The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-08
By Jack Jungmeyer

r HE yield OF the sea which is
daily displayed in the inviting.
brine odorous fish stalls OF San
Francisco is taken and brought
10 market with a picturesque detail OF
labor that attaches to the garnering
Of no other food staple Of this locality.
Because the deep sea fisherman can not
be generally observed while engaged
IN making his catch, the average land
lubber has but a very indefinite idea
OF how the work is carried on. The
following paragraphs will throw some
light on the important part the steam
t-awler plays IN supplying the local
markets, and give an account of the
manner in which he takes his toll of
the deep.
brakes bay, some 40 miles north of
San Francisco. is one of the most ia
nous fishing banks Of the world. On
the level stretch Of submarine sand ly-
ing between Double Point and Point
Reyes the choicest edible fish of the
Pacific feed and school by millions
This bank has been systematically
hshed for the last 80 years at the
least, and stin the supply of marine
life frequenting that sheltered sweep
Of water seems inexhaustible. The daily
catch taken from near Point Reyes and
brought TO the bay cities markets
amounts TO about 10 TO IL tons Of edible
sea food. On brakes bay the crew
OF a steam trawler viii throw away.
as unmarketable, more fish from one
lift of the great seine than are taken
IN one haul by any single crew of fish
ermen in any other part Of the world.
This viii serve to illustrate the meas
ure Of reward the local fishermen reap
in return for their toll.
Two San Francisco fish companies
engage in steam trawling along this
section Of the coast Each Of these
firms maintains two trawling vessels
and crews OF expert fishermen at
brakes bay and that general vicinity
the year round. These vessels supply
the great bulk OF fresh salt water fish
; brought TO the local markets. It was
through the courtesy Of one Of the
firms that I was permitted to accom-
pany one OF these fishing crews on their
daily trip to the banks and watch
them at their work.
A steam trawling vessel is simply an
ordinary. stanch tug. so rugged that it
can drag q gigantic seine along the sea
bottom and can hoist the net, when
filed. with the greatest degree OF GER
tainty and dispatch. The tugs are OF
such build and tonnage that they are
enabled TO maneuver with rapidity I'M
der the most trying condition Of sea or
weather. The system OF steam trawl-
tg, the only one in any measure ade-
ouate to supply the enormous demand
for sea food, was introduced some 80
years ago from the Mediterranean
coast. The crews that man these YES
sells. too. are drawn from those old, old
fishing grounds Of southern Europe
italians, SiciIians. Spaniards and
Greeks. Their swarthy faces and alien
ways seem to fit peculiarly with the
fishing in which they are so expert
There was but one man OF the crew.
with whom Jared up TO the fishing
banks, who could speak English that
was intelligible-the mate.
A gigantic pocket net, attached by
means Of long hawsers to the winch
drums of two tugboats, and dragged
along miles Of sea bottom for hours at a
time. gathering in its meshes everything
that lies or swims in it's path. from the
transparent Jelly fish and the ungainly
crab TO the arrogant 100 pound cod
Nthat is the mechanical detail OF trawl
ing. The human element in the work
demands strong men-men whom the
sea can not COW nor bully. Not infre-
quently the days work resolves itself
into q bitter, earnest, long sustained
fight between the crew Of the vessel
nnd q ritchi,,c, sea for rossessinr, of the