G\LIF0RN1A| FISH- GAME "CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE THROUGH EDUCATION" I VOLUME 50 OCTOBER 1964 NUMBER 4 J |r .>#»kiL *■■■ 1^— n? -H IL-^ ilia '■^ Im B;**^ .^^^^^i W ■k'K. ■ K^^' ^^PmC^:*=P f#M ■ ^SSlpii^^S^^ S&L 1 \^\ ^^Sj California Fish and Game is a journal devoted to the con- servation of wildlife. Its contents may be reproduced elsewhere provided credit is given the authors and the California Depart- ment of Fish and Game. The free mailing list is limited by budgetary considerations to persons who can make professional use of the material and to libraries, scientific institutions, and conservation agencies. Indi- viduals must state their affiliation and position when submitting their applications. Subscriptions must be renewed annually by returning the postcard enclosed with each October issue. Sub- scribers are asked to report changes in address without delay. Please direct correspondence to: JOHN E. FITCH, Editor State Fisheries Laboratory 51 1 Tuna Street Terminal Island, California 90731 Individuals and organizations who do not qualify for the free mailing list may subscribe at a rate of $2 per year or obtain andividual issues for $0.75 per copy by placing their orders with the Documents Section, P.O. Box 1612, Sacramento, California, 95807. Money orders or checks should be made out to Printing Division, Documents Section. u I] VOLUME 50 OCTOBER 1964 NUMBER 4 Published Quarferly by THE RESOURCES AGENCY OF CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME SACRAMENTO STATE OF CALIFORNIA EDMUND G. BROWN, Governor THE RESOURCES AGENCY OF CALIFORNIA HUGO FISHER, Adminhirafor FISH AND GAME COMMISSION HENRY CLINESCHMIDT, Presidenf, Redding THOMAS H. RICHARDS, JR., Vice President WILLIAM P. ELSER, Member Sacramento San Diego DANTE J. NOMELLINI, Member JAMIE H. SMITH, Member Stockton Los Angeles DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME WALTER T. SHANNON, Director 722 Capitol Mall Sacramento 95814 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Editorial Staff JOHN E. FITCH, Editor-in-Chief Terminal Island JAMES H. RYAN, Editor for Inland Fisheries Sacramento CAROL M. FERREL, Editor for Game Sacramento JOHN L. BAXTER, Editor for Marine Resources Terminal Island DONALD H. FRY, JR., Editor for Salmon and Steelhead - — Sacramento TABLE OF CONTENTS The Ribbonfishes (Family Trachipteridae) of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, With a Description of a New Species John E. Fitch 228 Age and Length Composition of the Sardine Catch Off the Pacific Coast of the United States and Mexico in 1961-62 Anita E. Daugherty and Kohert S. Wolf 241 Increasing Tagged Rockfish (Genus Sehastocles) Survival by De- flating the Swim Bladder Daniel W. Gotshall 253 Report on a Recent Shark Attack Off San Francisco, California Ralph S. Collier 261 Spawning of Longspine Channel Rockfish, Sehastolohns altivelis Gilbert E. A. Best 265 Mortality of a Freshwater Polychaete, Nereis limnicola Johnson, Attributed to Rotenone Larrij C. Oglesby 268 The Fishery at Sutherland Reservoir, San Diego County, Califor- nia—Dow A. La Faunce, J. B. Kimsey, and Harold K. Chadwick 271 Population Studies of Ring-Necked Pheasants in California Rohert D. Mallette and Harold T. Harper 292 Notes Northern Range Extension of the Cow Rockfish, Sehastodes levis Melvyn W. Odemar 305 Southern Range Extension of the Eulachon, Thaleichthys pacificus Melvyn W. Odemar 305 Diet of Striped Bass at Millerton Lake, California Lee F. Goodson, Jr. 307 Reviews 308 Index 312 (227 ) THE RIBBONFISHES (FAMILY TRACHIPTERIDAE) OF THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES' JOHN E. FITCH Marine Resources Operations California Department of Fish and Game INTRODUCTION Although ribbonfishes are widely distributed in most world seas, being known from the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, they are poorly-understood as a group. All undergo allometric growth, some changing rather radically in body shape, fin length, etc. between their larval stages and adult- hood (Hubbs, 1926). They are quite delicate, and among some species, intact individuals are the exception rather than the rule. Probably fewer than half of the ribbonfishes captured or found each year reach the hands of trained biologists or are deposited in museums. As a result of these various circumstances, more than 30 different specific names have been assigned to ribbonfishes throughout the world, perhaps three times as many as are valid. Often a single species has been given 10 or more scientific names, particularly a cosmopolite which undergoes a radical series of morphological changes. On the other hand, some species have remained unrecognized and thus unclescribed. Four species are known in the eastern Pacific, but probably only one of these is endemic. Three are taken fairly frequently by California commercial and sport fishermen. Many individuals are captured at night in purse seines or lampara nets set for sardines, tunas, and other pelagic schooling species; perhaps equal numbers are brought in by albacore trollers who have found them on deck where albacore have spit them up. Occasionally a large individual is caught in an otter trawl being fished along the bottom in several hundred fathoms of water, and other large individuals sometimes are found floundering in the surf or are picked up on the beach where they were flung by the waves. Larvae, juveniles, and adults are not unusual in plankton tows or midwater trawls ; and one specimen was even caught from a dock on a baited hook. Wherever and whenever they are found, questions arise as to their identity, origin, habits, life-history, importance, etc. Even before Californa was settled by the white man, ribbonfishes were known among the coastal Indians. Our commonest species, Trachipterus altivelis, was called King-of-the-salmon by Indians of the Pacific North- west because they believed these beasts led salmon runs into the rivers each year. This same fish has been given four different scientific names (unintentionally) in the eastern Pacific during the last 105 years — two off South America, and two off California. 1 Submitted for publication June 1964. (228 ) EASTERN PACIFIC RIBBONFISHES 229 In recent years, Walters and Fitch (1960) published a review of the genera belonging to the ribbonfish family, and Palmer (1961) reviewed and revised the species found in the Mediterranean and eastern north Atlantic. However, until now, there has never been a critical re- view or an attempt to understand the ribbonfishes of the eastern Pacific. In this paper, I have attempted to cover all aspects of their systematics and biology that are presently known. Most of the specimens I examined were deposited in the fish collec- tions of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), but some were sent to the United States National Museum (USNM), the Chicago Natural History Museum (CNHM), Stanford University (SU), and the Los Angeles County Museum (LACM). SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT The eastern Pacific ribbonfishes comprise three genera and four species, as presented in the following key and descriptive material. Key to the Eastern Pacific Ribbonfishes, Family Trachipteridae 1. Ventral profile scalloped between pelvic fin bases and the anus. Lateral line wavy on tail. Color pattern of dark vertical bars or bands. Scales deciduous, imbricated, cycloid. Dorsal rays 135 to 145. Vertebrae 63 to 69 Scalloped ribbonfish, Zu crisfatus (p. 229) Ventral profile entire. I^ateral line straight on tail. Color pattern uniform, polka-dotted, or a few large dark spots or longitudinal blotches. Scales absent or modified ctenoid. Dorsal rays 160 or more. Vertebrae 80 to 109 2 2. Color pattern uniform or polka-dotted. Tubercles along midventral line never sharp-tipped. Scales deciduous, nonoverlapping, modified ctenoid. Two or more pairs of lateral line plates per postanal verte- bra. Caudal rays always parallel to body axis. Vertebrae 104 to 109 Polka-dot ribbonfish, Desmodema polysticta (p. 231) Color pattern uniform or with several equidistant, very large black spots and one or more longitudinal blotches. Tubercles along mid- ventral line sharp-tipped. Scales absent. One pair of lateral line plates per postanal vertebra. Upper caudal fin lobe upturned and perpendicular to body axis. Vertebrae 69 to 94 3 3. Ventral body contour straight for entire length. Dorsal contour descending in a straight line from nuchal crest to caudal fin origin. Vertebrae 90 to 94 King-of-the-salmon, Trachipterus altivelis (p. 233) Ventral and dorsal body contours converge behind the anus (to within about an eye's diameter of each other) and continue poster- iorly nearly parallel to each other, forming an elongate strap-like tail. Vertebrae 69 to 72 Tapertail ribbonfish, Trachipterus fukuzakii sp. nov. (p. 236) Scalloped ribbonfish, Zu crisfatus (Bonelli, 1820) Distribution : Know^n from all tropic and temperate world seas, but rare in the eastern Pacific, having been found off Newport Beach, Cali- 230 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME fornia, off Cedros Island, Baja California, and east of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Material Examined: Three larvae (8.0 to 10.0 mm sl), one juvenile (213 mm sl), and one adult (535 mm sl) were examined, but only the juvenile (Figure 1) and adult were used to compose my description. standard length (mm) Date of capture Method of capture Locality of capture 8.0 8 Nov. 1955 plankton net lat. 05°28'N.. long. 88°26'W. 10.0 24 Oct. 1955 plankton net lat. 02°06'N., long. 93°03'W. 10.0 20 Feb. 1956 plankton net lat. 01°02'S.. long. 87''03'W. 213.0 18 Jan. 1947 dip net Cedros Isl., Baja Calif. 535.0 22 Nov. 1906 ? Idzu, Japan Description: D 6, 132-138 (50-55 to vertical of anus) ; Pi 11-12 ; P2 6 ; C 9 -)-2; gill rakers 11; lateral line scales 114-118; vertebrae 63 (24 precaudal). The general body form is apparent in the photograph (Figure 1). The ventral profile is scalloped between the pelvic fin bases and the beginning of the tail, being straight (horizontal) from there to the caudal fin (the curvature seen in Figure 1 was caused by preserva- tion ) . The dorsal profile descends in a relatively straight line from the nuchal crest to the upturned caudal rays. Juveniles and adults have about six wavy dark vertical bars on the dorsal part of the trunk, and four on the ventral part. The tail has about six complete vertical dark bars, and the terminal four-fifths of the caudal fin is darkly pigmented. The lateral line commences on the nuchal crest about half-way be- tween the eye and the dorsal contour, curves downward to just over the opercle and then progresses posteriorly in a relatively straight line, reaching the ventral contour about one-half head length behind the anus. From that spot to the caudal fin, the lateral line undulates as FIGURE 1. Juvenile scalloped ribbonfish, Zv crisfafus, 213 mm SL, captured at Cedros Island, Baja California, January 18, 1947. Photograph by Jack W. Schott. EASTERN PACIFIC RIBBONPISHES 231 scales from opposite sides of the body alternately align along the ventral contour. The body is covered with cycloid, imbricated, decid- uous scales. Natural History: No information was obtained on the natural his- tory of this species, wliieh apparently does not attain the lengths re- ported for other ribbonfishes. The largest known seems to be a specimen 1.105 mm TL from the Mediterranean (Tortonese, 1958). Discussion: Tracliypierns cristatus was first described by Bonelli (1820) from the Mediterranean. T. semiopliorus described by Bleeker (1868) from the Indo-Pacific, and T. ijimae described by Jordan and Snyder (1901) from Japan, seem to be the only Pacific forms that are conspecifie. Walters and Fitch (1960) erected the genus Zu for this ribbonfish, briefly discussing its relationship with other genera in the family. Palmer (1961) gives a fairly complete account of Z^i cristatus, including Atlantic synonyms. Polka-det ribbonfish^ Desmodema polysticta (Ogilby, 1897) Distribution: Known from all tropic and temperate world seas, be- ing abundant offshore in the eastern Pacific where it has been recorded at many localities betw^een Monterey, California, and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Material Examined: One larva (11 mm sl), nine juveniles (57.5 to 191 mm sl), and four young and adults (>450 to 1,106 mm sl) from the eastern Pacific were used to compose my description. In addition, I examined 10 other specimens from the eastern Pacific, one juvenile 110 mm SL from Sagami Bay, Japan (SU 23783 labeled T. misakiensis) , and the 50.4 mm holotype of T. deltoideus from Kurutu Island (CAS 5532). Standard length (mm) Date of capture Method of capture Locality of capture 11.0 9 Oct. 1956 plankton net lat. 09° 56' N., long. 109° 59' W. 57.5 30 July 1953 midwater trawl lat. 37° 06' N., long. 140° 11' W. 60.5 2 Dee. 1955 plankton net lat. 11° 48' N., long. 88° 25' W. >73.0 21 Jan. 1954 lancetfish stomach lat. 28° N., long. 132° W. >80.0 1 Dec. 1954 albacore stomach 200 miles off Monterey, Calif. 117.0 18 Jan. 1954 lancetfish stomach lat. 34° N., long. 132° W. 167.0 18 May 1955 lancetfish stomach lat. 33° 39' N., long. 135° 00' W. 179.0 2 Feb. 1954 lancetfish stomach lat. 35° N., long. 137° W. 191.0 2 Feb. 1954 lancetfish stomach lat. 35° N., long. 137° W. - 16 Oct. 1955 lancetfish stomach lat. 01° 58' N., long. 110° 39' W. >450 13 Apr. 1962 midwater trawl 220 miles SW of Ensenada, Mex- >750 15 Apr. 1953 purse seine ico 60 miles SE of Cape San Lucas, Mexico >790 2 Dec. 1958 midwater trawl lat. 16° or N., long. 100° 54' W. 1106 Sept. 1962 midwater trawl 520 mUes SW of San Pedro, California Description 10; C 5-8 vertical of D. 187-215 (45-70 to vertical of anus) ; Pi 12-14; Po 9- rakers 11-14; lateral line scales 262-306 (88-120 to anus) ; vertebrae 104-109 (20-25 precaudal). gill 232 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME FIGURE 2. Juvenile polka-dot ribbonfish, Desmodema polysticta, 191 mm SL, taken from lancetfish stomach caught on longline gear February 2, 1954, at lot. 35 N., long. 137 W. Photograph by Jack W. Schoff. The general body form is apparent in the photographs (Figures 2 and 3), which illustrate the extreme changes between the juvenile and adult stages. Posterior to the anus the body tapers rapidly into an extremely long, filamentous tail, terminating in a caudal fin having rays which are on the same axis as the body (various terminal portions of the tail are usually missing, resulting in unrealistic counts and measurements). The lateral line progresses posteriorly in a relatively straight line along the midside, and there are more than two pairs of lateral line scales per postanal vertebra. The anus is often situated on the right or left side of the body instead of on the ventral midline. Through about 300 mm sl the head and trunk are covered with numer- ous large, dark polka-dots, but these are absent in adults. The body is covered with non-imbricate, elliptical scales each with two slightly divergent spinose ridges. The gill chambers of adults are very darkly pigmented, and the dorsal fin is quite black along the entire rat-like tail. Natural History: Almost every year, albacore fishermen bring in from 1 to 10 or more juvenile polka-dot ribbonfish that were spit up by fish they caught. Most of these apparently were ingested while the albacore were feeding far beneath the surface. Numerous other juveniles were found in the stomachs of lancetfish, Alepisaurus horealis, caught on longline gear fishing 500 to 1,000 feet beneath the surface (Figure 2). Only two of the Desmodema I examined had any food in their stomachs and these contained (i) an unidentified squid, and (ii) one blackdragon, Idiacanthtis antrostomus, two amphipods, Phronima sed- FIGURE 3. Adult polka-dot ribbonfish 750 mm long captured at night in a purse seine 60 miles southwest of Cape San Lucas, Baja California, June 15, 1953. At least 250 mm is missing from the tail of this fish. Photograph by Jack W. Schott. EASTERN PACIFIC RIBBONFISHES 233 eniaria, and two arrowwornis, Sagitia sp. Only the large adult (> 750 mm) taken southwest of Cape San Lucas in April 1953 (Figure 3), showed any indications of the onset of maturity, and its eggs were barely commencing to enlarge. The largest individual I have seen was 1,106 mm SL; it weighed 340 grams. I have no information on Desmo- dema growth rates or ages. Discussion: Desmodema polysticta was first described from New South Wales by Ogilby (1897) as Trachypterus jacksoniensis polystic- tus. Walters and Fitch (1960), in reviewing the ribbonfishes, erected the generic name Desmodema for this species. Among the Pacific ribbon- fishes, T. misakiensis Tanaka (1908) from Japan and T. deltoideus Clark (1938) from Rurutu Island are conspecific with the polka-dot ribbonfish, Desmodema polysticta. King-oMhe-salmon, Trachipterus altivelis Kner, 1859 Distribution: Eastern Pacific Ocean from Chile to Alaska and off- shore halfway to the Hawaiian Islands. Material Examined: Over 100 individuals were examined during the course of this study, but only 9 larvae (7 to 28 mm sl), 7 juveniles (54 to 270 mm sl), and 10 young and adults (340 to 1,565 mm sl) were used in composing my diagnostic and descriptive accounts. Standard length (mm) Date of capture Method of capture Locality of capture 7.0 12 June 1951 plankton net lat. 34° 13' N., long. 125° 54' W. 8.4 17 June 1950 plankton net lat. 38° 40' N., long. 126° 21' W. 10.4 12 June 1951 plankton net lat. 29° 32' N., long. 116° 37' W. 10.7 17 June 1950 plankton net lat. 38° 40' N., long. 126° 21' W. 11.0 7 June 1949 plankton net lat. 37° 51' N., long. 129° 03' W. 12.8 17 June 1950 plankton net lat. 38° 40' N., long. 126° 21' W. 14.0 5 May 1950 plankton net lat. 33° 53' N., long. 126° 35' W. 17.0 15 May 1951 plankton net lat. 33° 14' N., long. 121° 26' W. 28.0 3 AprU 1950 plankton net lat. 36° 45' N., long. 123° 00' W. 53.5 25 Aug. 1955 albacore stomach off San Nicolas Island, California 69.0 25 July 1955 albacore stomach off San Clemente Island, California 106.0 18 May 1955 lancetfish stomach lat. 33° 39' N., long. 135° 00' W. 197.0 19 Dec. 1955 purse seine Cortez Bank 232.0 1 April 1954 lampara Los .\ngeles Harbor 2.55.0 Sept. 1957 albacore stomach 60 miles off Point Arguello, Cali- fornia 270.0 3 Sept. 1952 purse seine off Pt. Fermin, Calif. >300.0 27 Jan. 1963 lancetfish stomach lat. 34° 55' S., long. 92° 43' W. 340.0 20 May 1958 lampara Horseshoe Kelp, Calif. 355.0 17 Oct. 1949 purse seine Point Dume, California 525.0 17 Oct. 1949 purse seine Point Dume, California 535.0 May 1953 dip net Santa Catalina Island, California 560.0 17 Oct. 1949 purse seine Point Dume, California 630.0 17 Oct. 1949 purse seine Point Dume, California 1,350.0 5 Jan. 1962 otter trawl Eureka. Calif. 1,562.0 24 May 1958 lampara Pacific Grove, California > 1,565.0 14 Nov. 1963 otter trawl Eureka, California Description: D 5-6, 160-178 (72-80 to vertical of anus); Pi 10-11; P2 6-7; C 7-8 + 6; gill rakers 12-16; lateral line scales 106-122 (66-81 to vertical of anus) ; vertebrae 90-94 (35-40 precaudal, 50-55 preanal). 234 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME FIGURE 4. Young king-of-fhe-salmon, Trachipierus alfivelis, 560 mm SL, caught in a purse seine off Point Dume, California, on October 17, 1949. Department of Fish and Game photo by Al Johns. The general form of the body is apparent in the photograph (Figure 4). The ventral contour is approximately straight (parallel with the body axis) for its entire length, while the dorsal contour descends evenly and in a straight line from the nuhcal crest, above the eye, to the caudal attachment. The upper caudal lobe has well-developed rays set at a right angle to the body axis ; the rays of the lower lobe usually persist as spine-like protuberances. Juveniles and young adults of both sexes usually have two rows of dark blotches along each side. The upper row normally contains four blotches ; the anteriormost of these is the smallest and always at the dorsal contour beneath the 18th to 28th dorsal rays. The succeeding three blotches are evenly-spaced along the side, midway between the lateral line and the dorsal contour. The lowermost row normally contains a single blotch at the ventral contour, one eye diameter behind the pelvic insertion. A juvenile, 197 mm sl, captured at Cortez Bank off southern California had five blotches in the upper row and two in the lower. Scales are absent at all sizes (except along the lateral line). There are enlarged, sharp-tipped fleshy tubercles along the midventral contour. Natural History : King-of-the-salmon ribbonfishes, while not common, are unquestionably more abundant than records of their occurrence indicate. They often are captured at or near the surface (four were taken in a single purse seine haul), but equal numbers have been found in the stomachs of deep-feeding albacore and lancetfish, or have been taken in trawl nets fished as deep as 350 fathoms. The stomachs of many T. altivelis have contained an assortment of small fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and a polychaete worm. A fish netted off Point Dume, California, in October 1949 had eaten five small pelagic octopi and several amphipods. A large adult trawled in 200 fathoms outside of Eureka had in its stomach two euphausiids (each 1| inches long), a 1-inch long rockfish (Sehastodes sp.), two, 4- inch lanternfish (Lampanyctus sp.), a 1-inch long squid, six sets of cephalopod beaks, and a seamouse (Aphrodite sp.) 2 inches long. Iden- tifiable fish remains in others were (i) two Mexican lampfish, Lampa- nyctus mexicanus, and three blacksmelt, Bathylagus sp., (ii) one blue lanternfish, Tarletonbeania cremdaris, and (iii) one hatchetfish, Argy- teASTER^ PACIFIC RlBBONFISHES 236 ropelecus sp., and one smoothtongue, Lcuroglossus stilhius. A small ribbonfish spit up by an albacore had eaten 11 euphausiids, Euphau- siia pacifica, and the only king-of-the-salmon caught on a baited hook, bit on a small strip of fresh queenfish, Seriphus politus, fillet. Ripe adult females (1,562 and > 1,565 mm sl) were captured in May and November, but spawning probably takes place throughout the year. Plankton hauls, made by the various agencies of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI), have yielded numerous eggs and larvae. B. H. Ahlstrom, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, La JoUa (pers. commun.) said, "AVe routinely list Trachyp- ferus larvae from our hauls, but not eggs." lie further stated that, "Trachypterus larvae have been collected throughout the year, but the largest number of larvae and most occurrences fall in June and July. The larvae are not common, as is apparent from the few occurrences per year." During four years for which records were available (1950, 1951, 1952, and 1955), 88, 32, 39, and 14 Trachipterus larvae, respec- tively, were taken in 965, 1,440, 1,475, and 1,375 samples (plankton tows). Ahlstrom stated that, "The higher frequency of occurrence in 1950 — in about 9% of the stations occupied — probably results from our more northerly coverage of that year. Of the 88 occurrences, 55 were of? central and northern California (to the north of Pt. Conception), 28 were off Southern California, and 5 were off Baja California." The larvae of T. altivelis are sufficiently developed at small sizes that they can be identified by counting their vertebrae. All 91 vertebrae of a specimen 28 mm sl were well-enough calcified to take a stain (aliza- rin), and the position of the first haemal spine was readily determin- able. On the other hand, in a specimen 11 mm long only the anterior- most 41 vertebrae would stain, and none of these had haemal processes. The largest individual previously reported was the 1,520 mm holo- type of T. seleniris; however, three of my specimens exceeded that size. My largest was a ripe female exceeding 1,565 mm (at least three terminal vertebrae were missing which would have added more than 100 mm to its standard length). This fish had been caught in an otter trawl on November 14, 1962, by the boat Ina which was fishing on the bottom in 270 to 330 fathoms off Eureka, California. It weighed slightly less than 9 pounds (4,035 grams), but no attempt was made to determine its age. Mr. Harry Turver, Yucaipa, informed me (pers. commun.) he sent a huge specimen (over 5| feet long) to the U. S. National Museum that was taken at Santa Cruz, California, a number of years ago. I did not see this specimen (USNM 119655) but it is said to be about 1,750 mm SL in its present condition, which would make it the largest known. The otoliths (sagittae) of several T. altivelis were examined during my study, and although they were quite small, they did show good "growth rings" under high magnification. Standard lengths, weights (when available), and ages for these were (i) 405 mm, 60 g, 1 year, (ii) 575 mm, 150 g, 2 years, (iii) 845 mm, 360 g, 3 years, (iv) 1,350 mm, 5 years, and (v) 1,550 mm, 2,740 g, 7 years. One other large individual (1,090 mm sl) was weighed (1,220 g) but its age was not determined. Hognestad (1962) believed the otoliths of Trachipterus arcticus did not show clear growth zones, but was able to count 12 annuli on stained vertebral sections of a 220 cm specimen. 236 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Parasitic roundworms were found in the stomachs of several indi- viduals, but these remain unidentified at this time. Tapeworms occa- sionally were noted in the intestinal tracts of large specimens. Nishi- mura (1963) reported upon two species of parasitic helminths in the Japanese T. ishikawai, a close relative of T. altivelis. Discussion: Trachipterus altivelis Kner 1859, was described from a specimen 20^ inches long, taken off Valparaiso, Chile. Kner's figure shows the typical black blotching of the species, tubercles on the mid- ventral line, and enlarged lateral line scales each with a central ant- rorse spine. The figure is rather poorly drawn; however, and most of the characters are out-of-proportion. As the specific name indicates, the rays of the dorsal fin of this particular fish were quite long and the drawing tends to over-emphasize this feature. In the figure (Kner, 1859), the dorsal rays about at the fish's midlength are equal in length to the body depth at that point. Several California specimens of similar length showed similar tendencies, while California fish 53.5 to 355 mm SL had dorsal rays at that point that were half again as long as the body depth at the anus. The king-of-the-salmon ribbonfish was next described as Trachyp- terus weychardti by Philippi in 1874, again from Chile, and not until 20 years later was the species described from California waters as Trachypteriis rexsalnionorum by Jordan and Gilbert. Their description was based upon an immature fish 285 mm long from San Francisco. Fourteen years later, in 1908, Snyder described Trachypterus seleniris from a 1,520 mm ribbonfish taken off Monterey, California. Hubbs (1925) showed that Snyder's fish was merely the adult of T. rex- salmonorum, but neither he nor earlier workers associated the Cali- fornia ribbonfish with that found in Chilean waters. My study has shown that in the eastern Pacific weychardti, rexsalmonorum, and seleniris are synonyms of altivelis. Tapertail ribbonfish, Trachipterus fukuzakii sp. nov. Distribution: Eastern Pacific Ocean from central Baja California to Ecuador. Differential Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from all other members of the family in the eastern Pacific by the body shape and vertebral count. It has 69 to 72 vertebrae of which 25 to 28 are precaudals and 40 to 42 preanals. It may be distinguished from the FIGURE 5. Holotype of tapertail ribbonfish, Trachipterus fukuzakii, 674 mm SL, captured in a purse seine south of Ceralbo Island, Gulf of California, May 6, 1955. Photograpli by Jack W. Schott. EASTERN PACIFIC RIBBONFISHES 237 South African T. nigrifrons (which closely resembles it in body shape) hy the vertebral count. T. nigrifrons has 82 or 83 vertebrae of which 37, 38, or 39 are precaudal and about 48 preanal. Material Examined: Holotype: USNM 175344, an immature female 674 mm sl (Figure 5) from Ceralbo Island, Gulf of California, caught the night of May 6, 1955, by the San Pedro purse seiner Defense with a school of yellowfin tuna, Thunnns alhacares. Paratypes: USNM 175345, a mature female 1,061 mm sl and CNHM 62162, sex unknown, 716 mm sl, both caught during the night of June 15, 1953, by the San Pedro purse seiner Stella Maris 60 miles SW of Cape San Lucas, Baja California; SU 50172, an immature female 1,088 mm sl caught in June 1955 by the San Pedro purse seiner Western Star 160 miles SW of Cape San Lucas, Baja California. Other Material Examined: one badly damaged specimen longer than 1,530 mm sl removed from the stomach of a bigeye tuna, Thunnns ohesns, taken on longline gear by the California Department of Fish and Game research vessel N.B. Scofield off Ecuador at lat. 02° 04' N., long. 83° 02' W., November 16, 1955 ; a fragmentary adult spit up by a yellowfin tuna off Guatemala at lat. 13° 2r N., long. 92° 55' ^Y., October 4, 1956; a ripe female longer than 1,110 mm sl (tail missing) caught by the San Pedro purse seiner Anthony M 20 miles west of Turtle Bay, Baja California, during July 1956 (three or four others captured in the net at the same time were not saved). Description: D 5-6, 157-168 (68-73 to vertical of anus); Pi 11-13; P2 ?; C 7-9 + 6-7; gill rakers 11-12; lateral line scales 91-105 (60-72 to vertical of anus) ; vertebrae 69-72 (25-28 precaudal, 39-42 preanal). Description of Holotype: D 5 + 169 (5 + 68 to vertical of anus) ; Pi 12; P2 ?; C 8 + 7; gill rakers 11; lateral line scales 101 (70 to vertical of anus) ; vertebrae 69 (26 precaudal, 41 preanal). The general form of the body is apparent from the photograph (Figure 5). Greatest depth is about one head-length in advance of the anus, and from about this point, the dorsal and ventral contours gradually converge posteriorly forming an elongate tapered tail that makes up slightly more than one-third of the total length. The fish, an immature female, measures 674 mm in standard length. Head length 8.6, maximum body depth 9.0, preanal length 2.3, in standard length. Maximum body depth 3.9 in preanal length. Eye diameter 3.9 in head length. Longest pectoral ray 2.6 in head length. There are several, strong, incurved canine-like teeth in each jaw and one strong backcurved tooth on the head of the vomer. The scaleless body is everywhere covered with oval-shaped, osseous pads. On the ventral contour these form several rows of stiff, pointed, fleshy papillae which diminish in size eaudally. The lateral line commences midway between the eye and the first ray of the crest, curves downward and backward to a point just over the pectoral fin and then runs posteriorly in a straight line until it is just above and parallel to tlie ventral contour on the distal part of the tail. The lateral line consists of separate, short, bony plates in the anterior part of the body. From a point slightly in advance of the anus the lateral line scales (plates) increase in length successively until just before the caudal fin, where they are again reduced. Each 238 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME plate bears a sharp antrorse spine in the middle of its length, those on the posterior part of the body being the strongest. The rays of the pennant (crest-like anteriormost dorsal rays) are short and scarcely distinguishable from the succeeding rays of the dorsal fin. The dorsal rays are granular and each ray has a pair of strong outward-pointed spines at its base. The pelvic fins have become obsolescent and are indicated only by a bristle-like protuberance at the ventral contour. The upper lobe of the caudal fin has well-developed rays which are perpendicular to the body axis. When fresh, the dorsal and caudal fins were bright crimson. The pectorals were semi-transparent but flushed with a pinkish hue. The entire body was metallic silver and there was an ovate, black blotch at the dorsal contour under rays 23 to 27. Another ovate black blotch occurred at the ventral contour about one eye diameter behind the pelvic insertion. The tail region was darkly pigmented from the vicinity of dorsal ray 121 to the base of the caudal fin at dorsal ray 174. There was considerable dusky to black pigmentation in the head region and under the opercles. The following data are presented in tabular form on the holotype and three paratypes. All measurements are in millimeters. Holotype Paratypes USNM USNM CNHM SlT 175344 17534.5 62162 50172 Standard length 674 1,061 716 1,088 Preanal length 293 476 314 456 Head length 78 132 82 140 Head width 18 32 19 31 Body depth at occiput 69 110 78 114 Body depth at anus 53 84 56 86 Body width at occiput 13 19 12 21 Eye diameter 20 38 23 36 Longest pectoral ray 30 46 Anus to pectoral insertion 216 345 243 320 Branchiostegal rays 6 6 6 6 Sex 9 9 __ 9 Maturity immat. ripe unk. immat. Natural History: Judging by the great number of specimens caught by purse seiners while fishing for tuna, primarily Thunnus alhacares, the species is probably quite abundant throughout its range. (Many of the ribbonfishes caught by purse seiners are discarded because they have no commercial value.) They are usually taken at night, often several in a single set of the net, indicating they are somewhat gre- garious, and that they do approach the surface, at least at night. Their presence in the stomachs of deep-feeding tunas also would indicate they probably live part of their lives at depths of 500 to 1,000 feet or more. A diurnal migration is suggested. The ovaries of a large female 1,061 mm sl captured 60 miles south- west of Cape San Lucas by the seiner Stella 3Iaris on June 15, 1953, contained thousands of large, apparently gravid eggs. Another large female captured in mid-July off Turtle Bay, Baja California, was also gravid. This would suggest mid-summer spawning, at least in the northern part of their distribution. The stomach of a large female netted 60 miles southwest of Cape San Lucas contained a pelagic galatheid crab, Pleuroncodes planipes, EASTERN PACIFIC RIBBONFISHES 239 as did the stomach of a 1,088 mm specimen captured 160 miles south- west of Cape San Lucas. These crabs are extremely abundant in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean where they live at or near the surface most of the year. The stomach of a badly mangled specimen spit up by a yellowfin tuna at lat. 13° 21'N., long. 92° 55'W. contained the remains of eight mantis shrimp, Sqnilla sp. There were five parasitic roundworms in the stomach of one of the large adults. The largest tapertail observed to date was 1,530 mm long, even with one to three terminal vertebrae missing. A specimen 1,300 mm long weighed 2,045 grams, and its otoliths had 5 winter rings on them. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I nam.e this species in honor of Mr. Ben Fukuzaki, a San Pedro boat owner and fisherman whose keen interest in the creatures of the sea has led him to save and donate to science most of the animals he captures that are either unknown to him or which he recognizes as rare or unusual. As a result, in the past 20 years, he has given the California Department of Fish and Game more than 15 young and adult ribbonfish of three species includ- ing the first two known specimens of the species which now honors his name. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many individuals have helped me immeasurably during the nearly 20 years I have been accumulating information on eastern Pacific ribbonfishes. Unfortunatel.y, I have delayed publishing this account for so many years (but not all of the delay was of my doing) that some colleagues to whom I owe a debt of gratitude have died in the interim. E. H. Ahlstrom, U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, La Jolla, loaned me numerous larval specimens, and sent me a great deal of information on egg and larval occurrence and abundance off Cali- fornia; Frederick H. Berry, U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Brunswick, Georgia, loaned me several adult Desmodema and offered helpful suggestions; Charles R. Clothier (deceased) spent many hours clearing and staining material from which I made meristic counts and obtained other information ; W. I. Follett, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, permitted me to examine the holotype of T. deltoideus; Carl L. Hubbs, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, loaned me numerous specimens and made available some very rare references from his personal library ; W. L. Klawe, Inter-Ameri- can Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, loaned me some Chilean specimens ; Jack W. Schott, California State Fisheries Laboratory, took the excellent photographs I used to illustrate this paper ; Bell Shimada (deceased) sent me material he had collected off Central America; J. L. B. Smith, Rhodes University, South Africa, loaned me X-rays of the holotj^pe of T. nigrifrons; Margaret Storey (deceased) spent many hours attending to my ribbonfish needs from the Stanford University collection ; Harry Turver, Yucaipa, furnished me with de- tails on the largest known king-of-the-salmon ; and Vladimir Walters, University of California, Los Angeles, worked with me during the middle stages of this project but eventually became too involved in other chores to finish the job. Innumerable fishermen went out of their way to save preserved and frozen material at every opportunity, and many additional colleagues 240 CALirORNIA FISH AND GAME at California State Fisheries Laboratory gave a great deal of their time and knowledge, particularly J. L. Baxter and P. Patricia Powell. If I have failed to acknowledge some special assistance, it has not been intentional, and I hope I will be forgiven the oversight. REFERENCES Bleeker, P. 1868. Description et figure d'une nouvelle esp^ce de Trachypterus de I'ile de Am- boine. Arch. Neerl. Sci., vol. 3, p. 279-280. Bonelli, F. A. 1820. Description d'une nouvelle espece de poisson de la Mediterranee appartenant au genre Trachyptfire avec des observations sur les caract&res de ce meme genre. R. Accad. Sci. Torino, Mi^m., vol. 24, p. 485-494. Clark, H. W. 1938. The Templeton-Crocker Expedition of 1934-35. No. 36. Additional new fishes. Cal. Acad. Sci., Proc, vol. 4., no. 22, p. 180. Hognestad, Per T. 1962. The deal-fish, Trachypterus arcticus Briinnich, in north Norway. Astarte, no. 21, 14p. Hubbs, Carl L. 1926. The metamorphosis of the California ribbon fish, Trachypterus rex-salmon- orum. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts, Let., Pap., vol. 5, p. 469-476. Jordan, D. S., and C. H. Gilbert 1894. Description of a new species of ribbon fish, Trachypterus rex-salmonorum from San Francisco. Cal. Acad. Sci., Proc, Ser. 2, vol. 4, p. 144-146. Jordan, D. S., and J. O. Snyder 1901. Description of nine new species of fishes contained in the museums of Japan. Jour. Coll. Sci., Imp. Univ., Tokyo, vol. 15, p. .301-311. Kner, R. 1859. Uber Trachypterus altivelis und Chaetodon truncatus n. sp. Sitzung. K. Akad. Wiss., vol. 43, p. 437-445. Nishimura, Saburo 1963. Observations on the dealfish, Trachipterus ishikawai Jordan & Snyder, with descriptions of its parasites. Publ. Seto Mar. Biol. Lab., vol. 11, no. 1, p. 75-100. Ogilby, J. D. 1897. On a Trachypterus from New South Wales. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, Proc, vol. 22, pt. 3, p. 646-659. Palmer, G. 1961. The dealfishes (Trachipteridae) of the Mediterranean and north-east At- lantic Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zool., vol. 7, no 7, p. 335-352. Philippi, R. A. 1847. Ueber eine neue Art Trachypterus aus dem chilenischem Meere. Arch. Naturgesch., vol. 1, p. 117-121. Snyder, J. O. 1908. Description of Trachypterus seleniris, a new species of ribbon fish from Monterey Bay, California. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., Proc, vol. 60, p. 319-320. Tanaka, S. 1908. Notes on some Japanese fishes, with descriptions of fourteen new species. Jour. Coll. Sci., Imp. Univ., Tokyo, vol. 23, p. 1-54. Tortonese, E. 1958. Cattura di Trachypterus cristatus Bon. e note sui Trachypteridae del mare Ligure. Doriana, vol. 11, no. 89, p. 1-5. Walters, Vladimir, and John E. Fitch 1960. The families and genera of the lampridiform (allotriognath) suborder Trachipteroidei. Calif. Pish and Game, vol. 46, no. 4, p. 441-451. AGE AND LENGTH COMPOSITION OF THE SARDINE CATCH OFF THE PACIFIC COAST OF THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO IN 1961-62' ANITA E. DAUGHERTY Marine Resources Operations California DepartmenI of Fish and Game and ROBERT S. WOLF U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries INTRODUCTION This is the 16th report in a series giving age and length composition of the catch of Pacific sardines, Sardinops caendeiis (Girard), off the Pacific coast of North America. These have been prepared on a seasonal basis since 1941-42. "We vpish to acknowledge the assistance given by Harold Hyatt of the California Department of Fish and Game and by Makoto Kimura of the U.S. Bnreau of Commercial Fisheries. THE FISHERY During the 1961-62 season, 2,200 tons of sardines were landed in central California, August 1, 1961, through March 2, 1962, and 21,498 tons in southern California, September 1 through March 2. During the interseason, January 1 to the beginning of the respective seasons, land- ings totaled 1,896 tons. The 1961-62 period total for all California was 23,698 tons. For several prior 3^ears the season in both central and southern California had ended December 31. In 1961 it was ex- tended to March 1, of the following year, making March 2 the last de- livery date. This report, therefore, covers sardine landings of the period January 1, 1961, through March 1, 1962. Landings during the season include both cannery and fresh fish market deliveries. Most of the latter are iced or frozen and sold for bait, chiefly in the San Francisco region, where sardines are regarded as the best bait in the striped bass sportfishery. Interseason sardine landings include not only fish sold for bait but also a special summer pack. This pack, first permitted in 1929, gives canneries an opportunity to develop packs in small cans which might compete with imported "sardines." This privilege was suspended by the Legislature in 1949 as the result of the decline in sardine landings. On June 1, 1961, the special pack again became legal, and one processor, taking advantage of this, purchased sardines during June through August for a 6^-ounce fillet pack. 1 Submitted for publication June 1964. (241) 2—24958 242 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 1 Calendar Dates of Lunar Months During 1961-62 Lunar Lunar month period Dates "January" 510* January 2 — January 31 "February" 511 February 1 — March 1 "March" 512 March 2 — March 30 "April" 513 March 31— April 29 "May" 514 April 30— May 28 "June" 515 May 29— June 27 "July" 516 June 28— July 27 "August" 517 July 28— August 25 "September" 518 August 26— September 24 "October" 519 September 25 — October 23 "November" 520 October 24 — November 22 "December" 521 November 23 — December 22 "January" 522 December 23 — January 21 (1962) "February" 523 January 22 — February 19 "March" 524 Febrary 20 — March 20 f * Lunar months have been numbered serially since "November" 1919. t 1961-62 period ended March 1. In Baja California, cannery fishing is permitted throughout the year. For this report, the period is divided into two parts, season and inter- season, the dates coinciding with those of southern California. Season and interseason landings were 8,551 tons and 11,752 tons respectively, a period total of 20,303 tons. Central California The season opened August 1 in central California (Point Arguello northward), but for the most part the boats remained in port until the latter part of the month because fish were scarce. Landings at Monterey, Moss Landing, and Morro Bay during the first dark (Table 1) were 197 tons. During "September," 349 tons were landed; during "October," 524 tons; during "November," 324 tons; during "Decem- ber," 104 tons; during "January," 485 tons; and during "February," 217 tons. The total for the region was 2,200 tons. A sardine price of $50 per ton was agreed upon at Monterey well in advance of the season. Southern California fishermen subsequently agreed upon the same price, an increase of $15 over the preceding sea- son. Mixed sardines and mackerels brought $45, straight mackerel $42.50. In addition to the fish actually caught in central California, about 2,000 tons were trucked there from southern California. Two Monterey canneries closed shortly after the beginning of the season, leaving five plants operating in central California : one at San Francisco, one at Moss Landing, and three at Monterey. One large (60 feet or over) and one small purse seiner and 15 lam- para boats fished in central California only, while an additional nine large and two small purse seiners fished both in central and in southern California. Southern California In southern California, the season opened September 1, and the fleet began fishing the night of September 4. The union-cannery agreement, which accepted the central California prices, further stipulated that there be a minimum limit of 40 tons on sardines and 20 tons on mack- erels. In actual practice, the sardine limit was either higher than this SARDINE AGE AND LENGTH COMPOSITION 1 96 1 -62 243 or most of the time, non-existant, while the mackerel limit remained at 20 tons, and limits on mixed mackerels and sardines were usually 30 to 40 tons. Southern California landings were highest in the opening dark, "September," with 7,612 tons. In "October" they were 3,754 tons; in "November," 2,555 tons; in "December," 3,884 tons; in "January," 1,664 tons; in "February," 1,987 tons; and in "March," 42 tons. The total was 21,498 tons, of which 29 tons were caught off Baja California. Beginning November 1, sardine schools were so difficult to find that mostly mackerels were landed. However, when a boat did find a school of sardines, it was frequently a good-sized one. On the nights of November 30-December 1 and December 1-2, fishermen found large schools of sardines off Point Hueneme and landed 2,200 tons in two days. One boat wrapped a school of 250 tons in an area the fishermen had been avoiding because of an abundance of anchovies. A storm terminated fishing after two nights, but sardines again appeared there on the night of January 7-8, some in pure schools, others mixed with mackerel. Landings for the fleet that night were 667 tons, one boat wrapping 245 tons. On February 1, two, 100-ton loads were caught off La Jolla, and on February 2, several loads of 60 to 100 tons were caught near Cortez Bank. Throughout the season in southern California, the fish tended to be offshore and far from port. The greatest tonnage came from San Nicolas Island and from Cortez and Tanner Banks, all rather unusual places for the sardine fleet to be working. Other catches were made at Anacapa Island, Point Hueneme, Santa Barbara Island, Santa Catalina Island, and scattered localities along the mainland from Point Dume to La Jolla. One cannery operated at Oxnard, and six in the Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor area. A total of 66 boats, comprising 41 large purse-seiners and 25 small purse-seiners and lampara boats, fished exclusively in southern Cali- fornia. In addition, nine large and two small purse-seiners from central California joined the southern fleet for part of the season. Altogether, 94 boats, 51 large and 43 small, operated in California compared to 104 the previous season. Baja California Baja California landings were 2,777 tons during the September dark; 2,276 tons during "October"; 1,941 tons during "November"; 1,095 tons during "December"; 91 tons during "January"; and 371 tons during "February," for a total of 8,551 tons. Landings were made at six canneries in the Ensenada region and one on Cedros Island and were about equally divided between the two areas. The San Quintin cannery ceased operations at the end of "February" 1961. Most sardine catches were made in the general vicinity of Cedros Island, particularly in the Santa Kosa-Santo Domingo area off the mainland. Some fish was hauled from there, in refrigerated boats, to plants at Ensenada. Mexican-owned fishing vessels received $32.60 per ton for sardines and mackerels, while American-owned vessels received $40 per ton. Thirty-five boats fished during 1961. 244 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 2 Length Composition of Year-classes in Sardine Samples from the Central California Commercial Catch, 1961-62 Season Totals Year-class 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 Aged Measured Standard length (mm) 212 1 214 1 216 1 218 1 220 1 1 5 222 4 224 1 1 7 . 226 1 3 4 20 228 1 2 3 24 230 13 4 8 34 232 1 3 1 5 32 234 1 5 1 7 47 236 1 7 1 1 10 61 238 18 4 13 79 240 1 3 12 16 74 242 3 4 1 8 83 244 1 14 11 2 28 115 246 1 6 12 3 22 125 248 1 7 12 4 24 107 250 9 13 4 26 88 252 7 9 16 79 254 5 6 11 61 256 6 3 9 52 258 1 3 4 22 260 1 1 3 5 14 262 4 4 8 264 1 266 1 1 2 268 1 270 272 1 Totals 2 10 93 102 19 226 1,150 Mean lengths- 229 236 244 247 248 245 244 AGE AND LENGTH COMPOSITION During the season, 1,150 fish were measured (in millimeters sl) in central California, 4,000 in southern California, and 2,200 in Baja California. Ages were determined for approximately one-fifth of these (Tables 2-4). Central California sardines ranged from 212 to 272 mm sl with a mean of 245 mm and an average weight of 0.468 pounds. Catches were dominated by five-year-olds (1956 year-class) which comprised 46 per- cent of the fish for which ages were determined, and by four-year-olds ('57 year-class) which contributed 41 percent (Figure 1, Table 8). The previous season's catch was dominated by the same year-classes Ijut in reverse order; three-year-olds ('57 year-class) and fours ('56 year- class), contributing 52 and 34 percent, respectively. SARDINE AGE AND LENGTH COMPOSITION 1 96 1 -62 245 TABLE 3 Length Composition of Year-classes in Sardine Samples from the Southern California Commercial Catch, 1961-62 Season Totals Year-class 1961 1960 1959 1958 1951 1956 1955 1954 Aged Measured Standard length (mm) 176 1 178 1 ISO 2 i82_ ____ I": :"": 2 i84____ ____ _::_ 2 186____ ____ ____ ____ 1 ____ ____ ____ ____ 1 3 188 2 2 3 190 1 1 2 7 192____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___ 19 194 1 1 2 15 196 2 1 3 20 198 2 4 11 8 26 200 1 1 4 6 33 202 4 2 5 11 55 204 2 7 4 1 1 15 56 206 6 2 1 9 79 208 3 9 5 1 18 99 210 3 11 8 2 24 119 212 __— 2 9 14 3 28 123 214 8 15 4 1 28 140 216 3 15 11 11 40 180 218 12 24 2 38 209 220 1 11 26 7 1 46 235 222 1 7 1^0 14 1 43 270 224 13 3!) !) 3 64 320 226 10 32 17 2 01 335 228 7 38 L'S 3 76 339 230^-_ 6 35 25 2 68 317 232 1 23 14 1 39 259 234 5 24 18 47 220 236 4 12 17 33 163 238 2 13 IS 1 34 133 240 7 5 12 80 242 5 5 10 58 244 3 1 4 31 246 2 1 ____ 3 17 248 1 1 2 16 250 1 ____ 1 5 252 1 1 4 254 1 1 4 Totals 1 27 155 374 206 16 1 780 4,000 Mean lengths. 205 217 225 229 228 . 224 224 Southern California sardines ranged from 176 to 254 mm with an average length of 224 mm and an average weight of 0.326 pounds. The previous season's catch was dominated by threes ('56 year-class). Baja California sardines were smaller than those off California. Sizes ranged from 132 to 226 mm, with the mean at 174 mm, and an average weight of 0.210 pounds. Age-three ('58 year-class), and age- four ('57 year-class) fish dominated the catch, contributing 34 and 40 percent respectively. 246 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 4 Length Composition of Year-classes in Sardine Samples from the Baga California Commercial Catch, 1961-62 Season Totals Year-class 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 Aged Pleasured Standard length (mm) 132 1 134 136 138 ____ ____ _____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___: ~""3 140 1 1 2 7 142 ____ ____ 1 _ ____ ____ 1 5 144 1 1 4 146 _ _ 3 3 16 - 148 _ 16 1 8 19 150 2 4 1 7 29 152 _ 1 1 2 32 154 13 3 1 8 61 156 2 6 6 14 69 158 9 4 13 68 160 _ — 10 5 15 89 162 12 10 3 25 100 164 1 12 9 3 2 27 122 166__— 1 7 14 2 2 26 122 168 2 8 11 3 24 128 170 7 10 6 1 24 121 172 6 10 5 21 128 174 • 7 12 8 2 29 152 176 8 10 7 25 109 178 3 11 2 1 1 18 105 180 3 6 6 15 87 182____ 4 8 2 14 66 184 3 3 1 7 62 186 3 12 1 7 44 188 12 2 1 15 46 190 ____ 3 5 1 9 44 192 ____ 4 4 2 1 11 52 194 2 3 4 1 10 48 196 2 4 2 1 9 49 198 ____ 13 2 6 35 200 17 3 11 42 202 12 2 3 8 32 204 3 2 1 6 29 206__ 1 1 1 3 26 208 3 1 4 11 210 2 1 3 14 212 1 1 5 214 1 1 2 6 216 4 218 1 1 2 220 3 222 1 224 ____ 1 226 1 1 1 Totals 11 139 180 83 22 1 436 2,200 Mean lengths^ 156 168 177 182 188 175 174 SARDINE AGE AND LENGTH COMPOSITION 1 96 1 -62 247 TABLE 5 Length Composition of Year-classes in Sardine Samples from the Central California Interseason Catch, 1961 Totals Year-class 1961 19(!0 1959 195S 1957 1950 1955 Aged Measured Standard length (mm) 190 1 192 2 194 196 198 1 200 1 202 204__ 1 206 1 208 — — 210 2 212 214 3 216 1 1 2 218__ 1 220 1 1 6 222 2 2 3 224 1 1 2 6 226 1 1 2 228__ __— 2 2 3 230__ 2 2 6 232 1 1 4 234 5 236 9 238 1 1 2 10 240 1 1 2 8 242 2 2 13 244 -_— 1 1 2 11 246 1 2 1 4 10 248 10 250 2 2 8 252 __— __— __— 4 254 2 Totals Mean lengths. 8 12 4 2 26 135 237 234 234 242 235 235 248 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 6 Length Composition of Year-classes in Sardine Samples from the Southern California Interseason Catch, 1961 Totals ■-class 1961 idard length (mm) 164 166_„ 168 170 __-- 172 1960 ____ 1959 1958 1957 1956 1954 Aged Measured 1 11— ~" 1 174 176 178 180 182 __— 3 184 186 188 190 192 ~~ 1 ~~ i ~~~2 1 "3 1 1 6 6 8 194 196 1 2 ~" 3 10 10 198 200 202 2 1 1 ~"i 2 1 2 11 12 12 204 3 1 1 5 15 206 208 210 212 1 3 1 3 "' 1 1 4 1 4 2 21 13 16 21 214 __— 216 218 220 222 1 2 " 2 3 1 1 1 1 3 4 ~"~2 ~~ 1 4 3 3 0 7 16 21 16 17 19 224 226 — 228 230 232 — -- ~~ 1 ~~ 3 ____ 1 2 4 ~"3 "3 1 1 8 5 "' 5 16 36 16 11 13 234 236 238 240 242 """i 3 ____ 1 3 1 8 5 5 3 1 244 246 ____ ____. ""2 0 0 Totals Mean lengths _ 2 182 7 209 28 212 31 222 10 225 1 79 217 375 214 SARDINE AGE AND LENGTH COMPOSITION 1 96 1 -62 249 TABLE 7 Length Composition of Year-classes in Sardine Samples from the Baja California Interseason Catch, 1961 Totals Year-class 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 ^d^d Measured Standard length (mm) 140 1 1 1 142 1 144 3 146 5 148 1 1 5 150 2 2 9 152 1 1 10 154 18 156 2 2 21 158 1 4 5 21 160 5 4 9 33 162 7 4 2 13 43 164 5 3 2 10 58 166 6 9 3 18 71 168 8 3 2 1 14 97 170 7 7 3 17 72 172 5 8 2 15 99 174 5 12 3 1 21 96 176 4 9 6 2 21 103 178 7 5 5 1 18 119 180 8 9 8 2 27 105 182 3 6 7 2 18 107 184 2 12 6 2 1 23 85 186 1 9 3 13 61 188 2 4 3 1 10 66 190 16 3 10 51 192 112 4 35 194 1 2 1 4 31 196 4 1 5 18 198 2 2 10 200 113 1 6 16 202 1 1 1 3 10 204 1 1 2 5 206 4 208 1 1 2 4 210 1 212 1 214 216 218 112 220 2 222 1 Totals 7 81 122 69 17 1 1 298 1,500 Mean lengths. 157 173 177 181 186 177 170 250 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 8 Age and Year-class Composition of the Sardine Catch in the 1961-62 Season Catch Number of fish in thousands by age and year-class Tons Number 0 1961 1 1960 2 1959 3 1958 4 1957 5 1956 6 1955 7 1954 Central California 197 349 524 324 104 485 217 823 1,357 2,089 1,274 545 2,387 1,018 36 73 119 109 313 354 1,069 433 305 1,003 427 197 737 829 663 95 1,277 545 313 193 72 178 107 46 "September" "October" "November" "December" "January".. "February" Total Central California Percent Southern California "September" "October" 2,200 7,612 3,754 2,555 3,884 1,664 1,987 42 9,493 100.00 46,119 23,143 16,117 23,546 9,955 11,981 205 46 85 36 0.38 922 1,803 806 1,114 100 266 .301 3.17 7,010 4,360 4,255 6,593 1,832 1,997 3,904 41.12 22,968 11,109 8,574 10,746 4,380 5,405 107 4,343 45.75 12,821 5,531 2,450 4,624 3,524 4,313 82 909 9.58 2,260 340 32 257 119 16 92 "November" "December" "January" . 127 "February".. "March" Total Southern California Percent Total California Percent Baja California "September" "October" "November" "December" "January" *21,498 23,698 2,777 2,276 1,941 1,095 91 371 131,066 100.00 140,569 100.00 28,749 21,972 22,016 11.288 789 2,545 10 131 0.10 131 0.09 267 923 661 338 51 10 5,011 3.82 5,047 3.59 8,817 5,493 9,687 4,685 351 632 26,047 19.87 26,348 18.75 11,693 9,931 8,806 3,669 280 957 63,289 48.29 67,193 47.80 6,440 4,614 2,862 1,975 91 631 33,345 25.44 37,688 26.81 1,5.32 1,011 395 16 285 3,024 2.31 3,933 2.80 226 219 0.17 219 0.16 "February" 20 Total Baja California Percent TOTAL Percent 8,551 32,249 87,359 100.00 227,918 100.00 10 0.01 10 2,250 2.57 2,381 1.0 29,665 33.96 34,712 15.2 35,336 40.45 61,684 27.1 16,613 19.02 83,806 36.8 3,239 3.71 40,927 18.0 226 0.26 4,159 1.8 20 0.02 239 0.1 il * 29 tons were caught off Baja California SARDINE AGE AND LENGTH COMPOSITION 1 96 1 -62 251 TABLE 9 Age and Year-class Composition of the Sardine Catch in the 1961 Baja California Interseason Catch Number of fish in thousands by year-class Tons No. 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 Baja California "January" "February" "March" "April" "May" "June" "July" "August" 1,858 757 1,080 2,089 663 3,255 900 1,150 21,035 8,568 12,222 21^313 7,307 29,528 9,574 10,064 510 144 12,762 5,198 7,416 2,664 2,375 4,060 4,021 2,962 3,645 1,485 2,118 11,509 3,434 12,107 3,575 4,371 3,507 1,428 2,037 6,287 1,169 9,375 1,468 2,185 1,121 457 651 853 329 3,248 402 369 369 Total _ 11,752 119,611 100.00 654 0.54 41,458 34.66 42,244 35.33 27,456 22.95 7,061 5.90 369 0.31 369 Percent 0.31 150 170 12 3 4 5 6 FIGURE 1. Percentage age and length composition of sardines sampled during the 1961-62 season by regions of capture. Length data are plotted by 4 mm intervals. 252 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Interseason fish measurements included 135 fish from central Cali- fornia, 375 from southern California, and 1,500 from Baja California (Tables 5-7). Ages were not determined for the interseason catches of central and southern California because the results were considered likely to be misleading. The interseason catch of Baja California, where the fishery is a year around endeavor, was composed principally of '59 3^ear-class (35 percent) ; '58 year-class (35 percent), and '57 year-class (23 percent) sardines (Table 9). REFERENCES Felin, Frances E., and Julius B. Phillips 1948. Age and length composition of the sardine catch off the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada, 1941-42 through 1946-47. Calif. Div. Fish and Game, Fish Bull. 69, 122 pp. Wolf, Robert S., and Anita E. Daugherty 1963. Age and length composition of the sardine catch off the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico in 1960-61. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 49, no. 4, p. 290-301. INCREASING TAGGED ROCKFISH (GENUS SEBASTODES) SURVIVAL BY DEFLATING THE SWIM BLADDER' DANIEL W. GOTSHALL Marine Resources Operations California Department of Fish and Game INTRODUCTION Swim bladder deflation techniques were used during a blue rockfish, Sehastodes mystimis, tagging study designed to determine this impor- tant sportfish's migratory habits. Studying their movements required tagging fish taken from as shallow as 30 and as deep as 250 feet. These techniques have since been used on several other species (Table 1). TABLE 1 Common and Scientific Names of Species Mentioned in the Text Bocaccio * Seiastodes paucispinis Cod, Pacific Gadus macrocephalus Rockfish, black * Sehastodes melanops Rockfish, black-and-yellow Seiastodes chnjsomelas Rockfish, blue* Sehastodes mystlnus Rockfish, canary * Sehastodes pinniger Rockfish, China * Sehastodes nehulosus Rockfish, copper * Sehastodes caurinus Rockfish, cow Sehastodes levis Rockfish, gopher* Sehastodes carnatus Rockfish, grass * Sehastodes rastrelliger Rockfish, greenspotted Sehastodes chlorostictus Rockfish, kelp* Sehastodes atrovirens Rockfish, olive * Sehastodes serranoides Rockfish, quillback * Sehastodes maliger Rockfish, rosy* Sehastodes rosaceus Rockfish, squarespot * Sehastodes hopkinsi Rockfish, speckled * Sehastodes ovalis Rockfish, starry * Sehastodes consteUattis Rockfish, vermilion * Sehastodes »iiniatiis Rockfish, widow * Sehastodes entomelas Rockfish, yellowtail * Sehastodes flavidus Treefish * Sehastodes serriceps Trout, lake Salreliniis naniai/citsh Whitefish, ocean * Caulolatieus princeps * Successfully deflated by author and held in aquaria. Rockfishes of the genus Sehastodes are physoclistous (their swim bladder is without a pneumatic duet) as opposed to physostomous fishes whose bladder has an open duct to the esophagus. Physoclists cannot adjust to rapid pressure changes and when brought to the surface, 1 Submitted for publication June 1964. This study was performed as part of Dingell- Johnson Project California F-19-R, "Blue Rockfish Management Study," sup- ported by Federal Aid to Fish Restoration funds. (253) 254 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME gases in the bladder expand, sometimes causing a slight loss of equi- librium or everting the stomach through the mouth. Some of these fish enter shock and rarely survive. In extreme cases, when brought from depths approaching 250 feet, fish suffer popeye as gases in the skull expand, forcing the eyes out of their sockets. Deflation relieves the gas pressure in the swim bladder so that fish regain equilibrium and swimming ability and return to the depths. Our original deflation experiments were conducted aboard the A^. B. Scofield during February 1961. The deflated fish were held for further observation at Marineland of the Pacific. DEFLATION TECHNIQUE For distended blue rockfish, an 18-gauge, |-inch-long hypodermic needle is inserted through the abdominal wall at a 45 degree angle with the point toward the head. The needle is entered between scales just dorsal to the pectoral fin at a point three-quarters the distance from insertion to tip with the fin held parallel to the lateral line (Figure 1). The exact location to insert the needle must be determined for each species. The needle should enter where the swim bladder adheres to the abdominal wall so that gases cannot escape into the body cavity. Penetration of the swim bladder becomes evident when escaping gas is heard : the needle is then brought to a vertical position with its point directed slightly dorsally to avoid puncturing the collapsing swim bladder again. Both the fish and needle are placed under water to observe when the gases cease flowing. Deflation is complete v/hen gases have ceased to escape and the fish swims normally. A syringe with the plunger removed can be partially filled with water, and at- FIGURE 1. Insertion site of 18-gauge hypodermic needle for deflating blue rockfish swim bladder. Phofograph by the aufhor, December 1963. DEFLATING ROCKFISH SWIM BLADDERS 255 FIGURE 2. Plastic rod used to replace distended stomach of a canary rockfish. P/iofogrop/i by E. Zimbleman, Sepfember T963. tached to the needle to observe escaping gases and check for complete deflation. I used a syringe with a 20-gaiige needle bnt deflation took longer because of the smaller-sized needle, thus a larger gauge needle is recommended. If the expanded swim bladder forces the stomach out through the mouth, the fish is first deflated and then the stomach is gently pushed back through the throat into normal position with an 18-inch-long, %- inch-diameter, round plastic rod with rounded ends (Figure 2). Then the hypodermic needle is again inserted into the swim bladder to allow remaining gases to escape. Should the needle become blocked with tissue before enough gases have escaped, it is cleared either by suction or with a small-diameter wire. RESULTS OF DEFLATING BLUE ROCKFISH Although we have tagged over 8,000 fish between the Channel Islands and Bodega Bay, we have received significant returns only from the 4,884 we tagged off Aiio Nuevo Island, Monterey, and Morro Bay, be- tween July 1961 and July 1963 (Table 2). They were caught at mid- depths where the bottom was 25 to 300 feet deep. We deflated 2,220 (45.5 percent) of the fish tagged, and 247 (5.1 per- cent) of these also required stomach replacement. Through July 31, 1963, 96 tags had been recovered from the three areas, and 39 of these (40.6 percent) were from fish that had been deflated. Only two tags (2.1 percent) have been received from fish that required stomach replacement. It was often difficult to determine exactly how deep the fish were when hooked, so we cannot compare recoveries by depth-of-catch. How- ever, we can compare the returns on the basis of bottom depth at the tagging site, because this was recorded in most cases (Table 3). There. 256 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 2 Blue Rockfish Tagging and Deflation Data for Ano Nuevo Island, Monterey, and Morro Bay, California, July 1961-July 1963 Tagging area Afio Nuevo Island Number Percent Monterey Number Percent Morro Bay Number Percent Total Number Percent Fish tagged Deflated Stomach replaced Tagged fish recovered ._ Deflated Stomach replaced Average number of days at liberty Non-deflated Deflated 636 279 7 15 8 0 43.9 1.1 2.4 53.3 0.0 1,962 821 39 28 12 1 41.8 2.0 1.4 42.8 3.6 2,286 1,120 201 53 19 1 49.0 8.8 2.3 35.8 2.0 4,884 2,220 247 96 39 2 45.4 5.1 2.0 40.6 2.1 161 178 229 437 162 283 184 277 have been no returns from fish tagged where depths were shallower than 40 feet (which may reflect low fishing effort) or deeper than 250 feet. In all depth ranges except 150 to 199 feet, percent returns for de- flated fish were slightly lower than for non-deflated fish. The small percentage of overall returns is believed due to a lack of fishing effort over reefs where tagged fish w^ere released. When fishing has been heavy in tagging areas, as many as 10 percent of the fish from 1-day 's tagging have been returned. Non-deflated fish were at liberty an aver- age of 184 days, compared to 277 days for deflated fish. Since 45.4 percent of the tagged fish were deflated when released, and only 40.6 percent of the tagged fish recovered had been deflated, some TABLE 3 Blue Rockfish Tagging and Tag Recoveries by Bottom Depths Where Tagged Bottom depths in feet 0-49 50-99 100-149 150-199 200-249 250-299 Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent Tagged 212 3,498 947 136 82 9 Non-de- flated 207 97.6 2,026 57.9 379 40.0 8 5.9 40 48.8 0 0.0 Deflated.-, 5 2.4 1,472 42.1 568 60.0 128 94.1 42 51.2 9 100.0 Recovered 0 63 28 1 4 0 Non-de- flated 0 42 66.7 13 46.4 0 0.0 2 50.0 0 0.0 Deflated. __ 0 21 33.3 15 53.6 1 100.0 2 50.0 0 0.0 DEFLATING ROCKFISH SWIM BLADDERS 257 mortality may have resulted directly or indirectly from the deflation process. For example, the fish may have suffered internal damage when brought to the surface, or may have been subjected to greater predation because of changed behavior patterns when released. When Forester and Ketchen (1955) deflated Pacific cod (greycod) only 12 percent of their recoveries were from deflated fish, 17 percent having been deflated. When the subsurface reactions of two deflated and two non-deflated blue rockfish were observed by skindivers during 1961, the non-deflated fish swam in a normal fashion back to the large school from which they liad been caught. The two deflated fish were more sluggish, and after rejoining the school for a few minutes, went to the bottom and hid among the rocks. DEFLATION OF OTHER SPECIES We have had success also in deflating ocean whitefish as well as other species of rockfish which were delivered to several aquaria for exhibition. Many were still living at the end of 1963. Mortalities are believed to have been due to causes other than deflation. Ninety-nine fish representing 27 species, most of which had been deflated, were delivered to Steinhart Aquarium, San Francisco, during April and May 1963. Twelve of these were quillback rockfish with either one or both eyes exhibiting popeye when captured. A hypodermic needle inserted into the eye cavity at the juncture of the prefrontal and lacrymal bones (Figures 3 and 4), in most cases, released the gases and the eye returned to normal position. For a few, I withdrew gases by suction through the needle. All were still alive in June 1963 and showed no evidence of eye damage. Unfortunately, when the gases had penetrated between the cornea and the lens this method did not work. Workers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, success- fully deflated blue rockfish, treefish, starry rockfish, kelp rockfish, and ocean whitefish using hypodermic needles (Carl L. Hubbs, pers. comm.). Personnel at Marineland of the Pacific are testing another method of treating physoclistous fishes. Fish caught on hook-and-line as deep as 140 feet, are brought up to 100 feet to waiting SCUBA divers who remove them from the hooks and place them inside a large pressure chamber. Bottled oxygen provides pressure in the chamber and also insures the fish adequate dissolved oxygen. The sealed chamber is brought aboard a surface vessel where the fish are allowed to decom- press slowly (John H. Prescott, pers. comm.). This procedure allows the fish to reduce swim bladder pressure naturally, and to remove dissolved nitrogen in the blood safely. Deep-water fish which are in shock when brought to the surface may be suffering either from a form of decompression sickness or from oxygen toxicity. To date, treefish, widow rockfish, blue rockfish, bocaccio, rosy rockfish, and copper rock- fish have survived this type of decompression. Using a modification of our technique, Department of Fish and Game biologists working on the Lake Tahoe Fisheries Study (DJ Project F-21-R) successfully deflated physostomous lake trout. The tagged fish recovered in holding pens before being released. Light hand pressure was used to force gases out through a 3i^-inch-long, 17-gauge hypo- dermic needle. 3—24958 258 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME ^*^^||jp^ FIGURE 3. Insertion site of 18-gauge hypodermic needle for deflating "popped" eye of a cow rockfish. Phofograph by the author, September 1963. ■i'^^ if FIGURE 4. Greenspotted rockfish skull showing placement of hypodermic needle when de- flating "popped" eyes. Photograph by the author, December 1963. Three-hundred and eighty-two lake trout captured in depths of 25 to 700 feet were tagged from March 6, 1963, through November 1963. Twenty tags have been returned, 17 from deflated fish (Sterling P. Davis, pers. comm.). Tagged, deflated lake trout have also been re- covered from Wisconsin lakes (Hacker, 1962). DEFLATING ROCKPISH SWIM BLADDERS 259 Pacific cod have been deflated, tag-ged, and recovered off British Columbia (Forester and Ketchen, 1955) and Washington (Pacific Fish- erman, 1956). The methods used were not described, but in an earlier Pacific cod tagging experiment off British Columbia, workers punctured the body cavity with a knife (Forester, 1954). DISCUSSION Although similar techniques have been used in the past, as far as is known the blue rockfish is the first member of the rockfish family that has undergone a large-scale tagging program involving deflation tech- niques. Deflated blue rockfish may have suffered greater mortalities than non-deflated ones, according to our recovery data. Fish requiring stomach replacement suffered the greatest mortality. Even though deflation apparently causes some mortality, the method is valuable, and enabled us to tag fish from deep reefs that otherwise could not have been included in the blue rockfish study. A more detailed study of the difference in recoverability between deflated and non-deflated rockfish from various depths should be undertaken. We need to know more concerning the effects of deflation on the behavior of tagged blue rockfish. Observations by skindivers indicate that for a short time, at least, deflated fish do not resume normal schooling behavior. Even a slight change in behavior might increase its chance of falling prey to a predator. The longer average time that deflated tagged fish (as opposed to non-deflated ones) were at liberty also suggests a possible change of behavior. A comparison of move- ments made by large numbers of tagged deflated and non-deflated blue rockfish is desired. Success in deflating fish swim bladders and eye cavities can lead to tagging programs on many other species. I believe some deep-water species might also survive. Certainly deflation has been, and can be, a valuable tool for collecting fishes for aquaria. Using a decompression chamber such as that developed by Marine- land personnel, although more time consuming, makes it possible to collect fishes from practically any depths. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks to all who assisted me in this study : Frank Brocato, John H. Prescott, and the staff of Marineland of the Pacific who gave help in developing and testing deflation techniques. Daniel J. Miller suggested improvements of the technique and both he and Ann Gotshall edited the original manuscript. Several individuals supplied information : Carl L. Hubbs, on work done at Scripps Institution of Oceanography ; Sterling P. Davis, on deflating lake trout. R. B. Mitchell and the crew of the N. B. Scofield gave assistance and suggestions. Clare Moseley diligently typed the original manuscript and many others have directly or indirectly assisted in the blue rockflsh tagging study. 260 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME REFERENCES Pacific Fisherman 1956. Cod taggers must vent fish of expanded gases. Pac. Fisher., vol. 54, no. 10, p. 39. Forester, 0. R. 1954. Tagging experiments on greycod. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Prog. Rept., Pac. Coast Sta. Pac. Biol. Sta., vol. 99, p. 28-29. Forester, C. R., and K. S. Ketchen 1955. Preliminary results of greycod tagging in Georgia Strait in the winter of 1954-55. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Prog. Rept., vol. 103, p. 8-10. Hacker, Vernon A. 1962. A summarization of life history information of the lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, obtained in gill netting, fin clipping, and tagging studies at Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1956-1961. Wisconsin Cons. Dept., Fish Mgt. Div. East Cent. Area. Invest. Mem. 3, p. 1-24. Jones. F. R. Hardin 1957. The swin bladder. In: The physiology of fishes, edited by Margaret E. Brown. New York, Academic Press, vol. 2, p. 305-318. REPORT ON A RECENT SHARK ATTACK OFF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA' RALPH S. COLLIER Shark Research Committee Inc., Van Nuys, California INTRODUCTION The great white shark (Car char odo7i carcharias) is considered by some experts to be the most dangerous species of shark — as far as man is concerned. During this century, this species has fatally injured at least 14 victims and incapacitated many others (Gilbert, 1964). Two such fatalities occurred in central California, one in 1952 (Bolin, 1954) and the other in 1959 (Gilbert et al., 1960). The victim of the 1952 attack died within a few minutes after being severely bitten. The 1959 victim expired 2| hours after he was taken to a hospital. The causes of death in each case were shock and severe hemorrhage. This report deals with a similar, but non-fatal attack, on Jack Rochette of Burlingame, California, which occurred on January 11, 1964. PARTICULARS OF THE VICTIM The victim, a male Caucasian, was 21 years of age, 6 feet 1 inch in height, and weighed approximately 175 pounds. When attacked he was wearing a black neoprene exposure suit with yellow striping. Accessory diving equipment included yellow swim fins, black face mask, and twin, 42-cubic-foot, white, compressed-air tanks. He was also carrying a two- band spear gun. LOCALITY OF ATTACK AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS The victim, a member of a party of about 15, was SCUBA diving from a boat with five others one-quarter mile off the west side of South- east Farallon Island, some 30 miles west of San Francisco at approxi- mately long. 123° W., lat. 37° 42' N. The attack occurred at 12 noon. The sky was clear, the air temperature 18° C, and the water tempera- ture 13° C. The depth of the water was 50 feet, with a visibility of 40 feet. The bottom was generally flat, with many rocks and caves, and no kelp or other large dominant algae were present. A very strong surge prevailed and whitecaps were present on the sea surface. The wind was north-by-northwest, between 10 and 20 knots. DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACK AND RESCUE Rochette had switched to his reserve air supply (enough for about 5 minutes diving) shortly before spotting a yellow-and-black-colored 1 Submitted for publication May, 1964. ( 261 ) 262 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME rockfish swimming around an outcropping of rocks. He cornered the fish in a small crevice, but rather than discharge his spear, he poked the spear gun into the crevice and stabbed it. At that time his reserve air supply became exhausted and he had to surface immediately. The mo- ment he surfaced the shark attacked him. At first, he thought that one of his diving partners had grabbed him by the legs ; however, upon glancing down he saw that a shark had both of his legs, from his thighs to the middle of his calves, in its mouth. Rochette was lying on his stomach in a horizontal position on the surface and the shark's lower jaw was across the front of his legs while its upper jaw extended across the back of his legs. The shark appeared to vibrate all over, shaking him fiercely. Rochette slammed his spear gun, point first, onto the shark's snout, whereupon it released its grip and swam off. He then took the rockfish off his spear and let it sink to the bottom. The shark turned and made a second advance toward him and he retaliated by slamming it on the snout with his spear gun. This was repeated several times over a pe- riod of approximately 4 minutes. Each time the shark would circle clock- wise, advance to about 3 feet directly under him, receive a blow on the snout, then retreat below him some 10 feet. In order to keep the shark in view, Rochette floated horizontally on the surface and paddled in a con- tinual circle while moving gradually toward the boat. Once, the water became so bloodstained that he had to swim away from that immediate area in order to see the shark. Rochette said that during one advance by the shark, he dove under the w'ater to meet it head-on. He placed his right hand on the ventral side of the shark, just below the gill slits and then placed his left hand, which held his spear, on its back and pushed away. Rochette stated, "As the shark swam past, its dorsal fin was higher than my spear gun was long. ' ' Apparently the shark then spotted Rochette 's five diving companions on the bottom, for it suddenly swam toward the bottom, abandoning its advances on him. At about this time. Jack Bolger, a member of the skindiving-party, who had been with another group in a different area, climbed aboard the boat and saw the shark circling Rochette, who appeared to be in trouble. He stripped off his SCUBA tanks and face mask, dove over the side, and swam some 130 feet to aid Rochette. He gripped the victim's air tanks and towed him to the boat. Meanwhile, after leaving Rochette, the shark cornered two of the five divers in a cave. It would circle the cave and then swim toward the other three. It kept all five pinned to the bottom for about 5 minutes longer before leaving the area. Upon boarding the boat, Rochette was given immediate first aid, and the U.S. Coast Guard was radioed for assistance. A Coast Guard heli- copter arrived at 12 :25 pm, lowered a basket into which Rochette was placed and flew him directly to the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in San Francisco. DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES AND TREATMENT Although Rochette was only bitten once, he had m.ultiple lacerations of both legs. The most severe of his injuries was a 10-inch laceration on the dorsal side of his right thigh ( Figure 1 ) . This laceration extended through the tensor facia lata muscle to the femur. A laceration on the dorsal side of his right calf penetrated fairly deep into the gastrocne- SHARK ATTACK 263 FIGURE 1. The extensive damage to the back of Jack Rochette's legs, caused by an attack- ing great white shark at the Farallon Islands, California, in January 1964. Phofograph Courfesy United Sfates Public Health Service Hospital. mhis muscle, severing a nerve, thus impairing his ability to manipulate his right foot. Lacerations also were present on the ventral side of his right calf, and on the dorsal side and inner portion of his left calf. Three large lacerations also were inflicted to the ventral surface of his left thigh. First aid treatment, both on tlie boat and in the helicopter, was im- mediately concerned with controlling the profuse bleeding. Rochette, upon arrival at the hospital was alert, oriented, and not in shock. He was taken immediately to the operating room. During the operation, Avhich lasted 4 hours and entailed the services of seven surgeons, he re- ceived three units of whole blood. He returned to the operating room on the fourth postoperative day for secondary closures of his lacera- tions. Prior to this second operative procedure he received two units of whole blood. He has since completely recovered. IDENTIFICATION OF SHARK RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK During surgery, a 17.2 mm tooth fragment (Figure 2) was extracted from the injury on the dorsal side of his upper thigh. Since the tooth is triangular with serrated edges it is quite evident that it came from a great white shark. W. I. Follett, California Academy of Sciences sub- stantiated my identification. Although the victim and the witnesses agreed that the shark appeared to be between 20 and 25 feet long, it is 264 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME FIGURE 2. Carcharodon carcharias tooth fragment extracted from dorsal right thigh injury on Jack Rochette. The fragment was 17.2 mm long. Photograph by W. I. Folleff, 1964. possible that the prevailing emotional circumstances may have caused them to overestimate its length slightly. Nevertheless, the nature of Rochette 's wounds indicate it was a large specimen. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to thank David Berne for his assistance in documenting this attack. "W. I. Follett, California Academy of Sciences and the staff at the U. S. Public Health Service Hospital also gave valuable assistance. Jack Rochette kindly gave his permission to pub- lish this report. To John H. Prescott, Curator of Fishes, Marineland of the Pacific, and Geoffrey E. Doman, Shark Research Committee Inc., I extend special thanks for critical comments and kind patience in reading the manuscript. John L. Baxter's editorial assistance was especially helpful. REFERENCES Bolin, Rolf L. 10.14. Report on a fatal attack by a shark. Pac. Sci., vol. 8, no. 1, p. 105-108. (Jilbert, Perry W., editox- 19G4. Sharks and survival. D. C. Heath and Company, Boston, 578 pp. Gill)ert. Perry W., Leonard P. Schultz, and Steward Springer 1960. Shark attacks during 1959. Science, vol. 132, no. 3423, p. 323-326. SPAWNING OF LONGSPINE CHANNEL ROCKFISH, SEBASTOLOBUS ALTIVEUS GILBERT' E. A. BEST Marine Resources Operations California Department of Fish and Game INTRODUCTION During routine observation of animal food landings at San Fran- cisco, a load of fish from deeper grounds than normal was sampled. They were caught March 17, 1960, by Guildo Paolini, master of the otter trawler Seaworthy, about 40 miles WNW of Pt. Reyes (approxi- mately lat. 38° 25' N., long. 123° 40' W.) in 385 fathoms. This catch was of particular interest as these depths are rarely fished. The delivery amounted to 2,255 pounds and was comprised by Aveight, as determined from sampling 457 pounds, of approximately 39 percent shortspine channel rockfish (Sehasiolohus alascanus), 33 percent sablefish (ArwpJopoma fimdria), 26 percent longspine channel rockfish, and 2 percent Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus). A few rat- tails (family Coryphaenoididae) were observed in the landing, but none was found in the sample. The occurrence of S. alascanus in water this deep was unusual, being substantially deeper than the maximum of 300 fathoms reported by Phillips (1957). Since *S'. altivelis is rarely taken by California otter trawlers, this landing presented an opportunity to obtain biological data on this species. Length, weight, sex, and state of maturity were noted for 50 fish (Table 1), but no scales or hard parts were collected for age deter- minations. Some of the fish in this sample were within 2 inches of the maximum size of 15 inches (380 mm) reported by Phillips (1957). MATURITY Males All but 2 of the 32 males were running ripe ; milt flowed when the abdomen was pressed. Dissection revealed the two exceptions (254 and 278 mm tl) were immature. However, the smallest male (252 mm tl) was ripe. Females Five females, all under 270 mm tl, were immature. Twelve con- tained large transparent eggs, indicating spawning was imminent. In one individual (310 mm tl) the elongated ovar.y was protruding from the body cavity as described by Pearcy (1962). I could not determine whether this fish was spawuiing when caught, or if the ovary protruded because of the extreme pressure change the fish had gone through when brought from the depths. 1 Submitted for publication June 1964. (265) . 266 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 1 Length, Weight, Sex and Maturity of 50 Sehastolohus altlvelis Caught off Pt. Reyes, California, March 17, 1960 Males Females Total length Weight Total length Weight (mm) (9) Maturity (mm) (g) Maturity 252 191 R 242 191 254 191 I 248 172 274 249 R 254 204 276 263 R 268 218 278 277 I 270 254 282 277 R 276 240 M 282 290 R 296 318 M 286 249 R 300 331 M 286 318 R 306 349 M 292 313 R 308 340 M 292 318 R 308 840 M 298 304 R 310 363 M 298 340 R 312 354 M 300 290 R 316 390 M 300 813 R 320 367 M 300 318 R 322 426 M 304 804 R 328 381 M 304 854 R 330 431 M 304 854 R 306 313 R 306 876 R 310 367 R 310 390 R 312 349 R - 312 376 R 314 327 R 314 367 R 314 381 R 322 417 R 324 390 R 326 417 R 328 467 R I = Immature M = Mature R = Ripe Finding ripe male and female S. altivelis in mid-Marcli agrees with Pearcy's finding of egg masses at the end of March and substantiates his statement that spawning occurs between March and May. WEIGHT— LENGTH DETERMINATIONS Weights in grams and total lengths in millimeters, for the 50 fish, tended to form a straight line when graphed. No difference was dis- cernible between males and females from the plotted date, conse- quently all the measurements were combined and a weight-length rela- tionship was calculated (Figure 1). The formula for S. altivelis was : W -— 0.0000211 L^-^oi52^ ^^ j^ its logarithmic form. Log W= —4.67591 -f 2.90152 Log L. This calculation is based on a limited number of measurements and represents only a segment of the species' size range. Since no small or large fish were measured, this should be considered an approximation of the weight- length relationship. LONGSPINE CHANNEL ROCKFISH 267 750 700 - 600 - 500 - ^ 400 3Z 300 - 200 - 100 - 50 200 250 300 TOTAL LENGTH IN MILLIMETERS FIGURE 1. Weight-length relationship of Sebastolobus altivelis. 350 400 REFERENCES Pearcy, W. G. 1962. Egg masses and early devel(>i)iiiental stages uf the scorpaenid fish, Sehas- iolohus. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Jour. vol. 19 no. 6, pp. 1169-1173. Phillips, Julius B. 1957. A review of the rockfishes of California (family Scorpaonidae) . Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Fish Bull. 104, 158 p. MORTALITY OF A FRESHWATER POLYCHAETE, NEREIS LIMNICOLA JOHNSON, ATTRIBUTED TO ROTENONE' LARRY C. OGLESBY Department of Zoology University of California, Berkeley Rotenone, a widely used fish poison, is generally regarded as being harmless to invertebrates even when applied in sufficient concentration to kill fish. It is used regularly in fish management programs (e.g., Hooper and Crance, 1960) without apparent regard to its effects on other organisms. From rotenone 's first use in the late 1930 's, instances of significant effects on planktonic and benthic invertebrates have been reported. These include temporary or permanent destruction of planktonic micro-crustaceans, some but not all insect larvae, snails, and a leech (Smith, 1940), chironomid larvae (Gushing and Olive, 1957), and planktonic crustaceans (Kiser, Donaldson, and Olson, 1963) by rotenone concentrations as low as O.O^.") ppm (parts per million). Kiser et al. (1963) found that zooplankton populations did not recover to former levels for a number of weeks after toxic concentrations of rotenone had disappeared. Both Smith (1940) and Gushing and Olive (1957) reported that benthic oligochaetes were unaffected. My report concerns a severe reduction in the population of a freshwater poly- chaete. Nereis limnicola Johnson [= Neanthes lighti Hartman]. This reduction is attributed to rotenone used in a routine fish killing pro- gram. N. limnicola occurs in the less saline portions of estuaries and bays from Morro Bay, California, to Vancouver Island, British Golumbia. One population has been permanently isolated from the sea in Lake Merced, San Francisco, California. This lake is a recent (post-Pleisto- cene) marine relict lake containing at least five invertebrate species common in nearby brackish lagoons and estuaries, as well as a more typical freshwater fauna (Smith, 1958). As Johnson (1903) said, the water is "perfectly fresh (drinkable)," and the lake has been an auxiliary water supply for the city of San Francisco. The presence of N. limnioola in Lake Merced is a unique instance of a freshwater nereid in this country. The worms were described as abundant in both the southern (John- son, 1903) and northern arms (Smith, 1959) of the lake in areas with fairly firm and stabilized sand or muddy-sand bottoms. During the summer and early fall of 1963, I found densities as high as 500/m^ along a sandy beach on the eastern side of the southern arm. On 21 October I again collected the usual large numbers. Unknown to me at the time, the southern arm of Lake Merced was treated on 26 October 1 Submitted for publication January, 19C4. This study was performed during a Na- tional Science Foundation predoctoral fellowsliip. ( 268 ) POLTCHAETE MORTALITY 269 with 0.025 ppm rotenone in a fisli killing program (A. J. Calhoun, pers. comm.). By 18 November the population of N. Umnicola was reduced almost to the vanishing point. On 4 December and 15 January the population continued low, at densities no greater than 10/m ^ at one location, and even scarcer or absent at all other sites. Those few worms found were relatively small, less than 8 cm long (maximum size is 7 to 8 cm). On 18 November 1963, a fisherman who was familiar with the worms because he used them for bait told me that large numbers had been washed up on the beach dead the day after rotenone treatment (27 October), along with fish and "shrimps" (possibly the mysid shrimp Neomysis mercedis Holmes, another marine relict species), where they were fed upon by birds. The application of rotenone thus appears directly responsible for the sudden drastic reduction of the N. Umnicola population observed in the southern arm of the lake. The northern arm of Lake Merced can be cut off from the southern by valves, and received no rotenone in 1968. However, the northern arm was poisoned with rotenone on 20 October 1962, also at 0.025 ppm (A. J. Calhoun, pers. comm.). No worms were found in the northern arm in either December 1968 or January 1964, even on the beach studied by Smith (1959), where a high density of worms occurred at least as recently as the spring of 1961 (R. I. Smith, pers. comm.). This beach has been seriously altered by surface runoff from a drainage ditch, which might account for the absence of worms, but an adjacent beach with no runoff channels likewise yielded no polychaetes. The con- clusion seems inescapable that N. Umnicola is highly susceptible to rotenone in concentrations as low as 0.025 ppm. The breeding season of this viviparous worm is from late winter to early summer and involves primarily the larger individuals (Smith, 1950). The breeding population of N. Umnicola in Lake Merced for 1964 is thus exceedingly small, and several years may be required for the population to recover to its former great abundance. There are at least two special situations where nereid polychaete worms are of major economic importance. In the Salton Sea of southern California, Walker (1961, p. 198) found that the introducted Nereis (Neanthes) sucdnea Leuckart was an obligatory member of, and the most critical link in, the food chain of the sea's two major sportfishes, the orangemouth corvina, Cynoscion xanthulus Jordan and Gilbert, and the sargo, Anisotremus davidsoni (Steindachner). In the Caspian Sea of Eurasia, Nereis diversicolor Miiller, a very close relative of N. Umni- cola formerly misidentified as N. sucdnea (Khlebovich, 1968), has be- come established in enormous numbers since it was introduced in 1939. It is now the major food of at least two species of commercially impor- tant sturgeons, Acipenser spp. (Zenkevieh, 1957, p. 909-912). Both the Salton and Caspian Seas have simplified food webs and loss of their nereid populations would have immediate and serious consequences. How important N. Umnicola is in the more complex food chains in Lake Merced is not known, and what effects the drastic population re- duction will have upon tliese organisms including sportfishes, which might feed on the worms, cannot be predicted; however, the effect on the sportfishery is unlikely to be favorable. 270 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It is a pleasure to thank A. J. Calhoun, Chief, Inland Fisheries Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, and R. I. Smith, Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, for their helpful discussions. REFERENCES Cusliing, C. E., Jr., and J. R. Olive . 1957. Effects of toxophene and rotenone upon the macroscopic bottom fauna of two northern Colorado reservoirs. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc, vol. 86, p. 294-301. Hooper, A. D., and J. H. Crance 1960. Use of rotenone in restoring balance to overcrowded fish populations in Alabama Lakes. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc, vol. 89, p. 351-357. Johnson, H. P. 1903. Fresh-water nereids from the Pacific Coast and Hawaii, with remarks on fresh-water Polychaeta in general. Mark Anniversary Vol. p. 207-223. Khlebovich, V. V. 1963. On the systematic position of the nereids in the Caspian Sea. Zool. Zhur., vol. 42, p. 129-131 [In Russian. English summary]. Kiser, R. W., J. R. Donaldson, and P. R. Olson 1963. The effect of rotenone on zooplankton populations in freshwater lakes. Ti-ans. Am. Fish. Soc, vol. 92, p. 17-24. Smith, M. W. 1940. Treatment of Potter's Lake, New Brunswick, with rotenone. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc, vol. 70, p. 347-355. Smith, R. I. 1950. Embryonic development in the viviparous nereid polychaete Neanthes lighti Hartman. Jour. Morphol., vol. 87, p. 417-465. 1958. On reproductive pattern as a specific characteristic among nereid poly- chaetes. Systematic Zool., vol. 7, p. 60-73. 1959. The synonymy of the viviparous polychaete Neanthes lighti Hartman (1938) with Nereis limnicola Johnson (1903). Pacific Sci., vol. 13, p. 349-350. Walker, B. W., ed. 1961. The ecology of the Salton Sea, California, in relation to the sportfishery. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Fish Bull. 113, 204 p. Zenkevich, L. A. 1957. Caspian and Aral Seas. In Treatise on Marine Ecology and Paleoecology. Vol. 1, Ecology, edited by J. W. Hedgpeth Geol. Soc. Am. Mem., vol. 67, p. 891-916. i THE FISHERY AT SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR, SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA' DON A. LA FAUNCE', J. B. KIMSEY ', AND HAROLD K. CHADWICK Inland Fisheries Branch California Department of Fish and Game INTRODUCTION Increasing angling pressure is making the management of fisheries in reservoirs near cities more clifBeult. Thorough studies of fisheries in such reservoirs constitute one step towards understanding them and improving management. Sutherland Reservoir, completed in 1953, is a warmwater reservoir near large population centers in southern Cali- fornia. This report describes the fishery there from its inception in ■■■Submitted for publication February i;t64. A portion of this work was performed as part of Dingell-Jolmson Projects California F-13-R, "Black Bass Tagging Study" ; F-15-R, "Warmwater Forage Evaluation" ; and F-18-R, "Experimental Manage- ment of Warmwater Reservoirs," supported by Federal Aid to Fisli Restoration funds. 2 Now with Region 1, Inland Fisheries. 3 Present address : U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Galveston, Texas. w FIGURE 1. Sutherland Reservoir. Creel census station in right foreground. The concession stand, parking area, and boat rental float are in the center. The other two floats are fishing floats. Photograph by Don A. La Faunce, August 1960. (271) 272 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 1955 through 1960. It also reports larjieiiioiith bass (Micropterus sal- moides) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) growth rates, and enumer- ates largemouth bass mortality rates. DESCRIPTION OF THE RESERVOIR Sutherland is part of the City of San Diego's domestic water supply system. It is located on Santa Ysabel Creek about 45 miles northeast of San Diego, near Kamona. It lies at an elevation of 2,000 feet in an area typical of the Upper Sonoran Life Zone. A heavy growth of chaparral covers the surrounding hills (Figure 1). The reservoir has a maximum area of 660 acres and a maxinuim depth of 162 feet. The greatest area and depth during the study period were about 280 acres and 94 feet. Due to limited water inflow and release, there has been relatively little ainiual fluctuation in lake level except on two occasions, when substantial releases were made following heavy rains. Summers at Sutherland are usually hot and dry. Daily maximum air temperatures are about 95° F., M'ith occasional 1- or 2-week periods with maximums over 100° F. Winters are mild, with only occasional freezing temperatures. A maximum water temperature of about 80° F. occurs during late July and early August. Minimum water temperatures are about 50° F. during December and January. A surface temperature of 65° F. is usually reached by mid-April. The reservoir stratifies during the summer and early fall. The thermo- cline varies from 15 to 25 feet below the surface. In the hypolimnion, oxygen is depleted and hydrogen sulfide occurs. Oxygen over 4.0 ppm is present in the epilimnion (Nokes, 1961). Visibility in the water is limited. Secchi disk readings were 18 to 52 inches in the late fall of 1960 (Nokes, 1961). The City of San Diego controls recreational use of Sutherland and limits this to angling, boating, picnicking, and waterfowl hunting. Angling constitutes the bulk of the recreation. A daily fee of $1 per adult angler helps defray the City's operating and maintenance costs. A boat-rental and fishing-tackle concession operates during the angling season. HISTORY OF THE FISHERY In the fall of 1953, before the dam was completed, the Department of Fish and Game treated the drainage above Sutherland with rotenone, to reduce potential competition between resident species and fish to be planted the folloAving spring. Green sunfish {Lepomis cyanellus), bluegills, and brown bullheads {Ictalurus nebulosus) were present in the drainage. Some green sunfish and brown bullheads survived the rotenone treatment. In the spring of 1954, the Department of Fish and Game i:>lanted about 15,000 largemouth bass fry, 1,500 golden shiner (Notemigo7ius crysoleucas) fry, and 900 adult golden shiners. In the fall of 1956, 160 adult bluegills were introduced. The following spring, 2,450 adult threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) were plantecl. As part of an eval- uation of Florida largemouth bass (M. s. floridamts) in California, 800 yearlings were released in Sutherland in February 1960. SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 273 All species reproduced successfully. The green sunfish and brown bulUieads surviving the rotenone treatment reproduced in 1954. In 1955, there was limited spawning by Age I bass, some of which were 10 to 12 inches long. Bass reproduced heavily in 1956. Threadfin shad became abundant. In 1955, the City opened Sutherland to angling from September to December. From 1956 through 1959, the season extended from April or early May to early September. In 1960, it was open until mid- December. Angliiig was permitted on Wednesdays, week-ends, and holi- days— except in 1956, when it was allowed only on week-ends and holidays. In 1955, angling was restricted to half of the shoreline, and boat fishing was not allowed. These regulations applied until 1957, when the entire lake was opened. Rental boats became available in late 1957, and permission to launch private boats was granted in 1958. Daily bag limits were 5 bass and 10 catfish per angler. In 1959 a 10- iuch minimum leng'th was established for bass. ^fe ' CREEL CENSUS Methods * A census clerk checked anglers at a census station on the one-way road leaving the reservoir. Aside from portions of the 1955 and 1957 seasons, the clerk conducted a census each day angling was permitted. During' 1955, censuses were made on only 13 of the 35 fishing days, and these included 7 of the first 8 days. In 1957, no census was made on 5 Wednesday's in May and June, but angler use and catch were estimated for these days. The census station was open from 7 :30 A.M. until the last angler left. One man censused all anglers except during opening and closing weeks of the season, when one or two extra men were needed. Information obtained from each party of anglers was: number of anglers, total hours fished, county of residence, and number of fish of each species in possession. To determine hours fished, anglers were asked when they began fishing, rather than how long they had been fishing. Thus, the hours fished represent total elapsed time rather than actual fishing time. In 1960, the clerk classified anglers as bass or panfish fishermen by recording the type of lure or bait used. Anglers caught essentially all bass with lures or longjaw mudsuckers (Gillichthys mirahilis), while earthworms or mealworms took panfish primarily. The clerk tried to measure the lengths of all bass, and to weigh the bass in alternate catches. In practice, he measured two-thirds of the catch and weighed about one-third during 1959 and 1960. He meas- ured smaller samples in earlier years. Lengths were taken to the nearest 0.1 inch fork length, and weights to the nearest 0.01 pound. Scale samples were saved from all bass weighed; and we determined ages from these, as described in the later section on growth. Weights of other species were based on limited data. Weights of counted strings of bluegills taken in 1960 were used as averages for bluegills in all years. There were no obvious differences in size com- position in other years, so the use of the same average appears reason- able. We used the bluegill average weight for green sunfish too, and 274 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME estimated golden shiners to be five per pound (the same as trout of comparable length) and brown bullheads to be 1 pound each. Results Angler pressure increased steadily from 5,732 angler days in 1956 to 21,304 in 1960 (Table 1). Despite this rising pressure, angler success increased. Eespective catch-per-hour values for 1956 through 1960 were TABLE 1 AngEei- Vse and CesJsBi est SufherSsand Reservoir, 1956 Through 1960 1955^ 1956 1957" 1958 1959 1960 Sept. 17- May 5- Apr. 17- Apr. 26- Apr. 15- Apr. 13- Seasons Dec. 4 Sept. 3 Sept. 2 Sept. 1 Sept. 13 Dec. 18 Days open to angling 35 39 63 59 68 113 Surface acres'' 97 115 94 250 242 165 Anglers 1,810 5,732 8,283 8,049 15,409 21,304 Hours fished 8,217 31,698 40,425 40,875 103,551 131,903 Catch * Largemouth bass 1,328 2,019 3,274 7,038 6,915 11,993 (2,463) (3,372) (6,616) (8,083) (17,937) Green sunfish 4,286 8,140 1,764 922 527 446 (1,465) (318) (166) (95) (80) Brown bullhead 24 44 179 725 622 (24) (44) (179) (725) (622) Bluegill 10 13,884 56,413 101,009 (2) (2,499) (10,154) (18,182) Golden shiner 883 782 1,074 452 (177) (156) (215) (90) Total fish 5,614 10,184 5,975 22,805 65,654 114,522 (3,952) (3,913) (9,616) (19,272) (36,911) Pounds per acre harvested 34 42 39 80 224 ' Data for 13 census days. No estimates of seasonal totals. 2 Estimated data for five Wednesdays missed in May and June. ^ Average surface acres duiing tlie census period. * Pounds in parentlieses. 0.32, 0.15, 0.49, 0.63, and 0.87. Pounds of fish per angler day also rose steadily. Respective values for 1956 through 1960 were 0.69, 0.47, 1.05, 1.20, and 1.67. San Diego County residents constituted 91 to 96 percent of the anglers each year. Nearly all others came from the Los Angeles area, about 100 miles distant. The difference between the number of anglers checked and the num- ber of angling permits sold indicates that about 20 percent of the anglers were under 16 j^ears old. The annual largemouth bass catch rose steadily during the study period (Table 1, Figure 2), from a low of 2,019 fish in 1956 to a high of 11,993 in 1960. The percentage of largemouth bass in the catch varied from 10.5 percent in 1959 and 1960 to 54.8 percent in 1957. This was due primarily to fluctuations in bluegill and green sunfish catches. Green sunfish dominated catches in 1955 and 1956, but they declined rapidly and were insignificant by 1958. Bluegills entered the fishery in small numbers in 1957. By 1958, they were the dominant species, comprising 60.9 percent of the total catch. Thereafter, they dominated the catch (Table 1). SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 600 500 400 300 200 100 J 1956 rT-!-^ MAY (9) JUNE JULY (9) (10) AUG. (8) SEPT. (3) 275 o (E O a CE HI Q. (O q: U] _i < 600 500 400 300 200 100 APR. (6) APR. (3) MAY (14) Q] ANGLERS g LARGEMOUTH BASS g GREEN SUNFISH m BLUEGILL g^ OTHER FISH fmWTL-. i I 1958 HLjb rkiLJM MAY (14) JUNE (13) JULY (14) AUG. (14) > o 0. T U5 O >- < z □ ANGLERS ^ LARGEMOUTH BASS £|] OTHER F15H ra BLUEGILL FIGURE 2. Seasonal variation in angler use and catch at Sutherland Reservoir during 1956- 1960. Numbers in parentheses are days of angling per month. 276 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Golden shiners and brown bullheads were of minor importance, although bullheads were readily accepted by anglers because of their large average size. Bass anglers during representative periods in 1960 caught 0.8 bass and 0.1 bluegill per day. In contrast, panfish fishermen caught 0.01 bass and 7.6 bluegills per day. Anglers fishing for both bass and panfish were apparently primarily seeking panfish, since their bluegill catch per day was 3.6 and their bass catch was 0.2. In 1960, about 35 percent of the anglers fished exclusively for bass, 30 percent fished exclusively for panfish, and 35 percent fished for both. These percentages presumably varied annually and seasonally in relation to the numbers of bass and panfish in the catch. Therefore, catches per hour for individual species are inaccurate measures of annual and seasonal trends. There were important seasonal variations in catch, but these had no consistent annual pattern (Table 2, Figure 2). Except for 1960, angling pressure was highest in the spring. However, fishing success was usuallv best some time during the summer, and in 1958 and 1960 TABLE 2 Monthly Catches at Sutherland Reservoir, 1956-1960 April May June July August Septem- ber October Novem- ber Decem- ber Totals 1956 Angler hours Largemouth bass... Green sunfish Total fish' 13,588 993 4,762 5,767 .42 6,909 548 1,817 2,372 .34 7,641 333 1,030 1,364 .18 2,746 104 422 530 .19 813 41 110 151 .19 31,697 2,019 8,141 10,184 Catch per hour .32 1957 Angler hours Largemouth bass... Green sunfish Total fish . 13,022 620 668 1,979 .15 12,379 1,076 467 1,577 .13 7,909 725 338 1,087 .14 3,976 494 218 722 .18 2,686 298 53 418 .16 604 61 20 192 .32 40,576 3,274 1,764 5,975 Catch per hour .15 1958 Angler hours Largemouth bass__. Green sunfish BluegiU 3,634 1,525 159 43 1,784 .49 17,451 3,008 490 1,313 5,111 .29 9,816 1,310 149 1,617 3,219 .33 7,607 616 63 2,226 3,211 .42 7,909 547 59 8,201 8,961 1.13 457 32 2 484 518 1.13 46,874 7,038 922 13,884 Total fish ._ . 22,804 Catch per hour .49 1959 Angler hours Largemouth bass-.. Bluegill 16,080 575 5,191 6,653 .41 25,1.39 946 13,013 14,718 .59 19,890 844 14,507 15,606 .78 16,648 2,383 9,098 11,598 .70 18,258 1,804 10,288 12,320 .67 7,536 363 4,316 4,759 .63 103,551 6,915 56,413 Total fish_ . . 65,654 Catch per hour .63 1960 Angler hours Largemouth bass... Bluegill 14,822 725 9,485 10,586 .71 20,464 1,519 17,902 19,915 .97 15,710 1,805 11,581 13,595 .87 23,845 2,934 18,257 21,299 .89 22,418 2,079 21,229 15,429 1,358 14..582 11,266 845 5,154 6,070 .54 5,073 592 2,116 2,716 .54 1,876 136 703 843 .46 130,903 11,993 101,009 Total fish.. . 23,456 i 16.042 114,522 Catch per hour 1.05 1.04 .87 1 Includes miscellaneous species. SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 277 TABLE 3 Percentage Age Composition of the Largemouth Bass Catch at Sutherland Reservoir Age No. fish Year checked I II III IV V 1955 100 1956 253 6 94 1957 1,214 33 30 37 1958 1,935 5 87 4 4 1959 2,380 46 36 17 1 1 1960 4,342 25 55 14 5 1 VI <1 TABLE 4 Contribution of Various Year-Classes of Largemouth Bass to the Catch at Sutherland Reservoir Year 1954 1055 1,328 1956 1,898 3957 1,211 1958 282 3959 69 1960 Totals 4,788 Year -Class 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 121 982 1,080 282 6,123 352 69 1,176 2,489 3,181 120 600 1,679 6,596 2,998 1,574 8,979 4,520 9,777 2,998 total catches were also greatest then. During the first three years, the largest bass catches were made in the spring, but in 1959 and 1960 the largest bass catches were made in mid-summer. The average size of the largemouth bass declined through 1958 and then increased to a high in 1960. Average weights in pounds for the years 1956 through 1960 were, respectively, 1.22, 1.03, 0.78, 1.06, and 1.38. Age I and II fish generally dominated the largemouth bass catch, but there were great fluctuations in age composition (Table 3). Using these estimates of age composition, year-class contributions to the catch were estimated (Table 4). . SURVIVAL, MORTALITY, AND POPULATION ESTIMATES FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS Methods We estimated survival, mortality, and exploitation rates from recov- eries of tagged fish, using methods and concepts presented by Ricker (1958). Our exploitation rates and catch estimates were used to esti- mate population sizes, and these in turn were used to make partially independent estimates of survival. Eacli year, from 1956 through 1960 (about one month prior to the fishing season). Department biologists and sportsmen captured large- mouth bass by angling, and biologists tagged them. Both ''spaghetti" and disk-dangler tags (Kinsey, 1956) were used in 1956, only "spa- ghetti" tags in 1957, and only disk-dangler tags in later years. Before 1959, many fish smaller than 10 inches were tagged. While the 10-inch 278 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME size limit was in effect during 1959 and 1960, only fish over 10 inches total length were tagged — with few exceptions. The census clerk recovered tags except in 1961, when the dam keeper was paid to recover tags from anglers. The census clerk noted the general condition of each fish, tag, and tag wound. Each angler capturing a tagged fish was sent a commendation card giving a brief history of the tagged fish, together with a letter thanking him for his cooperation and briefly stating the purpose of the tagging program. Because of annual variations in the rate of decline of tagged fish recoveries, we had to estimate annual survival rates, using the formula '' ^ M, (i?2o + 1) ^^''^''''' ^^^^^' '^^''' '- Si ^= estimate of survival during year one Ml = number of fish tagged at the start of the first year ilf 2 = number of fish tagged at the start of the second year Ri2 = recaptures of first-year tags in the second year R22 = recaptures of second-year tags in the second year Population sizes at the beginning of each season were estimated by dividing the catch of each age group by the annual exploitation rate shown by tag returns. No estimates were made for Age I fish, since they were not fully vulnerable to angling at the season's beginning. Older bass were assumed to be fully vulnerable at the season's begin- ning. Population sizes at the beginning of each of the first 10 fishing days were estimated by subtracting the daily catches from the initial population estimate. These are biased, since this ignores natural mortality. Survival-rate estimates that were independent of second-year tag returns were made by dividing the estimated population of Age II or older bass into the estimated population of Age III or older bass in the succeeding year. Results Harvest rates for various sizes of bass varied considerably from year to year (Table 5), with no consistent pattern or correlation between size and harvest rate. Apparently several biases exist in the mortality rates indicated by tag returns (Table 6). The return of 1956 and 1957 "spaghetti" tags decreased more rapidly than the return of disk-dangler tags (Table 7). This implies that either the shedding rate or mortality rate increases for "spaghetti" tags after the first year. As a result, "spaghetti" tag returns overestimate total mortality and first-year natural mortality. Our 1960 total mortality and natural mortality rates are probably overestimated, also. This results from a probable poorer recovery of tags from anglers in 1961, since no census clerk was present to check catches and recover tags during most of that year. The longer season in 1960 increased the exploitation rate sub- stantially. Tags returned through the usual closing date in early Sep- SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 279 TABLE 5 First- Year Tag Returns from Various Sizes of Largemouth Bass at SutherSand Reservoir Fork length in inches 8.0-9.9 10.0-11.9 12.0-1.3.9 14.0 or more Total Year No. tagged Percent- age returned No. tagged Percent- age returned No. tagged Percent^ ■■Srage returned No. tagged Percent- age returned No. tagged Percent- age returned 1958 201 12 15 46 42 20 110 51 144 51 45 51 0 78 69 33 55 10 41 72 30 22 42 321 182 300 47 1959 35 1960 48 TABLE 6 Annual Survival and Mortality EsStmeites for Lssrgemouth Bass in Sutherland Reservoir ^ Year tagged s a u v 1956 2 0.43 0.57 0.22 0.35 1956 « 0.77 0.23 0.18 0.05 . 1957- 0.09 0.91 0.40 0.50 1958 3 0.26 0.74 0.47 0.27 1959 8 0.45 0.55 0.35 0.21 1960 « 0.17 0.83 0.48 0.35 s = survival a = total mortality u = expectation of death from fishing (exploitation) V = expectation of death from natural causes ' Estimates based on first- and second-year tag returns. 2 "Spaghetti" tags. 3 Disk-dangler tags. TABLE 7 Numbers of Tagged and Recovered Largemcuih Bass in SutherSand Reservoir Year tagged 1956^ 1956^ 1957 "■ 1958' 1959' Year recovered (101)" (100) (112) (325) (1S2) 1956 22 18 1957 18 31 45 1958 15 5 154 1959 1 1 29 63 1960 1 1 32 39 1961 5 14 Totals 41 46 52 220 116 169 I- "Spaghetti" tags. 2 Number of tagged fish in parentheses. * Disk-dangler tags. ■ . •■ I960' (300) 144 25 tember indicated a rate of 0.39, which was 0.09 less than the rate for the whole season. Mortality rate estimates based on second-year tag returns (Table 6) are also subject to greater chance Amriations, because of the relatively low number of tagged fish surviving after the first year. This probably caused the high survival indicated by 1956 clisk-dangler tags. Survival estimates (Table 8) based on population size (Table 9) and first-year tag returns should overcome these biases. But no such survival esti- 280 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME mates can be made for 1960, since population estimates can not be made for 1961. In 1958 and 1959, when suspected biases should have been minimal, both estimates were essentially identical. Annual total mortality rates were quite high, averaging almost 0.7 (Table 8). Instantaneous fishing mortality rates had an upward trend except for 1959, and instantaneous natural mortality had a downward trend. Population estimates (Table 9) show trends of increasing population size and alternate year-class dominance. The weak 1955 year-class pre- sumably resulted from limited spawning by yearlings. The greater size of the 1957 year-class in 1959 suggests that the alternate year-class dominance might be diminishing. Fishing success during the first 10 days of the season was not closely related to average population size (Table 10). Daily fishing success had no trend related to population size or time (Table 11). TABLE 8 Survival and Mortality Estimates for Largemouth Bass in Sutherland Reservoir ' s^ a^ u^ V - i p q 1956 0.32 0.68 0.20 0.48 1.14 0.34 0.80 1957 0.22 0.78 0.40 0.38 1.51 0.77 0.74 1958 0.27 0.73 0.47 0.26 1.31 0.84 0.47 1959 0.45 0.55 0.35 0.20 0.80 0.51 0.29 i =: instantaneous total mortality rate p — instantaneous fishing mortality rate q = instantaneous natural mortality rate ^ Estimate based on first-year tag returns and estimates of population size. - For definitions of symbols see Table 6. TABLE 9 Population Estimates of Age if 4- Largemouth Bass at Beginning of Fishing Season at Sutherland Reservoir Age group Season II III IV V Totals 1956 9,537 9,537 1957 2,443 3,013 5,456 1958 12,918 594 594 14,106 1959 7,195 3,398 200 200 10,993 1960 13,742 3,498 1,229 230 18,699 TABLE 10 Comparison of Fishing Success and Population Size for Largemouth Bass During the First 10 Fishing Days of Each Season at Sutherland Reservoir Mean bass Mean catch per number Mean bass Percentage hour (second Average per catch of bass Mean air' 10 days Year population surface acre per hour in catch temperature of season) 1956 8,813 75 0.07 16 0.08 1957 4,930 55 0.09 40 58 0.07 1958 12,242 44 0.26 78 61 0.14 1959 10,591 43 0.04 9 62 0.03 1960 18,284 74 0.05 7 57 0.09 1960^ 18,373 0.14 1 Average dally temperature at Ramona-Spaulding for period 1 week before opening to 10th day of season. 2 Statistics only for largemouth bass anglers during first eight days of season. SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 281 TABLE 11 Comparison of Daily Angling Success and Population Size for Largemouth Bass During the First 10 Fishing Days of Each Season at Sutherland Reservoir li)56 1957 1958 1959 1960 Day of season Catch per hour Popula- tion size at begin- ning of day Catch per hour Popula- tion size at begin- ning of day Catch I>er hour Popula- tion size at begin- ning of day Catch per hour Popula- tion size at begin- ning of day Catch per hour Popula- tion size at begin- ning of day 1 2 0.10 0.04 0.07 0.04 0.12 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 9,537 9,040 8,952 S,824 S,787 8,678 8,641 8,595 8,575 8,544 0.09 0.04 0.06 ? 0.09 0.03 0.19 0.10 0.06 0.21 5,456 5,189 5,120 5,092 5,026 4,887 4,838 4,716 4,528 4,447 0.56 0.27 0.44 0.17 0,12 0.27 0.28 0.22 0.22 0.22 14,106 13,316 12,929 12„5S5 12,157 11,934 11,748 11,396 11,234 11,010 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.06 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.14 10,993 10,810 10,733 10,680 10,620 10,541 10,487 10,418 10,338 10,287 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.12 0.06 0.06 0.47 0.14 0.07 0.20 18,699 18,563 1 8 437 3 4 :. 18 392 5 18,291 18 243 6 7 18,194 18 163 8 9 17 974 10 17 884 AGE AND GROWTH OF LARGEMOUTH BASS Methods Scales were collected from the area below the lateral line under the tip of the pectoral tin. Key scales were not selected nor was sex deter- mined. At the laboratory, several scales from each of the larger fish were im- pressed on 0.080-inch cellulose acetate slides, while those from smaller fisli Avere mounted dry between glass slides. Ages were determined on all suitable scales, and subsamples were saved for back-calculating growth and determining the body length-scale length relationslii]). We used an Eberbach scale projector providing a magnification of 42X for determining ages and measuring scales. Measurements were made either diagonally from the focus to the anterior edge of the scale, or from the focus to the center of the anterior edge. The focus, each an- nulus, and the edge of the scale image were marked on paper strips for use in back-calculating lengths. Two biologists determined ages independently, and a third one checked those on which there was disagreement. Scales which could not be agreed upon were rejected. The body-scale relationship was established from 200 randomly se- lected samples from the 1960 catch. Magnified anterior scale radii were measured to the nearest millimeter. Fish were grouped by one-centi- meter intervals of scale radius, and mean scale lengths and body lengths were calculated for eacli group. Tliese were plotted against each other and a regression line calculated, using the methods of AVliitney and Carlander (1956). Growth was back-calculated with a direct proportion nomograph, corrected for the Y-axis intercept. 282 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 18 16 14 12 en UJ X o 10 z z X 8 z UJ -J ^ q: o u. 6 AGE 31 AGE 32 AGE IE AGE H AGE I ^ \ \ \ ^^ \ X \ \ \ ^7 \ \ \^ \ \ \ ^ / / \y^ y y 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 YEAR CLASS FIGURE 3. Growth rates of largemouth bass at Sutherland Reservoir during 1956-1960. SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 283 TABLE 12 Calculated Lengths at Annulus Formation of Sutherland Reservoir Largemouth Bass. Numbers of Fish indicated in Parentheses. Length at annulus formation Year-class Age I Age II Age III Age IV Age V 1954 9.3 12.3 14.2 15.6 17.9 (418) (399) (253) (82) (21) 1955 7.6 12.4 14.6 16.8 18.3 (260) (260) (105) (57) (33) 1956 3.8 9.7 14.2 16.4 (1,250) (1,077) (426) (217) 1957 5.1 11.5 14.3 (1.049) (941) (598) 1958 6.3 10.9 (2,759) (2,400) ,; ..; 1959 6.9 (1,072) Total 6.5 11.4 14.3 16.3 18.1 (6,808) (5,077) (1,382) (356) (54) In determining the length-weight relationship, fish were grouped by 0.5 inch length intervals, the midpoint of each length interval and the mean weight of each group were converted to logarithms, and the curve was calculated folloAving the method outlined by Sigler (1953). Results The body length-scale length relationship of Sutherland bass is es- sentially linear between 7 and 18 inches fork length, and is described by the formula : Y = 0.62 -j- 0.062A'. Since the smallest fish sampled was 7 inches long, the line extrapolated below this point may not reflect the true relationship, and the Y-axis intercept of 0.62 may not represent the size at which scales form. Growth during the first 2 years of life was quite variable. The 1956 year-class was particularly slow growing (Table 12, Figure 3). How- ever, by the end of three groAving seasons lengths were remarkably uniform. Length-weight relationships for the years 1958, 1959, and 1960 are described, respectively, by the formulae : log W = —3.530 + 3.308 log L ; log W = —3.608 + 3.358 log L ; and log W = —3.391 + 3.174 log L. All three curves are very similar. AGE AND GROWTH OF BLUEGILLS Methods Methods used for determining growth rates of bluegills were similar to those used for bass, except we did not group fish by scale radius in- tervals in calculating the body-scale relationship. Results The body-scale relationship, determined from 50 scales, is linear be- tween the fork lengths of 2.7 and 9.3 inches. The formula is Y = 0.872 -f 0.031X. 284 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Growth rates were determined for 1,198 bluegills from the catch, and 64 from seining and electrofishing. All were collected in 1960. Mean lengths at the end of the first, second, and third years are 2.2, 5.2, and 7.3 inches. The length-weight relationship is described by the formula log W = -3.39722 + 3.399941 log L. In 1960, Age II bluegills made up about 86 percent of the catch in comparison with about 7 percent each for Age I and Age III fish. DISCUSSION Trends in Fishery Reservoir fisheries usually follow a pattern of a few years of good fishing succeeded by a sharp decline in angling success (Kimsey, 1958). Through the first six years of fishing, Sutherland did not show this pattern. Rather, the pattern was one of increasing success. A large part of the increase Avas the contribution of bluegills to the catch, following their introduction three years after impoundment. However, the large- mouth bass catch also increased throughout the period. The cause of this trend is not known. Perhaps the continued high yield resulted from the relatively low turnover of water, which pre- sumably would result in better retention of nutrients. The green sunfish fishery declined markedly after the first two years. A similar trend occurred in Millerton Reservoir, Fresno-Madera Coun- ties (Abell and Fisher, 1953), and we have observed it in other Cali- fornia reservoirs, although supporting catch statistics are not avail- able. At Sutherland, this decline was well under way before bluegills were added, so it cannot be attributed to competition with bluegills. More likely, green sunfish are unable to compete with largemouth bass in our warmer reservoirs. Largemouth Bass Mortality and Survival Rates Largemouth bass mortality rates at Sutherland are greater than those reported for most other waters, although few measurements of total mortality are available (Table 13). Despite this, there is no evi- dence of overfishing. On the contrary, all evidence points to an ex- panding population — total catch and average size were greatest in 1960, and catch per hour was second highest in 1960. Therefore, we conclude that a 0.70 annual mortality rate and a 0.40 rate of exploita- tion were not harmful to the population. Instantaneous angling mortality rates roughly parallel angling pres- sure from 1956 through 1958, but they show no increase corresponding to the 1959 and 1960 increases in pressure. A partial explanation of this is that most of the 1959 and 1960 increases presumably reflect an increase in panfish fishermen, since the bluegill catch increased so greatly in these years. HoAvever, this can not account for the actual decline in the April-September harvest rate in these years, and we have no satisfactory explanation for the decline. Reservoir size apparently did not affect the angling mortality rate, since rates were similar in 1957 and 1958 despite the great increase in area, and the April-September angling mortality was similar in 1959 and 1960 despite the great decrease in area. SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 285 TABLE 13 Comparison of Largemouth Bass Mortality Rates in Sutherland Reservoir and Other Waters Animal total Rate of Water Reference mortnliti/ rate exploitation Sutherland Res., Calif 0.70 0.40 Ridge L., Illinois (Bennett, 1954) 0.35-0.40 0.25-0.80 Clear Lake, Calif. (Kimsey, 1957) 0.56 0.20 Susarloaf L., Mich. (Cooper and Latta, 1954) 0.70 0.26 Wheeler Res., Ala. (Hulse and Miller, 1958)— 0.06^.15 Browns L., Wisconsin (Mraz and Threinen, 1957) 0.24 0.12 5 Virginia Lakes (Martin, 1958) 0.30-0.53 Massachusetts (Stroud and Bitzer, 1955) 0.19 (avg.) There is also no satisfactory explanation for the 1956-1959 trend of declining instantaneous natural mortality rates. It seems unlikely that chance variations in tag returns would cause a trend rather than random fluctuations. However, it also seems unlikely that a trend of this magnitude would really occur. Fishing Success and Population Size Fishing success measured by catch-per-unit-of-effort has generally been used as an index of population size. However, the overall catch per hour for largemouth bass during the early part of the season at Sutherland Reservoir has not been correlated with population size (Table 10). Errors in estimating population size are a possible cause of this lack of correlation. One error is that natural mortality was not considered in estimating daily population size. However, we think this was unimpor- tant, since the fish were tagged shortly before this time and annual differences in expectation of death from natural causes were too small to cause these discrepancies. Another error is that Age I fish were partially vulnerable to angling, but were not included in the population estimates. Again, this is not a significant factor, since few Age I fish enter the catch early in the season. For example, in 1958 — the year with the greatest catch per hour in relation to population size — only an estimated 5 percent of the large- mouth bass caught during the first 10 fishing days were under 9 inches long and many of these were Age II. Similarly, since all Age II fish were not vulnerable, this fact might contribute to the error. But it seems to be insignificant, because there was no common relationship between success and population size in the years when Age II bass dominated the catch (1956, 1958, and 1960 — Table 9). Other possible sources of error are related to chance variations and systematic errors involved in estimating population size. These include chance variations in the estimates of exploitation rates and proportion of catch older than Age I, errors in determining ages from scales, and the many possible factors which might bias tag returns. Errors in age composition are unlikely to be important, since only separating Age I bass from the remainder of the catch would contribute ; and this is rela- tively simple. Biases associated with tag returns are unlikely to con- tribute, since these should have been similar in all years. Chance varia- tions in estimating the proportion of the catch which was Age I bass 286 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME were small because of the large sample sizes (Table 3). Chance varia- tions due to the estimates of exploitation rates were greater, because of the relatively small sample of fish tagged. For example, assuming this was the only source of variation, the standard deviations for the 1958 and 1960 estimates would be 1,124 and 1,549 (Ricker, 1958, formula 3.6). However, these variations are not great enough to nullify the con- clusion that the catch-per-hour was not directly related to population size. Two partial explanations for this lack of correlation are : the type of anglers probably changed as the species composition of the fishery changed; and bass were probably not equally vulnerable to angling each year because of differing water temperatures and perhaps other limnological conditions. The positive relationship between largemouth bass caught per hour and the proportion of largemouth bass in the catch supports the first hypothesis (Table 10). However, the fact that the catch per hour for largemouth bass anglers in 1960 was only 0.14 indicates that this is not the sole explanation. The mean air tempera- tures (Table 10) reveal that there were probably appreciable variations in limnological conditions. Differences in catch-per-hour relationships 6.0 5.0 V) Q 2 r) o a. UJ 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 1 I960 5UTHERLANC ) 4 1 } / 1 h 1 ' f If ft //<-BIG / SAGE /' // / / / / // / / ^ X / 5=J ^ ^ ^ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 FORK LENGTH IN INCHES FIGURE 4. The length-weight relationship of largemouth bass from Sutherland and Big Sage Reservoirs. SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 287 TABLE 14 Comparison of Largemouth Bass Growth in Sutherland Reservoir and Other Waters ^ Arerngr Irngfh in inchpR nt Numhcr c nrf of year ir«/e/' and source of fish 1 2 S J/ 5 6 If Sutherland Reservoir 6,808 6.5 11.4 14.3 16.3 18.1 Riff Sase Reservoir, Calif. (Kimsey and Bell, 1955) 43 2.3 4.6 7.2 11.5 Lake Havasu, Calif. (Beland, 1954) 72 4.6 9.7 13.5 16.2 Clear Lake, Calif. (Murphv, 1!)51)- _ ^ _„ .._ _ 71 6.7 12.2 14.8 16.7 19.8 21.4 Folsom Lake, Calif, (unpublished data) 523 5.6 10.4 12.8 14.5 15.8 17.0 Norris L., Tenu. (Stroud, 1948). 1,589 6.9 12.4 14.7 16.1 17.5 19.3 20.8 L. Wappapello, Mo. (Patriarche, 1952) 100 5.4 10.9 13.3 16.1 18.1 19.6 Oklahoma, statewide average (Houser and Bross, 1963) 5.5 9.7 12.5 14.9 17.1 18.6 19.9 Oklahoma, fastest growth (Houser and Bross, 1963) 11.2 15.4 20.1 21.8 22.8 21.9 22.8 ' lU'usurenieiits are fork length for California lisli. total length for other states. 2 Average fork length at time of capture in year following annulus formation. TABLE 15 Comparison of Bluegili Growth in Sutherland Reservoir and Other Waters ^ Average length in inches at Uuniler end of year Water and source of fish 12 3 4 5 6 Sutherland Reservoir 1,262 2.2 5.2 7.3 Clear L., Calif. (Murphy, 1951) == 102 4.1 6.5 8.1 8.9 9.1 L. Havasu, Calif. (Beland, 1954) 2.0 5.0 Folsom Lake, Calif, (unpublished data) 408 1.1 2.7 4.4 6.0 L. Wappapello, Mo. (Patriarche, 1952) 97 1.7 3.0 4.4 5.6 6.8 Clearwater L., Mo. (Lane, 1954) 854 2.5 4.2 5.6 6.6 Claytor L., Va. (Roseberry, 1050) 150 2.1 4.0 6.2 7.8 8.7 9.5 Oklahoma, statewide average (Jenkins et al., 19.55) 5,464 3.2 5.0 6.0 6.9 7.3 7.3 Oklahoma, fastest growth (Jenkins et al., 1955) 6.2 7.7 8.4 9.4 10.2 1 Measinements aie fork length for California fish, total length for other states. 2 Average fork length at time of capture in year following annulus formation. for the second 10 days of fishing (Table 10) indicate that seasonal dif- ferences in availability were important. From these facts we conclnde that overall catches-per-unit-of-effort from a heterogeneous sport fishery are not meaningful indices of popu- lation size, and that catehes-per-unit-of-effort for largemouth bass during short periods in the spring are not reliable indices of popula- tion size because of short-term differences in availability. Daily variations in vulnerability, overall angler ability, and perhaps seasonal trends in vulnerability peculiar to each year apparently af- fected daily success for largemouth bass (Table 11) more than popu- lation size or effects of fishing on bass behavior. As a result, there was no consistent trend in success during the first 10 days of fishing. This conflicts with results at several waters in the midwestern United States (Bennett, 1954; Bowers and Martin, 1956), where success declined 288 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME drastically and consistently after opening day. This decline was much greater than the decrease in population size and was attributed to bass becoming more wary. We cannot explain this difference in results between our study and theirs. Age and Growth Sutherland largemouth bass and bluegills grow well in relation to growth rates reported from other waters, but appreciably slower in comparison with maximum growth rates reported from Oklahoma (Tables 14 and 15). Thus, these growth rates are better than average but not exceptional. Despite great differences in growth rates bass from both Sutherland and Big Sage Reservoirs had similar length- weight relationships (Figure 4). Effects of Introductions The effects bluegills and threadfin shad may have had on largemouth bass can not be differentiated, since both were introduced between the 1956 and 1957 seasons. Their effect on the bass population size can not be determined either, since the bass population was expanding when the introductions were made. However, production of good bass year-classes continued despite competition. Bass growth rates were similar before and after these introductions, but the introductions may have caused the differential growth rates of the two largest bass year-classes — 1956 and 1958. The 1956 year- class grew slowly, particularly in its first year, but the 1958 year-class did not. The faster growth in 1958 presumably resulted from a larger food supply. This might have resulted from the threadfin shad and bluegill introductions, or it might have been due to a greater abund- ance of all foods, generally associated with the larger reservoir size in 1958. Effects of Pretreating the Reservoir Basin The value of chemically treating drainages to remove fish before reservoir construction has been controversial. A primary objective of pretreatment is to ensure good survival of introduced fish. This was achieved at Sutherland, since about one-third of the bass fry stocked were eventually caught. These fry also showed excellent growth. We are not certain this can be attributed to the chemical treatment. Obvi- ously green sunfish survived and produced a good year-class in 1954. There is no way of estimating the year-class size that would have occurred without treatment. However, both the good bass year-class in 1956, when green sunfish were at a peak, and the inability of green sunfish to compete successfully in this environment make it doubtful that preimpoundment treatment had much value. The incomplete bullhead kill also contributes to this conclusion. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS J. B. Kimsey is responsible for planning the study and supervising the field work and the preliminary analysis of the data. Don A. La- Faunce is responsible for most of the creel census and growth analyses, and for most of the manuscript. Harold K. Chadwick is responsible for SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 289 much of the mortality rate and populatio]i size analyses and portions of the manuscript. We thank the many persons who have i^articipated in this study during- the several years it was under way. George W. Mc Gammon supervised part of the field work and contributed valuable suggestions. Wesley Farmer, Earl Davis, Maurice Getty, William Ileubach, and Andy McCoy collected the creel census data. The Sutherland dam keeper, G. W. Martin, and his assistant, Frank Lunning, contributed materially by collecting tags during the 1961 season. AVe also appreci- ate the assistance and suggestions of other personnel of the San Diego Cit}^ Water Department. Fred A. Meyer determined bluegill ages and did the initial reading of the 1959 and 1960 largemouth bass scales. SUMMARY Sutherland Reservoir is a warmwater reservoir built on Santa Ysabel Creek, San Diego County, California, in 1953. During the study, its average annual size ranged from 94 to 250 acres. It was opened to fishing in the fall of 1955, and has been opened each year since then in late April or early May. The season ended in September before 1960, and extended to mid-December in 1960. Fishing has been limited to week-ends, holidays, and Wednesdays except in 1956, when it was restricted to week-ends and holidays. This paper describes the fishery through the 1960 season, reports largemouth bass and bluegill growth rates, and enumerates largemouth bass mortality rates for a five-year period. The reservoir drainage was chemically treated before impoundment to remove bluegills, green sunfish, and brown bullheads. Some green sunfish and brown bullheads survived the treatment. Golden shiners and largemouth bass were introduced in 1954. Blue- gills and threadfin shad were introduced in late 1956 and early 1957, respectively. Angling pressure, success, and total catch increased steadily through- out the period, with all reaching peaks in 1960. The total harvest that 3'ear was 224 pounds per acre. Green sunfish dominated the catch in 1955 and 1956, but declined in importance after this. Bluegills entered the catch in significant numbers in 1958 and made up most of it in 1959 and 1960. The largemouth bass catch increased steadily throughout the study. There w^ere appreciable fluctuations in growth rate and size of bass in the catch, but Age I and II bass dominated the catch each year except 1957, when Age III bass made up more than one-third of the catch. The largemouth bass growth rate Avas better than rates reported from most other waters. The largemouth bass total mortalitj' rate averaged about 0.7 annually. The exploitation rate averaged about 0.4 from 1957 through 1959, but was only 0.2 in 1956. The most important results of this study are : 1) The fishery continued to improve through the first six years, rather than reaching an early peak and then declining, as often occurs in reservoirs. 2) The largemouth bass population expanded during the six years despite substantial total mortality and exploitation rates, and an expanding bluegill population. 290 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 3) After an initial bloom, green simfish rapidly declined in abun- dance, possibly because of competition from largemouth bass. This decline and the incomplete kill of bullheads cast doubt on the value of chemically treating the drainage prior to impoundment. 4) The overall catch per hour for largemouth bass during the first 10 days of each season was not a reliable index of estimated population size. Chance variations affecting population estimates may have contributed to this. However, the most important fac- tors appeared to be changes in the type of anglers associated with the changing composition of the population, and short-term dif- ferences in vulnerability associated with limnological conditions. 5) Daily variations in vulnerability, overall angler ability or both, and perhaps seasonal trends in vulnerability peculiar to each year apparently affected success for largemouth bass more than population size or effects of fishing on bass behavior. REFERENCES Abell, Dana L., and Charles K. Fisher 1953. Creel census at Millerton Lake, California, 1945-1952. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 463-484. Beland, Richard D. 1954. Report on the fishery of the lower Colorado River. The Lake Havasu fishery. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Branch, Admin. Rept.' no. 54-17, 42 pp. (Mimeo.). Bennett, G. W. 1954. Largemouth bass in Ridge Lake, Cole County, Illinois. 111. Nat. Hist. Survey, Bull., vol. 26, art. 2, pp. 217-276. Bowers, Charles C, and Mayo Martin 1956. Results of an opening week creel census and tagging study on three state- owned lakes. Kentucky Dept. Fish and Wildl. Resources, Fish. Bull. no. 20, 13 pp. Cooper, G. P., and W. C. Latta 1954. Further studies on the fish populations and exploitation by angling in Sugarloaf Lake, Washtenaw County, Michigan. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts and Let., Pap., vol. 39, pp. 209-223. Houser, Alfred, and Michael G. Bross 1963. Average growth rates and length-weight relationships for fifteen species of fish in Oklahoma waters. Okla. Fish. Res. Lab., Rept. no. 85, 75 pp. Hulse, David C, and Lawrence F. Miller 1958. Haiwesting largemouth bass in Wheeler Reservoir, Alabama, 1952-1956. Tenn. Acad. Sci., Jour., vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 78-83. Jenkins, Robert, Ronald Elkin, and Joe Finnell 1955. Growth rates of six sunfishes in Oklahoma. Okla. Fish. Res. Lab., Rept. no. 49, 73 pp. Kimsey, J. B. 1956. Largemouth bass tagging. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 337-346. 1957. Largemouth bass tagging at Clear Lake, Lake County, California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 111-118. 1958. Fisheries problems in impounded waters of California and the lower Colorado River. Amer. Fish. Soc, Trans., vol. 87, pp. 319-332. Kimsey, J. B., and R. R. Bell 1955. Observations on the ecology of the largemouth bass and the tui chub in Big Sage Reservoir, Modoc County. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Branch, Admin. Rept. no. 55-15, 17 pp. (Mimeo.) Lane, Charles E., Jr. 1954. Age and growth of the bluegill, Lepomis m. macrocliirns (Rafinesque), in a new Missouri impoundment. Jour. Wildl. Mgmt., vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 358-365. . SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR FISHERY 291 Martin, R. G. 1958. Influence of fishing pressure on bass fishing success. S.E. Assoc. Game and Fish Comm., 11th Ann. Conf., Proc, pp. 76-82. Mraz, Donald, and C. W. Threinen 1957. Angler's harvest, growth rate and population estimate of the largemouth bass of Browns Lake, Wisconsin. Amer. Fish. Soc, Trans., vol. 85, pp. 241-256. Murphy, Garth I. 1951. The fishery of Clear Lake, Lake County, California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 4.39-484. Nokes, George D. 1961. Some physical and chemical aspects of Sutherland Reservoir, San Diego County, California. San Diego State College, Term paper, Special Studies. January 25, 1961, 22 pp. (Typewritten) Patriarche, Mercer H. 1952. The fishery- in Lake Wappapello, a flood-control reservoir on the St. Francis River, Missouri. Amer. Fish. Soc, Trans., vol. 82, pp. 242-254. Ricker, W. E. 1958. Handbook of computations for biological statistics of fish populations. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Bull. no. 119, 300 pp. Roseberry, Dean A. 1950. Game fisheries investigation of Claytor Lake, a main stream impoundment of New River, Pulaski County, Virginia, with emphasis on Micropterus punctnlatus (Rafinesque). Va. Polytechnic Inst., Ph D thesis, 268 -f- XXXVIII pp. Sigler, AVilliam F. 1953. The collection and interpretation of fish life history data. Utah State Agric. College, Logan, Utah, 46 pp. (Mimeo. ) Stroud, Richard H. 1948. Growth of the basses and black crappie in Norris Reservoir, Tennessee. Tenn. Acad. Sci., Jour., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 31-99. Stroud, Richard H., and Harold Bitzer 1955. Harvests and management of warmwater fish populations in Massachusetts' lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Prog. Fish-Cult., vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 51-63. Whitney, Richard R., and Kenneth D. Carlander 1956. Interpretation of body scale regression for computing body length of fish. Jour. Wildl. Mgmt., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 21-27. POPULATION STUDIES OF RING-NECKED PHEASANTS IN CALIFORNIA' ROBERT D. MALLETTE AND HAROLD T. HARPER Game Management Branch California Department of Fish and Game INTRODUCTION An effective pheasant management program should be based on sound population data. To accomplish this objective, ring-necked pheasant (Phanianus c. colchicus) populations were studied in detail on two important pheasant producing areas. Information was obtained from trapping, banding, and band return data from 21,098 wild pheasants for a 10-year period from 1952 to 1961, and 56,777 game farm pheasants released during an 8-year period from 1950 through 1957. A total of 28,510 band returns and retrappiiig returns was used in computing the data presented. Pheasant population studies were made by Stokes (1954) on Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada, and Leopold ef al. (1943), Buss (1946), McCabe (1949) in the midwest. However, information of this type is lacking from the western states. ^63 STUDY AREAS Two locations were selected for investigation. The Sutter Basin study area, consisting of 68,000 acres of intensively farmed agricultural land in Sacramento Valley, in the southwest portion of Sutter County, the center of rice culture in California, described by Mallette and Bechtel (1959). The wild pheasant population was calculated at 30,000 to 40,000 birds in the late summer for the period of study. The second area was in Honey Lake Valley, Lassen County, in northeastern Cali- fornia. This consisted of the 2,092-acre Fleming Unit of the Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area, 4 miles west of Wendel, California, on the north shore of Honey Lake. The study area was managed pri- marily for waterfowl ; however, crops and ponded areas provide ade- quate food, cover, and water for an excellent plieasant population. Land bordering the study area to the north and east was sagebrush and on the west was irrigated pastures and small acreages of grain. Summers are warm and dry. Small amounts of rainfall occur during the fall and spring. Winters usually have occasional snows and freezing tempera- tures. Pheasant losses due to winter weather conditions were not en- countered during the course of this study. The fall pheasant popula- tion on the Honey Lake study area was calculated at 900 to 1.300 birds during the 7 years the area was iutensivelv studied. 1 Submitted for Publication April 1964. A contribution of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project, California W^-22-R, "Pheasant Investigation and Manage- ment." (292) EING-NECKED PHEASANT POPULATIONS 293 HUNTING REGULATIONS The pheasant hunting regulations were the same during the course of the studies in both areas. A 10-day season was in effect from 1952-54 with two cocks per day and 10 birds for the season. In 1955 the sea- sonal bag remained the same, but one hen was allowed in the bag and the season extended 6 days. For 1956 and 1957 the hunting regula- tions remained the same except the daily limit of two cocks was raised to four after the first weekend. Legal hen shooting, outside of licensed pheasant clubs, was terminated in 1958, but other restrictions remained the same. Licensed pheasant clubs, located in the Sutter Basin study area, were allowed a 7.5-day season and a daily bag of six birds of either sex. These clubs are required to plant a specified quota of birds. These regulations were continued throughout the period of study. Hunting pressures varied in the study areas from very little or no hunting to heavy hunting pressures of one hunter for each 10 acres. Such heavy hunting pressures occurred on the co-operative hunting area in the Sutter Basin study area and on the Honey I^ake Waterfowl Management Area. Hunting pressure on licensed pheasant clubs was approximately one hunter for each 50 acres. The Knight's Landing Sportsman Club operated a community hunt- ing area in Sutter Basin during the study period. Hunting regulations on this area were the same as those on other parts of Sutter Basin for the regular hunting season. Approximately 20,000 to 30,000 acres of land w^ere included. Hunting permits were sold at a rate of one hunter per 25 to 35 acres. Hunting pressures were considered light to moderate on this community hunting area. Hunting pressures in the Sutter Basin study area were thought to be typical of the Sacramento Valley. STUDY METHODS Pheasants were trapped by the spotlighting method. All birds were banded and liberated in the same field captured. Each year during the period of study, trapping took place in Sutter Basin from July through September and at Honey Lake in late September and/or early October. A calculated 10 to 15 percent of the fall pheasant population was banded in Sutter Basin and 35 to 40 percent of the fall population at Honey Lake. Ages of pheasants trapped and banded as adults were unknown. However, the largest percent of these birds would be in the second year age group. Birds banded as juveniles the first year trapped were adults by the next breeding season, but for ease in tabulation and discussion they will be referred to as juveniles in all tables. Pheasant bands were recovered each year by bag checks, mailing questionnaires to members of the community hunting area, landowner contacts, from the licensed pheasant clubs, and by providing drop boxes at various locations in the vicinity of the study area. The pheasant sampling pattern was influenced by farming practices. Because of crop rotation and land manipulation, the same fields might not be entered each year, or in some cases never entered after the initial trapping operation. The 1952 sample of wild birds banded was 294 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME more closely restricted to fields on or near licensed pheasant clubs than during subsequent years. An increased recovery of hen bands was ex- pected in 1955 through 1957, due to hunting regulation changes which permitted one hen in the regular seasonal bag. Estimates of the annual and mean annual death rates from band return data were made by the Hickey (1950) method. The methods of Williams (1952) and Lack (1943) also were considered in this study. Pheasant population mortality rates were calculated for the Sutter Basin from: (i) returns from wild banded birds; (ii) retrapped wild banded birds; (iii) returns from banded game farm birds released on licensed pheasant clubs; and (iv) returns from game farm birds released on a state co-operative hunting area. Only wild pheasant loss rates from returns of wild banded birds were calculated on the Honey Lake study area, since no game farm birds were liberated on the area. The annual fluctuations of the Sutter Basin wild pheasant popula- tion were estimated by Lincoln and Kelker indices. Hunting and non- hunting mortality rates were estimated from band return data. RESULTS Sutter Basin Study Area Mortality Rates Mortality Rates Calculated from Returns from Wild Banded Birds A total of 3,808 bands or 19.8 percent was recovered from 19,239 wild pheasants banded in the Sutter Basin study area during a 7-year period. The calculated pheasant loss rates in Table 1 are from data compiled in a composite life table and must not be construed to be a percent of harvest. TABLE 1 Mortality Rates Calculated from Returns of Wild Pheasants Banded in Sutter Basin 1952-1958 Yearly mortality rates in percent Annual Age Sex 1 2 3 4 5 6 mean Adult Male 78 79 67 100 78 Juvenile Male 86 74 67 75 100 84 All ages Male 82 78 71 100 81 Adult Female 54 59 63 78 100 58 Juvenile Female 71 58 53 44 40 100 65 All ages Female 62 57 52 55 60 100 60 All ages Both sexes 76 67 56 63 67 100 73 Mortality rates for juvenile males, 86 percent, and juvenile females, 71 percent, are greater than for adult males, 78 percent, and the adult females, 54 percent, for the first year. This indicates a differential mortality rate between adults and juveniles. Of the males, the juvenile male loss rate is similar to that of the adult male age group after reaching 1 year of age. The annual mean mortality rate for male pheasants through a population turnover was 84 percent. After reach- ing 1 year of age, the mean annual loss rate was 78 percent. No banded males were recovered after 5 years. The annual mean mortality rate of females through a population turnover was 65 percent, and after reaching 1 year in age the loss RING-NECKED PHEASANT POPULATIONS 295 rate was 58 percent. The adult females in Table 1 indicate an increased mortality rate with age, which is not comparable with rates of juve- nile females after reaching 1 year of age. This apparent deviation was caused by a variation in band recoveries due to hunting regulation changes. The annual mean mortality rate for a stabilized pheasant population in Sutter Basin can be expected to be approximately 73 percent. The Effects of Hunting on Female Mortality Rates In evaluating the effects of a 3-year hen pheasant season (1955-1957) in Sutter Basin, the mortality rates for these years were compared with data obtained before and after the hen season (Table 2). Increased band recoveries from hens taken during the legal season reduce the estimated mortality rates for those years prior to the hen season when calculated together. Limited legal hunting for hens occurred on li- censed pheasant clubs throughout this period. TABLE 2 Comparison of Mortality Rates for Hen Pheasants With and Without a Hen Season Sutter Basin, 1952-1958 Yearly mortality rates in percent Annual Sex 12 3 mean Mortality rates without ben season (1952-1954,1958) Female 67 73 100 70 Male 79 78 100 80 Mortality rates with hen season (1955-57) Female 71 81 100 75 Male 85 86 100 85 Comparing males for the same period of time provides a check on the non-hunting losses when hunting pressures are constant. There was no appreciable change in hunting pressure on the Sutter Basin area even though the season was extended 6 days (Hart, 1955). Table 2 shows an overall increase of five percent in the annual mean mortality rates of females, 70-75 percent, and males, 80-85 percent, during the hen season period. Because of increased rates of mortality for both sexes, the data suggest an increase in non-hunting mortality rather than from hunting. Variation of Juvenile Mortality Rates During the First Year The trapping program in the Sutter Basin study area began in July, approximately 1 month after the peak of the hatching period. During July, a large portion of the juveniles are of sufficient size to retain a leg band. In 1954-1957, birds which were too small for a leg band, were banded with a wing clip. Thus, a larger number of juveniles could be sampled and a wider range in ages obtained. The band returns from juvenile birds were segregated into age groups by hatching periods. Ages were determined by checking the wing primaries at the time of trapping. 296 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 3 ,• _ First Year Mortality Rate for Juvenile Pheasants Hatched During Four Monthly Periods, Sutter Basin 1952-1958 (Expressed in percent) Mortality rates hy monthly period iirds hatched Age wh en trapped Sex April 8 to May 7 May 8 to June 7 June 8 to July 7 July 8 to August 7 9 to 11 weeks 9 to 11 weeks 5 to 7 weeks Male Female Uiisexed 86 62 86 69 84 86 78 89 91 88 87 The 9- to 11-week-old chick pheasant group, males and females, and the 5- to 7-week unsexed age group were chosen, primarily because they provide an adequate sample size. The hatching season was divided into four, 1-month periods, to evaluate rate of losses as related to hatching periods (Table 3). Juvenile males banded at 9 to 11 weeks of age show a uniform mortality rate of 86 percent until the late hatching period (July 8-August 7) when it increased to 91 percent. The same age group of females shows an increased rate of loss from 62 percent during the April 8-May 7 hatching period to 88 percent during the last month of the hatching period. The mortality rate of the unsexed 5- to 7-week age group is irregular, but generallj' increasing as the hatching season pro- gresses. Mortality Rates Calculated from Retrapped Wild Banded Birds An indication of the yearly turnover rate is also illustrated by an evaluation of retrapping data of wild banded birds from the period 1952-1957. A correction factor was applied to retrapped band return data, since the birds were not removed from the population (Buss, 1946). For unknown reasons, a bias was introduced for no juvenile males were retrapped after the first year banded, and there were fewer juvenile females as well. Information, based on the available retrap data, indicates an annual mean loss rate of 78 percent for males, 57 percent for females, and 58 percent for the population as a whole (Table 4). Results are com- TABLE 4 Mortality Rates Calculated from Retrapped Wild Pheasants Banded in Sutter Basin 1952-1957 ly mor taiity rate s in perct ?nr Antiual 2 3 4 5 mean 67 100 78 58 50 40 100 57 53 43 50 100 58 Sex 1 Male 83 Female 57 Both sexes 61 parable to that of the adults in Table 1. These results were expected because of the almost complete absence of juveniles in the retrapping data. Mortality Rates of Game Farm Birds Released on Licensed Pheasant Clubs Pen reared pheasants released in an area where a wild pheasant population exists have aroused much speculation on the survival and contribution they offer to the population. RING-NECKED PHEASANT POPULATIONS 297 The band reeoveiy from game farm birds released and shot on licensed pheasant elnbs was nearly 100 percent. Loss rates of pheasants were calculated for two groups of game farm birds, those released at least 5 days prior to the season, and those released immediately before and during the season. This was done to determine if a period of acclimatization was beneficial for the birds. Birds released on the clubs were 95 percent juvenile, but at least 16 weeks old. No variation in mortality rates in the different age classes was noted in this before-the-gun planting situation. The annual mean mortality rates for releases made 5 days or more before the season, compared to the releases made immediately before and (luring the season, show very slight variations at 97 and 96 per- cent respectively (Table 5). The juvenile female group indicates a slightly better chance of survival than the juvenile males; 5 percent for the females and 1 or 2 percent for males. First year loss rates are equal for both sexes. Some indication was noted that survival after the first year's losses approach the survival of wild birds of the same age group. However, returns are few the following year, and results are not conclusive. TABLE 5 Mortality Rates of Game Farm Reared Pheasants Released on Licensed Pheasant Clubs, Sutter Basin, 1950-1958 Yearly inortaUty raten in percent Annual Age Sex 12 3 '/ 5 mean Pre-season releases Juvenile Male 99 G7 100 99 Juvenile Female 95 80 100 95 Juvenile Both sexes 98 S^, 100 97 In-season releases Juvenile Male 98 91 100 98 Juvenile Female 96 75 50 50 100 95 Juvenile Both sexes 97 73 50 50 100 96 Combined releases Juvenile IMale 98 86 100 98 Juvenile Female 96 77 67 100 95 Juvenile Both sexes 97 73 67 100 96 Mortality of Game Farm Birds Released on State Co-operative Hunti^ig Area The Sutter Basin Co-operative Hunting Area was in operation from 1950 through 1954. Mortality rates for hens cannot be calculated since this area was not operated during the period of time hens could be taken during the regular hunting season. Thus, only males were re- leased on the area, and in this case only juvenile birds at least 16 weeks old. Rates were calculated for the preseason releases, made 5 days or more before the season, and those birds released immediately before and during the regular hunting season (Table 6). The annual mean loss rates were 96 percent for each of the two groups of birds. This was in close agreement with results found on licensed pheasant clubs (Table 5). 298 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME TABLE 6 Mortality Rates of Game Farm Reared Pheasants Released on State Cooperative Hunting Area^ Sutter Basin, 1950-1954 Yearly mortality rates in percent Annual Age Sex 12 3 4 mean Pre-season releases Juvenile Male 07 75 100 96 In-season releases Juvenile Male — 97 71 60 100 96 Combined releases Juvenile Male 97 65 67 100 96 Honey Lake Study Area Mortality Rates Mortaliiy Rates Calcidafed from Band Returns from Wild Banded Birds Wild birds were trapped and banded on this area from 1955 through 1961. A total of 637 bands or 34.3 percent was recovered from 1,859 pheasants trapped and banded on the area. Because hunters were han- dled through a checking station, an estimated 95 to 100 percent of the bands were recovered from those banded birds shot on the area. TABLE 7 Mortality Rates of Wild Pheasants Banded on the Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area Study Area, 1955-1961 Yearly mortality rates in percent Annual Age Sex 12 3 4 mean Adult Male 74 88 43 100 76 Juvenile Male 88 75 85 100 86 All ages Male 81 84 62 100 81 Adult Female * 69 73 100 72 Juvenile Female * 73 53 100 71 All ages Female * 71 64 100 71 All ages Both sexes * 69 79 100 73 * Includes returns only for the years 1955-57 when hen season was in effect. The mortality rate of juvenile males (Table 7) was 88 percent dur- ing the first year and the mean annual loss rate was 86 percent. This was consistent with rates of juvenile males in Sutter Basin. The adult male mean annual loss rate of 76 percent is slightly less than calcu- lated for this Sutter Basin age group. Mortality rate during the first year for juvenile females was 73 percent and an annual mean of 71 percent. The adult female loss rate was 72 percent. These rates indi- cate a higher female mortality rate as compared to that in Sutter Basin (Table 1). In making a comparison, the reader should keep in mind this includes only a 3-year period in which females were taken legally (1955-1957), and the band recovery data are not exactly com- parable. A more accurate comparison for females would be when band recoveries were equal and through a population turnover time period. Pheasant Hunting and Non-hunting Mortality Hunting and non-hunting mortality was computed for 1952-1954 in Sutter Basin by Hart (1955). Subsequent years, 1955-1957, were RING-NECKED PHEASANT POPULATIONS 299 computed in a similar manner when a hen season existed (Table 8). Hunting loss of hens during 1952-1954 occurred on licensed pheasant clnbs and during 1955-1957 hens were taken throughout the area during the regular hunting season as well as on licensed pheasant clubs. Results from Table 8 indicate the survival of hens remained the same during as before the regular hen season when it varied for males. A hunting mortality which increased five percent for females was sub- stituted for a percent of the non-hunting losses. TABLE 8 Percent of Survival, Hunting and Non-Hunting Mortality Based on Wild Pheasant Band Returns, Sutter Basin, 1952-54 and 1955-57 (Expressed in percent) Sex Time interval Survival Hunting loss Non-hunting loss Males Before hen season 1952-54 20 56 24 During hen season 1955-57 15 49 36 Females Before hen season 1952-54 35 9 56 During hen season 1955-57 35 14 51 Both sexes Before hen season 1952-54 30 27 43 During hen season 1955-57 23 28 49 TABLE 9 Percent of Survival, Hunting and Non-Hunting Mortality Based on Wild Pheasant Band Returns, Honey Lake Study Area, 1955-1958 (Expressed in percent) Sex Survival Hunting loss Non-hunting loss Male 14 74 12 Female 26 16 58 Both sexes 17 40 43 Percent of hunting and non-hunting mortality was estimated for the Honey Lake study area in a similar manner based on band returns for 1955-1958 (Table 9). During 3 of these 4 years, there was a hen season. Hunting mortality of males was 74 percent which was nearly 20 percent greater than in Sutter Basin and overall survival was still comparable. Hunting mortality rates for females compare closely with Sutter Basin rates. However, survival was down nearly 10 percent with no noticeable eifect on the breeding population. Annual Fluctuations of a Stable Wild Pheasant Population A graphic illustration of the annual fluctuations of a stable pheasant population in Figure 1 was calculated for the Sutter Basin study area during a 6-year period, 1953-1958. The Lincoln Index was used in com- puting the August population estimates and the Kelker Index was used for the November and January estimates. The population fluctuates from approximately 39,000 birds at the hatching peak to 12,000 at the breeding season. The extremely rapid increase in the population during May and June is induced by the 300 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME ■6nv tn SONVSnOHl Nl NOIlVindOd lNVSV3Hd IT) O IT) O lO o ^ t ro lO CJ CM in EING-NECKED PHEASANT POPULATIONS 301 o > UJ c o u 0) a. X 0) 'I D) c C 0 M D 0) a o > 3 «0 liJ O 00 (O * CNJ sivnoiAiONi JO aaawDN 302 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME yearly hatch. However, a high mortality rate reduces the population by January where a reduced rate of loss can be detected. The projected adult population indicates how much a season's pheasant population depends on the young birds of the year. To further illustrate the high annual population turnover, a clutch of eggs can be followed through a life cycle calculated from available data (Figure 2). Approximately 22 percent of the original 11.9 eggs of an average clutch fails to hatch. At 8 weeks, about five chicks remain and by the end of December approximately two chicks are surviving from the original clutch. Few birds live longer than the third year. DISCUSSION A pheasant population possesses the breeding potential of stocking an area beyond the carrying capacity. This management concept is gen- erally accepted by wildlife scientists. Because of this breeding potential, a portion of the population can be harvested, whether it be male or female without endangering the breeding population. A controlled harvest by hunting displaces some of the natural mortality, and overall survival is about the same as if no hunting occurred. As high as 56 percent of the female population was taken by hunting on the Pelee Island study (Stokes, 1954). The reported effect on the breeding population was a slight decline. On co-operative hunting areas in California a harvest of females was calculated to be as high as 45 percent. This was done during the 3-year period hens were taken legally without reducing the breeding population. Hart (1955) indicated the hunter success was increased 20-25 percent when hunting regulations were changed to include one hen in the seasonal bag in northern and central California. No detriments to the spring breeding population can be attributed to this change. Approximately 126,000 hens were taken in California during the 1955 regular hunting season as calcu- lated by Hart (1955). Estimating the cost to raise this number of birds for release from game farms would be about $375,000. This harvest is in excess of 1.5 times the number of birds released from game farms in California during 1955 at no cost and without harm to the breeding population. Mortality rates of wild pheasants and game farm reared birds in California are comparable to those found in Canada, Wisconsin, Penn- sylvania, and other states as reported by Leopold et al. (1943), Buss (1946), McCabe (1949), and Robertson (1958). SUMMARY The ring-necked pheasant populations were studied in two areas: (i) the Sutter Basin, Sutter County, California, consisting of 68,000 acres of intensively farmed agricultural land in Sacramento Valley; and (ii) the 2,092-acre Fleming Unit of the Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area, 4 miles west of Wendel, Lassen County, California. Information presented was obtained from trapping, banding, and band return data from 21,098 wild pheasants for a 10-year period (1952- 1961), and 56,777 game farm reared pheasants for an 8-year period (1950-1957). Band returns and retrapping returns totaled 28,510. Mortality rates were estimated by a method developed by Hickey. Pheasant loss rates in the Sutter Basin study area indicated juvenile RING-NECKED PHEASANT POPULATIONS 303 males were at 86 percent the first year with a mean annual rate of 84 percent. The mean annnal rate of Joss for adult males was 78 percent. Mortality rate for juvenile females was 71 percent the first year with a mean annual rate of 65 percent. Adult female mean annual rate of loss was 58 percent. The mortality rate for a stable pheasant population was estimated at 73 percent annually. Survival of pheasant chicks was greater for those hatched earlier in the season. Rates of mortality calu- lated from retrapped wild birds compared closely with the rates from band return data. The oldest band return recovered during the study was one female banded as a juvenile 6 years before. Loss rates were computed for the 3-year period when hens could be taken during the regular season and compared with the 4 years when only limited hen shooting on licensed pheasant clubs existed. The results indicated no adverse effects to the wild pheasant breeding popu- lation. Rates of loss were similar under the two hunting conditions. The mortality rate of game farm reared birds was extremely high for both sexes the first year released ; 95-99 percent. After surviving 1 year in the field the rate of loss is somewhat comparable to that of wild birds. Mortality rates of wild birds on the Honey Lake Waterfowl Manage- ment Area study area, estimated from band returns, indicated a mean annual loss rate of 86 percent for juvenile males, 76 percent for adult males, 71 percent for juvenile females, and 72 percent for adult fe- males. Results were similar to those in Sutter Basin for males, with a higher mortality rate for the females, but the same rate of 73 percent for the mean annual mortality rate for the population as a whole. A graphic illustration of the annual pheasant population fluctuations was calculated for Sutter Basin during a 6-year period (1953-1958). Using the Lincoln and Kelker indices, a population was calculated with a 39,000-bird hatching peak, to a low of 12,000 birds at the breeding season annually. Survival, hunting, and non-hunting mortalities based on wild pheas- ant band returns were calculated for Sutter Basin (1952-1957) and Honey Lake (1955-1958). Annual population survival is approximately 23 percent, hunting loss approximately 28 percent, and non-hunting mortality 49 percent in Sutter Basin. Honey Lake study area results for a comparable period indicate a 17-percent annual survival vsdth 40 percent hunting loss and 43 percent non-hunting loss. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to express their appreciation for important contri- butions made by other personnel who worked on the pheasant project, especially Jack C. Bechtel, Russell D. Haynes, and project 30-R mem- bers who aided in the hunting season checks. Special thanks are ex- tended to Malcolm E. Foster, former manager of the Honey Lake "Waterfowl Management Area. REFERENCES Allen, Durward L. 1947. Hunting as a limitation to Michigan pheasants. Jour, of Wild. Manage- ment, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 233-243. Bellrose, Frank C, Jr., and Elizabeth Brown Chase 1950. Population losses in the mallard, black duck, and blue-winged teal. 111. Nat. Hist. Surv., Biol. Notes no. 22, pp. 27. 304 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Buss, Irvin O. 1946. Wisconsin plieasant populations. Wisconsin Conservation Dept., Pub. 326, A-46, pp. 184. Harper, Harold T., Chester M. Hart, and Dale E. Shaffer 1950. Effects of hunting pressure and game farm stocking on pheasant popula- tions in the Sacramento Valley, Calif. 1946-1949. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 141-175. Harper, Harold T. 1960. The effects of a three year limited hen season on pheasant populations in California, 1955-1957. 40th Ann. Conf. of Western Assoc, of State Game and Fish Coram. Trans., pp. 168-176. Hart, Chester M. 1954. Pheasant hunting pressure in California. 34th Ann. Conf. of Western Assoc, of State Game and Fish Comm., Proc, pp. 219-220. 1955a. Pheasant survival studies in California. 35th Ann. Conf. of Western Assoc, of State Game and Fish Comm., Proc, pp. 246-256. 1955b. We can shoot more pheasants. Outdoor California, vol. 16, no. 11, pp. 6, 7, 10. Hickey, Joseph I. 1950. Survival studies of banded birds. Special scientific report ; Wildlife no. 15, Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Dept. of the Interior. Lack, David 1943a. The age of the blackbird. British Birds, vol. 36, no. 9, pp. 166-175. 1943b. The age of some more British birds. British Birds, vol. 36, no. 10, pp. 193-197. 1946. Do juvenile birds survive less well than adults? British Birds, vol. 39, no. 9, pp. 258-264. Leopold, Aldo, Theodore M. Sperry, William S. Feeney, and John A. Catenhusen. 1943. Population turnover on a Wisconsin pheasant refuge. Jour, of AVild. Management, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 383-394. Mallette, Robert D., Jack B. Bechtel 1959. Movement of the ring-necked pheasant in the Sutter Basin of California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 189-202. McCabe, Robert A. 1949. A ten-year study of a refuge population of ring-necked pheasants. Un- published Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Wisconsin, pp. 157. Paludin, Knud 1951. Contributions to the breeding biology of Lanis argentatus and Larus fuscus. Vidensk. Medd. fra Dansk Noturh. Foren. Bd. 114. Reprint, pp. 1-218, 2 pi. 1957. Some results of marking experiments on pheasants from a Danish estate (KalO). Danish Review of Game Biology, vol. 3, pt. 3. Robertson, William B., Jr. 1958. Investigation of ring-necked pheasants in Illinois. Div. of Game Manage- ment, Dept. of Conservation Technical Bulletin No. 1, pp. 137. Shick, Charles 1952. A study of pheasants on the 9,000 acre prairie farm, Gaginow County, Michigan. Game Div., Michigan, Dept. of Conservation, Lansing, Mich., pp. 134. Stokes, Allen W. 1954. Population studies of the ring-necked pheasant on Pelee Island, Ontario. Ontario Lands and Forest Dept. Wildlife series no. 4, pp. 154. Williams, 0. S. 1952. The "Williams" method of utilizing banding data for the purpose of de- termining waterfowl mortality. Unpublished. Westershov, Kaj 1956. Productivity of New Zealand pheasant populations. New Zealand Dept. of Internal Affairs, Wildlife Div., Wildlife Puldication no. 40B. NOTES NORTHERN RANGE EXTENSION OF THE COW ROCKFISH, SEBASTODES LEVIS On September 19, 1963, a juvenile cow rockfish was caught 5.5 miles WSW of Usal, California (lat. 39° 49' N., long. 123° 58' W.) in 72 fathoms of water by the California Department of Fish and Game research vessel N. B. Scofield while shrimp trawling with a 41-foot, lV4-inch-mesh Gulf shrimp trawl. A bathythermograph cast indicated the water temperature was 9.3° C. at 61 fathoms. Phillips (1957) gives the northern limit of 8. levis as Monterey, California; however, a juvenile was caught by a commercial shrimp trawler in 76 fathoms off Fort Bragg, California, on May 11, 1959 (J. B. Phillips, pers. comm.). It was a male, 146 mm tl, and weighed 418 g. The Usal specimen was of similar size, but was not measured. These two specimens extend the northern known range of S. levis some 345 miles from Monterey to Usal. LITERATURE CITED Phillips, .Julius B. 1957. A review of the rockfishes of California (family Scorpaenidae). Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Fish Bull. 104, 158 p., 66 figs. — Melvyn W. Odemar, Marine Resources Operations, California Depart- ment of Fish and Game, June 1964. SOUTHERN RANGE EXTENSION OF THE EULACHON, THALEICHTHYS PACIFICUS The eulachon (family Osmeridae), also known as candlefish, is anad- romous and spawns from ]\Iarch to mid-May in streams from the Klamath River, in northern California, to the Nushagak River, Alaska (McAllister, 1963). Local residents have reported this species in Red- wood Creek, Humboldt County, 15 miles south of Klamath River. Miller (1960) reported T. pacificus from the Mad River, Humboldt County, some 35 miles south of Klamath River, but did not mention spawning runs in the river. During the spring of 1963, runs of T. pacificus in Klamath River, Redwood Creek, and Mad River reported by local residents, were confirmed by personnel of the California De- partment of Fish and Game. These runs were large enough for a commercial fishery to develop, and nearly 56,000 pounds were reported sold. An additional unknown amount was taken by sport fishermen. The bulk of the catch was made during April. During April 1963, the California Department of Fish and Game research vessel Alaska, while shrimp trawling with a 41-foot headrope, 1^-inch-mesh Gulf shrimp trawl, captured 114 specimens of T. pacificus in the ocetm between Crescent Citv and Bodega Head, Sonoma County, California (Table 1). (305 ) 306 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME The first catch of T. pacificus south of its reported range occurred on April 17 and 18, 1963, off Mendocino County. Single specimens were caught at 3 of 18 stations from Mistake Point to Bruhel Point. Later during the same cruise (April 20-22), the Alaska caught 92 specimens at 14 of 24 stations from Salt Point south to Bodega Head. As many as 16 eulachon were caught in a 20-minute haul. T. pacificus were again caught off Mendocino County on September 19-21, 1963. The Department's research vessel N. B. Scofield, using identical shrimp nets, captured nine specimens at 5 of 22 stations (Table 1). The most recent catches south of its previously reported range were made by the N. B. Scofield during a shrimp cruise in April 1964 (Table 1). On April 17 and 19, single specimens were caught at two stations near Big Flat and Abalone Point in Mendocino County. Dur- ing the same cruise, eight more were caught at 7 of 47 stations between Salt Point and Bodega Head. The southernmost capture of T. pacificus was made 5 miles southwest of Bodega Head (lat. 38° 15' N., long. 123° 08' W.). The range for T. pacificus is thus extended approximately 180 miles south from the Mad River. TABLE 1 Cctch Data for 114 Thateicbthys pacificus Approximate Surface Water depth Number of location Date temperature (fathoms) specimens lat. 39° 40' N., long. 123° 55' W. April 17, 18, 1963 11.8°-11.9°C 55-72 3 lat. 39° 40' N., long. 123° 55' W. Sept. 19, 20, 21, 1963 13.3°-14.4°C 50-64 9 lat. 39° 50' N., long. 124° 00' W. April 17, 19, 1964 7.8°- 8.6°C 54-59 2 lat. 38° 25' N., long. 123° 20' W. April 20, 21, 22, 1963 10.9°-11.2°C 47-60 92 lat. 38° 20' N., long. 123° 15' W. April 21, 24, 25, 26, 1964 9.6°-10.3°C 44-58 8 The catches made near Bodega Head during the spring when they normally enter rivers to spawn, suggests these fish may spawn in the Russian River, which is just north of Bodega Head. However, six fish (two females and four males) captured near the mouth of the Russian River on April 21, 1963, had undeveloped gonads. These fish, 135 to 151 mm TL (average 142.8 mm), were considerably smaller than spawn- ing T. pacificus found in the Cowlitz and Sandy Rivers, tributaries to the Columbia River (Smith and Saalfield, 1955). T. pacificus in these rivers averaged 170.1 mm tl, and none was smaller than 130 mm. Meristic counts for the Bodega Head specimens (gill rakers, 20-22; anal rays, 19-24; pectoral rays, 11) fall within ranges cited by Smith and Saalfield (1955) for this species. No runs of T. pacificus have been reported in the Russian River, or in any river south of the Mad River, and it does not appear that the fish examined off the Russian River in May 1963 were destined to spawn there. NOTES 307 LITERATURE CITED McAllistpr, I). K. 1963. A revision of the smelt family, Osmeridae. Nat. Mu.s. Cnnadji, Hull. 1!)1, Miller, Daniel J. 1960. (Rev. Ed. Part I.) A field guide to .some common ocean sport fishes of California. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, 40 pp. Smith, Wendell E. and Robert W. Saalfield 1955. Studies on Columbia River smelt, Thaleichthys pacificus. Wash. Dcpt. Fish., Fish. Res. Pap., vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 3-26. - — Melvyn W. Odemar, Marine Resources Operations, California Depart- ment of Fish and Game, June 1964. DIET OF STRIPED BASS AT MILLERTON LAKE, CALIFORNIA Stomach contents of striped bass, Roccvs saxatiUs, collected at Miller- ton Lake from April through November, 1963 were examined using a rapid analysis technique (Borgeson, 1963). Nineteen angler-caught and 20 gillnet caught bass contained food. Four of these were juveniles (8 to 10 inches fork length) and the others adults (21 to 34 inches FL). The adult striped bass contained 1,239 threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense, constituting over 99 percent numerically and 94 percent volumetrically of the total contents. The stomachs also contained one bluegill, Lepomis macrochir'us, and two unidentifiable fish. One 15- pound female contained 696 shad. The juvenile bass contained 16 shad, 3 sculpin. Coitus sp., and 2 un- identifiable fish. Shad constituted 76 percent numerically and 45 per- cent volumetrically of their contents. While definite conclusions are precluded by the small sample, the results indicate bass feed largely on threadfin shad from April through November. Similarly, elupeids were the most important fishes in the diet of striped bass in Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina, and sport fish were found in less than 1 percent of the bass stomachs there (Stevens, 1957). Mayfly larvae were also important in the bass diet there. I sincerely thank Victor Red of Fresno who collected the stomachs from angler-caught fish. LITERATURE CITED Borgeson, David P. 1963. A rapid method for food-habits studios. Amer. Fish. Soc, Trans., vol. 92, pp. 434-435. Stevens, Robert E. 1957. The striped bass of the Santee-Cooper Reservoir. Proc. 11th Ann. Conf. S. E. Assoc. Game and Fish Coram., pp. 253-264. — Lee F. Goodson, Jr., Inland Fisheries Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, May 1964. BOOK REVIEWS Huniing Ducks and Geese By Edward C. Janes, The Stackpole Company, Harrisburg, Pa., 1964 ; 187 pp., illustrated with text figures and color plates ; $5.95. The author has fully covered the subject, from the "good old days" to the "future of waterfowl gunning." His chapters on blinds, decoys, boats, dogs, guns, clothes and equipment, and on preparing waterfowl for the table allow the novice to make wiser selections in these fields. The last two chapters of Mr. Janes's book inform the reader of the history of the conservation movement and its possible future. He reviews the "hard" and some- times dangerous work of State Wardens and Federal Agents in enforcing the hunt- ing laws, and how researchers have worked to gain more knowledge of waterfowl migrations and illnesses. Mr. Janes very bluntly informs the reader that many con- servation leaders believe "our game birds are doomed." He goes on to say that by working together we can possibly conserve most of our game birds, or at least pro- long for many, many years their ultimate destruction. I was very impressed with the 18 pages of color plates. This is one of the best and most complete sets of pictures I've seen on waterfowl. Two pages of pictures of upland game birds also add interest to the section. The book is written by a person familiar with the eastern portion of the United States and the methods illustrated are predominantly those used there. Although this is true, if the hunter will apply Mr. Janes's suggestions regardless of where he is hunting, I am sure he will have more enjoyment as well as success while, "hunt- ing ducks and geese." — Dick Laursen, California Department of Fish and Game. Marine Disfributions Edited by M. J. Dunbar, Univ. Toronto Press, Ontario, Can., 1963 ; viii + 110 p., illus. ; $5. The Royal Society of Canada held a symposium in June 1962 to focus attention on marine biogeography and the distribution of environmental factors in the sea, and to introduce the new Serial Atlas of the Marine Environment. Marine Distri- butions is the report of the symposium papers. Five papers on five separate topics serve to emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of research in the marine environ- ment. "Seasonal temperature structure in the eastern subarctic Pacific Ocean," discusses the development and decay of the seasonal thermocline, and the entrapment of winter water in a sub-thermocline duct. This entrapment makes it possible to record winter temperatures during oceanographic surveys conducted the following summer. "Distribution of attached marine algae in relation to oceanographic conditions in the northeast Pacific" reports on attached marine algae occurring from northern California to Attn Island, in the Aleutian Chain. The possibility of using these organisms as indicators of long-term oceanographic conditions is explored. Their sedentary hal)its and relatively long life span should provide a measure of the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the environment in which they live. The author of "Distributions of Atlantic pelagic organisms in relation to surface water bodies" has combined plankton information (collected with a Hardy continu- ous plankton recorder) with temperature-salinity information (collected concur- rently) and constructed temperature-salinity-plankton (T-S-P) diagrams. He used these T-S-P diagrams to establish the presence of six water masses in the eastern north Atlantic. In "Copepods of the genus Calanus as indicators of eastern Canadian waters" three species are used as indicators of north Atlantic, arctic, or subarctic (mixed) water masses. A method of identifying the species is also provided. The fifth paper examines the ability of macroscopic crustaceans to osmoregulate in waters of different salinity as a factor in their distribution. Four groups are designated: (i) poh/strvohaline osmoconformers, which inhabit the ocean; (ii) ( HOS ) REVIEWS 309 euryhaline osmoreRulators. which inhabit waters of reduced, fluctuatiiifj, or ex- tremely high salinity; (iii) oligostenohaline osmoregulators, which inhabit fresh water; and (iv) holeuryhaline osnioregulators, which are equally at home in fresh water or full strength sea water. In general, the number of crustacean species tends to decrease with decreasing salinity. The symposium was summarized by Dr. Lionel Walford in a short paper con- taining some very thoughtful statements. Administrators planning jjrojects, and field researchers, would be well advised to peruse this summary occasionally ; it will helj) bring their perspective back into focus. — E. A. Best, California Department of Fish and Game. The Fisherman's Encyclopedia Second Edition edited by Ira N. Gabrielson ; associate editors : Francesca La Monte and Charles K. Fox, the Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Fa., ]963; xxix + 759 p. illustrated in black and white and color, $17.50. Many readers will recognize this title and realize The Fisherman's Encyclopedia is not a new book but a revised edition of the popular sportfisherman's reference first published in 1950. Undoubtedly, there are numerous reasons for publishing a new edition rather than reprinting additional copies of the original. Two good reasons are: (i) a new edi- tion allows an author to present recent findings on his subject and (ii) he is able to correct errors that appeared in the original publication. I have used these as criteria upon which to base this review. Overall, I was rather disappointed for I anticipated a complete revision but found instead that, by-and-large, it was unchanged. The new edition expanded from the original 698 pages to 759 ; the list of contributors grew from 68 to 86 ; and a second associate editor was added. However, it is still composed of seven major sections, only two of which were revised completely : Section III, "Craft for Fishing" and Section IV, "Fish Conservation." These two revised sections, a new supplementary appendix and a slightly expanded discussion of skindiving and spinfishing in Section II (Fishing Equipment and Fishing Methods) account for the increased pages and are decided improvements over the original edition. Sections V through VII "Where to Fish," "When and How to Fish," and "Miscellaneous Topics" remain much the same, with changes ranging from none, to minor editing, and updating of such material as organizational structure of the International Gamefish Association. A large section of the book (Section I) still is devoted to descriptions of fresh and saltwater gamefish. Because they are most familiar, my attention was concen- trated toward checking the Pacific Coast marine species. The list of errors was lengthy, indicating a lack of both revision and correction. Doubtlessly, some may be oversight and others typographical. Regardless of the source they could be forgiven more easily if they had not been repeated from the original. Some examples will il- lustrate the easily located mistakes. The Atka mackerel illustration is placed incor- rectly with the scombrids while the text material is placed correctly with the green- lings. The spearfish and yellowtail-amberjack information is not up-to-date. The California sheephead is illustrated incorrectly with the porgies while the text (with an erroneous common name) is grouped correctly with the wrasses. The rockfish section is inadequate considering their importance in California's sportfishery (only one species is mentioned, and two of its three assigned common names were in error). Nomenclature for the mackerel family (Sconibridae) was modernized but relationships of the Spanish mackerels (Scomhrronwnis) were ignored and the Atlantic cero illustration was misplaced with the croakers ; only a few Pacific Coast anglers will recognize the familiar skipjack tuna by the name oceanic bonito. It is difficult to imagine why the list of contributors was expanded yet the editors failed to include an authority on Pacific Coast fishes to review that section. Many errors might have been avoided by this action. As an alternative, the editors might have consulted the American Fisheries Society's 1960 list of common and scientific fish names. This publication has gained wide acceptance as a standard, and its use could have saved many errors and avoided introducing another system of common names. The new appendix contains the Outdoor Writers Association's checklist of common names for American sportfishes but it was not followed in the text. Photo-offset printing was used liberally to produce this volume directly from pages of the original. In several instances there were references to figures in the text that had been copied literally from the old edition so that page numbers were erroneous or the figures deleted. The photos reproduced by this method were darker and showed less detail in the new edition, and the new associate editor was omitted on the title page. 310 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME The most serious omission is the loss of the subsection entitled "Building a Fisher- man's Library" which appeared in the old edition. The new volume is a fine refer- ence for anglers but it does not express the opinions and methods of all the experts. It seems a grievous mistake for an "encyclopedia" to fail to expand this topic and include not only the classic references but also many of the excellent publications that have appeared on the market within the last 13 years. Basically The Fisherman'' s Encyclopedia is an interesting, informative, and well illustrated book that deserves a prominent place on every serious angler's shelf. However, many potential buyers will be discouraged by the 30 percent price in- crease that does not seem fully justified by the quality of revision. — William L. Craig, California Department of Fish and Game. The Geese Fly High By Florence Page Jaques, Univ. Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, second printing 1964, 102 pp., illus. ; $4.50. If you've wanted the woman's viewpoint on waterfowl hunting and roughing it, this is the book ! Florence Page Jaques relates her impressions as she traveled with Francis Lee Jaques, her husband and noted artist, through duck and goose hunting areas in Minnesota, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The author's account is so popular that the publishers reissued this book. Her husband's black and white sketches artfully illustrate many episodes in the narration. In addition, the author uses the talented Mr. Jaques's drawings of water- fowl tactfully throughout the book. Although she did not intend it, I thought some sections of her story were a bit pretentious ; for example, she wrote that they hired a cook for their stay at the Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary in Louisiana. Perhaps this situation induced dismay rather than admiration on my part. But again, the story is a woman's outlook on the subject and all husbands, particularly those that are hunters, know about diverse opinions. In all sincerity, I recommend this book for enjoyable reading ; the battle of the sexes notwithstanding. — James C. Thomas, Calif oryiia Department of Fish and Game. The Quiet Crisis By Stewart L. Udall ; Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc., New York, 1963 ; xii -f 209 p., color plus black-and-white illustrations ; $5. This is one of the outstanding books on conservation in modern times. The au- thor, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall conveys not only a feeling of his depth of knowledge, but a strong personal conviction in the concept he expounds. Basically, he describes, in historical sequence, the land story of the American earth and the changing land attitudes of those who have used it and lived on it. He begins by describing the attachment the Indian had for his environment, fol- low^ed by the contrasting story of the "White Indian" or mountain man, who showed great courage but was motivated by far different objectives from the red man. Next upon the scene were the early naturalists, such as Audubon, Bartram, and Thoreau, who revelled in their discoveries of the nature-man relationship. The new continent was their laboratory. The period following was one in which the raids on our resources were rampant. On one hand was the "give away" of public lands and on the other the careless exploitation of our soils, forests, and wildlife. Beginning landmarks in the conservation conscience, which arose under such leaders as Carl Schurz, John Wesley Powell, John Muir, and Teddy Roosevelt, are described. This all leads up to the heart of the message, which the author calls the "quiet conservation crises of the 1960's." Our technological advances such as river development, atomic energy, pesticides, etc. have created a whole new set of problems. Most state and city governments face so many growth problems they have little time for foresight in planning their over-all environment. Although the conservation message of this book is not new, it is refreshingly re- told in a manner of sincerity and strength which will lay hold of professional and layman alike. It is a must in reading by every American concerned with his future environment. — Willis A. Evans, California Department of Fish and Game. REVIEWS 311 The Wonders of Wildlife By F. A. KocdelbciKi'f niul Vera Groschoff, English translation J)y Mary Phillips, The Viking Press, Xev, York, 1963; 232 p., illustrated; $8.50. This book provides a wonderful stay-at-home nature expedition for all conserva- tionists and nature-lovers. In this sequel to Tlie Wonderful World of Nature, 280 photographs have been combined to create a volume of unparalleled beauty and scope. The 24 color photos cover such diverse subjects as : grey seals, red deer, puffins, salmon, barnacles, anemones, newts, etc. The volume has better balance than its predecessor, as it contains a wider variety of plant and animal subjects. Most, but not all, of the subjects depicted in this volume are European. The ap- pendix lists the major nature sanctuaries in 27 countries. An alphabetical index of common and scientific names of all depicted species accompanies the text. Informa- tive, well-written captions accompany each photograph in the book. The reproduc- tion and printing of the photographs was superbly done, resulting in pictures of unusual depth and clarity. We should be grateful to the European publishers and printers who have made volumes such as this available to the American public at reasonable prices. I would recommend this book without reservation to all who have an interest in The Wonders of Wildlife. — Michael L. Johnson, California Department of Fish and Game. INDEX TO VOLUME 50 Abalone : in skindiver catch, 117 Abalone, black : pollution caused mor- tality, 38 Abundance : juvenile striped bass, 66-99 Acanthina spirata: 12 Acanihocybium solanderi: 202 Acer macrophyllum: 147 Acmaea: 21 Age: bluegill, 283 ; largemouth bass, 281 ; of sardine catch, 241 ; sharpnose seaperch, 44 ; of Sutherland Reservoir bass, 281 ; pheasant, 294 ; ribbon- fish, 235, 239 aggregata, Cymatogaster: 44 aliihinga, Thunnus: 203, 219 (ihiscanus, Sehasfolohus: 265 alhacares, Thumiiis: 219, 237 Albaeore: feeding on ribbonfish, 228 Albrecht, Arnold B.: Some observations on factors associated with sur- vival of striped bass eggs and larvae, 100-113 ; California striped bass estimates for 3961, 215-216 Alepisaurus horealis: 232 Algae: oft' Canyon de las Encinas, 186 Allothirnnus fallal: 195 .1 lopias superciliosus: 195 altirelis, ^Sehastolobus: 265 altivelis, Trachipterus: 233 Alverson, Franklin G., and Bruce M. Chatwin: 1916, the pioneer year of tuna tagging on the Pacific coast of North Amer- ica, 218-219 Amphipods: in ribbonfish stomach, 232 ; killed by chemicals, 21 Anchovy, northern: in bait catch, 199 ; in slender tuna stomach, 201 Anemones, sea: unaffected by chemicals, 21 Annelida: off Canyon de las Encinas, 187 annulatus, ^phaeroides: 189 Alio Nuevo Island: sea otter occurrence, 122 Anoplopo)na fimbria: 265 Aiifliopleura elegantissima: 21 atitrostomus, Idiacanthus: 232 Aphrodite sp.: 234 Applegate, Shelton P., and John E. Fitch: A new species of eagle ray, Myliobatis longirostris, from Baja California, Mexico, 189-194 aqiiaboiiito, Salmo: 152 Arctostaphylos sp.: 147 argentea, Sphyraena: 117 argenteum, Hyperprosopon: 44 Argyropelecus sp. : 234 Arrowworms : in ribbonfish stomach, 233 Arthropoda : off Canyon de las Encinas, 187 Arthropods : food of centrarchids, 172 ntricauda, Symphurus, 37 atripes, Phanerodon, 42 Auxis rochei: 203 B Banding : ring-necked pheasants, 293 Barnacles : food of Acanthina, 18 Barracuda, California : in skindiver catch, 117 Bass, Florida largemouth : in Suther- land Reservoir, 272 Bass, giant sea : in skindiver catch, 117 Bass, kelp : tagged underwater, 29 Bass, largemouth : fingerling food habits, 158; food habits, 170; in Sutherland Reservoir, 272 Bass, sand : tagged underwater, 29 Bass, striped : annual abundance of young, 66 ; at Millerton Lake, 307 ; egg and larval survival. 100 ; 1961 catch estimates, 215 BatJu/lagiis sp.: 234 Bell, Robert R.: Weight-length relation- ship for bluefin tuna in the California fishery, 1963, 216- 218 Best, E. A.: Spawning of longspine channel rockfish, Sebastolobus altivelis Gilbert, 265-267 Blackdragon : in ribbonfish stomach, 232 Blacksmelt : in ribbonfish stomach, 234 Bluegill: eaten by striped bass, 307 ; in Sutherland Reservoir, 272 Bocaccio: at Cortez Bank, 43 Bond, Carl E. : see Van Arsdel and Bond, 125 Bonito, Pacific: in skindiver catch, 117 ; otolith, 202 horealis, Alepisaurus: 232 Bothids: in skindiver catch, 117 ; tagged underwater, 29 Brachyistius frenatus: 43 Browning, Bruce M., and Earl M. Lauppe: A deer study in a red- wood-Douglas fir forest type, 132-147 Browse : measuring growth and utili- zation, 148 Bryozoa: off Canvou de las Encinas, 188 Bullhead, brown: in Sutherland Reser- voir, 272 (312) INDEX 313 Cabezon: in skiiulivcr catch, 117 caey-uleu.t, l^ardinops: 53, 241 Calaprice, John R., and John E. Cush- ing: Erythrocyte antigens of California trouts, 152-157 califoniidiiufi. Zalophus: 122 califoniica, Sqiiatina: 117 califoriiica, UmheUularia: 147 califoniiciis, Myliohatis: 19 caUfornicus, Paralichihi/s: 33. 117 caJiforuiensis, Mediahtna: 117 Canyon de las Encinas: ecological sub- marine survey, 176 Carcharhinus sp.: 189 carcharins, Carcharodon: 261 Carcharias ferox: 4 Carcharodon carcharias: 261 Caulolatilus princeps: 29, 43, 253 caurinus, Seiastodes: 44 Ceanothiis incanus: 147 Census, creel: at Sutherland Reservoir, 273 Centrarchidae: eaten by fingerling bass, 164 Centrarchids: food items, 170 Cephnloscyllium uter: 117 Chadwick, Harold K.: Annual abund- ance of young striped bass, Roccus saxatilis, in the Sacra- mento-San Joaquin Delta, California, 69-99; see La Faunce, Kimsev, and Chad- wick, 271-291 Chatwin, Bruce M.: see Alverson and Chatwin, 218 chiliensis, Sarda: 117, 202 Chloroscomhrus orqueta: 189 Chordata: off Canyon de las Encinas: 188 chrpsolepis, Quercus: 147 cinerea, Urosalpinx: 11 Citharichthys sordidus: 37 Clams, littleneck: prey of Ocenehra: 18 clathratiis, Parala'brax: 29, 117 Clear Lake: bass food habits, 158 Cod, Pacific: swim bladder deflation, 259 Coelenterata: off Canyon de las En- cinas, 187 colchicus, Phasianus: 292 Collier, Ralph S.: Report on a recent shark attack off San Fran- cisco, California, 261 columbianus, Odocoileus hemionus: 132 concolor, Scomberonwrus: 202 Convict Creek: trout experiments, 152 Coryphaenoididae : in trawl catch, 265 Corophium: 21 Cottidae: eaten by fingerling bass, 164 Coitus sp.: 307 Crab, pelagic: eaten by ribbonfish, 2.38 cracherodii, HaUotis: 38 Craig, William L.: see Fitch and Craig, 195-206 Crappie, black: food habits, 170 Crassostrea virginica: 11 crenuUiris, Tarletonheania: 2.34 crustatus, Zu: 229 Croaker, spotfin: exophthalinia from pollution, 35 Croaker, white: erythrocytes used, 1.56 ; in skindiver catch, 117 ; papil- lomas from pollutants, 37 cvysoJeucas, Notemigonus: 158, 272 Gushing, John E.: see Calaprice and Cushing, 152-157 Cusk-eel, basketweave: with papilloma, 37 cyaneUus, Lepoiiiis: 272 Cyiiiatogaster aggregata: 44 Cynoscion nohilis: 36, 117 Cyprinidae: eaten by fingerling bass, 164 Daugherty, Anita E. ; The sand shark, Carcharias ferox (Risso), in California, 4-10 Daugherty, Anita E., and Robert S. Wolf : Age and length composi- tion of the sardine catch off the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico in 1961-62, 241-252 Deer, Columbian black-tailed : in red- wood-Douglas fir forest, 132 ; parasites, 142 Delta : striped bass abundance, 66-99 ; striped bass eggs and larvae, 100-113 Desmodema polysticta: 231 diego, Scomber: 204 Distribution : grass rockfisb, 125 ; hy- brid flounder, 118 ; oyster pred- ators, 14 ; sand shark, 4 ; sea otter, 122 ; sharpnose sea- perch, 42 ; striped bass eggs and larvae, 109 ; striped bass juveniles, 66-99 Dorosoma petenense: 58, 170, 272, 307 dorsalis, Seriola: 117 Douglas-fir : deer habitat, 132 Drills, eastern : oyster predators, 11 Drills, Japanese : oyster predators, 11 Drills, oyster : in Tomales Bay, 11 Ebert, Earl E. : Underwater tagging gun, 29-32; see Turner, Ebert, and Given, 176-188 Echinodermata : off Canyon de las En- cinas, 188 edulis, Mytilus: 18 elegantissima, Anthopleura: 21 314 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME elongatus, Ophiodon: 117 emarginata, Thais: 14 Emliotoca jacksoni: 44 Embiotocids : in skindiver catch, 117 ; tagged underwater, 29 EngrauUs mordax: 199 En hydra hitris nereis: 122 Erythrocyte : antigens in trout, 152 Eulachon : southern range extension, 305 Eumetopias juhata : 123 Eiiphausiia pacifica: 235 Euphausiids : in ribbonfish stomach, 235 Euthynnus lineatus: 203 gigas, Stereolepis: 117 Girella nigricans : 117 Given, Robert R.: see Turner, Ebert, and Given, 176-188 Gonyaulax sp. : 183 Goodson, Lee F., Jr. : Diet of striped bass at Millerton Lake, Cali- fornia, 307 Gotshall, Daniel W. : Increasing tagged rockfish (genus Sehastodes) survival bv deflating the swim bladder, 253-260 Growth : juvenile striped bass, 95 guttata, Scorpaena: 29, 117 Gymnothorax mordax: 117 fallai, Allothunnus: 195 Farallon Islands : scene of shark at- tack, 261 ; skindiving area, 115 ferox, C arch arias: 4 fimhria, Anoplopoma: 265 Fish : as fingerling bass food, 161 Fishery : at Sutherland Reservoir, 271 ; for sardines in 1961-62, 241 Fishes : off Canyon de las Encinas, 186 Fitch, John E. : The ribbonfishes (fam- ily Trachipteridae) of the eastern Pacific Ocean, with a description of a new species, 228-240 ; see Applegate and Fitch, 189-194 Fitch, John E., and William L. Craig : First records for the bigeye thresher (Alopias supercil- iosus) and slender tuna (Allo- thunnus fallai) from Califor- nia, with notes on eastern Pacific scombrid otoliths, 195- 206 flavidus, Sehastodes: 43 Flatfish : in skindiver catch, 117 ; tag- ging underwater, 29 Flounder, hybrid : recent occurrences, 118-121 fontinalis, Salvelinus: 153 Food : of centrarchids, 170 ; of large- mouth bass fingerlings, 158 ; sharpnose seaperch, 45 francisci, Ileterodontus: 117 frenatus, Brachyistius: 43 fukusakii, Trachipterus: 236 Fiindulus parvipinnis: 36 furcatus, Phanerodon: 44 H Hake : in shark stomach, 196 Halfmoon : in skindiver catch, 117 Halibut, California : in skindiver catch, 117 ; trawl collections, 33 Haliotis cracherodii: 38 Ilaliotis spp. : 117 Harper, Harold T. : see Mallette and Harper, 292-304 Hatchetfish : in ribbonfish stomach, 234 Haydock, C. Irwin : An experimental study to control oyster drills in Tomales Bay, California, 11-28 henshaivi, Salmo clarkii: 152 Herring, thread : caught with eagle ray, 189 Heterodontus francisci: 117 Hiehle, Jack L. : Measurement of browse growth and utilization, 148-151 Hinnites inultirugosus: 111 Ilyperprosopon argenteum: 44 I Ictaluridae : eaten by fingerling bass, 164 Ictalurus nebulosus : 272 Idiacanthus antrostomus: 232 incanus, Ceanoth\is: 147 Inopsetta ischyra: 118 Insects : as fingerling bass food, 161 interrupt'us, Panulirus: 117 Invertebrates : off Canyon de las En- cinas, 187 ischyra, Inopsetta: 118 Gadics macrocephalus : 253 gairdnerii, Salmo: 152 Galeorhinus zyopterus: 195 Gcnyonemus lineatus: 37, 117, 156 Gerdes, John H. : see McConnell and Gerdes, 170-174 Jack, yellowtail: caught with eagle ray, 189 jacksoni, Embiotoca: 44 japonica, Ocenehra: 11 Jensen, Paul T. : Landings estimates of California's marine recrea- tional salmon fishery, 48-52 juhata, Eumetopias : 123 INDEX 815 K Katsuwonus pelai)iis: 203 Kelp: at Afio Nuevo Island, 123; beds off Canyon de las Encinas, 186; embiotocid habitat, 43 Killifish : used for bioassay, 36 Kiinsov, J. B. : see La Faunce, Kimsey, and Chadwiek, 271-291 Kiuit-of-the-salmon : in eastern Pacific Ocean, 233 kisutch, Oncorhynchus: 51 La Faunce, Don : see McCammon, La Faunce, and Seeley, 158-169 La Faunce, Don A., J. B. Kimsey, and Harold K. Chadwiek : The fish- ery at Sutherland Reservoir, San Diego County, California, 271-291 Lake Merced : polychaetes killed, 268 lamellosa, Thais: 12 Lampanyctus mexicanus: 234 Lampanyctus sp.: 234 Lampfish, Mexican : in ribbonfish stom- ach, 234 Lanternfish : in ribbonfish stomach, 234 Lanternfish, blue : in ribbonfish stom- ach, 234 Lancetfish : ribbonfish in stomach, 232 Lauppe, Earl M. : see Browning and Lauppe, 132-147 Lcpomis cyanellus: 272 Lepomis macrochirus: 272, 307 Leuroglossus stilhius: 235 levis, Sehastodes: 253 limnicola, Ne7-eis: 268 lineatus, Euthynnus: 203 lineatus, Genyonemus: 37, 117, 156 Lingcod : in skindiver catch, 117 Limpets : killed by chemicals, 21 Lobster, spiny : in skindiver catch, 117 longirostris, Myliohatis: 189 M Mackerel, jack : sand shark in load, 4 macrocephalus, Gadiis: 253 )ii(tcrochirus, Lepomis: 272, 307 Macrocysfis: 43, 123 Macrocystis pyrifera: 186 macrophyllum, Acer: 147 Mallette, Robert D., and Harold T. Harper : Population studies of ring-necked pheasants in Cali- fornia, 292-304 marmoratus, Scorpaenichthys : 117 McCammon, George W., Don La Faunce, and Charles M. See- ley : Observations on the food of fingerling largemouth bass in Clear Lake, Lake County, California, 158-169 McConnell, AVilliam J., and John H. Gerdes : Threadfin shad, Doro- soma petenense, as food of yearling contrarchids, 170-174 Medialuna cdlifomiensix: 117 menziesii, Pseudotsuya: 147 mercedis, Neoniysis: 269 Merluccius prodiutus: 196 Method: catching centrarchids, 170; collecting striped bass eggs & larvae. 101 ; constructing tag- ging gun, 29 ; creel census, 273 ; determining bass food habits. 159 ; determining blue- gill age, 283 ; determining largemouth bass age, 281 ; de- termining pheasant popula- tions, 293 ; determining rock- fish weight-length, 266; de- termining trout erythrocyte antigens, 152 ; estimating striped bass catch, 215; evalu- ating for deer in conifer forest, 134 ; measuring browse growth and utilization, 149 ; of deflat- ing rockfish swim bladder and popped eyes, 2.54 ; oyster drill control, 19 ; sampling juvenile striped bass, 71 mexicanus, Lampanyctus: 234 Micropterus salmoides: 158, 170, 272 Microsiomus pacificus: 37, 265 Millerton Lake : threadfin shad spawn- ing, 5S Mola : at Cortez Bank, 43 mola, Mola: 43 Mola mola: 43 Mollusca : off Canyon de las Encinas, 187 Moray, California : in skindiver catch, 117 mordax, Engraulis: 199 niordax, Gymnothorax: 117 Mortality : largemouth bass, 277 ; of freshwater polychaete, 268 multirugosus, Hinnites : 117 Mussels, bay : prey of Ocenehra, 18 Myliohatis calif amicus: 19 ifylioiatis longirostris: 189 Mysid : killed by rotenone, 269 mystinus, Sehastodes: 253 Mytilus edulis: 18 N namaycush, Salvelinus: 253 nehuUfer, Paralahrax: 29 nehulosus, Ictalurus: 272 Nemertea : off Canyon de las Encinas, 187 Neoniysis mercedis: 269 nereis, Enhydra lutris: 122 Nereis limnicola: 268 nigricans, Girella: 117 316 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME nigromaciilatus, Pomoxis: 170 nohUis, Cynoscion: 36, 117 Notemigonus crysoleucas: 158, 272 ohesus, Thunnus: 237 Ocenehra japonica: 11 Odemar, Melvyn W. : Northern range extension of the cow rockfish. kSehastodes levis, 305 ; Southern range extension of the eulac- hon, Thaleichthys pacificus, 305-307 Odocoileus hemionus columhianiis: 132 Oglesby, Larry C: Mortality of a fresh- water polychaete. Nereis litnni- cola Johnson, attributed to rotenone, 268-270 Oncorhynchus kisutch: 51 Oncorhynchus ishatoytscha: 51 Opaleye : in skindiver catch, 117 Ophiodon elongatus: 117 Opisthonema sp.: 189 orqueta, Chloroscom'brus: 189 Orr, Robert T., and Thomas C. Poulter: Northward movement of the California sea otter, 122-124 Otolith: of scombrids, 202 ; ribbonfish, 235, 239 ; sharpnose seaperch, 44 Otophidium scrippsae: 37 Otter, sea: at Afio Nuevo Island, 122 Oyster, eastern: drill control, 11 Oyster, native: food of Acanthina, 18 pacifica, Euphausiia: 235 pacificus, Microstomus: 37, 265 pacificus, Thaleichthys: 305 Panulirus interriiptus: 117 Paralahrax clathrattis: 29, 117 Paralahrax nebulifer: 29 Paralichthys californicus: 33, 117 Parasites: deer, 142 ; oyster, 18 ; ribbon- fish, 236 Parophrys vetulus: 120 Partyboat: skindiver catch, 114-117 paucispinis, Sehastodes: 43 parvipinnis, Fundiilus: 36 pelamis, Katsuwonus: 203 Peiia Blanca Lake: centrarchid food study, 170 Perch: in skindiver catch, 117 Perch, black: with sharpnose seaperch, 44 Perch, kelp: in Monterey Bay, 43 Perch, pile: with shai'pnose seaperch, 44 Perch, shiner: with sharpnose seaperch, 44 Perch, white: with sharpnose seaperch, 44 pefenense, Dorosoma: 58, 170, 272, 307 Phanerodon atripes: 42 Phanerodon furcaius: 44 Phnsinsnus colchicus: 292 Pheasant, ring-necked: populations in California, 292 Phroiiima sedentaria: 232 Pimelometopon pulchrum: 117 Pine Flat Lake: threadfin shad spawn- ing, 58 Pinus radiata: 147 planipes, Pleuroncodes: 238 Plankton: as fingerling bass food, 161 Plaiichihys stellaius: 120 Pleuroncodes planipes: 238 Pleuronectids: in skindiver catch, 117 ; tagged underwater, 29 Pleuronichthys ritteri: 34 Poeeiliidae: eaten by fingerling bass, 164 politus, Seriphus: 235 Pollution: off Los Angeles, 33 Polychaetes: killed by chemicals, 21 ; mortality of, 268 polysticta, Desmodema: 231 Pomoxis nigromacitlafus: 170 Porifera: off Canyon de las Eneinas, 187 Poulter, Thomas C: see Orr and Poul- ter, 122-124 princeps, Caulolatilus: 29, 43, 253 Protothaca staminea: 18 productus, Merlucci/us: 196 Pseudoisiiga mensiesii: 147 Puffer, bullseye: caught with eagle ray, 189 pulchrum, Pimelometopon: 117 pi/rlfera, Macrocystis: 186 Q Queenfish: used for bait, 235 Quercus chrysolepis: 147 Rabbit: serum, 156 radiata, Pinus: 147 rastrelliger, Sehastodes: 125 Rattails: in ti-awl catch, 265 Rawstron, R. R. : Spawning of thread- fin shad, Dorosoma petenense, at low water temperatui-es, 58 Ray, bat: at Tomales Bay, 19 Ray, eagle: new species, 189 Red-tide: off Canvon de las Eneinas, 183 Redwood: deer habitat, 132 Reed, Paul H.: Recent occurences of intergeneric hybrid flounders, Inopsetta ischyra (Jordan and Gilbert), from California and Oregon, 118-121 INDEX 317 Reviews: Advances in ecological re- search, Gl ; Advances in ma- rine biology, 127 ; All creatures groat and small, 224 ; An in- troduction to scientific illustra- tion, 63 ; Echinoderms, 221 ; Fish and fishing, 220; Fish as food, volume 2 : Nutrition, san- itation, utilization, 220 ; Fishes of the western north Atlantic, Part 3, Softrayed bony fishes, 223 ; Fishing tackle and tech- niques, 61 ; Freshwater fishes of the world, 126; Fur and fury, 127; Hunting ducks- and geese, 308 ; Ichthyology, the study of fishes, 61 ; Industrial fishery technology, 62 ; Intro- tluctiou to animal parasitology. 60 ; Learning to gun, 63 ; Limnology in North America, 64 ; Marine distributions, 30S ; Marine molluscau genera of western North America, 60 ; ^lyth and maneater, the story of the shark, 22; 100 desert wildflowers, 127 ; Politics and conservation, 221 ; Sharks and survival, 222 ; Snake lore, 222 ; Studies of Alaska red salmon, 59 ; The complete illustrated guide to casting, 126 ; The fisherman's encyclopedia, 309 ; The geese fly high, 310; The genera of fishes and a classifi- cation of fishes, 224 ; The last horizon, 220 ; The origins of angling, and a new printing of the treatise of fishing with an angle, 128; The quiet crisis, 310 ; The valley: meadow, grove, and stream, 127 ; The wonders of wildlife, 311 ; This wonderful world of trout, 64 ; Tropical inland fisheries, 62 ; Vegetation and soils, a world picture, 224 Rhacochilus vacca: 44 Ribbonfish, polka-dot: in eastern Pa- cific Ocean, 231 Ribbonfish, scalloped: in eastern Pa- cific Ocean, 229 Ribbonfish, tapertail: in eastern Pacific Ocean, 236 ritteri, Pleuronichthijs: 34 Roccus saxatilis: 66, 100, 215, 307 rochet, Auxis: 203 Rockfish : deflating swim bladder, 253 ; in ribbonfish stomach, 234 ; in skindiver catch, 117 ; speared before shark attack, 261 ; tag- ging underwater, 29 Rockfish, blue: tagging study, 253 Rockfish, copper: with sharpnose sea- perch, 44 Rockfish, cow: northern range exten- sion, 305 Rockfish, grass: at Yaquina Bay, Ore., 215 Rocklish, longspine channel: spawning, 265 Rockfish, shortspine channel: in trawl catch, 265 Rockfish, yellowtail: at Cortez Bank, 43 Rockport: deer study area, 133 h'oiicador stearnsi: 35 Rotcnone: used in Lake Merced, 268 Saldefish : in trawl catch, 265 Sacramento River: striped bass sam- pling, 72 Sdn'ifta sp. : 233 Hdliiiu aquahonito: 152 HdliHO clarkii henshawi: 152 tiulmo gairdnerii: 152 Sal»io trutta: 153 iiaI))ioi(les, Micropterus: 158, 170, 272 Salmon : landings estimates, 48 trialvelinus fontinalis: 153 iSalvelinus namaycush: 253 San Clemente Island : sand shark taken, 4 San Joaquin River: striped bass sam- pling, 72 San Onofre : sand shark taken, 4 Sauddab, Pacific : with papillomas, 37 Santa Catalina Island : skindiving area, 116 Sarda chiliensis: 117, 202 Sardine, Pacific : age and length, 241 ; spawning behavior, 53 tSardinops caeruleus: 53, 241 saxatilis, Roccus: 66, 100, 215, 307 Scallop, rock : in skindiver catch, 117 Schott, Jack W. : Chromatic patterns of the leopard shark, Triakis semifasiata Girard, 207-214 Seamier diego: 204 Scomberomorus concolor: 202 Hcowheromorus sierra: 189 Scorpaena guttata: 29, 117 Scorpaenichthys marmoratus : 117 scrippsae, Otophidiuni : 37 Sculpin : in striped bass diet, 307 ; in skindiver catch, 117 ; tagged underwater, 29 Sea lion, California : at Aiio Nuevo Island, 122 Sea lion, Steller : at Aiio Nuevo Island, 123 Seabass, white : damaged by pollution, 36 ; in skindiver catch, 117 Seaperch, sharpnose : description and life history, 42 318 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Sebastodes caurinus: 44, 253 i^ebastodes fiavidus: 43, 253 Sebastodes levis: 253, 305 Sebastodes mystinus: 253 Sebastodes paucispinis: 43, 253 Sebastodes rastrelliger: 125, 253 Sebastodes serriceps: 43, 253 Sebastodes sp. : 234 Sebastodes spp. : 117, 253 Sebastolobus alascanus: 265 Sebastolobus altivelis: 265 sedentaria, Phromma: 232 Seeley, Charles M. : see Mc Gammon, La Faunce, and Seeley, 158- 169 semifasciata, Triakis: 207 sempervirens, Sequoia: 147 Sequoia sempervirens: 147 Seriola dorsalis: 117 Seriphus politus: 235 serriceps, Sebastodes: 43 Shad, threadfin : as centrarchid food, 170 ; in striped bass diet, 307 ; in Sutherland Reservoir, 272 ; spawning, 58 Shark attack : report on, 261 Shark, California swell : in skindiver catch, 117 Shark, great white : attacking skindiver, 261 Shark, hammerhead : caught with eagle ray, 189 Shark, horn : in skindiver catch, 117 Shark, leopard : chromatic patterns, 207 Shark, Pacific angel : in skindiver catch, 117 Shark, requiem : caught with eagle ray, 189 Shark, sand : first California record, 4 Shark, soupfin : in net with thresher, 195 Sheephead, California : in skindiver catch, 117 Shiner, golden : in Clear Lake, 158 ; in Sutherland Reservoir, 272 Shrimp, mantis : in ribbonfish stomach, 239 Shrubs : checklist, 147 Sierra : caught with eagle ray, 189 sierra, Scomberomorus : 189 Skindiver : catch statistics, 114-117 Smith, J. Gary : Notes on the life his- tory and a description of the sharpnose seaperch, Phanero- don atripes (Jordan and Gil- bert), 42-47 Smoothtongue : in ribbonfish stomach, 235 Snail, native rock : at Tomales Bay, 14 solanderi, Acanthocyhium: 202 Sole, Dover : cancerous lesions, 37 ; in trawl catch, 265 Sole, tongue: with papillomas, 37 sordidus, Citharichthys: 37 Spawning : of Sebastolobus, 265 ; sar- dines, 53 Sphaeroides annulatus: 189 Sphyraena argentea: 117 Sphyrna sygaena: 189 spirata, Acanthitm: 12 Squatina californica: 117 Squid : in ribbonfish stomach, 234 Squilla sp. : 239 staminea, Protothaca: 18 stearnsi, Roncador: 35 Stella tits, Platichthys: 120 Stereolepis gigas: 117 stilbius, Leuroglossus: 235 Sunfish, green : in Sutherland Reser- voir, 272 superciliosus, Alopias: 195 Surfperches : tagged underwater, 29 Surfperch, walleye : with sharpnose sea- perch, 44 Survival : juvenile striped bass, 95 Sutherland Reservoir : fishery, 271 Swim bladder : deflation technique, 254 symmetricus, Trachurus: 4 Syniphurus atricauda: 37 Tag: tuna, 218 Tagging : underwater gun, 29 Tagging study : at Sutherland Reser- voir, 271 ; blue rockfish, 253 Tarletonbeania crenularis: 234 Thais emarginata: 14 Thais lamellosa: 12 Thais, wrinkled : at Tomales Bay, 12 Thaleichthys pacificus: 305 Thresher, bigeye : first California rec- ord, 195 Thunnus alalunga: 203, 219 Thunnus albacares: 219, 237 Thunnus obesus: 237 Thun-nus thynnus: 216 thynnus, Thunnus: 216 Tomales Bay : oyster experiments, 11 Tooth : great white shark, 264 Trachipteridae : eastern Pacific species, 229 Trachipterus altivelis: 233 Trachipterus fukuzakii: 236 Trachurus symmetricus: 4 Treefish : near Cortez Bank, 43 Triakis semifasciata: 207 Trout, brown : erythrocyte antigens, 153 Trout, eastern brook : erythrocyte anti- gens, 153 Trout, golden : erythrocyte antigens, 152 Trout, Lahontan cutthroat : erythrocyte antigens, 152 Trout, lake : swim bladder deflation, 258 Trout, rainbow : erythrocyte antigens, 152 trutta, Salmo: 153 tshawytscha, Oncorhynchus: 51 INDEX 319 Tuna, albacore Tuna, bigeye : tagged in 1916, 219 ribbonfish in stomach, rolation- bluefin : weight-length ship, 216 slender : first California record, 195; otolith, 202 Tuna, Tuna, Tuna, yellowfin: tagged in 1916, 219; ribbonfish spit-up by, 237 Tunicates : off Canyon de las Enciuas, 187 Turbot, spotted : weight loss from pol- lution, 34 Turner, Charles H., Earl E. Ebert, and Robert R. Given : An ecologi- cal survey of a marine environ- ment prior to installation of a submarine outfall, 176-188 and Gilbert), from the Ya- quina Bay area, Oregon, 125 vetulus, Parophrys: 120 virginica, Crassostrea: 11 w Weight-length : of Seiastolohus, 266 Whitefish, ocean : at Cortez Bank, 43 ; swim bladder deflation, 253 ; tagged underwater, 29 AVoIf, Robert S. : Observations on spawning Pacific sardines, 53- 57 ; see Daugherty and Wolf, 241-252 "NA'ood, William F. : Partyboat logs show how skindivers fared during 1960, 1961, and 1962, 114-117 U Utnhellularia calif ornica: 147 Unicorn-shell, angular : oyster preda- tors, 12 Urosalpinx cinerea: 11 uter, Cephaloscyllium: 117 Yellowtail, California : in skindiver catch, 117 Young, Parke H. : Some effects of sewer effluent on marine life, 33-41 vacca, Rhacochilus : 44 Van Arsdel, William C, III, and Carl E. Bond : Grass rockfish, 8e- bastodes rastrelliger (Jordan Zalophus calif ornianus : 123 Zu cristatus: 229 zygaena, Sphyrna: 189 zyopterus, Oaleorhinus: 195 24958—800 7-64 printed in California office of state printing 5,300 Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Sections 206, 207, and 208 of the Fish and Game Code, that the Fish and Game Commission shall meet on October 2, 1964, at 10:00 a.m., in the auditorium. State Employment Building, 722 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, California, to receive recommendations from its own officers and employees, from the Department of Fish and Game and other public agencies, from organizations of private citizens, and from any interested person as to what, if any, regulations should be made relating to fish, amphibia, and reptiles, or any species or subspecies thereof. FISH AND GAME CO/AMISSION Monica O'Brien, Secretary Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 206 of the Fish and Game Code, that the Fish and Game Commission shall meet at 10:00 a.m., on November 6, 1964, in the Board of Supervisors Room, Room 21 of the Courthouse, Redding, California, to announce publicly the regulations it proposes to make relating to fish, amphibia, and reptiles for the 1965 angling season. FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Monica O'Brien, Secretary Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Section 206 of the Fish and Game Code, that the Fish and Game Commission shall meet on December 4, 1964, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 115, California State Building, 217 West First Street, Los Angeles, California, to hear and consider any objections to its determinations and proposed regulations in relation to fish, amphibia, and reptiles for the 1965 angling season, such determinations and orders resulting from hearings held on October 2 and November 6, 1964. FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Monica O'Brien, Secretary I n