The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-16

The loose eggs were put in Matching
| boxes, and 100000 baby Holsters OBJ
| tanned from them were planted in Mon
terey and San francisco bays. OF this
number, however, San Francisco only
got 1000.
The fifth and last trial was made in
1889, when 10 Holsters were carried in
| crates with rockwell to the coasts of
Oregon and Washington over the
Northern Pacific road. Out Of the num-
Der 233 survived, and these were plant
ed in five different localities. The to-
tai number of Eastern Holsters planted
in Pacific waters was $50, of which 351
were put into the sea along the shores
of California. The number shipped
was 1858, and the number lost 1868. On
the return eastward from the fourth
trip the Fish Commission people took
300 of the Cancer magister" crabs, fiji
teen bushels of California CLAIMS and
several San Francisco terrapin, for the
purpose of seeing how they would get
along in Atlantic waters. Unluckily
the car was wrecked near Humboldt,
New, and the consignment was lost.
The diamond backed terrapin, so be-
loved by epicures, does not exist on the
Pacific Coast. The Fish Commission
experts say that conditions here are
most promising for its successful intro
duction, the extensive salt marshes
around San Francisco Bay and in other
places furnishing most suitable habi-
tat for the animal 1t seems probable
that before long an effort will be made
to transplant this valuable turtle to
the Pacific side. The California terra
pin, known to science as "Chelopus
marmoratuS, is the only California
turtle of commercial prominence. 1t is
by no means SO toothSOme as the dia-
mond- back.
1t inhabits rivers and fresh-water
ponds west of fha SinYroc rap oinp from
Monterey to the Canadian border. In
California 1t is especially abundant,
and in this region it is taken with
bafted fyke-nets. About San Francisco
Bay 1t is very numerous. In this city
1900 dozen are sold annually, al from
SO to S. per dozen. The Government
Fish Commission places California's
annual production of terrapin and frogs
at $4,000 pounds. The bullfrog figures
more conspicuously in the markets of
san francisco each year, commanding
from 81 to 81 a dozen.
The fishery for fresh water crawfish
is comparatively new, and as yet the
utilization of this animal is limited. Il
is found in large numbers in sloughs
or streams.
From the list of queer fisheries ought
not to be omitted the gathering of sea-
moss, which is collected by the Chinese
from rocks along the coast. 1t is dried,
packed in bales, and is exported to
China, where it is used for soups. The
Chinese consider the intestines of the
skate a great delicacy. Skates of one
species on this coast attain remark |
able size, specimens having been caught |
six feet in length and weighing $50 |
pounds.
One product of the sturgeon is used |
exclusively by the Chinese-namely, |
the spinal marrow. In an average |
size sturgeon the rpinal cord is four
Ave- 20 -
white connecting links resembling sau-
;ages. These are cut open, and the jel-
y-like substance contained within is
scraped off and thrown away. What
'emains is known by the Chinese and
he trade under the name of bone"