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[CALIFORNIA
FISH- GAME

rcONSERyATION

OF WILD UFE THROUGH EDUCATIONT

81244

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME
San Francisco. Caliiornia

EARL WARREN
Governor

WARREN T. HANNUM
Director of Natural Resources

FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

H. H. ARNOLD, President
Sonoma
LEE F. PAYNE, Commissioner WILLIAM J. SILVA, Commissioner

Los Angeles Modesto

HARVEY E. HASTAIN, Commissioner PAUL DENNY, Commissioner
Brawley Etna

EMIL J. N. OTT, Jr.

Executive Director

Sacramento and San Francisco

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

CARLTON M. HERMAN, Editor Berkeley

Editorial Board

RICHARD S. CROKER San Francisco

BRIAN CURTIS San Francisco

JOHN E. CHATTIN Berkeley

California Fish and Game is a publication devoted to the conservation of wildlife.
It is published quarterly by the California Division of Pish and Game. All material for
publication should be sent to Dr. Carlton M. Herman, Editor, Division of Fish and
Game, Strawberry Canyon, University of California, Berlceley 4, California. Manu-
scripts should be typed, double spaced, and conform to the style of previous issues.

The articles published herein are not copyrighted and may be reproduced in other
periodicals, provided due credit is given the author and the California Division of Fish
and Game.

This publication is sent free of charge to interested persons, who may have their
names placed on the mailing list by writing to the editor. Subscriptions are for one
year and must be renewed annually. A postcard will be included with each October
issue for renewal of subscriptions. Subscribers are requested to notify the Division of
Fish and Game, University of California, Berkeley 4, California, of changes of address,
giving old address as well as the new.

California Fish and Game

"CONSEBVATION OF WILDLIFE THROUGH EDUCATION"

Volume 34 ISSUED JANUARY 30, 1948 No.l

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Summary of Recovery of California Sardine Tags on the Pacific

Coast J. F. Jansen, Jr. 3

Basking Shark Fishery Revived in California J. B. Phillips 11

Breeding Season and Productivity in the Interstate Deer Herd

J. E. Chattin 25

The California Valley Quail in New Zealand H. A. Hjersman 33

Notes —

Sablefish Run at Monterey Bay K. W. Cox 37

Rearing Marine Fishes in the Laboratory

J. L. McHuGH and B. W. Walker 37

Occurrence of the Black Skipjack (Euthynnus lineatus) oif South-
ern California Phil M. Roedel 38

Extension of the Range of Liivaris imperialis Rafinesque

W. E. Ripley 39

Retirement of A. E. Burghduff A. C. Taft 40

Retirement of Louie L Phillips A. C. Taft 40

Reports 41

(1)

81244

SUMMARY OF RECOVERY OF CALIFORNIA
SARDINE TAGS ON THE PACIFIC COAST

By John F. Janssen, Jr.,^ Bureau of Marine Fisheries, California
Division of Fish and Game

From 1936 to 1942 the California Division of Fish and Game eon-
ducted an extensive tagging program to measure the movements and
abundance of the Pacific sardine {Sardmops caerulea) . The results of this
work, based on returns through the 1943-44 fishing season, were published
in Fish Bulletin No. 61 (Bureau of Marine Fisheries, 1945). Since 1944
additional recoveries have been made each year but by the 1946-47 season
the number dropped to an inconsequential figure. Because few, if any,
returns may be expected in the seasons to come it seems advisable to
present the data for the seasons 1944-45 through 1946-47 and to sum
up the results of all recoveries.

The cooperation and assistance rendered by the fishing industry
in California as well as that rendered by government agencies and the
industry in Oregon, Washington and Canada are gratefully acknowl-
edged.

Between March, 1936, and August, 1942, the California Division
of Fish and Game tagged 120,948 sardines in California and Lower
California waters. Tag recoveries from these fish through May, 1947,
have totaled 8,497. In studies of movements of sardines, however, only
115,489 of the fish tagged were considered. These fish yielded 8,425
recoveries. During the period when tagging techniques were being devel-
oped there was at times an excessive mortality among the fish. On a few
occasions fish were tagged which were too small or in too poor condition
for survival. Occasionally an unusual number of predators caused exces-
sive mortality immediately after tagged fish were released. Due to these
complications tagging groups totaling 5,459 fish yielded too few returns
to justify their consideration in any analysis.

Although a few sardines are caught along the California coast in
the spring and summer months, the majority are landed in the fall and
winter. In Oregon, Washington and British Columbia they are caught
in the late summer and fall months. It is therefore convenient to com-
mence the tag recovery year on June 1st.

Tables 1, 2 and 3 are continuations of Tables 1, 2 and 4, pp. 11-15,
of Fish Bulletin No. 61. These tables show the actual number of tags
recovered by regions from sardines released off Central, Southern and
Lower California as well as the number of tag recoveries which could
have been expected had recovery efficiency been 100 percent. Recoveries
by regions from 1936-37 through 1943-44 are listed. These figures cor-
respond to the subtotals given in the tables in Fish Bulletin No. 61.
Following the recoveries by region through 1943-44 appear the recoveries
by season for the three succeeding seasons. In addition, the totals for the
period from the beginning of the tagging work through 1946-47 are
shown. These tables do not include recoveries made in the season of
tagging.

1 Submitted for publication August, 1947.

(3)

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RECOVERY OP SARDINE TAGS 7

Table 4 supplements Table 12, p. 23, of Fish Bulletin No. 61. It shows
the percentage efficiency of recovery of sardine tags by region for the
seasons 1944-45 through 1946-47. San Diego recovery efficiencies are not
included as no tags were recovered at this port during the period in
question. Fish Bulletin No. 61 contains a complete discussion of methods
used to determine the efficiency of recovery within each region.

TABLE 4
Percentage Efficiency of Recovery of Sardine Tags by Region and by Season

Region of recovery

Season

British
Columbia

Washington

Oregon

San
Francisco

Monterey

Ran Pedro

Large Tags
1944-45

40
40

57
20

77
69

66

1945-46

71

1946-47

45*

Small Tags
1944-45

40
40

53
21

72
66

61

1945-46

64

1946-47

40*

60*

•

* Conservative estimates. No efficiency tests were conducted in this season.

The present discussion does not include recovery in California of
sardine tags released by other than California investigators. Kecovery
of Canadian tags in California has been fully treated in reports by Hart
(1944, 1945) who has shown there is a movement of sardines from
Canadian fishing grounds to those of California. The large numbers of
fish involved in this movement indicates a definite southward migration.

Fish tagged by the California Division of Fish and Game in Mexican
waters have been retaken in Pacific Coast sardine fisheries as far north
as Washington (Table 3). Sardines tagged in California waters have
been recovered in all the California fisheries as well as in all the sardine
fisheries in the Pacific Northwest (Tables 1 and 2) in sufficient numbers
to indicate a northward movement of a substantial proportion of the
stock. Other reports have pointed out that as a rule the larger fish make
the longest northward migration.

Sardine tag recoveries in the past three seasons have not required
a revision of conclusions presented in previous reports. It is interesting
to note, however, that one Mexican tag was recovered as far north as
the State of Washington. This tag was put into a sardine of 170 mm.
total length. It was released in San Quentin Bay, 145 nautical miles
south of the international boundary, and recovered five years and ten
months later.

No tag recoveries have been reported from reduction plants in
Lower California. Facilities for recovering tags were in operation there
for only a brief period and the quantity of sardines processed in Mexico
is small in comparison with other localities along the coast.

The length of time that some tagged sardines have remained at sea
before recapture is indicated in Table 5. This table lists the California
sardine tags which have been recovered from fish released six or more
years earlier. One tag was out over seven years and eight months. The

3 — 81244

8

CALIFORNIA FISH AND OAME

fish which bore it Avas 240 mm. total length when tagged, or about
205 mm. standard length. It is estimated that this fisli was in its second
or more likely its tliird year of life when released oft' Southern California.

TABLE 5
Sardine Tag Recoveries Six or More Years After Release

Date tagged

Date recovered

Elapsed time

Region
tagged

Region
recovered

Total length
of fish when

years

months

days

tagged in
mms.

Dec. 15, 1937
Feb. 15, 1938

Aug. 28, 1945
Oct. 12, 1945
Dec. 19, 1944
Oct. 30, 1944
Feb. 9, 1945
Feb. 26, 1946
Aug. 18, 1944
Aug. 8, 1944
July 18, 1943
Dec. 10, 1945
Aug. 28, 1944
Oct. 12, 1945
Nov. 1, 1945

7
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

8
7
10
8
8
5
2
2
1
1
0
0
0

13

27

4
23

4
14
13

3
29
12
27
19

3

Southern California...
Southern California...
Southern Cahfornia...
Southern California...
Southern California...

Central California

Southern California...
Southern California...
Southern California...

Lower Cahfornia

Southern Cahfornia...

Central California

Lower Cahfornia ..

British Columbia

Monterey

240
215

Feb. 15, 1938
Feb. 7, 1938

British Columbia

Monterey

220
205

June 5, 1938

Monterey

155

Sept. 12, 1939
June 5, 1938

British Columbia

Monterey

220
180

June 5, 1938
May 19, 1937
Oct. 28, 1939

San Francisco

British Columbia

San Pedro

180
220
145

Aug. 1. 1938
Sept. 23, 1938

British Columbia

Monterey

165
240

Oct. 28, 1939

Monterey. ...

175

It was recovered in the Brifish Columbia fishery. Another tag out over
seven and one-half years, also inserted in a fish off Southern California,
was recovered at Monterey. This fish was 215 mm. total length or about
183 mm. standard length when released. It was perhaps in its first or
second year of life. These fish were therefore 8 to 11 years old when
caught for the second time.

A comparison of the number of tag recoveries with the number of
sardines tagged is misleading unless losses due to tagging mortality and
to incomplete recoveries are given consideration. How these factors
affect the percentage of tags recovered is shoAvu in Table 6. This table
includes the same fish as Tables 1, 2 and 3. However, unlike the other
tables it also lists recoveries made in the season of tagging.

Recoveries made in season "0" can be greater than the combined
recoveries of succeeding years. If the fish are tagged on the fishing
grounds early in the season they are subjected to the fishery for a rela-
tively long period before they have had an opportunity to become well
dispersed. On the other hand, if they are tagged very late in the season
recoveries will be few in season "0."

A tagging mortality of 43 percent was assigned to the fish in Table 6.
This is considered conservative. It represents the weighted average
mortality of the fish in Table 13, p. 27, of Fish Bulletin No. 61. Table 6
includes all fish included in that table and in addition some others
selected on the basis of less rigid standards.

From the total number of tagged fish (115,489) used in our studies
8,425 tags were recovered or 7.3 percent. Only 65,828 fish, however,
were considered effectively tagged (not lost through tagging mortality),
and if recovery methods had operated at 100 percent efficiency 14,610
tags would have been recovered or 22.2 percent of the fish effectively
tagged.

Tag recoveries during the past three seasons confirmed conclusions
previously drawn, that there is a general interchange of the sardine
population along the Pacific Coast. In addition these later recoveries

EECOVERY OF SARDINE TAGS

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10 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

have indicated tliat fish released in ^Mexican waters will move as far
north as the Washinprton coast, that some sardines may be retaken more
than seven years after taf^frinj]^ and will have reached an ajre of 8 to 11
years. About 22 percent of the effect ivol}^ tajr;:red fish were retaken by
the fishermen during the years covered by the investigation.

References

Bureau of Marine Fisheries

194ij Results of tasfritifc experiments in California waters on the sardine (Sar-
dinopH caerulea). Calif. Div. of Fish and Game, Fish Bull., no. Gl, 90 pp.
Ilart, .John Lawson

1944 Pilchard-tagging and pilchard-tag recovery from 19.36 to 1943. Report, British

Columbia, Provincial Fisheries Department, 1943, pp. 43-;j2.
194.5 Summary account of Canadian pilchard tagging results. Fisheries Research
Board. Canada. Progress reports, Pacific Coast Stations, no. 64, pp. 51-52.
Janssen, John F., Jr.

1938 Second report of sardine tagging in California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol
24, no. 4, pp. 376-389.

BASKING SHARK FISHERY REVIVED
IN CALIFORNIA

By J. B. Phillips ^

Bureau of Marine Fisheries

California Division of Fish and Game

Introduction

The fishery for basking sharks, Cetorliinus maximus, was revived
in the fall of 1946, following a period of several years of relative inactiv-
ity. As in the past the scene of greatest activity has been Monterey Bay,
but a second fishing area developed between San Luis Obispo Bay and
Morro Bay, about 100 miles to the southward. In former years Monterey
was the port at which was landed the bulk of the sharks taken in Monterey
Bay. Now it is the port of Moss Landing, 20 miles to the northward. Two
sardine plants have done all the processing there. In the San Luis Obispo
area most of the sharks have been landed at Morro, with some at Pismo,

1

i^-*-

■^

Figure 1. Basking shark on truck for transportation to processing plant, after being
hauled up slip from water. Moss Landing, March 22, 1947

and processed by a tallow plant near San Luis Obispo. On some occasions
surplus carcasses with livers removed at Moss Landing have been trucked
to a reduction plant at Petaluma. The meal was used in chicken feed
mixtures. At the start of the present season (September, 1947) some

1 Submitted for publication September, 1947. All photographs by author.

(11)

12 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

surplus carcasses, with livers removed, were also trucked to a reduction
plant in Fresno.

Durinfir the period September, 1946, to May, 1947, about 300 basking
sharks, averaging approximately one and one-third tons each in the round,
were taken along the California coast. This season, is the period during
which these sharks are found in central California congregating in num-
bers near the surface of the ocean. This concentration makes possible a
commercial fishery based on harpooning.

Reason for Revival

The primary reason for a revival of the basking shark fishery is the
development of new uses for the liver oil. The livers which average close
to 25 percent of the total weight of the shark, consists of 60 to 70 percent
oil. The oil is of industrial rather than medicinal value since it has a very
low vitamin A and D content. A limited amount has been used in live-
stock feeds and as a touie. Other therapeutical properties of the oil have
not been thoroughly tested.

It was hoped that the oil would find a market in commercial channels,
such as in soap or paint manufacture. But the oil, as refined at present,
does not saponify in soaps nor dry readily in paints. Trial samples sent
to other commercial users of oil yielded no source of disposal and a large
amount of oil accumulate in storage tanks. A limited amount of oil is
now being used by Mr. L. P. Bodwell, 300 Huntington Avenue, South San
Francisco, a leather specialist, who found that by proper blending the oil
was satisfactory for tanning leather. Further experimentation may
develop other specific uses for the oil.

In ]\Iarch, 1947, Mr. Bodwell also became interested in the hide of
basking sharks as a potential source of leather. Not only is there a large
expanse of hide on one animal but it is from one-half to three-quarters
of an inch thick in large animals. Experiments in tanning the hicles have
demonstrated that a leather of pleasing appearance can be produced but
further work along this line, including the possible commercial uses of
such ] eather, needs to be worked out.

The meal resulting from the reduction of the carcasses is mixed with
animal feeds. The labor involved in the reduction process does not make
the production of meal profitable, in itself. If the hide of the animal is
removed for tanning into leather, the resultant meal should be enhanced
in quality.

The Basking- Shark

Among sharks, the basking shark, which reaches a length of 45 feet
and a weight of four to five tons, is surpassed in size only by the whale
shark, Rhineodon typns, which is reported to attain a length of 60 feet and
vreight of 14 tons. The basking shark is found in temperate and arctic
waters whereas the whale shark is found in warm and tropic waters. The
habits of these two sharks are very similar, both having very small teeth
and long, close-set gill rakers for straining out huge quantities of larger
planktonic organisms such as minute copepods and other crustaceans as
well as small drifting mollusks. Both species are sluggish and prone to
bask at the surface of the ocean. The whale shark may be distinguished
from the basking shark by a checkerboard pattern of yellowish-white
lines and spots on the back and sides, as well as several longitudinal ridges
on the sides.

BASKING SHARK FISHERY 13

The basking shark may be distinguished from the other sharks by the
keel on each side of the caudal peduncle and the exceedingly long gill
slits which extend from the back to the mid-line of the throat, nearly
meeting at this point. The gill slits number five and the' teeth are small,
numerous and smooth-edged. The color of the body is bluish gray to
brownish gray on the dorsal surface with somewhat paler markings on"
the ventral surface. As is the case with all sharks, rays and chimeras or
ratfish, the skeleton is cartilaginous. The pelvic fins of the males are modi-
fied to form claspers, by means of which fertilization of the eggs within
the bodies of the females is made possible.

A single species of basking shark is found in Arctic seas and along
both sides of the Atlantic Ocean southward to the Mediterranean Sea on
one side and to Virginia on the American side. In the Pacific, this shark
has been reported as far south as Southern California. It is known to the
various fishermen as bone shark, sunfish, sailfish, oilfish, oil shark, ele-
phant shark and hoe-mother.

Up to the present, the only region where these sharks have been
reported to breed is in Arctic waters. The smallest specimens that have
been taken in California waters have measured at least 10 feet in length.
The landed specimens usually measure 15 to 30 feet in total length. Since
the gill net and drag net fisheries along the California coast have not
yielded any small specimens of this shark, it would appear that the
nursery areas are not located along the California coast, and would most
likely be found to the northward.

The Fishery-
History

According to Jordan (1887a), who reported on the fisheries of the
Pacific coast in 1880, the basking shark was valued for the oil in the liver
but these fish were captured by whalers and fishermen rather by accident
that by design. Apparently, Monterey was the only port along the Cali-
fornia coast at which these large sharks were occasionally processed.
Reporting on the activities of the Monterey "Whaling Company, Jordan
f 1887b) stated: "This year (1880) 14 whales have been obtained from
September to April, * * * besides two basking sharks fCefor/itwi/s maxt-
mus) ; in all 500 barrels of whale-oil and eight of shark-oil. The basking
shark is rare here, sometimes not seen for 20 years. This year several were
seen in Monterey Bay. ' '

The basking shark fishery did not develop until 1924, except for
occasional specimens that the whalers harpooned and brought to shore
for processing, or specimens that became entangled in fishermen's nets,
from which the livers were removed for "sun rotting." The oil thus
obtained was used for mixing with crude paints or with livestock feeds.

In 1924, Ernest Doelter and Henry Leppert started to harpoon bask-
ing sharks in Monterey Bay as a regular sport. The harpooning was done
by hand, as it is to this day, from the bow of the "Pop Ernest," a local
40-foot abalone boat. The sport was also indulged in by members of the
then-existing Monterey Yacht Club, usually as guests of Doelter aboard
the "Pop Ernest." The sharks were turned over to Max N. Schaefer for
processing in his "Monterey Fish By-Products" plant at Seaside, near
Monterey. The livers were reduced to oil and the carcasses to meal. The
meal was used in livestock feeds and dog biscuits, while the oil was used

14

CAIJFORN'IA FISn AND OAME

primarily for blendinp: with various animal feeds, and as a tonic called
"Sun Shark Liver Oil" advertised as "Nature's own tonic."

About ]028, Chester Gilkey and Bert Korf, owners of the 50-foot
boat ''Two Brothers," tojjether with Tom Machado, e^juipped them-
selves for harpooninji: sharks. This started as a sport and as publicity
for their fishinjr-party excursions, but by 1929 the harpooning of these
sharks had turned into a profitable side-line. Seven dollars a ton was
paid for the sharks up to about 1930. The price then went up to $10 a ton
and still later to $20 a ton, the latter price being in effect in 1938, at which
time the Monterej^ Fish By-Products plant at Seaside burned to the
ground. Between 1924 and 1938, the yearly average was about 25 sharks,
but in one of these years approximately 100 sharks were landed. When
too many sharks were brought in at one time, the Hovden Food Products
Corporation at Monterey processed some of the carcasses for meal. A few
sharks have been taken by this latter concern since 1938.

In times past there has been a fishery for basking sharks along the
Norwegian, Irish and Scottish coasts. About the middle of the Eighteenth
Century, there was an extensive pursuit of this species along the New
England coast and considerable quantities of the oil were produced.

'■^te;

Figure 2. The usual type of boat in the basking shark fishery in California. The
vessel has just towed in a shark, which will be fastened to the slip along with the other
sharks. Moss Landing, March, 1947.

Types of Boats

Boats used for capturing basking sharks range in length from 25
to 50 feet. ]\Iost of the vessels are small net boats with a fair amount of
deck on the stern portion. (Fig. 2.) In addition to the regular commercial
fishing-type of boats, a 30-foot cabin cruiser and two or three former
Army landing barges (LCVP) 36 feet long have been used successfully at

BASKING SHARK FISHERY

15

Moss Landing, In 1930 and 1931, the McDaniel brothers, new owners of
the 50-foot vessel, "Two Brothers," used on several occasions a 20-foot
dory from which the sharks were harpooned in shallow water. On January
27, 1931, the dory was used to harpoon two sharks in shallow water near
Monterey. Four hours were required to land one of these, a 20-foot
specimen.

Although the Southern California swordfish boats for a number of
years have used a "plank and pulpit" out over the bow, from which har-
pooning is done, the boats fishing basking sharks out of the ports on
Monterey Bay were not thus equipped until March, 1947. (Fig. 3.) At
that time, a 13-foot extension was installed on the boat "Opal" forward
of the bow with a pulpit at the end for the harpooner. Shortly after-
ward, several other boats were similarly outfitted, including one of the
LCVP landing barges. Another landing barge had previously been
equipped with a wide platform at the bow end, that could be lowered. The
harpooner stood on this platform.

Two swordfish boats from Santa Barbara that started harpooning
basking sharks off Morro Bay in September, 1946, were shifted to

Figure 3. Harpooner in pulpit at end of "plank." At the left the harpoon is in a
position ready for throwing. At the right the harpoon has been thrown. Monterey Bay,
April 1, 1947.

16 CALIFORNIA FISH AND OAME

Monterey Bay during the latter part of March, 1947. Each of these vessels
had carried a plank and pulpit for several years.

The crew of a boat consists of two men usually, one harpooner and
one boat-operator. The operator of a cabin-cruiser at Moss Landing made
a practice of having two harpooners who simultaneously harpooned the
same shark. (Fig. 4.) This vessel, however, was no more successful than
the other boats that carried only one harpooner.

"<^*tC

Figure 4. A cabin-cruiser type boat searching for basiling sharks in Monterey
Bay. This type of boat is unusual in this fishery, as are two harpooners. Practically all
boats have but one harpooner, stationed at the bow of the vessel in the position of the
forward harpooner, March, 1947.

During the period September, 1946, to May, 1947, about 12 boats
participated in the fishery at Monterey Bay, and about half that number
were engaged in the fishery centered off San Luis Obispo.

Locating the Sharks

The Monterey Bay boats locate basking sharks while cruising within
a few miles of shore, where these animals are more often found, some-
times almost in the surf. Their presence is indicated usually by the dorsal
fin that projects above water, or by the shadowy bulk which may be seen
in shallow water. Sometimes in the spring of the year the animals may
break water.

Starting in the fall of 1946, two swordfish boats from Santa Barbara
harpooned a number of these sharks off San Luis Obispo and Morro
Bays, operating in conjunction with a landplane that was employed to
spot the animals from the air. When the pilot of the plane located sharks
near the surface, the operators of the two boats were informed by radio
and the plane circled the area until the vessels arrived. In this manner,

BASKING SHARK FISHERY 17

the crews of the boats utilized their time to best advantage. During the
latter part of March, 1947, when fishing became poor to the southward,
this boat-plane combination was transferred to Monterey Bay where it
operated until the sharks apparently disappeared from this area in May.
According to the pilot's report, visibility is better at 2,000 feet or more
than it is at 1,000 feet or less. When the water is sufficiently clear the
sharks can be seen to a depth of 50 feet.

From present information, there seems to be little correlation
between the time of day or the kind of weather and the appearance of
basking sharks at the surface. Sharks have been harpooned in the morn-
ing and in the afternoon, on sunshiny days and on rainy days. In Mon-
terey Bay, these sharks are apparently present in greatest abundance
between October and May. Off San Imis Obispo and Morro Bays, they
seem to appear about a month earlier and disappear earlier.

Although these sharks are ordinarily sluggish and prone to bask at
the surface, they have been observed to jump out of the water during
the early part of the year. On March 22, 1947, the author observed nine
of these large sharks break water near shore between Fort Ord and the
Salinas river, Monterey Bay, while guest on the boat "Reliance." George
Caprivize, captain, and William Madruga, harpooner, stated that such
activity had been seen on a few trips previously. At such times, the
sharks are not often found basking at the surface.

Harpooning Equipment

The methods employed in harpooning basking sharks have not
changed materially from those used in the earlier days of the fishery,
and are an adaptation of methods used in early whaling days. Operating
from small boats, the fishermen thrust a harpoon into a whale by hand.

As in the capture of a whale, the initial step in the capture of a
basking shark is to " fasten on to ' ' the animal by means of a harpoon and
line. After this, the animal has to be killed.

The present equipment consists of a metal harpoon that fits onto the
end of an 8- to 14-foot wood or metal pipe staff by means of which the
harpoon is thrust into the animal by hand. Attached to the harpoon is
a galvanized or stainless steel cable, one-quarter inch in diameter and
several feet in length, which in turn is connected by means of a shackle
and smvel to a one-half to three-quarter inch diameter, manila rope,
of which as much as 500 feet may be payed out w^hile the shark is being
played. In earlier days, sometimes a section of chain was used to connect
the harpoon with the paying-out rope, and sometimes the paying-out
rope was connected directly to the shaft of the harpoon.

Usually, a 50-gallon oil drum is tied onto the retrieving rope about
250 feet from the harpoon end, to offer resistance and cause the shark to
tire more quickly. During 1947, two vessels were equipped with 30-gallon,
reclaimed, household water tanks, which withstood the pressure at greater
depths better than the oil drums. Sometimes the outgoing rope is partially
snubbed to offer resistance to the shark.

When a shark has been located, the boat approaches the prey from
behind, so that the harpooner may thrust the harpoon into the back in
an area between the dorsal fin and the gill slits. It has been found that
within this area there is less chance for a harpoon to pull out. Harpooners

18 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

claim that they can "roach" a shark with a harpoon if it is within 10
feet of the surface.

About tliree out of four harpooned sharks will liead for the bottom
of the ocean where they tr^^ to roll the harpoon out, as evidenced by bent
harpoon shafts. The fourth shark is apt to take off in any direction and
tow the vessel for a time.

After the shark has tired sufficiently, it is hauled in alongside the
boat and another harpoon is thrust into the body, as a precautionary
measure in case the first harpoon is ready to pull out. As soon as possible
after that, it is shot through the head with a high-powered rifle. The best
place to shoot is through an eye or between the eyes. The basking shark
has an exceedingly small brain encased in a cartilaginous skull, which
makes it difficult to penetrate a vulnerable spot.

It is uncommon practice to fill the body cavity of a dead or dying
shark with compressed air, although this has been done in the past, on
some occasions. It does not take much lift to keep this shark afloat, per-
haps because of the large amount of oil in the huge liver. One vessel was
equipped with compressed air during the spring of 1947. When used,
the air, under about 60 pounds pressure, is introduced into the body
cavity with the aid of a section of metal pipe sharpened and perforated
at one end. It hastens the death of the animal because of the internal
pressure. It also makes the cutting-out of a harpoon a little easier.

After a shark has been killed, a rope is fastened around the small
part of the body just anterior to the tail and the shark is towed to port,
tail first. This method of towing offers the least resistance in the water.
Sometimes more than one shark is harpooned from a boat on one trip.
Although a vessel is equipped with several harpoons, usually the har-
pooner's favorite harpoon is in the first shark and an attempt is made to
cut the harpoon free, if it is not too deeply imbedded. "Where more than
one shark is killed on a trip, the dead sharks are tied to a buoy until
the vessel is ready to return to port, then all the captured sharks are
towed at once.

It usually takes about one-half hour to kill and secure a shark after
it has been harpooned. Tom Machado of Monterey may have established
a record when he harpooned, with the same harpoon, and killed, six
basking sharks in two and one-half hours, off Del Monte Beach, Monterey
Bay, March 28, 1946.

Although it has always been standard practice to harpoon sharks by
hand there have been at least two unsuccessful attempts to shoot a har-
poon by means of a powder charge in a shotgun. Henry Porter of Mon-
terey tried this in 1925, and a Moss Landing harpooner tried it in 1947.

No deck guns, as used by modern whalers, have been tried. As long
as a harpooner can approach within harpooning distance of a basking
shark, a power gun is not needed. There have been instances where a
harpooner has plunged a hea\y harpoon through both sides of an animal.
It is possible that a harpoon released by compressed air might prove
satisfactory because the force behind the missile can be regulated.

Another development of the whale fishery, the bomblance was simu-
lated by Tom Machado in 1930 when he tied a quarter-stick of djniamite
to his harpoon. The short fuse was lit just before the shark was harpooned.
The shark was disabled and easily killed. However, the soft liver was
turned to mush, and since this is the valuable part of the animal, it was
not tried again.

BASKING SHARK FISHERY 19

According to Brown (1885), the primitive or typical harpoon was
the sagittate or arrowheaded form, which the old-time whalers referred
to as a ' ' two-flued iron ' ' ; the next step was the harpoon with one fixed
barb, the "one-flued iron" and the third the iron with a movable barb
or toggle which acts upon the principle of the lily-iron of the sword-
fishermen. The lily-iron was evidently suggested by the adjustable bone
and ivory harpoon heads of the Eskimo tribes, but it was not strong
enough for most whales. It is quite satisfactory for porpoises, swordfish
and large sharks.

The heavy harpoons fired from deck cannon of modern whalers may
have two to four heavy barbs or "flukes" hinged to the head, which
open up within the whale.

Harpoons employed in the basking shark fishery in California vary
from standard, five-inch long, one-piece, brass darts, weighing about
four ounces (often referred to as swordfish darts) to two-foot long,
custom-made toggle irons weighing up to five pounds. There are a variety
of designs, some only slightly different from others, in use on the different
boats. I have seen three different designs on one boat, two of which had
been discarded as unsatisfactory. Because of the flabby nature of the
flesh and the cartilaginous skeleton in the basking shark, it has been
difficult to find an ideal design that will not work out of the body during
the struggles of this animal.

Except for a few unsuccessful, experimental attempts to shoot
a harpoon by means of a shotgun, the harpoons have been driven into
a shark by hand. In all cases, the staff with which the harpoon is thrust
into the animal is either pulled free from the harpoon-head, or if throwTi
it is jerked free by a short rope attached to the top of the staff and the
boat.

The harpoons fall into three general group-types. (Fig. 5.) The first
includes the dart-type harpoon with no shaft but with a shaft-seat on one
side into which fits the end of a shaft on the harpoon staff. A hole near
the middle of the dart permits the attachment of a steel cable, which
in turn is connected to the retrieving rope coiled on the deck of the vessel.
The posterior, or wing portion of the dart has a slight outward flare so
that the pull exerted on the dart after it has been thrust into the animal,
is on the side of the dart that is slightly convex. This reduces the chance
for the dart to cut itself out of the animal.

The second group of harpoon-types is the toggle-iron, or lily-iron
with a head hinged near its center to a shaft. (Fig. 6.) In throwing posi-
tion the head and shaft are in line, longitudinally, but when an animal is
harpooned, the pull of the retrieving rope connected to the end of the
shaft causes the head to pivot to a position that is cross-wise to the shaft.
A matchstick inserted in a small hole through the posterior portion of the
head and the shaft that it embraces, keeps the head longitudinal with the
shaft until the harpoon is thrust into the animal. The outward curve of the
posterior portion of the head sets up a resistance to the pull of the
retrieving rope connected to the end of the shaft and the matchstick
breaks permitting the head to pivot.

The third group of harpoons includes the fluke-type, which consists
of a sharp, wedge-shaped head and a shaft, with a pair of movable flukes
on opposite sides of the shaft. One end of each fluke is hinged to the pos-
terior end of the head. The free ends of the flukes are tied to the shaft in

20

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

SIDE VIEIA/

Hole for affachment of /fne

^^"" - ' l.„l-„-„--- ^' '

Shaft at end o-^
sfaff f/ts /r?ft> ho/e

DART TYPE HARPOON

TOP V/EIA/

PJi/ot
/ Ho/e for maichsficff

fh/s enc/^//ps into
opentn^ at end of^tcfff^

^^r

Eye for affcichmerjt of line

TOGGLE TYPE HARPOON

. Pivot

FLUKE TYPE HARPOON

Er7d of Staff /
sea fs into opening

Figure 5. Three types of harpoons used in the basking sharli fishery of Califor-
nia. A variety of designs in harpoons have been used but, in general, they revolve
around these three types.

throwing position. After the harpoon enters the body of the animal, the
pull on the shaft is resisted by the outward-flaring tips of the flukes,
breaking the twine and allowing the flukes to pivot to a position that is
cross-wise to that of the shaft.

In the latter two groups of harpoons, the head of the harpoon is of
hard metal, usually iron, while the shaft is of soft iron that will bend when
the animal goes to the bottom and attempts to roll the harpoon out. The
fluke-t5T)e harpoon is not common. The dart-type and the toggle-type
are the most popular.

BASKING SHARK FISHERY

21

Processing

Livers

In the San Luis Obispo area, the basking shark livers have been
processed at a tallow plant located at the town of San Luis Obispo. Some
of the carcasses have been processed at this plant, also. When the present
season got underway in this region in September, 1947, the one plant
could not handle all the carcasses, on occasions, and some were shipped
to Fresno for processing.

In the Monterey region, two sardine processing plants at Moss
Landing have handled all the livers and the bulk of the carcasses landed

Figure 6. One of the popular types of harpoons used
in the basking shark fishery in California, is the toggle-iron,
or lily-iron, illustrated here in throwing position at the left
and in the open position as it would be in the shark, at the
right. The iron loop near the end of the shaft is for attach-
ment of a line, by means of which the shark can be played
and later hauled in. The end of the shaft seats into the
lower end of the harpoon staff. Moss Landing, April, 1947.

during the past season. The dead sharks are towed to the plants, where the
livers are removed and processed for oil, while the carcasses are cut uj)
into pieces and reduced to meal. (Fig. 7.) Some surplus carcasses have
been trucked to Petaluma for processing into meal that is mixed with
chicken feeds.

The liver of the basking shark is about 25 percent of the total weight
of the animal, and jdelds 60 to 70 percent oil. The method of extracting

90

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

oil from livers, currently employed by the Ilovden Food Products Cor-
poration, Moss Landing, according to Lloyd T'liillips, superintendent, is
the settling tank system which some plants still use in the recovery of oil
from sardines. First, water is run into the tank to a depth that will cover
the steam pipes on the bottom. This water is heated to a temperature
between 165 and 205 degrees, F. The shark livers, which have been
chopped to a paste-like consistency, are introduced at the upper end of
the long rectangular tank. As the oil breaks free, it comes to the top and
gradually drifts to the lower end of the tank and overflows. When the

Figure 7. Removing the liver from a basking sliark landed at Moss Landing.
One lobe of the liver has been removed already and is on the table in the foreground.
The man with the white cap is grasping the posterior end of the remaining lobe, and
the other man is freeing the anterior end. March 22, 1947.

daj^'s run is completed the heat is turned off. After several hours, the
oil remaining in the tank is run off by raising the level of the water under
the oil. This decanted oil is run directly to storage tanks and the remain-
ing sludge is centrifuged for any remaining oil.

Carcasses

The carcass of the shark is cut up into small pieces and placed in a
standard, steam-batch dryer with 70 pounds steam pressure and two inches
of vacuum. The cooking lasts for six to eight hours. The resultant meal
is light, fluffy and oily. About nine pounds of fresh carcass, with liver
removed, yields one pound of the dried meal. Other controlled methods of
drying the carcass to meal have proved satisfactory also.

Price

During the first season of this revived fishery, September, 1946, to
May, 1947, fishermen have been paid 7 to 9 cents a pound for the livers. In

BASKING SHARK FISHERY 23

the San Luis Obispo area, the price of 9 cents prevailed, for the most part,
while in the Monterey area a price of 7 cents a pound was paid for most
livers. The average weight of the livers of the sharks landed was close to
700 pounds. Occasionally, an extremely large liver will weigh close to
2,000 pounds.

Just before the close of the past fishing season, the price quoted for
basking shark liver oil dropped and this resulted in a price of 5 cents
a pound to fishermen for livers delivered after the middle of April, 1947.
At the start of the present season, September, 1947, a price of 5 to 6
cents a pound was paid in both the San Luis Obispo and Monterey areas.

Nothing has been paid for the shark carcasses after removal of the
liver. The returns from the sale of the meal about compensates for the
expense involved in reduction. This is because of the present laborious
methods of handling the huge animals, coupled with a low meal yield.
Improved methods of handling carcasses, together with further experi-
mentation on the use of some of the now undifferentiated waste products
maj' enhance their value in the future.

Other Products

Preliminarj^ experiments with the hide as a potential source of leather
for certain commercial uses has shown promise, and will be explored
further this season. The possibility of a market for the dried fins for
Chinese trade will also be explored. Some potential uses for which there is
a limited commercial demand are cholic acid from bile, iasulin from pan-
creas, enzymes from the digestive tract, amino acids from protein material,
fish glue from the hide and squalene, a constituent of the unsaponifiable
part of shark liver oils, used as a mordant for certain s^'uthetic fibres.

Literature Cited

Brown, James Templeman

1887 The whalemen, vessels and boats, apparatus, and methods of the fishery.
U. S. Comm. of Fish and Fisheries, Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the
United States, Sec. V, vol. 2, pp. 218-293.

Jordan, David S.

1887a The Fisheries of the Pacific Coast. U. S. Comm. of Fish and Fisheries.
Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States. Sec. II, pp. 589-629.

1887b Coast of California. In: The Whale Fishery. 1. History and present condition
of the fishery. U. S. Comm. of Fish and Fisheries, Fisheries and Fishery
Industries of the United States, Sec. V, vol. 2, pp. 51-61.

BREEDING SEASON AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE
INTERSTATE DEER HERD^

By John E. Chattin

Bureau of Game Conservation

California Division of Fish and Game

Deer herd productivity and breeding seasons are important factors
in any program relating to deer management. The study of embrj^os fur-
nishes an important source of information for determination of breeding
potential and breeding dates of a deer herd. Studies currently in progress
on the Interstate Deer Herd have afforded an opportunity to gather data
bearing on this subject.

The Rocky ]\Iountain IMule Deer herd occupying a summer range on
the Fremont National Forest in southeastern Oregon and wintering in
an area south of Clear Lake in Modoc County in northeastern California,
has been termed the Interstate Deer Herd in recent studies. (Fischer, et
al., 1944; Fischer, et al., 1945; Interstate Deer Herd Committee, 1946;
Interstate Deer Herd Committee, 1947.) Studies to determine the number
of deer in this herd indicate that an irruptive peak was reached in 1936
and the population remained high (18.000) until 1945-1946, when a drop
in numbers to 13,600 was recorded. (Fischer, et al., 1944; Leopold et al.,
1947 ; Interstate Deer Herd Committee, 1947.) Census figures taken dur-
ing the 1946-1947 season on the winter range indicate the present popu-
lation to be about 12,400. (Interstate Deer Herd Committee, 1947.)
Other pertinent figures on herd composition are shown in Table I and
Table II.

TABLE I
Percentage Composition of Herd *

Winter
census

Calculated
population

Bucks

Does

T7„.„„= Number
^'''"^ classified

Average 1937-1942

14,000
18,000
18,000

10.0
8.6
8.0
6.4
9.0

53.0
63.2
55.0
60.4
57.0

37.0
28.2
37.0
33.2
34.0

5,500+

1943-1944...

5,986

1944-1945-

3,007

1945-1946

1946-1947

13.600
12,400

1,698
1,603

' From Interstate Deer Herd Committee, 1946, 1947.

TABLE II
Buck-Doe and Doe-Fawn Ratios by Census Years

Year

■ Buck-
Doe
ratio

Doe-
Fawn
ratio

Number of

deer
classified

1937-38 . --

5.6
3.5
4.9
7.4
6.6
9.5
6.2

1

0.81
1.25
1.03
0.45
0.67
0.54
0.60

1,262

1938-39

2,882

1939-40

1,338

1943-44

5,986

1944-45 -

3,007

1945-46

1,696

1946-47

1,603

* From Interstate Deer Herd Committee, 1946, 1947.

1 Submitted for publication September, 1947.

(25)

26

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

Significant facts revealed by comparison of these tables are (1) that
a high herd population existed in 1943-44 and 1944-45 following the
high doe-fawn ratio recorded for the two previous winter census years,
and (2) that the last two years (1945-46 and 1946-47) indicate a drop
in herd size correlated with low fawn sur\aval rates for the two previous
years. Observations on breeding potential to be presented indicate that
low faAvn survival and not reduced breeding potential is the effective
factor in over-all productivity in the Interstate Deer Herd.

Census figures of other deer herds may be cited for comparison with
the Interstate Deer Herd, as presented in Table III. The significant
figure in Table III is the 1 :6.2 buck-doe ratio in the Interstate Deer
Herd. Data presented in this paper indicate that this relatively low
ratio of bucks does not constitute a critical factor as regards herd
productivity.

Miscellaneous

TABLE III
Census of Deer H

erd Composition *

Herd or area

Year

Number

deer
classified

Buck-
Doe

ratio

Doe-
Fawn
ratio

Glass Mountain, Modoc Co., California

Glass Mountain, Modoc Co., California ...

1944-45
1945^6
1946-47
1936^5
1939-43
1946-47

432

587

437

12,137

2,529

1,603

1:3.8
1:3.9
1:4.0
1:3.0
1:2.9
1:6.2

1:0.71
1:0.65

Glass Mountain, Modoc Co., California

1:0.60

Fremont Forest, Oregon

1:0.63

Fish Lake, Utahf

Interstate Herd ....

1:0.69
1:0.60

* Interstate Deer Herd Committee,
t Robinette and Olsen, 1944.

1947.

The collection of deer from the Interstate Deer Herd for critical
study of food habits and parasite-disease incidence on their California
winter range has furnished a source of data relating to the breeding
potential, dates of breeding, and sex ratio of fawns. This study was
initiated during the winter of 1945-46 and 14 deer (2 males, 12 females)
were taken. During the winter of 1946-47 the study was continued and
permit was granted to collect 60 female deer. Beginning in November,
1946, 10 deer were taken each month (five at the first of each month,
and five at the fifteenth of each month). Collection was continued in this
pattern through the fifteenth of April, 1947, following which time the
seasonal spring migration to the summer range in Oregon was largely
completed. Two deer killed accidentally by automobiles were also exam-
ined and these records have been used to supplement the data here
presented.

Breeding Dates

Recent studies by Cheatum and Morton (1946) on white-tailed deer
in New York State, establishing a growth curve for deer embryos based
on a series of specimens of definitely known ages, make possible the age
determination of embryos from which breeding dates may be readily
calculated. This established curve was assumed to be equally applicable
to mule deer and was applied to Eocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus
h. hemionus) embryos taken at autopsy from 43 female deer from the
Interstate Deer Herd, January through April, 1947. Only those embryos

DEER PRODUCTIVITY

27

-Wlo

CD

-ifio

■10%

i%

TofaJ -M3deer.

Z-/-/; /8,2/ 2ZZS 2i-2? 30-3 4-7

g-// it-iS iL-i'i
Decern her

ZoZ3 It -27 U-31

/-V

Figure 8. Seasonal distribution of breeding, based on embryo development.
(Data grouped by four-day periods.)

calculated to be over 50 days of age were used since accurate criteria for
aging younger embryos were not available. Results of these calculations
are presented in Figure 8. Examination of data indicates that 88 (88
percent) does were bred during a 22-day period (November 15th-Decem-
ber 6th). The remaining five deer (12 percent) were calculated to have
been bred within a 17-day period (December 18th-January 3d). Appar-
ently none of the does was bred during the
11-day interval (December 7th-17th) following
the primary breeding period. This hiatus would
seem to indicate the occurrence of breeding on
the part of some does during some recurrent
period of estrus subsequent to the initial peak
of breeding of the bulk of the deer herd,
although no histological examination of ovar-
ian tissue was made to substantiate this view.
In addition to forehead-rump measure-
ments of embryos for determining age, hind
foot measurements were also recorded. Once
the age had been arrived at by using forehead-
rump measurements the determined age in daj'S
was replotted in terms of hind foot length.
Since hind foot length of embryos is a simple
and easy measurement to take (Fig. 9), its use
is suggested as being a valuable criterion for
age determination of embryos by field person-
nel. Figure 10 presents the pertinent data
relative to use of hind foot length of embryos

Figure 9.

for age determination.

Diagram of
hind leg showing how meas-
urement of the hind foot is
taken ; A = measurement of
hind foot.

28

CALIFORNIA FISH ANTD GAME

5

V

<0

s

^

.t

/

y

*

/

/
/
/

/
t

•

/

0

/

f

1
f

/

.5

tj

/

1

.5

/

/

^

~^

,''

/

0

2.

S £

0 7i

IC

0 iz

5 15

■0 j-j

S

£listimQ. tec/ A^

e in D<z.ys.

Figure 10. Growth curve of hind foot of deer embryo. For field estimation of
age of embryo measure hind foot length in millimeters or inches and use curve to con-
vert to age in days. (Probable accuracy ± five days.)

Productivity

Findings relative to breeding potential of the Interstate Deer Herd
are summarized in Table IV. Examination of these figures indicates that
even though the irruptive peak of the herd has presumably passed, the
reproductive potential based on incidence of pregnancy of adult does
remains at a high level. The average number of embryos (1.75) per
pregnant doe likewise is high. No concrete information regarding sur-
vival rates of twins versus single f a-^vns is available, so it is highly specu-
lative whether or not the high rate of twin fawn production may be
considered as tending to raise the over-all productivity of the herd.

DEER PRODUCTIVITY

29

TABLE IV
Breeding Data — Interstate Deer Herd

1945-46

1946-47

12

37

12

36

100

97.2

20

64

1.67

1.78

4

10

8

24

0

2

33.3

27.7

66.7

66.7

0

5.6

0

1

0

2.7

Total

9Deer examined*

Number deer pregnant-

Percent deer pregnant

Number embryos

Number embryos/pregnant doe

Frequency of occurence of single embryos.
Frequency of occurence of twin embryos..
Frequency of occurence of triplet embryos

Percent singles by occurrence

Percent twins by occurrence.

Percent triplets by occurrence

Number barren does (yearling)

Percent barren does (yearling)

49
48
98
84

1.75
14
32

2
29.2
66.6

4.2

1

2

• Includes all females taken after January 14th. By this date pregnancy was determinable macroscoDlcally.

Embryo Sex Ratio

Data on sex ratio of embrj^os examined and frequency of ocenrrence
of embryos by sex are summarized in Table V. The sex ratio of 117 5 $ :
100 9 9 resulting from examination of 64 embryos is of doubtful signifi-
cance in view of the small sample. Robinette and Olsen (1944) in
examination of 1,719 fawns report the sex ratio to be 101.4 S $ :100 5 9 .
The ratio of twin embryos of identical sex to twin embryos of opposite sex
(1 :1.4), as evidenced by Table VI, would probably approach equality in
a larger sample.

TABLE V
Ennbryo Sex Ratio — Interstate Deer Herd

1945-46

1946-47

Totals

Sex of embrj'os (total sexable) . .

Occurrence of embryos (by sex)

Ic?

19

Icf 19

2cfcf...

299.

3d'cfd'

299, Icf...

Single, (not sexable)

Twin, (not sexable)

Embryo sex ratio

Basis of sex ratio

96^-89

2
1
5
1
1
0
0
1
1

n2d'd':
10099

17 embryos

25tf-229

2
5
9
5
3
1
1
3
7

llScfcf:
10099

47 embryos

34c?'-309

4
6
14
6
4
1
1
4
8

117cfd':
10099

64 embryos

TABLE VI
Sex Ratios of Twin Embryos

Number sets
opposite sex

Number sets
cfcf

Number sets
99

Number sets
identical sex

Sets
examined

Utah* ... . - ...

15
14

8
6

10
4

18
10

33

Interstate Herd

24

Totals

29

14

14

28

57

♦ Robinette and Olsen, 1944.

30

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

Breeding- Age

Sijice all specimens taken for this study, except one j'earling, were
mature does, no information on incidence of pregnancy in fawns or
yearlings is available for this deer herd. The sample included several
animals of advanced age (as evidenced by excessive degrees of tooth
wear), all of which were pregnant. Tlie single female examined (Febru-
ary 15) which apparently was unbred was a yearling probably about 20
months old (last lower molar in place and functional; last upper molar
barely erupted and showing no wear (McLean, 1936) ).

Comparative Productivity

Some data relative to comparative productivity of the Interstate
Deer Herd with other deer herds is presented in Table VII. That signifi-
cant differences in productivity exist between deer herds has been pre-
viously pointed out by Morton and Cheatum (1946) and speculations
as to possible causes have been advanced. Seemingh^ significant data in
Table VII are the figures for No. of Embryos Per Pregnant Doe cited for
the Interstate Deer Herd, Utah, and southern region of New York State.
On the basis of these examinations the figure 1.7 is indicated as being
perhaps normal reproductive potential for breeding does. There is also
close agreement among the same herds for the figures on single-twin
embryo ratios. Variations from the 30% :70% single-twin embryo ratio
might be assumed to indicate reduced reproductive potential. The Utah
and New York figures showing percent barren does differ from those of
the Interstate Deer Herd to some degree. It is believed that inclusion of
"long yearlings" in their data may serve as a reason for higher rates
of barren does observed. It seems significant, however, that in the present
study all mature does examined were pregnant.

TABLE VII
Comparative Productivity of Selected Deer Herds

Mule deer
(0. hemionus)

Interstate
deer
herd

Utah'

White-tailed deer
(0. tirginianus)

New Yorkf

Northern

region

Southern
region

Deer examined

Percent pregnant

Number embryos per pregnant doe

Percent singles

Percent twins

Percent triplets

Percent barren

49

98
1.75

29

66.6
4.2
2.0

59
86.5

1.73
27.4
72.6

0.0
13.5

86
77.9

1.2
80.6
17.9

1.5
22.1

156
92.3

1.7

33.3

59.7

6.9

7.7

* Robinette and Olsen, 1944.
t Alorton and Cheatum. 1946.

Summary-
Examination of 48 mature deer of the Interstate Deer Herd at
autopsy January 14- April 17, 1947, revealed an average of 1.75 embryos
per pregnant doe. Katio of singles, tAvins, and triplets was 7 :16 :1. Of a
total of 49 female deer taken after January 14 only one (a yearling) was

DEER PRODUCTR^TY 31

apparently unbred. The remaining 48 mature does, including several of
advanced age, were pregnant.

Breeding dates, calculated from measurements of embryos, indicate
a peak of breeding to occur between November 15th and December 6th
w^th a subsequent period, December 18th to January 3d, during which the
remaining does (12%) were bred.

Observations on breeding potential indicate that fawn survival
rather than reduced breeding potential or low buck ratio is the effective
factor in reduction of productivity in the Interstate Deer Herd.

References

Cheatum, E. L. and Glenn H. Morton.

1946 Breeding season of white-tailed deer in New York. Journ. Wildl. Mgt., 10
(3) : 249-263.

Fischer, G. A., Iverson, Davis, and Cronemiller.

1944 The winter range of the interstate deer herd, Modoc N. F., Cal. U.S.F.S.
mimeograph, Region ~), 20 pp.

1945 The winter range of the interstate deer herd, Modoc N. F., Cal. U.S.F.S.
mimeograph, Region 5, 20 pp.

Interstate Deer Herd Committee.

1946 Progress Report on the cooperative study of the Interstate Deer Herd and
its range. U.S.F.S. mimeograph.

1947 Second Progress Report on the cooperative study of the Interstate Deer Herd
and its range. Calif. Fish and Game, 33 (4) : 287-314.

Leopold, Aldo, Lyle K. Sowls, and David L. Spencer.

1947 A survev of over-populated deer ranges in the United States. Journ. Wildl.
Mgt., 11 (2) : 162-177.

McLean, D. C.

1936 The replacement of teeth in deer as a means of age determination. Calif. Fish
and Game, 22 (1) : 43-44.

Morton, Glenn H. and E. L. Cheatum.

1946 Regional differences in breeding potential of white-tailed deer in New York.
Journ. Wildl. Mgt., 10 (3) : 242-248.

Robinette, W. L. and O. A. Olsen.

1944 Studies of the productivity of mule deer in central Utah. Trans. Ninth N.
Amer. Wildl. Conf., 156-161.

THE CALIFORNIA VALLEY QUAIL IN
NEW ZEALAND'

By Henry A. Hjeksman

Bureau of Game Conservation

California Division of Fish and Game

Many servicemen visiting New Zealand during the course of the
war against Japan were startled to hear the assembly call of the Cali-
fornia valley quail (Lophortyx calif ornica) or to see the plump gray
form. Being a Californian, it was imperative to me that the history of the
presence of this trim upland game bird in such a distant place be investi-
gated. Hunter (1915) and McLean (1930) touch briefly upon the intro-
duction of the valley quail in New Zealand, but they do not elaborate
upon the success of the liberations. The author made the acquaintance of
Mr. Colin Gordon, secretary of the Auckland Acclimatization Society
during 1943. Mr. Gordon was very co-operative in furnishing data kept
by the Society relative to game birds and in making available a bibli-
ography of source material.

When the white man first settled New Zealand there were few
animals present which could be termed game species. The native New
Zealand quail (Coturnix novae-zelandiae) became extinct about 1870,
leaving only waterfowl, the tui (Prosthemadera nova-zealandiae) , the
native pigeon (Hemiphaga nova-zealandiae ) , and the pukeko or purple
swamp hen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) to provide sport for the hunters.
There were no game mammals of any description, though it is possible
that native rats furnished emergency food when early supply ships were
delayed.

New Zealanders are firm supporters of all kinds of outdoor sports,
and it is only natural that the sportsmen should desire fresh-water fishing
and upland and big game hunting. The introduced red deer (Cervus
elaphus) increased to such an extent that it was necessary to offer bounties
to control the tremendous numbers. A mushrooming of population has
also occurred with introduced rabbits, and poisons have been used for
their control for over a half century. Some of the best rainbow trout
fishing in the world is to be had in New Zealand as a result of stocking
with California fish.

Most of the known species of game birds have been introduced in
New Zealand at one time or another. One of the very few species which
has succeeded in establishing itself is the California valley quail. Litera-
ture on the subject is misleading, for much of it places this bird with
the successfully introduced Australian quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus)
in the inclusive category of "quail"; liberations of both species having
been made during the same period. Among other quail unsuccessfully
introduced have been the California mountain quail (Oreortyx picta)
and the bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).

It is known that valley quail crossed the Pacific Ocean as early as
1864, for the newspaper Southern Cross (succeeded by the New Zealand

1 Submitted for publication, October, 1947.

(33)

34 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

Herald) on Ai)ril 15, 1864, advertised for sale a few pairs of California
quail on the ship "Mary and Edith." There were hopes that the birds
would be bought on behalf of the Auckland Acclimatization Society.
It is pointed out that the various prroups administering game species are
provincial societies of private individuals, and the introduction of exotic
game species and subsequent trapping and movement to shot-out areas
has been through their efforts, rather than through any governmental
agency. For this service the societies are authorized by the government
to issue and sell hunting licenses, meeting the bulk of the cost of liber-
ations in this manner. Local clubs are affiliated with the society of the
province in which they are located. Figure 11, shows provincial bound-
aries of New Zealand and place-names mentioned in the text.

The fate of the ' ' Mary and Edith ' ' birds is not known, but California
quail were first brought to Nelson in 1865 from an unknown source. This
area met wdth a high degree of success of acclimatization at an early date,
and the subsequent events are worthy of note.

The Auckland Society provided 42 quail in 1868 which were liber-
ated in the Nelson district. Observers in the same year recorded a king-
fisher killing a quail. Quail were lauded for observed destruction of
caterpillars, which fact was made much of by persons interested in quail
introductions. Further liberations were made in 1871 in unknown num-
bers, but the rolling snowball was already growing in size. Between 1878
and 1880 valley quail became a rather large item of export. Mr. Kirk-
patrick began canning trapped valley quail by the thousands about 1890,
at which time he was paying 3d. (approximately six cents) per pair of
birds (Thomson, 1922). Prices rose wdth succeeding years until lOd. per
pair caused the discontinuance of canning as unprofitable. Simultane-
ously, large quantities of birds were being shipped to the Wellington
and "West Coast markets. Mr. Kirkpatrick stated that he had seen 10 or
12 four-bushel sacks of vallej'^ quail at a time on the Nelson wharf await-
ing shipment. Twenty thousand frozen quail from New Zealand were
reported to have arrived in London in one shipment.

That the peak of the Nelson valley quail population had already
passed is reflected by the increase in price from 3d. to lOd. per pair and
in the attempt by sportsmen and authors to find a logical reason for the
decline. Rabbits had been introduced for meat and fur into the Nelson
area about 1865. The tremendous increase of the rabbit population
throughout New Zealand from the many liberations caused range damage,
and poisoning was resorted to as a method of control. This heavy poison-
ing was immediately blamed for causing the decrease of the quail popu-
lation. Thomson pointed out that the quail gradually disappeared from
the neighborhood of Dunedin and from both shores of Otago Harbor,
where poisoned grain was not a factor. He placed the blame upon stoats,
weasels, and ferrets, which had been introduced to prey upon rabbits,
rats, and black shag (Phalacrocorax carho), a suspected predator of
trout. Thomson also mentioned the serious food competition offered by
countless numbers of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), which were first
introduced by the Nelson Society in 1862. During the period of 1911-15,
the Nelson Society reported quail as being quite common, but the reasons
for increase were not given.

The Taranaki region is interesting from the standpoint that it did
not experience any marked quail population decrease. It is thought that

CALIFORNIA QUAIL IN NEW ZEALAND

35

GTON

OISBORNE

DOMINION OF

NEW ZEALAND

SCALE IN MII.II

DUNEDIN

STEWART ISLAND

Figure 11. Map of New Zealand, showing provincial boundaries and place-
names mentioned in the text. (Copied from 6th Ed., New World Loose Leaf Atlas,
C. S. Hammond & Co.. N. T.)

quail moved into the area from nearby Auckland as early as 1874, when
they were first noted spreading in some districts of Taranaki, for no
liberations had yet been made.

The first Taranaki liberation was made in 1880 of 60 birds, presum-
ably obtained from Nelson. These birds were reported to have increased
steadily, and by 1904 they were "plentiful in all parts." Later reports
testify to the continued abundance of quail in Taranaki, and Thomson

36 CALIFORNIA FISH AND OAME

stated that tliey were to be found on Mt. Egmont up to a 6,000 foot eleva-
tion durinjz the summer. Complaints of crop damage came from this area
and from almost every agricultural community where quail had become
numerous.

Thomson quotes Drummond as saying, "At Te Puke, in the Maketu
district, quail live largely on clover, taking both seed and the young
plants in the bush-clearings." Other damage was reported to newly
sown and germinating turnip seed. In general, most of the complaints
were of clover damage.

The indiscriminate wholesale introduction of exotic species has
proved detrimental in New Zealand. The problem of preventing the
irruption of an introduced population, with insufficient or no natural
control, is difficult to solve. The practice of doing a little at a time and
measuring the results before attempting the introduction of additional
exotics, is far more productive in the end. The balance of nature is far
too complicated for man to attempt to rebalance in one fell swoop.

It is impossible to generalize on population trends for the various
areas, but the indications are that valley quail were abundant until 1880,
when the numbers began to decrease. They became plentiful again about
1900 and then gradually declined over the years until the scarcity became
striking in the middle 1930 's. "With a few local exceptions, the California
valle}' quail population of New Zealand is diminishing at the present
time. The condition became so serious that the Auckland Acclimatization
Society was seriously considering hiring a biologist to determine the
cause or causes of the decline and to devise methods of restoring the
quail population to former abundance. The New Zealand sportsmen have
a high regard for the California import as a game bird, and it is hoped
that their problem will be solved.

References

Hunter, J. S.

1915 Introduced Game in New Zealand. California Fish and Game, Vol. 1, No. 2,
pp. 41-44.

McLean, Donald D.

1930 The Quail of California. Game Bulletin Xo. 2, State of California, Division
of Fish and Game, pp. 47.

Thomson, Hon. Geo. RI.

1922 The Naturalization of Animals and Plants in New Zealand. Cambridge Uni-
versity Press, pp. viii -1-607.

Annual Reports, Auckland Acclimatization Society, Auckland, New Zealand.

NOTES 37

SABLEFISH RUN AT MONTEREY BAY

For the first time in history sablefish {Anoplopoma fimbria)
appeared in vast numbers in the vicinity of Monterey and were caught
by the thousands from the municipal pier. The run was first discovered
on the afternoon of July 11th; word of the bonanza spread rapidly,
and the pier was soon crowded with anglers. Men, women, and children
stood shoulder to shoulder, with a varied assortment of tackle, all hauling
in fish as fast as they could throw in their lines. Boxes, sacks, five-gallon
cans, and washtubs were rapidly filled with 12 to 20-inch fish. Slack
periods occurred during the morning and again in the afternoons, but
they were of short duration usually lasting only half an hour or less ;
then the fish would be back seemingly in greater numbers than before.
Each day the pier would be jammed with crowds of from 2,000 to 3,500
fishermen and spectators, some having driven as far as 200 miles.

On July 26th, the run stopped as abruptly as it had begun, and
although over 5,000 fishermen were on hand the next day, only a few
fish were caught. During the 15 days of the run, the Bureau of Patrol
Division of Fish and Game, estimated tliat over 110 tons had been landed.
— Keith W. Cox, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, California Division of
Fish and Game, September, 1947.

REARING MARINE FISHES IN THE LABORATORY ^

The rearing of marine fishes under experimental conditions has
important applications in studies of speciation and evolution as well
as in certain aspects of marine fisheries research. It seems appropriate,
therefore, to describe methods which have resulted in the successful
rearing of two marine species of the family Atherinidae, namely the
grunion {Leuresthes tenuis) and the bay smelt {Atherinops affinis littor-
alis). These methods have been developed in the course of experiments
designed to test the role of certain environmental factors in the deter-
mination of the number of vertebrae and of fin rays.

Under laboratory conditions the larvae of marine fishes have seldom
been hatched and carried past the prolarval stage. The embryonic and
early larval stages of a wide variety of marine species have been described
from artificially reared material, but often the later stages have not
been available, because, under laboratory conditions, the larvae have
ordinarily died at the critical stage at which the yolk sac is absorbed
and feeding begins.

Large-scale propagation of cod and other marine fishes has been
carried out in both North America and Europe, but the practice has
been to liberate the larvae in the sea shortly after hatching. Young
plaice hatched in captivity have been held in outdoor ponds for several
months (Herdman, Ann. Kep. Liverpool Mar. Biol. Comm., 1904, pp.
26-37) . These ponds, however, had a standing crop of plankton organisms
and additional feeding was not attempted. j\Iore recently it has been
reported by Rollefsen (Cons. Perm. Int. Expl. Mer, Rapp. et Proc-
Verb., vol. 109, pt. 3, no. 26, 1939, p. 133) that plaice larvae have been
reared by feeding with nauplii of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina.
Our success also is largely due to the use of this food.

The procedure has been as follows. Eggs are fertilized by the dry
method, well mixed, and allowed to stand for about one minute. The

1 Contributions from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, New Series, No. 355.

38 CALIFORNIA FISn AXD OAME

excess milt is then washed off and the eggs are placed in beakers con-
taining a liter of sea water, in which they sink to the bottom. Percentage
mortality is increased if more than a single laj'er of eggs covers the
bottom of the container. Aeration is provided and the stream of air
adjusted so that the eggs do not circulate. Successful incubation is also
obtained in trays of mosquito netting suspended in running-water
aquaria.

On hatching, the prolarvae are transferred to previously prepared
five-gallon aquaria of aerated standing sea water containing an adequate
crop of plankton. To hasten the plankton production a culture of micro-
organisms may be introduced from a stock tank. Xets should not be
used in handling the early stages, which should be transferred to the
tanks directly by pouring, or by means of a suitable dip-tube.

For a food supply, brine shrimp are cultured from dried eggs in
jars of aerated sea water.^ The freshly-hatched nauplii are introduced
into the tanks well before the yolk sac of the fish is absorbed. Grunion
and bay smelt prolarvae begin feeding when about two days old, while
still provided with a yolk sac, although they will live for several days
without feeding. Nauplii are added daily in quantities sufficient to main-
tain a moderate excess.

Best results have been obtained by allowing the water to stand
unchanged so that a considerable growth of attached filamentous green
algae develops. Larvae have also been reared in running water, but more
than half of these dcA'eloped abnormalities such as crooked bodies and
open mouths, perhaps because of nutritional deficiencies. Most of the
young fish thus reared were preserved at the end of 30 days since they
were sufficiently far advanced for the purpose of the experiments. At
this time all the vertebrae were ossified and usually the fin rays and some
of the scales were formed. Some fish, however, have been held for longer
periods. At the time of Avriting one sample is in its fourth month of life.

To date it has not been possible to obtain normal growth or com-
pletely balanced development. For example, growth in length is appar-
ently slower than it is in nature, although ossification may progress at
almost the same rate. It is hoped that through improved technique normal
development can be approximated in aquaria. The method could then be
applied to a \ery wide range of investigations.

The authors wish to thank Dr. Carl L. Hubbs for his interest and
advice during the course of the work. — J. L. McHiigh and Boyd W.
Walker, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California,
August, 1947.

OCCURRENCE OF THE BLACK SKIPJACK (EUTHYNNUS
LINEATUS) OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

On July 7, 1939, a specimen of the common black skipjack, Euthyn-
nus lineatus Kishinouye, was caught off the Southern California coast
by the purse seiner "Blue Sea" and brought to the California State
Fisheries Laboratory for identification. The fish was found in a two and
one-half ton catch of bluefin tuna made, according to the vessel 's captain,
"close to" Santa Barbara Island, which lies about 40 miles southwest
of Los Angeles harbor.

2 Brine shrimp eggs, from .salt works on San Francisco Bay, were kindly supplied
by Dr. W^ilbert M. Chapman of the California Academy of Sciences. Such eggs are sold
by the San Francisco Aquarium Society, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

NOTES 39

The species is abundant south of Cape San Lazaro, Lower Cali-
fornia, but had not previously been reported further north. This record
thus extends the range by some 600 miles.

Publication was withheld at the time, as there was doubt expressed
as to whether this species was in fact the Euthynnus lineatus of Kishi-
nouye. A more detailed study was planned but did not prove possible
prior to the war. Since there is no prospect of work on the species in the
near future, it was thought best to publish this distribution record,
reser\ang the question as to whether the species is properly named. — •
Phil M. Roedel, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, California Division of Fish
and Game, September, 1947.

AN EXTENSION OF THE RANGE OF LUVARIS
IMPERIALIS RAFINESQUE

On or about September 1, 1947, a specimen of louvar was captured
30 miles west of Pt. St. George, Crescent Citv, California, at latitude
41° 50' N., longitude 124° 41' 30" W. The fish was caught in a shark
drift net by L. E. Thomas of the fishing vessel "Hornet." "Warden
Walter Gray, through the courtesy of the Tom Lazio Fish Company of
Eureka, sent this specimen to the Bureau of ^Marine Fisheries, Stanford
University, It arrived in a cleaned condition without respiratory or
internal organs but with the head intact.

Description

In general this louvar agreed witli the description published by
Bolin.* However, the small pink spots along the base of the dorsal were
not evident, although there was a light pink spot immediately anterior
to the insertion of the ventrals. The caudal was edged with black similar
in coloration to the black spot at the base of this fin. The periphery of
the pectoral spot coincided with the angle formed by the pectoral rays
at the point where these rays straighten out laterally from the insertion.

The body musculature was firm in texture and pearly white in
appearance. Both the dorsal and ventral musculature was highly infested
with a worm-like parasite. A sample of the meat was reported by Mr.
Leo Shapovalov to have a flavor and consistency not unlike that of
abalone.

Measurements and Counts

Unfortunately all the measurements made by Bolin could not be
duplicated because of the cleaned condition of the fish and because the
fins were somewhat frayed.

Standard length 670 mm. Furcal length 713 mm. Cleaned weight
(viscera and gills removed) 12.22 lbs. Measurements in percentage of
standard length : greatest depth ca. 30.6 ; least depth of caudal peduncle
2.8 ; width of caudal peduncle including keels 7.7 ; length of caudal
peduncle 10.1 ; length of head 24.3 ; diameter of fleshy orbit 4.0 ; length
of snout (to anterior margin of fleshy orbit) 9.0; length of upper jaw
(to posterior end of maxillary) 5.1; width of maxillary 2.4; length of

* Bolin, Rolf L., A redescription of L^narus imperialis Rafinesque based upon a
specimen from Monterey, California. California Fish and Game, vol. 26, no. 3, July,
1940, pp. 282-284.

40 CALIFORNIA FISH AND OAME

exposed dorsal base 34.0; height of dorsal (9th ray, longest intact) 7.2;
distance from snout to anal ca. 50.1 ; length of exposed anal base ca.
35.4 ; height of anal (5th ray) 6.0 ; distance from snout to pectoral 24.5 ;
vertical distance from dorsal body margin to pectoral insertion 18.5 ;
vertical distance from ventral body margin to upper end of pectoral
insertion ca. 12.5; length of pectoral (longest rays frayed) ca. 25.4;
width of pectoral base 5.0; width of pelvic base ca. 1.6; length of
pelvic 3.2.

Fin. formula: D. 6 + XIV; A. 4 + XIV; C. 7 + 14 + 7 ; P. I,
17 + 1 ( ?) ; V. I. — Wm. Ellis Ripley, Bureau Marine Fisheries, California
Division of Fish and Game, September, 1947.

RETIREMENT OF A. E. BURGHDUFF

A. E. (Cap) Burghduff, Supervisor of Fish Hatcheries, Bui-eau
of Fish Conservation, retired October 15, 1947. He commenced work
for the California Di\dsion of Fish and Grame in 1929 in the position
of Fish Hatchery Inspector, in charge of fish planting and distribution.
He was assistant executive officer, in charge of the Los Angeles Office
from 1932 to 1935, when he reverted to his former position as Fish
Hatchery Inspector. He was promoted to Supervisor of Fish Hatcheries
in 1940, continuing in this position until his retirement. Before coming
to California he was with the Fish and Game Department of the State
of Oregon. For many years he has been active in the affairs of the
Western Association of State Game and Fish Commissioners. Our best
wishes go to Cap Burghduff for a long and happy retirement. — A. C.
Taft, Chief, Bureau of Fish Conservation, California Division of Fish
and Game, October, 1947.

RETIREMENT OF LOUIE I. PHILLIPS

Louie I, Phillips, Assistant Supervisor of Fish Hatcheries, retired
on September 15, 1947, after 39 years' service in the Division of Fish
and Game. He first commenced work with the Bureau of Fish Culture
on August 14, 1908, at the Mt. Shasta Hatchery. In 1910, and for many
years thereafter, he was spawntaker during the winter months at the
various Klamath River Egg Collecting Stations, working during the
summer months on the fish distributing cars. He was appointed Super-
intendent of Fish Car 01 on January 1, 1915, and held this position
until August, 1927, when he was called to the central office and assigned
to the duties of Fish Hatchery Inspector. He was appointed Assistant
Super%asor of Fish Hatcheries on March 1, 1942, in which position he
remained until his retirement. Louie was one of the oldest employees
of the Division of Fish and Game, and during the period of his employ-
ment the activities of the Division have grown and multiplied many
times. To both Mr. and Mrs. Phillips in their new home at Bandon,
Oregon, go our best wishes on their retirement. — -A. C. Taft, Chief,
Bureau of Fish Conservation, California Division of Fish and Game,
October, 1947.

REPORTS

41

FISH CASES
July, August, September, 1947

Offense

Jail

sentences

(days)

Abalone: possession undersized; no license; out of shell; failure to show on de-
mand; failure bring ashore alive; overlimit; import improperly marked

Angling: other than with rod and line held in hand; more than one rod; within
150 feet of dam; no license; in closed waters; failure show license on demand;
false statements obtaining hcense; using another's license; possession spear
300 feet of a river; transferring license to another; operating set line; in refuge;

at night in fish ladder

Barracuda: overlimit; sale of undersized; on boat with purse seine net

Bass: possession undersized; after sunset; overlimit; in closed stream; use of more

than one line

Catfish: selling without tags; closed season; taking undersized

Chumming: using extra line; in inland waters; for trout with cluster salmon eggs
Clams: overUmit horse; no hcense; taking closed season; taking undersized; from

state preserve

Cockles: taking and possessing overUmit ; no license _

Commercial: using and operating Ijeach seine Dist. 4; selling game fish no license;
failure to register with Fish & Game; operating party boat no hcense; no
packer's license; failure report fish for packing; failure keep catch records;

selling untagged trout; failure pay privilege tax

Crabs: taking undersized; failure issue market receipts when crabs received;

possession undersized

Crappie: overlimit

Lobster: possession uiipunched; possession undersized; possession closed season

Perch: selling without tags; closed season

Pollution ,

Salmon: taking undersized; overUmit; with suag hooks

Scallops: taking, no Ucense

Sunfish: overUmit; no Ucense

Trout: taking overlimit; no Ucense; more than two attractor blades; within
300 feet mouth of a stream; refusal to exhibit on demand; at night; with set
lines; with three rods; closed stream; using explosives

Totals -.-

133

239
12

165

4

14

94
22

33

3
1
7
1
11
9
2
100

71

921

$3,900 00

4,281 50
400 00

5,020 00
115 00
585 00

3,461 00
940 00

1,330 00

350 00

25 00

740 00

1,750 00

340 00

20 00

2,580 00

2,750 00

12

$28,587 50

14

GAME CASES
July, August, September, 1947

Offense

Number
arrests

Fines

Jail

sentences

(days)

Antelope: closed season _

Bear: taking closed season —

Deer: possession closed season; taking female deer; spotUghting; failure to tag;
taking in refuge; purchasing a fawn; selling fawn; failure retain antlers; illegal
bullet; transporting tag not vahdated; transferring tag; failure fill out, punch
deer tag; shooting on highway; overUmit; use A deer t^ in one deer district;

possession other's deer tags while hunting; borrowed deer tags..

Deer Meat: possession closed season; seUing, closed season

Doves: taking closed season; no Ucense; shooting closed season joverlimit; shoot-
ing from a car; unplugged gun; w-22 rifle rim fire; before noon opening day;

shooting after sunset

Ducks: tsiking with shotgun more than three shells; closed season; no Ucense

Frogs: taking overUmit

GalUnule: taking closed season

Game Birds Eggs: taking, no Ucense — . ..

Geese: possession closed season; keeping in captivity

Grouse: possession

Hunting: at night; with spotUght; kilUng in refuge; shooting from auto; no li-
cense; closed season; possession firearms in refuge; possession Ught, gims in
deer area at night; false statements obtaining Ucense; no tags in possession;
buying Ucense unlawfully; shooting across highway; illegal gun; with 22 rim

fire on posted land; in game refuge

Nongame Birds: shooting, no Ucense

Pheasants: taking hen; no Ucense; possession closed season; asst. taking; shoot-
ing from auto; Ucense improperly displayed

Quail: possession closed season; no Ucense

Rabbits: taking closed season; no Ucense; shooting from motor vehicle

Trapping: taking state trapper's traps

Totals

224
22

128
10
2
1
1
2
2

167
2

71

12

51

1

$50 00

26,406 50
1,345 00

4,705 00
432 50
100 00
75 00
15 00
50 00
75 00

12,323 00

6,606 00
585 00

1,145 00
100 00

290

5
150

127
142

700

$54,013 00

714

42 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

SEIZURE OF FISH AND GAME

July, August, September, 1947

Fish:

Abalone 314

Abalone, pounds 224

Barracuda 71

Barracuda, pouads 2,112

Bass 635

Bass, pounds 3,936

Carp, pounds 500

Catfish 30

Catfish, pounds 210

Clams 6,175

Cockles 7,995

Halibut - __ 5

Lobster 25

Lobster, pounds 6,467

Salmon 9

Salmon, pounds 300

Scallops... 144

Sturgeon 1

Sunfish 1,204

Sunfish, pounds 10

Trout 945

Trout, pounds 132

Game:

Antelope . 1

Bear 1

Bear meat, pounds 20

Deer 120

Deer meat, pounds 606

Doves 539

Ducks 9

Gallinule 1

Grouse 1

Hare 1

Nongame Birds 2

Pheasants 94

Quail 35

Rabbits ... 81

81244 10-47 4500

Notice of Commission Meetings to Establish Season
and Bag Limits on Sports Fishes

The Fish and Game Commission will meet in San Francisco on January 9 and
10, 1948, to hear recommendations for the coming fishing season as they per-
tain to seasonal bag limits. The commission will consider these recommendations
under the regulatory powers section of the Fish and Game Code, which says
that the commission "* * * shall receive recommendations from its officers
and employees, from public agencies, from organizations or private citizens,
and from any interested party."

The second meeting will be held in Los Angeles on January 30 and 31,
1948, and at or prior to this second meeting the commission will publicly
announce its determinations and the orders it intends to make. The commission
will hear and consider any objections to its determinations and proposed orders,
as well as any further discussions on the recommendations as submitted at the
earlier meeting.

The commission, according to the code, may:

(a) Establish, extend, shorten, or abolish open seasons and closed seasons.

(b) Establish, change, or abolish bag limits and possession limits.

(c) Establish and change territorial limits for the taking of any or all species or varieties.

(d) Prescribe the manner and the means of taking any species or variety.

(e) Establish, change, or abolish restrictions based upon sex, maturity, or other physical
distinctions.

EMIL J. N. on, JR., Executive Officer
California Fish and Game Commission
December, 1947