The morning call., 1894-05-31
DESERT THE BAY.
Sardines No Longer Visit
Its Waters.
Waters Polluted by Sewage and
Gas Refuse, and the Predatory
Sea-LionS Off the Heads.

There is some speculation among fisher
men as TO whether this season will witness
a run of sardines in the bay. During 1889,
1890 and 1891 the bay swarmed with this
variety of fish and thriving business was
done by the canneres. They came in such
large schools that they ran ashore off Sau-
salito. In 1892 they did not return and
have not since visited the bay.
Those who were interested in the catch
and canning of these fish hardly know how
to account for their disappearance since
1891. Some believe that the water has
been so polluted by sewage and the refuse
of coal gas that the fish refuse to enter the
bay. while others contend that they are
headed off by the sea-lionS and seals which
abound about the heads.
j. II. Fisher Jr., who was formerly in
terested in the company canning the sar-
dine catch, said: "The sardiues appear
every year in Monterey Bay. 1t is my
opinion they are turned aside at the heads
by the sea-liOns. for they still continue ia
appear in Tomales Bay.
These fish travel in schools and keep
close to the coast, following all its crooks
and turns. When the fish appeared 10
Monterey Bay we knew just sbuut when
10 calculate upon their appearance here
They still appear in Monterey Bay, but
too far off shore to catch. We sold out ouI
boilers and apparatus to the California
Fish Company when the sardnes ceased
coming here.
'The sea. lions do more to keep fish ou
of the bay than anything else. l have
seen six or eight sea-lions pursue the sar
dimes in Monterey Bay. They chase then
like sheep, the fish keeping close together
and following leader.
"Our boats used to sight the fish first a
the Preside; then they appeared off SOutl
San Franc SEQ, when we would lose trace
of the school until II appeared again neal
Goat Island and along the Contra Costs
shore. Then the fish would appear of
Angel Island, and would be seen last be-
fore leaving the bay off Lime Point. The
fish never spawn here. We caught then
with dragnets.
"Only the large fish, which are Gale
pitchers in England. made their appear
ance in the bay. Farther south the small
fish, or sardines. were plertiful.
"Ancnovies still continue to visit tn.
bay, but not neatly in such large mum Der!
as formerly. They used to be plentiful of
the Preside. but since the refuse from thu
formation of coal gas was poured into The
bay near there v do not find. them. Thu
only places where they now appear are Of
Sausalito, Tiburon and Angel Island.
1--WE used to employ in our cannery a
North Beach from thiriy-fve to forty per
soDs a week and paid out between $50
and $500 a week, which means quite
little loss TO that section of the city," con
tiuued Mr.. Fisher. "Ws sent our fish t
England, Australia and the East. 1t tool
some time to introduce our brand in th'
foreign markets. and just when we hat
built up a successful trade. the fish dissp
| peared. and there was nothing left but Il
close down the cannery at quite heav.
loss"
The company was entitled the colder
| Gate Sardiue Packing Company" j. II
Fisher Jr. was the president and Il. II
Hough the yice-president.