainted with the 
habits of the species of mackerel belonging to that part of the coast. According to their statements 
these fish strike the coast in the vicinity of San Diego in April and May on their way north. They 
are invariably poor at that season, and, in fact, during most if not all of the year, although some 
claim to have seen a few fat mackerel in October. Their migratory habits are similar to those of the 
Atlantic mackerel. The fishermen assert that they have seldom seen them schooling at the surface, 
notwithstanding the many reports of steamers and other vessels respecting large schools of mackerel 
along the coast. It is probable that many of the schools of fish so reported are not mackerel, hut 
herring, the appearance of these two species, when at a distance, being readily confounded by those 
who are not familiar with them. 
It is very doubtful if mackerel approach this coast in sufficient numbers to warrant the fitting out 
of vessels for their capture, after the manner followed on the New England coast. Many persons 
have thought that it would he a paying investment to do so, in order to compete with the New 
England fishermen for the Pacific coast markets, supplying both the salt and fresh fish. Any such 
venture would be precarious, however, until the habits and abundance of the species have been posi- 
tively determined, and certainly not more than two vessels should he fitted out in the beginning. 
All the evidence goes to prove, moreover, that the Pacific mackerel ( Scomber colias) is greatly inferior 
in quality to its Atlantic relative ( Scomber scombrus), and those eaten on the Albatross were pro- 
nounced insipid. 
The fishermen of San Diego, Santa Barbara, and San Pedro resort almost wholly to trolling for 
the capture of mackerel. The practice of heaving to and raising them with troll bait seems to be 
unknown in this region. A few are caught in gill nets, but large quantities are never taken at a time 
by either method. The greater part of the catch is sold in San Francisco. 
During the summer barracuda are abundant about San Diego and along the coast toward Santa 
Barbara, hut after September they become scarce, although scattering individuals are taken the year 
round. Ten or 12 schooners and sloops, of from 10 to 28 tons each, belonging to San Diego, follow 
down the coast of Lower California a distance of about 170 miles in search of both barracuda and 
bonito. The latter species is also sometimes called Spanish mackerel. They are caught by trolling, 
and, after being split down the hack like mackerel, are salted in bulk in the hold of the vessel, the 
same as codfish. The catch is chiefly landed in San Diego, where the fish are dried on flakes and 
then shipped to the Sandwich Islands and China by way of San Francisco. 
