Abstract.—There is a long history of exploitation of spiny dogfish along the Pacific coast of the United States. In modern times there have been three distinct phases of exploitation: a fishery for oil (1917–39), followed by a fishery for livers for their vitamin content (1937–1950), and then one for muscle tissue for human consumption (1975–1995). By the end of the liver fishery, the resource showed clear signals of decline and similar signals of decline were noted at the end of the food fishery.
A History of the Pacific Area in Modern Times.