The Pacific Commercial Advertiser

There is a class growing up in this city, known abroad as "scavengers," but which has not been known here till within the past few years. They are mostly boys of from six to fifteen years of age, who scour the streets of the town, and the wharves along the harbor front, in search of whatever plunder they can lay their hands on. They may be recognized by carrying bags, when empty under the arm, when full on the back or head. They do not hesitate to take a loose picket or board from the fence or any loose lumber from the wharf. Only the other day, two boys were seen tearing off a broken plank from one of the wharves, in broad daylight. Two others were driven from private premises on King street, where they had picked their bags full from the loose stuff lying about a house in course of erection. Such tramps are common nuisances, and should be arrested by the police and taken in custody.