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GAVIOTA BEACH COLLECTING

Whalebone is the principal material found here. The best season
for whalebone hunting is during the winter after a storm has washed
the sand off the beach. However, this area is also good for a
summer visit to hunt fossils.

TYPE OF MATERIAL FOUND 1) Whalebone, 2) Fossils

DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL
1) Whalebone. The brownish gray exterior is similar to many of
the other rocks found here. You can easily identify it by wetting
the surface which enhances the clarity of the bone cell structure.

2) Fossils. The fossils occur in the shale cliffs along the beach.
They are small and usually broken, but quite plentiful. Hold the
slabs of shale on edge and tap along the grain lines until a layer
breaks off along the bedding planes. With some concentrated effort,
you will be able to find some good specimens.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED Rock pick.

HOW TO GET THERE Take Pacific Coast Highway through Santa Barbara
west to the little stopover of Gaviota (means "sea gull" in Spanish).
This is where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, discoverer of California,
first stepped ashore on October 17, 1542. The cafe at Gaviota
stands on the site of the original store which served as a stage
stop, inn, post office, gener al store and cafe at the time the
steamers stopped at the wharf with passengers and freight. The
wharf was built in 1875 and served until the railroad was built
in 1901. From the store, one can see San Miguel Island, said to
be the final resting place of Cabrillo. From the Gaviota Cafe,
it is .7 mile to the turnoff to Gaviota Beach State Park. The
park has excellent camping facilities. A small charge is made
for overnight camping; you can park your ca~ free for the day.
From the park, walk along the beach to find the whalebone. The
fossils will be found in the shale cliffs along the beach.

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