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company of whalemen at La Playa had killed "about a dozen" whales since they commenced
operations, "only five of which they have been able to get into the port." These
five yielded 150 barrels of oil, worth about $2,000. Editor Ames expressed the opinion
that if some means could be devised to prevent the whales from sinking, a good business
could be done in catching them within ten miles of the harbor. A little later, they
captured five in as many days, each of which produced from thirty-five to forty barrels of
oil. By 1868 the business had grown so that there were two companies with twenty men
at work in the boats and a dozen rendering the oil, and it had become a favorite diversion
of San Diegans to go out to the lighthouse and watch the chase.
In the season of 1870-1, the yield of oil was 21,888 gallons, and in 1871-2 it was
estimated at 55,000 gallons and two hundred pounds of whalebone were collected. In
1873-4, 21,600 gallons, and in 1874-5 four hundred barrels of oil were produced. As late
as 1886, three hundred barrels of oil were made and about a thousand pounds of
whalebone gathered. In the eighties the business was declining, however, and soon became
unprofitable and was abandoned.
The trying-works were on Ballast Point. The captured whales were towed in and
cut up and the flesh thrown into two large iron pots, having a capacity of 150 gallons
each. At each pot was stationed a man with a large strainer, whose business it was to
fish out the pieces of blubber as fast as they became sufficiently browned. These pieces
were then pressed to extract the oil, after which the refuse was used for fuel. It seems to
have burned very well, but made "a villainous stench." The oil was ladled into casks and
when cool was stored awaiting shipment.
The method of killing the whales was by a bomb lance from small boats. At first
the work seems to have been unskillfully done, but in later years it was carried to great
perfection. The whales were of the gray species. No reliable statistics can be given as to
the total output, but it ran well into the thousands of barrels and was an important article
of export. Among the older citizens of San Diego are several who came here to engage
in this chase, and followed it for many years. The only remains now left of this interesting
period are the vertebrae of whales which are used as ornaments and may still be
seen in many San Diego dooryards. The Society of Natural History has also collected
some valuable relics, which are preserved in the public library building.
Such were some of the principal commercial features affecting the early life of the
place.
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Following is a list of ranchos of San Diego County, showing the number of acres
in each rancho, names of grantees, and date each grant was confirmed. The names of
the grantees do not represent the present proprietors, the ownership having changed, in
many cases, since the confirmation of the grant:
Name of Rancho Owner Grant Confirmed Acres
Santa Margarita and Las Flores Pio & Andrés Pico 89,742.93