Daily national Democrat., 1861-03-09
Coast Fisheries.
The following article from the Los Ange-
les Star is interesting:

The following article from the Los Ange-
les Star is interesting:
The extent and Importance of our coast
fisheries are not, we think, generally known
or appreciated A very large business is be-
ing carried on, in this department, along the
coast and the islands in the channel, from
santa Barbara down. Having had an oppor
tunity, during the past week, of becoming
acquainted with our resources, in this respect
we were most agreeably surprised to find the
number Of men and vessels engaged in our
fisheries, as well as the capital expended in
fitting out the same.
The Island of Santa Catalina, situated
about twenty-five miles from the hnrbor OF
San Pedro, is the princip pal depot of this trade
Here we found the schooner Gen. Ilarnpy,
Capt kimball, with crew of seventeen men,
engaged in the mackcrel fishery. The lIar-
ney is anchored in the harbor of Catalina:
She is well equipped for the trade, having a
full complement Of men, with boats barrels
and everything requisite for the successful
prosecution Of the business. There are also
in the harbor several sch0oners and small
craft, engaged in mackerel, seal, shark and
other kinds Of fishing
The harbOr Of Catalina presented an ami
mated appearance. We found twelve vessels
at anchor, with greater number of smaller
craft. The llatney had "A crew of seventeen
men; the Others in proI ortion. On the beach,
camps were formed, " here men were employ
ed in various branches of the trade At one
camp, on Ballast Point, the men were en-
poyed in trying out seal oil large quanti-
ty Of seals had been taken, and there are
now on hand about twenty-five barrels of
seal oil. The llarney had about 250 barrels
of mackcrel on loard, and would soon be fill
ed up for san Francisco. There are also
cured about fifteen tons Of baracouta, high
ly priced fish. Some of the vessels had come
from the Islands Of San Clemente, Santa Bar
bara, and other channel islands, for the puy-
pose Of curing fish and trying out oil, The
harbour is safe, allording all the accommoda-
tion and convenienccs requisite.
A part of the fleet in the harbor was dcs-
tined for sealing. On Tuesday last Il party
started out for the Southern coast of the
island, to take seal where they are found in
abundance.
In the harbor we found two vessels belong-
ing to Chinese-one, the schooner Eliza, of
san Francisco; the other, a junk; a queer
looking craft; she is built in compartments
for the sake Of carrying an assorted cargo, in
Chinese style, or for the separate stowage of
freight. There a great number Of Chinese in
the harboT they have large seine, which
they cast at night, as the tide serves and are
successful fishermen. To visitors they are
very attentive, and truly polite and hospita-
bic They are not limited to any particular
branch of fishing, taking everything that
comes along -mackerel, baracouta, lass, her
ring, smelt DC also, abcloue II large quanti-
t,- II, Il,
trip. They are as industrious as beavers,
working day and night; bat meet, on this Sc
questered spot and in this wide field Of labor,
the same jealousy and dislike which appear.
to be their fate in all departments ofindus-
try throughout the state
WHALGNG. On Dead Mans Island whal-
ing camp has been started; the first whale
was taken this week. 1t was large, but we
did not ascertain how many barrels it yield
ed The season is coming here now, as the
whales are returning from their southerly
cruisc
SEILlSG -Th, is now the season for catch
ing the young serl, which are in very fine
condition, attordiuga "A large quantity of oil -
There are several vessels engaged in the
trade--on the islands as well as the main
land. On Rattesnake Island there are sey-
eral camps.
STARRING The season for taking these
monsters approaches, preparations being
made for their capture. They are caught for
their lyers, which are cut out and converted
into oil, commanding ready sale and good
price.
PEARL FIsuNo.-il may not be generally
known that pearls are found on Our coast and
islands, yet such is the fact the Chinese be-
ing the most successful rs they are principal
Iy engaged in the collection of aheloues in
'hc shells of which pearls are found. We
have heard Of two pearls being found Oh the
Island of Catalina, which sold for 5000 each.
We saw some of the pearls taken on the
island, which locked very well, and we sup
pose are valuable. The Chinese collect
good many. but very little can be ascertained
Of their success in thi department.