'ii-ii m STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WARREN T. HANNUM, Director FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME FOR THE YEARS 1948-1950 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 7 REPORTS Fish and Game Commission 9 Executive Officer 17 Bureau of Game Conservation 24 Bureau of Marine Fisheries 39 Bureau of Licenses 67 Bureau of Fish Conservation 72 Bureau of Patrol and Law Enforcement 113 APPENDICES A. Statements of Revenue and Expenditure 116 B. Game Statistics 121 C. Marine Fisheries Statistics 125 D. Fish Distribution and Rescue 128 E. Arrests, Fines and Seizures 137 (3) Warren T. Hannum DIRECTOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES Harvey E. Hastain PRESIDENT FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Lee F. Payne COMMISSIONER Edwin L. Carty COMMISSIONER William J. Silva COMMISSIONER Paul Denny COMMISSIONER E. L. Macaulay EXECUTIVE OFFICER LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL July 1, 1950 To His Excellency, Earl Warren Governor of the State of California Sacramento, California Sir : We, the members of the Fish and Game Commission, respect- fully submit the Forty -first Biennial Report, covering the period July 1, 1948, through June 30, 1950. The report contains a resume of the activities of the Fish and Game Commission ; an account by the executive officer ; and detailed reports on the functions of the various bureaus by their respective chiefs. There also are included complete fiscal statements and tabulations on fish and game management. Respectfully submitted, California Fish and Game Commission Harvey E. Hastain, President Lee F. Payne Paul Denny Edwin L. Carty William J. Silva (7) REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION At the start of this bieiininiii, the ineiii})oi-s of llio ('filifonii;i Fish and Game Commission were : Harvey E. Hastaiii, Picsidciil Brawley William J. Silva Modesto Lee F. Payne Los An^^eles Paul Denny Etna Edwin L. Carty Oxnai-d Following- the exinration of tiieii- terms in oftiee. tlie (ioveriior reappointed : Edwin L. Cartv, on January 21, 1949 William J. Silva, on February 3, 1950 Mr. Silva w^as president for the period from January 15, 1949, to January 27, 1950, and was followed by Mr. Hastain on January 27, 1950. At the close of the biennium. the membership of the commission was as follows : Harvey E. Hastain, President Term expires 1951 Lee F. Payne Term expires 1952 Paul Denny Term expires 1953 Edwin L. Carty Term expires 1955 William J. Silva Term expires 1956 E. L. Maeaulay continued as executive officer of the commission durino" the biennium. *o LEGISLATION The Legislature, during- the 1949 session, made several changes in the act granting regulatory powers to the commission (see Chapter 1045), requiring that : (1) two meetings must be held each year during January; at the first meeting the commission shall receive recommendations as to seasons, bag and possession limits for the taking of all kinds of game and spoi-t fish; at the second meeting, the commission is to determine regulations, and, within 10 days thereafter must make public announcement of orders establishing such regulations for the ensuing seasons on fishing and hunting. These meetings are to be held alternately in San Francisco and Los Angeles; (2) the commission hold scheduled open hearings in any area in which the taking of female deer has been proposed ; (3) the commission hold scheduled open hearings in any area in w^hich the opening of a game refuge has been proposed ; (4) all orders and regulations of the commission are to be com- piled, printed and distributed, with copies to "be mailed to each district attorney, county clerk, and justice of the peace throughout the State." (0) 10 J^ISH AND GAME COMMISSION The act was extended for another two-year period. Another act required that, in lieu of pajanent of annual taxes, the commission must reimburse counties, annually, an amount equal to the taxes assessed against such property as purchased at the time the land is ac(|nired and used for public shooting- grounds. (Chapter 1046, Stats. l!)4n.) lu the future, all hunting and fishing licenses shall have attached thereto the number of shipping tags, as permitted by the commission ; such tags will permit the licensee to ship by common carrier only limited • luanlities of fish or game. The fee for a nonresident hunting license was increased to $25 ; the fee for a nonresident deer tag to $10 ; the fee for a noncitizen hunting license to $50 ; the fee for a nonresident sport fishing license to $10 ; and the foe for a noncitizen sport fishing license to $25. The use of pheasant license tags was re-established, with a fee of $1 for the same number of tags as the number of pheasants a hunter might legally possess. Pi-obably tlie most outstanding legislation was the act establishing "Cooperative Hunting Areas," which should lead to more friendly relationships between property owner, sportsman, and commission. The owner supplies the land at no fee, the commission releases pheasants and supervises and patrols each area, the sportsman has hunting privileges at a fee not to exceed $2 per day. Several chapters were added to the State "Water Code all relating 1o pollution and its correction. A State Water Pollution Control Board and nine regional Avater control boards were created, members were appointed by the Governor, their powers and duties defined, and other state agencies concerned with the beneficial uses of water were instructed as to their parts in the over-all program. This act provides the means for coordinating the actions of the various state agencies and political subdivisions in the control of water pollution, and for enforcing correction of conditions which are dangerous to pnhlic licnitli. recreation and the best interests of the State. Anotlici' valnablc and much needed act was that defining the offshore bonndaries of the State. (Government Code, Chap. 65, Stats. 1949.) WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD PROJECTS I)y the close of llic bicnninm, the Wildlife Conservation Board had alhx-atod fiver $8,500,000 to 1'.] jirojects. The survey of these projects which fallows is taken from "California's Fish and Game Program" ( inr>f) I, a report prepared by Seth Gordon, consultant to the board. SUMMARY OF APPROVED PROJECTS FJxh Halrhory ninl Stocking Projpcts (18) $2,833,900 WnrmwntfT and f )fluT Fish Pmjpct.s (fi) ^_ 164,500 KInw Maiiitfii.'iiiff aiul Strf-ain Improvcnient Projects (14) 4.50,000 Srrpfii aiKl I.a mile.s E. of Merced ; Div. of V\sh and Game. Project Xo. 44-G. 12. Salt Slough Fish Ladder; Merced Co.. five miles E. of Lo.s Banos ; Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 44-S n. Sniryrr'H Bur Au.rilinri/ Dam; Sisk- i>ou Co., on N. Fork of Salmon Riv.T; Div. of Fi.sh :nid Game. Projfct Xo. f;3. 14. Sutler-Bulte Fuhwny; Butte Co., Fpnfher Rivfr. '» mib-s E. of Grid- loy; Div. of Fi.sli and (ianie. Proj- ect No. 45. Description Screening irrigation ditch intake about J mile below Coleman Fed. Hatchery to safeguard young salmon and steelhead on way to ocean. Replacement of present inadequate, poorly located ladder. Creation of fish ladder by blasting pools out of the bedrocks in the more difficult rapids. Replacement of unsatisfactory wooden ladder with better located ladder and larger steps. Prefabricated building to serve as equip- ment warehouse and to house machine shop for constr. of minor installations and repairs. Constr. of two fishways at opposite ends of 7.50' Ig. Daguerre Pt. Dam, which now blocks salmon from about 90% of their spawning grounds. Ladder approx. 25' high to permit salmon to ascend to spawning grounds. Three screens and by-passes on irrigation ditches. Mechanical screens to prevent heavy an- nual losses of young salmon. Ditch at max. carries over 2,200 c. f. s. Present rack wholly unsatisfactory. I'^ish ladder over dam at Mendota Pool on San Joaquin River. Four fish ladders and one screen on Mer- ced River. Fi.sh ladder from San Joaquin River into Miller-Lux Canal to divert fish around dried-up section of main stream channel. Present fish ladder at Sawyer's Bar Dam unsatisfactory. Auxiliary dam to raise water level in pool below existing structure to allow fish to ascend. To replace present inadequate fishway which is responsible for heavy salmon losses. FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAI. Kl.l'OI 15 GAME FARM PROJECTS 4. Name, Location and Sponsor Brnirh'!/ Chime Fanii : Iinpci-inl Co., Div. of Fish and (iame. Item 245, 1947-48 Budget. Project No. 519- 10. Chico Came Farm: Butte Co.; Div. of Fish and Game, Item 245, 1947- 48 Budget. Project No. 519-7. ]\fayysrine (Inme Farm: Yuba Co.; Div. of Fish and (iame. Item 245, 1947-48 Budget. Project No. 519-8. PorierviUe Game Farm : Tuhire Co. ; Div. of Fish and Game, Item 245, 1947-48 Budget. Project No. 519 9. Description To expand game i)i'o]>agatiou f.'icilities and ini|nii\(' housing. To pxjiand game propagation facilities and improve liousing. To expand game propagation facilities and improve liousing. To expand game propagation facilities and improve housing. OTHER UPLAND GAME PROJECTS Name, Location and Sponsor 1. Coast Counties Quail Hahitat Im- prorement: Central Coast Cos.; Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 549. 2. Desert Quail Derelopment : desert region of Southern California ; Div. of Fish and Game and Inland Fish and Game Assn. Project No. 503. 3. Quail Ilahitat Development; all of California S. of T^. S. Hwy. 40, with major emphasis S. of the Te- hachapi ; Div. of Fish and Game. Pro.'ect No. 554.. 4. Doyle Winter Range; SE. corner of Lassen Co.; Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 515. Description Provide watering places and other habitat improvements. Provide watering places and other habitat improvements. Providing watering places and improved habitat for quail and other game in re- gions with insufficient water and cover to maintain a game supply. Construction of residence, garage and shop, fencing, etc. WATERFOWL PROJECTS Name, Location and Sponsor 1. Butie *S'('(iA- Waterfowl Mgi. Area: Colusa Co., in Lower Butte Basin, bordered on the E. by Butte Creek and extending westward toward Sacramento River ; staff of Board and Div. of Fish and Game. (Alt. to Upper Butte Creek. Project No. 507.) 2. Delta Waterfonl Mgt. Area: Solano Co., on the eastern side of Grizzly Island, along Suisun Bay ; staif of Board and Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 550. 3. Honey Lake Waterfowl Mgt. Area: SE. Lassen Co. ; Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 523. 4. Imperial Valley Waterfoicl Mgt. Area: Imperial Co., near Salton Sea ; Div. of Fish and (iame. Proj- ect No. 536. Description One of seven key waterfowl management projects to provide feeding grounds, resting areas, and public shooting. Ap- prox. 3,578 acres, plus possible 1.000 acres addl. (Orig. T'pper Butte proj- ect consisted of 5,760 acres located farther north.) One of seven key waterfowl management units to provide feeding, resting, and public shooting grounds. Approx. 8,600 acres. Construction of ponds, canals, control structures, etc. One of seven key waterfowl management units to provide feeding, resting, and public shooting grounds. 16 FISH AND GAIME COMMISSION WATERFOWL PROJECTS — Continued Name, Location and Sponsor ."(. Loirer Unite Creek Waterfoicl Mgt. Area: Butte Co.. N. of Marysville I'liittes ; staff of Board and Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 548. fi. Loirrr i<(in Joaquin Waterfowl Mgi. Area: Merced Co.; staff of Board and Div. of Fish and Game. Pi'oj- ec r X". ."0(i. 7. Madeline Plains Waterfotcl Mgt. Area: Lassen Co.; Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 522. 8. Madera Waterfoicl Mgt. Area: Ma- dera Co., in the San Joaquin River Valley ; staff of Board and Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. 532. 0. Vpper San Joaquin Waterfowl Mgt. A rea : Kern Co. ; Staff of Board and Div. of Fish and Game. Proj- fct Xo. 551. Description One of seven key waterfowl management units. Expansion of present Gray Lodge Refuge. 4.020 acres in area originally proposed. One of seven key waterfowl management units. Expansion of Present Los Banos Refuge. 6,678 acres to be purchased on San Luis Island (alternate to original area of 5,660 acres). Equipment, construction of ponds, roads, etc. One of seven key waterfowl management units to provide feeding, resting, and public shooting grounds. Approx. 5,120 acres. One of seven key waterfowl management units. Tupman Elk Refuge plus 4,060 acres of adjacent lands. GENERAL PROJECTS Name, Location and Sponsor .{irplaiie Hangar: Sacramento Co., at the Sacramento Municipal Air- port ; IMv. of Fish and Game. Project No. 1008. Central Lahoratory and Statistical liuilding: Alamefla Co., Berkeley; Div. of Fish and Game. Project No. ]Of)l. Delta Fish and (lame Operations Jiane: Contra Costa Co., near S. end of Antioch Bridge, four miles H of Antioch ; Div. of Fish and Game. I'roject No. 1010. N. Ilumh'tldt Bay Public Recrea- tional Area: Iliimhrddt Co.. ap- prox. 5 miles SW. of Eureka ; Div. of Fish and Game and X'orthorn Humboldt Fish and Game Clul). Project No. ]«»W. Description Constr. of 60' x 80' hangar for two Div. of Fish and Game planes, complete with workshop and storage space. Building to house statistical department, now unsatisfactorily located on Ter- minal Island, and to furnish laboratory for all research workers of the Div. of Fish and Game. Construction of centrally located field op- erations base for Bureaus of Marine Fisheries, Fish Conservation, and Pa- trol, including 40' x 60' warehouse and net workshop, 40' x 40' net rack and berthing facilities. Acquisition of approx. 760 to 900 acres of land along the bay for recreational purposes, particularly surf fishing and waterfowl shooting. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER Tho Fish and (lanie Commission re(jii('ste(l the Dcpartmoiit of Finance, tlii-()n<:li its administrative analyst staff, to make an adminis- trative survey of tlie Division of Kisli and (lame, with a view toward reoro'anizinfi' tlie division. Following snhmission of this re])oi't of snrvey the executive officer lield man\' conferences witli r-epreseutatives of tlie IT. S. Forest Service, the V. S.' Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State Division of F'orestry, all of whose activities ai'c simihii- to onr own, to detenuine the best plan for an administrative reorganization of the Division of Fish and (lame. The recommended plan of the executive officer and the bureau chiefs, which was submitted to and accepted by the commission on June 27, 1950, at Shasta Springs, California, is quoted herewith: RECOMMENDED PLAN FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION OF THE DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME The last reorganization of the Fish and Game Division activities took place in 1926, and the following comments published in the quarterly magazine for January of that year are interesting: COMMISSION'S WORK REORGANIZED The work of conservinj;; the fi.sh and game resources of California i.s a great undertaking and the numerous employees of the commission must work together if real accomplishments are to be attained. Just as the efficient administration of any large eoriioration is dependent upon a selected group of department heads upon whom responsil)ility is fixed, so in tlie work of the Fish and Game Commission similar departmental organization has liecome necessary. In fulfillment of the promise to give conserA'ation work a thoroughly businesslike administration, the work of the commission is to be accomplished through certain departments and bureaus. The main departments will he Administration, Patrol. Fishculture, Ladders and Screens, and Commercial Fisheries. Less important l)ranches of the work will be designated as the Bureaus of Accounts, Education and Research, Publicity, and Game Farms. At the time of this 1926 reorganization the division had approxi- mately 200 employees with an annual budget slightly in excess of $800,- 000. Approximately one-quarter million hunting licenses were sold in that year and slightly less than one-ciuarter million angling licenses. At the present time the division has over 700 emi)loyees with an annual budget of $5,500,000, not including Wildlife Conservation Board appro- priations. The sale of hunting licenses has increased to approximately one-half million, while angling license sales have almost reached the million mark. It is apparent that the system which was satisfactory 20-odd years ago cannot handle the tremendous increase in the work load today. The executive officer and the bureau chiefs have held many con- ferences and have reached the conclusion, after discussions with repre- sentatives from the U. S. Forest Service, the State Division of Forestry, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose activities more or less correspond to our own, that a line and staff organizational setup, with regional offices, will best suit our requirements. (17) 18 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION I. FUNCTIONS OF THE DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME The -work of the Division of Fish and Game falls into several major functions : A. Assistance in formulation and application of fish and game policies. B. Fish and game management and habitat control. C. Law enforcement. D. Propagation of fish and game. E. Fish and game research. F. Conservation education and public information. G. License sales. H. Fiscal, budgetary and personnel controls. II. DEFICIENCIES IN THE PRESENT ORGANIZATION Several deficiencies in the present organization of the Division of Fish and Game hinder the efficient accomplishment of the above functions. These can be listed as : A. An important shortcoming in the present organization is the fact that the chiefs and intermediate staffs of the present bureaus have a dual capacity ; policy making and interpretation, and the problem of actually administering this policy in the field. Most modern organizations of the size and complexity of the Division of Fish and Game separate the functions of policy leadership and interpretation under one category which is generally designated as staff, and the administrative responsi- bilities generally known as line authority. It is felt that an over-all organization within the division of the line and staff type would go a long way toward overcoming this deficiency in our present organization. B. A second major deficiency in the present organization is the lack of coordi- nation among the field personnel of the present bureaus. In general, coordination among the functions of the present bureaus is fairly satisfactory at the bureau chief level where constant contacts are made among the various chiefs in the San Francisco ofiice. At the field level, however, there is in various areas of the State a lack of under- standing of the problems that arise from the functions of the present bureaus. In many cases staff and operating members of one bureau are fully aware of commission policies and commission aims with respect to handling certain fish and game manage- ment matters, whereas the personnel of another bureau lack such understanding, and the resulting confusion, as far as statements to the public are concerned, puts the whole division in a poor position. This is perhaps the greatest deficiency in our present organization. Establishment of regional offices in which middle level personnel could have daily contact and regional direction would aid materially in such coordination and should be considered as a first step in any reorganization plan. C. The public is unable to obtain information or a clear statement of commission policy and activities on the local level! Established commission policy and activities should be readily available to the public locally. D. Many of the administrative difiiculties of the Division of Fish and Game result from the organizational set-up in Saci'amento, both between the division and the Department of Natural Resources, and between the division and the other agencies of State Government through the department. Fiscal control and the processing of personnel and other documents are unduly complicated and slow. Reorganization of the Division of Fish and Game alone will not correct these shortcomings. It is, how- ever, suggested that within the division itself many administrative procedures be standardized and placed on a regional basis. III. PROPOSALS FOR AN IMPROVED ORGANIZATION It is proposed that the Division of Fish and Game be modified into a line and staff type of organization together with the establishment of regional offices. A. Regions It is suggested that the State be divided into 11 administrative regions with headquarters as follows: I. Eureka VI. Modesto II. Redding VII. Monterey III. Chico VIII. Fresno IV. Sacramento IX. Bishop V. San Francisco X. Los Angeles XI. San Diego FORTY-FIRST RTENNIAIi RKPORT 19 The basis for lU'ttTiiiiniiif;- these regions is a dual one - (aUint; care of I hi' f mic- tions of the division as listed in Section I above, and of being of service to the public. The plan takes into consideration natui-al fish and gaine habitat zones, routes of ti-avei and conveniently spaced population centers that may sei'\-e as head(iuart(M-s for ref{ional administrative offices. These offices must of necessity be of such size and nature that they will serve adequately all executive, staff and administrative personnel lu-ccssary to the proper functioning of each region. The division already maintains at least a small installation at each of the regional headquarters proposed except for Modesto. Additional ipiarteis would be needed at some but not all of these points. The proposed regions would not be so large as to make proper administration difficult. The regional staff would be able to visit all installations frecpiently and maintain close touch with all jtersonnel. Adeipiate administration would be possible along the entire coast, justified by the importance of the ocean fisheries. Aside from the division's administrative needs, one of the principal functions of the regional offices will be to serve as centers of information for the i)ublic, and for that reason alone they should be situated strategically and not too few in nundjer. The U. S. Forest Service is responsil)le for the administration of about one-fourth the land area of California, and has an organization similar to the one proposed herein. This agency has found it necessary to divide its work among IS forest super- visors. The State contains 11 highway districts and several other state agencies have districted the State on about the same basis for administrative purposes. Creation of any lesser number of regions would result in such large adminis- trative units that it would be necessary to subdivide the regions and establish branch offices with subordinate staffs. This would be cumbersome and expensive, and would add one more link in the administrative chain. B. Suggested Organization The over-all pattern suggested for the reorganization of the division is a line and staff organization wherein the various functions listed under Section I are admin- istered as a result of staff advice and leadership through the various regions listed in Section IIIA. This organization is roughly the same type as that used in the U. S. Forest Service, the U. S. Fish and \Mldlife Service, the Michigan Department of Conserva- tion, the Pennsylvania Department of Game, and Washington Department of Game. It has been adapted from these various plans to fit California conditions. The California plan as herein presented involves a state administrative set-up which has as its head a Chief of the Division of Fish and Game, aided by assistant chiefs who will aid him in matters of policy as it affects various subheadings of his over-all responsibilities. These assistant chiefs of the Division of Fish and Game are : Assistant Chief, Game Assistant Chief, Wildlife Protection Assistant Chief, Inland Fi.sheries Assistant Chief in charge of administrative matters including finance and fiscal matters, budgets and accounts, personnel matters, license distribu- tion Assistant Chief, Marine Fisheries Also responsible to the Chief of the Division of Fish and Game would be a Supervisor of Conservation Education who would act as a staff advisor. Responsible to the Chief of the Division of Fish and Game would be the 11 regional managers who would be in charge of the execution of all functions in their regions. Each would be organized according to the rough pattern of the over-all state organization. In other words, attached to each regional manager would be staff assistants for game, inland fish, marine fish, law enforcement, and fiscal and personnel matters as needed in each region. In some regions more than one function might be handled by a single staff assistant. Such functional employees as wardens, trappers, game farm personnel, fish hatchery personnel, upland game management crews, stream improvement crews, etc., as would be necessary to fulfill the action or line functions undertaken by the division in each region would be responsible to the regional manager of the respective region. The staff of the regional manager would aid him in matters of policy and leadership in carrying out the several functions within his region. Research direction, being state-wide in its nature, would be carried on as a function of the state level staff. Assistance in carrying on research would be given by the regions as necessary. 20 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION C. Regional Managers The whole success of the suggested plan hinges upon the caliber of the men selected as regional managers. The major change brought about by the adoption of the line and staff organization would be the decentralization of the work of the division and the delegation of responsibility to the regional manager for the work of the divi- sion in each area. The selection of these regional managers and the size of the areas they are called upon to administer thus become the major factors that will determine the success or failure of the new organization. The following are the main principles upon which the regional managers should be selected : 1. The best opportunity for finding suitable men is among the 700 employees of Fish and Game. 2. The examination for these positions should be open on a competitive basis to all men with a reasonable amount of experience, maturity and previous re- sponsibility, including men from outside the division who can qualify. 3. Salaries should be above those now paid to any of the men to be under the regional manager's supervision. 4. The qualifications and knowledge required should give a fair opportunity for men from all of the fields of law enforcement, management, research and administration. D. Statements of Commission Policies Xo decentralized organization can function properly without established policies for guidance. Without them the several regions might be administered quite differently, resulting in uneven service to the public and inequities to the personnel, as well as shortcomings in wild life management. There is at present a lack of written commission policies on various phases of fish and game management, accompanied by a poor distribution to men in the field of such policies that do exist. Such lack of written policies has resulted in employees making individual interpretations on fish and game matters that are quite often at a variance with sound procedures both as far as the wild life itself is concerned and as far as the public is concerned. Such firm policies should be adopted by the com- mission dealing with each of the major species of fish and game as well as their major management problems. Such policies should not be considered as fixed and unchanging, liut should be regarded as living policies subject to continual revision by the commission iipiMi recommendation of the staff and the public. With the type of organization such as outlined herein, dissemination of policies to all personnel would be a simple matter. These policies would be made known to the peoj)!*' of the entire State by the regional personnel uniformly and without delay or di.stortion. E. The Need for an In-Service Training Program In order to implement the organizational plan presented herein and to insure its 8ucce.ss. it is recommended that the division institute an in-service training program. Almost as important as the necessity for reorganization of the division is the need for various personnel of the division to be informed on all fish and game matters since virtually every employee of the division is called upon at some time or another to explain the work of the division as a whole or he may be called upon to explain the work of other members of tlie division, work with which he has no particular contact in the ordinary course of his duties. A w<'ll-pla!ined, iiermanent in-service training program could do as much to put the Division of Fish and Game and the Fish and Game Commission in a better position to perform their services as would any reorganization that might be devised. It is HURKosted. therefore, that some plan such as the following program be adopted. Five in-service training <>lficer positions should l»e set up as follows (one of these positions is (ilrejidy in tlx- budget) : 1. I,:iw enforcement instruction. -. Administrative, fiscal and jyersoniK'] ni;iltci-s. .■'. Gann- management. 4. Inland fisheries management. .">. Marine fisiieries management. These in-service training officers shcMild be attached to the assistant chiefs in charge of each of these functions and should in addition act together as a body, as FORTY-FIRST 15IKNN1A1, KKl'OKT 21 MM in-service fr:iiniiiK faoulty to indoctriiiiite tliurnuj;lil.v ;ill persoiiiiel nf I he (li\isi(iii. ■•111(1 to ('oiiduct |)erio(li(> sehools for iill i)eriii:iiieiit employees on a iilamii'd, rutatin>; basis. It should be the resitonsibillty of the in-service training staff to i)rei)are manuals of procedure and policy. Corollary to the general need for an in-service prof;rani as oiitliiietl above is the need for periodic inspections of field functions by state level staff as well as the need for periodic, i)lanned regional meetings of regional staffs at which state level staff should be in attendance and take part in the program. As soon as a determination is made by the commission of the number of regional districts which would be most suitable, I recommend the proposed plan be submitted to the Senate and Asseml)ly Interim Committees, the Director of Finance, the Per- .sonnel Board, the Legislative Auditor, sportsmen groups, and the press for their study, with a re(iuest that their suggestions or comments be returned at an early date. (Signed) E. L. Macaulay Executive Officer PERSONNEL CHANGES DEATHS Arthur L. Stager, Fish and Game Patrol Captain Oct. 28, 194S August Bade, Chief, Bureau Game Farms (retired) Feb. 11, 1949 S. H. Dado, Assistant Chief, Bureau Marine Fisheries (retired) Mar. 12, 1949 Carl J. Walters, Fish and Game Warden June 9, 1949 Eugene Piatt, Game Farm Superintendent July 11, 1949 Ethel W. Murphy, Intermediate Stenographer-Clerk 1 —July 25, 1949 Abe Woodard, Fish Hatchery Man (retired) Sept. 15, 1949 C. S. Bander, Assistant Chief, Patrol (retired) Sept. 27, 1949 Earl Hiscox, Fish and Game Warden Nov. 3, 1949 Gen. H. H. Arnold, Former Commissioner Jan. 15, 1950 Fred Hecker, Fish and Game Patrol Captain Jan. 20, 1950 Henry Ocker, Fish and Game Warden Jan. 26, 1950 Frank Schulmeyer, Game Conservation Aid (retired) Jan. 30, 1950 Rudy Gerhardt, Fish and Game Warden Mar. 17, 1950 RETIREMENTS Brian Curtis, Supervising Fisheries Biologist Nov. 30, 194S K. T. Hogan, Supervising Clerk, Grade 1 Sept. 1, 1948 J. H. Sanders, Fish and Game Patrol Captain Aug. 31, 1948 Abe Woodard, Fish Hatchery Man Oct. 31, 1948 Carlos O. Fisher, Fish and Game Warden May 4, 1949 C. S. Bauder, Assistant Chief, Patrol June 30, 1949 Cliff S. Donham, Fish and Game Warden June 30, 1949 Chas. Sibeck, Fish and Game Warden June 30, 1949 J. S. Hunter, Chief, Bureau of Game Conservation Aug. 31, 1949 Raymond Coons, Fish Hatchery Assistant Sept. 14, 1949 Frank Schulmeyer, Game Conservation Aid Dec. 16, 1949 W. C. Blewett, Fish and Game Warden Dec. 31, 1949 Elvin C. Anderson. Fish Hatchery Assistant Dec. 31, 1949 Charles Ledshaw, Hunter and Trapper ^ Feb. 11, 1950 Ben R. Saunders, Senior Accountant April 30, 1950 Thos. J. Smith, Fish and Game Warden June 30, 1950 Wm. F. Kaliher, Fi.sh and Game Warden June 30, 1950 Bessie W. Kibbe, Senior Librarian June 30, 1950 APPOINTMENTS T. W. Schilling, Assistant Chief, Patrol July 1, 1948 Leo Shapovalov, Supervising Fisheries Biologist Jan. 1, 1949 J. F. Janssen, Jr., Assistant Chief, Marine Fisheries July 1, 1949 R. F. Classic, Assistant Chief, Patrol July 1, 1949 S. R. Gilloon, Assistant Chief, Patrol July 22, 1949 Ben Glading, Chief, Game Conservation Sept. 1, 1949 J. E. Chattin, Assistant Chief, Game Conservation Mar. 1, 1950 P. M. Roedel, Editor, "California Fish and Game" Mar. 10, 1950 22 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION CONSERVATION EDUCATION Durinc the bienniuni, greater emphasis was placed on better coopera- tion Avith the State Department of Education and the state colleges and schools. Five leaflets Avere prepared and published : ' ' California Valley Quail , " " Beaver, " " Salmon, " " Trout, " and " Striped Bass. ' ' All were written and styled for the fourth and fifth grade levels, and each con- tains a color print of the species, and maps or sketches to illustrate the text. Distribution is handled by the Bureau of Textbooks and Publica- tions of the Department of Education. Response from teachers has been tremendous, with requests for "more leaflets on more subjects." Three of the division's motion pictures were re-edited and the nar- rations rewritten, especially for use in schools. These have been given ' ' XX-Excellent ' ' ratings by the Audio-Visual Division of the State De- partment of Education ancl are being widely used. Active participation by the supervisor in conservation educational conferences, with lectures and pictures at workshops conducted by the vai'ious state colleges, and at teachers' institutes held in many counties lias undoubtedly aided in furthering the proposed program of integrat- ing the teaching of conservation of natural resources in the schools and state colleges of California. PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION losing primarily the mass information media, the public information section attempts to inform and educate license buyers and the general public concerning their obligations toward fish and game conservation. To better fulfill this mission, headquarters of the public information officer was transferred from Sacramento to San Francisco in March, 1949. The new location permits easier contact ancl closer liaison with important news media, division personnel, and the commercial fishing industry. The 1949 Legislature authorized the appointment of an editorial assistant in the information section. Partly because of a shortage of eligibles willing to accept the comparatively low salary, the post was not filled on a permanent basis. A major step toward standardizing the information program was accomplished in the spring of 1949. At that time, the public information officer took over the duties of distributing publications which were for- merly handled from five or more separate places. Aside from technical matters, the section now handles state-wicle distribution of bulletins, publications, photographs, maps, and abstracts of regulations. In addi- tion, most telephone calls and letters requesting general information re- ceivf'd at the San Francisco office are processed, as are requests for back issues of California Fish and Game, the quarterly magazine. These duties are performed by an intermediate stenographer-clerk at San Francisco. Siiu-p inanrruratina- the standardized distribution program, an aver- age of ."i.OOO pieces of literature were distributed by the section each month. ]Mail requests averaged 450 per month, telephone requests 125 per month, and personal requests at the counter, 200 per month. In addition, litoratnre was provided for distribution at division offices and license agencies, and at fairs and sportsmen's shows. FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 23 Startiuy i'roni scrateli, an cxhihit |)ro<;rani was uiidcrtakcii in tlir summer of 1948. Portable display units, capable of being shipp<'(l or carried with ease, have been assembled for exhibit use at sportsmen's shows, county fairs, and schools. Servicing" the i)ress remains the most important ['unction of the section. During the biennium, the mailing list of Outdoor Calif ornia weekly was brought up to date, and the quantity of information material to the press increased. Response from publications of all types was excellent, with the division receiving more newspaper clippings than any other state agency. The increase in the numbers of license buyers and the general inter- est stimulated in fish and game matters throughout the State calls for maintenance of a well-balanced information program. To assure con- tinued acceptance of the connnission's policies, and to gain ground in the solving of complex public relations problems, it seems necessary to expand these activities in keeping with the increased activities of other division functions. LIBRARY Early in 1949 direct supervision of the library was delegated by the executive officer as a staff function of the Public Information Section. At the same time, the responsibility for filling certain types of outside requests for publications and information was taken over by the latter section, leaving the librarian with more time to devote to serving the staff of the division, by mail and in person. The work load was also eased by the employment of a clerk-typist in July, 1949. Crowded quarters became the major problem, but a change of location is planned for July, 1950. Considerable attention was devoted to the binding of periodicals and serials. During the biennium, the collection grew to a total of 4,500 bound books and periodicals and 10,752 pamphlets. "CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME" The eight issues of the quarterl.y journal California Fisli and Game published during the biennium contained a total of 670 pages, with 42 major articles and many shorter notes. The material included in the magazine is largely technical or semitechnical and the subscription list includes large numbers of professional biologists, educational institu- tions, and libraries. The majority of the subscribers, however, are non- professionals who are interested in the more technical aspects of con- servation work. Demand for the magazine has increased steadily and it was necessary to inci'ease press runs from 5,500 to 6,500 copies during the two-year period. FISCAL Financial statements for the biennium appear in Appendix A. Total revenue for the 1948-49 (100th) Fiscal Year was $5,529,046.65; for the 1949-50 (101st) year, $5,626,113.22. These receipts are substantially greater than those for the preceding biennium : $3,556,426.26 in 1946-47, and $4,335,994.15 in 1947-48. Expenditures were $4,291,873.67 in 1948-49 and $4,530,864.64 in 1949-50. REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF GAME CONSERVATION Each year California's unattached hunters are finding fewer areas on whicli to hunt, because trespass without permission and damage to crops, livestock, fences and other property by a minority of unsports- manlike hunters have created an unfriendly situation between sportsmen and landowners. This hostile relationship between landowners and hunters was especially prevalent in the rice-growing region of the Sac- ramento Valley where most of the State's pheasant population is found. Opening these areas to controlled pheasant hunting has been one of the most urgent problems confronting the bureau. An experimental pheasant study area, the Sartain Ranch, initiated by bureau game biologists, was instrumental in the development of regu- lated hunting on private lands in California. Hunting on this ranch was successfully controlled in 1947 and 1948 by the bureau in cooperation with the landoAvner. The experience gained during these two years led to the development of a cooperative hunting plan in 1949. In this year Senate Bill No. 677 establishing cooperative hunting areas was passed by the State Legislature and was included in the Fish and Game Code as Section 1159. Rules and regulations for the management and control of these areas were then drawn up by bureau employees and enacted by the Fish and Game Commission. In order to minimize the problem of supervision and control, and at the same time to accommodate a large number of hunters, it was required that on any prospective area a minimum of 5,000 acres in a coiitinnous tract be open to public hunting. A provision was made to allow tile landowner to collect a daily fee not to exceed $2 per hunter if he so desired, with the stipulation that 25 percent of the total collected was to be used for wildlife maintenance and habitat improvement. Three types of zones were provided for in 1949 : Closed zones (for |)rnail Habitat Develop- ment (all of California south of U. S. Highway 40, witli major empha- sis south of the Tehach- api) I>o.\le Winter Range (Lassen County) Project completed. Merged with No. 554. Project completed. Merged with No. 554. This project has been canceled due to oppo- sition by lessees on City of Los Angeles lands. Project funds of approximately $45,000 have been restored to working balance of WCB. Equipment, materials and supplies for this project are purchased by WCB. Salaries, travel and vehicle mileage are paid from federal aid in wildlife restoration funds. At present, eight full crews are working. This project will continue during the 1950- 1951 Fiscal Year on essentially the same ba.sis. During last year 401 quail "guzzlers" wore completed, numerous brushpiles were con.structed and springs were developed for quail use. Project completed except for construction of residence. This has been deferred pending final determination of area boundaries and land acquisition under federal aid funds. FORTY-FIRST HIENNIAI, ki;i'ORT 27 WATERFOWL PROJECTS /'rojcrt No. Name, location Slnlnx 507 liutte Sink Watorfnw 1 Arci ikiI yd .•ic(iiiirc(l. Ac(|iiisil inn in limnls Management Area i.f I'niilic Works Board. (Colusa County) 550 ■ Delta Waterfowl Man- I^and puii ii.iscd March .'JO, llloO. J'^iiiipniciiL as'ement Area ordered. Supervisory pf^rsonnid hired. Fed- (Solano County) era! aid (h'\ clnpnicnt jii-ojcct ("alifui-nia 4(»It api>rn\cd ct'lcclivc July 1. I'.I.IO. 523 Honey Lake Waterfowl rrojcct coniplclcd. rnrdicr dc'\(lifo History !iii(l IMiUKi^M'nioiit; of the Tiiiit;-ii<'<-l«''l TMic.-isiiiil in Ciiliforni;!. This jn-ojcct is cvaluiitiiif;- (he dfccts of iiKi-iciill iiriil priicliccs on pheasant populations, especially in the Butte Sink area. Also, the survival of released game farm pheasants i-aised from wild stock is being compared with pheasant releases made from regular game farm stock. Management practices being tested include food and cover plantings, water develoiunent, and trapiiing wild pheasants in heavily populated areas for restocking dcpleled areas. Iluiilcrs are checked during Ihe pheasant hunting season to determine hunting pressure, the pheasant kill, crippling loss, and the survival of released and wild birds. At the same time hunting season controls as they apply to hunters and land uses are being studied to facilitate farmer-sportsmen relationships. Harold T. Harjier is the leader of this project. Project 25-R, A Study of the Fuod IIal)its of California (Jame Birds and Maniinals and Species Affecting Their Welfare. As an integial part of wildlife management studies now in progress in California, it is necessary to obtain information as to the food preferences of game and predatory species. C. M. Ferrel is leader of this project. Project 28-R, A Study of Deer Poi)ulation and Management Prol)lems in Cali- fornia. These studies consist of an appraisal of the management ])rol>lems involved, particularly in respect to range condition, deer numbers, agriculture and livestock conflicts. This project is being conducted under service agreement with the University of California with Dr. A. S. Leopold as leader. Project 30-R, A Study of Production, Migration and "Wintering Areas of Water- fowl in California. An evaluation is l)eing made of the production and wintering grounds of the principal waterfowl areas of the State, which includes Suisun Marsh and the Sacramento-San .Joaquin Delta, the Inyo-Mono and Owens Valley area, and the northeastern section of California. These studies include large scale trapping and banding operations of resident and migratory waterfowl. Also, an investigation is being conducted on the effects of reclamation projects and land uses on waterfowl populations. A. W. Miller is the leader of this project. Project 31-R, A Study of the Effects of Brush Removal on Game Ranges in California, will determine sound methods for management of brush areas for wildlife habitat improvement. The project is under service agreement with the University of California, with Dr. H. A. Biswell as leader. Project 33-R, An Evaluation of Quail Development and Management Practices in California. Studies are being conducted to determine the effects of cover planting and water development on quail populations. Types of construction and the value of 'XSSP?SK»* -^.sS*™** 8*^ "<5-/„ L^^v Figure 4. Installing one of the new type plastic gallinaceous guzzlers 36 FISH AND GA^klE COMMISSION artificial roosts are being tested. Also, the effects of cover removal, grazing, cultivation, controlled burning, rodent control, predator control, and hunting pressure on quail populations are being investigated. This project is under the leadership of Wallace G. Macgregor. Project 35-R, A Study of Diseases of Wildlife Species in California, is concerned especially with those diseases which are of deiinite known importance in respect to wildlife, and which appear to offer possibilities of being controlled by management practices. Merton Rosen is leader of this project. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Project 9-D, Suisun Waterfowl Refuge, involves 1887 acres of land to provide waterfowl feeding and resting areas by construction of levees, ditches and tide gates. Project 13-D, Gray Lodge Waterfowl Refuge, involves 2,542 acres of land to provide waterfowl feeding and resting areas by construction of levees, ditches, roads and buildings. Project 26-D, The Restoration of Valley Quail, Gambel Quail and Mountain Quail in California. This project represents the major effort in habitat development for California quail, and includes plantings for food and cover improvement, the erect- ing of artificial quail roosts, and the construction of "gallinaceous guzzlers" or rain catchment basins for providing quail with water. Through this habitat development program, many areas that were formerly unsuitable as quail range are now producing quail for California's hunters. The program has received help through financial aid from county fine moneys, and physical labor from sportsmen and other interested groups. The "gallinaceous guzzler" program has been accelerated by the use of prefabri- cated plastic basins and glass mat (asphalt emulsion) catchment aprons. The installa- tion of the plastic model requires about one-fifth the time needed for the construction of the concrete type of guzzler. Another advantage gained by using the plastic model is that it can readily be moved to a new site, if the original location proves unsatis- factory. During the biennium 574 guzzlers were installed, bringing to 734 the number now in operation. Project 34-D, Game Trapping and Transplanting, to restock formerly occupied habitat, to extend the range of a species, and to supplement remnant species. The work consisted of live-trapping and transplanting game mammals where required. The project operated periodically only when the need for this type of work arose. Project 30-D, Development of Imperial Waterfowl Management Area, involving 12.W) acres of land, provided waterfowl feeding, resting, public shooting areas and facilities for the proper management of the area by the construction of levees, ditches and buildings, and by the development of the land for farming of waterfowl food crops. Project 38-D, Development of the Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area, involves 3,520 acres of land for the provision of waterfowl feeding, resting and nest- ing areas and facilities for the proper management of the area by construction of levees, ditches, roads and buildings. Project 39-D, Development of the Madeline Plains Waterfowl Management Area, involving 4,776 acres of land, provided waterfowl feeding, resting and nesting areas and facilities for the proper management of the area by construction of levees, ditches, roads and buildings. LAND ACQUISITION Project lO-L, Tehama Winter Deer Range. This area provides winter feed for deer migrating down from the mountains. To preserve this winter range 33,963 acres have been acquired, and more land may be purchased if it becomes available. Project ] ] -L, Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area. An area of 3,520 acres ha.x been purchased for waterfowl feeding, resting, nesting, and to provide public shooting areas. Additional segments of land will be purchased as they become available. Project 17-L, Madeline Plains Waterfowl Management Area. To provide water- fowl with feeding, resting and nesting areas and to furnish the public with hunting Krounds. 5.176 arr.'s of land have boon purchased. More land Avill be acquired as it bocwmos aviiijabjo. Project 21 -L. Doyle Winter Deer Range. An area of 11,700 acres of land has Wph purchfisod to r.rovide winter feed for the migrating interstate deer herd. Further purchases will be made as the land becomes available. I FORTY-FIRST UTKNNIAIv REPORT 37 MAINTENANCE Project 37-M. This ijroject inspects and maintains the installations tliat liuve been developed to provide cover, water and food for quail. COORDINATION Project 29-C. It is the responsibility of this project to select, i)Lin. direct and supervise the other Pittman-Robertson projects and make certain that these jirojects are productive of results. DISEASE LABORATORY Disease investigations have been greatly enhanced by the addition of a special mobile laboratory. This laboratory, bnilt on a one-ton panel trtick, was designed to fill the need for rapid diagnosis of wildlife diseases in the field. The emphasis was placed on mobility and maneuverability so that the site of a disease outbreak could be reached quickly even in areas that might be considered somewhat inaccessible. The laboratory contains all the necessary facilities for complete diagnosis in the fields of bacteriology and parasitology, making it a completely self -sustained unit. The mobile laboratory was first used at the south end of San Fran- cisco Bay to diagnose an outbreak of avian cholera among waterfowl, gulls and shorebirds. Several control measures were put into effect, but an estimated 40,000 waterfowl succumbed to this disease. An extensive project is now in progress to determine the blood pic- ture of deer, including blood chemistry, in the expectation of finding; reliable factors that can be used as an indicator of the animal 's condition. It is anticipated that the results of this study will form a base that can be used as an index of the state of nutrition of the deer as it relates to range management, and will incidentally classify the anemias that may occur in these animals. Perhaps the greatest progress in disease control has been made at the state game farms. Pullorum, a bacterial disease of the intestinal tract of gallinaceous birds, has been eradicated through a control pro- gram. Other control methods have been used to eliminate avian ttibercu- losis in adult pheasants and chukar partridge. Studies are also in progress on controlling gapeworm infections and ulcerative enteritis-quail disease. PUBLICATIONS BY STAFF MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU OF GAME CONSERVATION Quarterly progress and final reports are prepared on all work con- ducted by the Pittman-Robertson projects. Summaries of these reports are published by the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service. During the bienninm other reports and articles were published by bureau personnel as follows : Dasmann, William P. 1948. A critical review of range survey methods and their application to deer range management. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 34, no. 4, p. 189-207. 1949. Deer-livestock for&ge studies on the interstate winter deer range in Cali- fornia. Journ. of Range Management, vol. 2, p. 206-212. 38 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Ferrel. Carol M.. and Howard R. Leach 19r>0. Food habits of the prong-horn antelope of California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36. no. 1, p. 21-26. Ferrel. Carol M.. Harold Harper and Jack Hiehle 1049. A proi,'ress report on phea.sant hunting season studies for the years 1946, 1947 and 1948. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35, no. 4, p. 301-322. Ferrel. Carol M.. Howard Twining and Norman B. Herkenham 1949. Food habits of the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchiciis) in the Sac- ramento Valley, California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35, no. 1, p. 51-69. Ht-nslfy. Arthur L., and B. C. Fox 1948. Experiments on the management of Colorado River beaver. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 115-131. Herman. Carlton M. r.i4;i. A new host for the eye worm Thelazia calif orniensis. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35. no. 2, p. 139" Herman, Carlton M.. and Arthur I. Bischoff 1949. The duration of Jlaenioproieufi infection in California quail. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35, no. 4, p. 293-299. 1950. Papilloma, skin tumors in deer. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36, no. 1, p. 19-20. Herman. Carlton M., and Richard Kramer 1950. Control of gapeworm infection in game farm birds. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36, no. 1, p. 13-17. Herman, Carlton M., and Merton N. Rosen 1949. Disease investigations on mammals and birds hy the California Division of Fish and Game. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35, no. 3, p. 193-201. Interstate Deer Herd Committee 1949a. Interstate winter deer range management plan. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35, no. 2, p. 103-114. 1949b. Third progress report on the cooperative study of the interstate deer herd and its range. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35, no. 2, p. 115-134. 19."i(». Fourth progress report on the cooperative study of the interstate deer herd and its range. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36, no. 1, p. 27-52. McLean, Donald D. 1950. Duck banding at Tulare Lake. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36, no. 2, p. 75-117. Rosen, Merton X. 194S. Hermaphroditism in the Chinese ring-necked pheasant. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 135-136. i:..>.-n. .M.-rton X., nnd Arthur I. Bischoff I'.MIt. Tiie 194S-49 s; and with the information thus gathered and anah'zed, is able to make recommcndatioiis to the Fish and Game Commission and the Legislature I'oi- wise conservation measures. The bureau works in close cooperation with the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission and the Marine Kesearch Connnittee. Brief accounts of the activities of these organizations are presented on pages 65 and GG. During 1948 and 1949 California's fish catch was greater than it had been in the biennial period immediately preceding, but compared with the total landings in any of the 12 years from 1934 through 1945, it can not be considered high. The catcli trend reflects the success or failure of the sardine season, and the sardine fishery had not recovered from the failure which was so marked in 1946 and 1947. In 1948 the total catch was over 900,000,000 pounds and in 1949 it reached 1,100.000,000. Among the cannery species three of the tunas surpassed previous records. Yellowfin tuna landings in 1948 were over 191,000,000 pounds. In 1949 skipjack passed the 78,000,000 pound mark and albacore totaled more than 44,000,000. Although the mackerels did not break a record the combined catch of jack and Pacific was over 112,000,000 pounds in 1948 and slightly less the following year. The 1949 sardine catch of 633,000,000 pounds was the best in four years but for the 12-year period prior to 1945 the yearly catch w^as in the neighborhood of 1,000,000,000 pounds. Because sardines were scarce in the years immediately preceding this biennium, a very high percentage of the fish went into cans, and. this, combined with the heavy catches of tuna and mackerel, brought the 1948 case pack to 2,000,000 more than had been packed during any previous year and in 1949 the pack exceeded 13,000,000 eases. Important among the market species, the 1948 catch of sole was over 21,000,000 pounds or almost double the 1947 peak poundage. The crab catch of 11,000,000 pounds for each year set a record for that species. Salmon landings of approximately 7,000,000 pounds for each year w^ere lower than the record catches of the previous four years. The value of the catch to the fisherman in 1948 was $80,500,000. The high price of fish in general and the heavy landings of tuna (yellowfin tuna, $32,000,000, skipjack, $9,000,000 and albacore, $11,000,000) com- bined to make this a banner year, exceeding the peak 1947 value by $2,000,000. In 1949 although the poundage was greater, chiefly due to an increased catch of sardines, the wholesale value to the fishermen dropped to $73,000,000. Prices in general were lower and the high-priced yellowfin tuna catch was less in poundage. For the fourth year in succession the fishermen delivering to Eureka and other ports along the northern coast received over $3,000,000 for their catches; these were made up chiefly of sole, crabs, albacore and (30) 40 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 1600 80 1 1 - A 1 1 1 A 1 1 1 1500 70 60 rso o -/ \ \ 1400 1300 « 1200 i Q. o O \ ^ I 40 1100 c O = 30 2 - j^ \ / \ c 1000:1 20 ^"^^ 900 10 ^ V" - 800 °< 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7nn rO fj IT) ID f^ 00 0^ ^ '3- ^ ^ >^ ^ » t t T 0^ 0^ ffi fft (Ti ff> a> 01 ff> ff> •' H i l_ :i-; a. \'alue and poundage of the California commercial fish catch, 1940-194S Value represents the amount paid to the fishermen. salmon. San Francisco and Central California ports netted about $3,000,- 000 which was low for that region and was caused by the scarcity of sardines. Monterey fishermen received $5,000,000 and $6,000,000 for the two years, an improvement over the preceding biennium when the sar- dines failed to appear. The ports in the Santa Barbara region had their best year in 1948 when the total value of the landings was in the neigh- borliood of $2,000,000. This area is growing in importance. Canneries liavo been ostablislicd in the vicinity of Port Hueneme and facilities liave been developed for receiving large loads of sardines for shipment by truck to the canneries in Central and Southern California. Los Angeles and San Diego had their best monetary year in 1948 when the value of the deliveries Avas $29,000,000 and $37,700,000, respectively. TIh' 1949 valn(> was slightly less. Tuna was in part responsible for this prosperity, but it was also partially due to the fact that there was such a large migration of northern vessels to the southern ports. This jieriod has been marked by an extensive movement of the vessels in tlie fleet along the coast. Each j^ear a greater number of boats and fishermen from Alaska, AVasliington and Oregon come south during the albaeore season mid remain to participate in other fisheries. In the twD-year period 2,()()() ailditional fishermen were licensed to fish in Cali- fornia waters ( lf(49 — 1 4.IM)2 lislicrmen ) and there was an increase of over 1 .00(1 boats in the fleet (1949 — 6,160 vessels) . Many of the vessels entering the fleet were of larger sizes. In 1949 there were about 164 over 100 feet in length, erpiipped with modern devices for more efficient fishing which permitted them tf) go farther afield and remain on the fishing grounds for a greater length of time. FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 41 SARDINE The present bieniiiiim saw an improvement in the sardine fishery and a steady increase in tonnage hinded. From tlie low of 121, DOO tons in 1947-48 the catch went to 184,000 in l!)48-49 and 386,000 in l!J4!J-50.* As a result the industry is in a much healthier condition than in the previous biennium. Although more sardines were available on the San Francisco and Monterey fishing grounds there were not enough fish to meet the needs of the processors in these two ports. As a residt the truck- ing of sardines from Southern California, started in 1946-47, was con- tinued through 1949-50. To meet this demand unloading facilities were improved at the ports of Santa Barbara and Hueneme. Most of the sardines trucked to Monterey and San Francisco w^ere caught around the northern Channel Islands and off^ the mainland north of Santa Monica Bay. 1200 1000 / 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 800 - - «, 600 /_ / c 400 o 5 - CALIFORNIA SARDINE LANDINGS \ ^ - 200 — 1 1 1 1 1 1 t 1 ' 'J 1 T in ^ 1 t 1 o tn c 3 - OJ tn -t lO *o r- a ffi Figure 6. Sardine landings at California ports during the past 10 seasons During 1948-49 about 80 percent of the sardines landed were used for canning but in 1949-50 the proportion canned dropped to a third of the total received. This was due to a strengthening in the price of meal and oil and a major drop in the price of canned sardines. As an experiment in regulation of the sardine fishery the Sardine Industry Advisory Committee set up a temporary program of control for the 1948-49 season which was carried out b.y the Division of Fish and Game. Since this did not meet the expectations of the industr}^ and proved very difficult to administer, the regulations were dropped at the * These totals include poundages used for bait and consumption in a fresh state. They represent the final records for 1947-48 and 1948-49 and the most accurate figures available at this time for 19 49-50. 42 FISH AXD GAME COMMISSION end of the season. The advisory committee also discontinued its efforts to develop a long-range program of management. The increase during the last two seasons in the tonnages landed resulted from the appearance on the fishing grounds of two fairly abundant groups of fish, those spawned in 1946 and 1947. During both the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons, 80 percent of the fish came from these two year classes. The 1947 group Avas more abundant than the 1946 and will presumably continue to make a major contribution to the fishery in the immediately succeeding seasons. If no new abundant year classes appear on the fishing grounds, the present healthy condition in the indus- try cannot continue for any great length of time. As a result of the efforts of the industry a coordinated program for expanded sardine studies was set up under the direction of the Marine Research Committee during the Fortieth Biennium. This unifies the work of the California Academy of Sciences, California Division of Fish and Game, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although initiated in the previous biennium the expanded work at sea could not be started until vessels had been purchased and recon- ditioned for the specialized studies. Routine sea investigations were begun in February, 1949, and have been continued on a monthly basis since that time. The division's research ship M. V. A. B. Scofield participated in the first three of these cruises in 1949 and occupied the station lines from Point Conception south to the central part of Baja California. After this time Scripps Institution and U. S. Fish and AYildlife Service had sufficient vessels to carry on the regular physical, chemical and biological sampling at sea and the N. B. Scofield. turned to other activities of the division. In September, 1949, the M. V. Yellowfin was ready for operation and she began the specific tasks assigned to the Division of Fish and Game in the cooperative sardine investigations. From October until the end of the biennium, with the use of sonar and recording fathometer, the Yellowfin located schools of sardines in Southern and Central California waters. Samples of the fish in these schools were taken and material for age determinations and food studies collected. Where schools were found records of water temperatures, water samples and plankton samples were taken. The purpose of this studj^ is to determine the physical and chemical conditions where sardine schools will be found, what kinds of food are present and if the sardine shows a preference for particular types of I)lanktonic food. Ill addition to the work at sea the staff continued its routine collec- tion of data for an analysis of the size and age composition of the catch and a measure of the success of the fishing fleet. Results of studies of the return to the fislierman based on his average monthly or weekly catch had bf'fn published through 1942. These former studies were reviewed, continiu'd tlirongli the 1948-49 season and published as Fish Bulletin Xo. 76. in the last six months of the biennium. Through the cooperative .study carried on with the U. S. P^ish and Wildlife Service the 1948-49 and 1949-50 sardine catches were compiled by tons and numbers of fish taken in each ago group. These tables were published in the July, 1949, and .Inly. 1950. is^nos of California Fish and Game. FORTY-FIKST BIENNIAL KKI'UKT 43 TUNA Heavy exploitation of t lie 1 una resoui'ccs iii;ii-k(' Figure 7. California landings of albacore, bluefin, skipjack and yellowfin, 1940-49 44 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION was almost a failure. The 1950 summer fishery for bluefin was equally poor with practically no fish landed by mid-summer. Because of better facilities and an enlarged staff we were able to expand our tuna investigations. One trip with the M. V. N. B. Scofield was made to the Hawaiian Islands where much material was collected for an analysis of any differences between the mid-Pacific populations of skipjack and yellowfin and these fishes taken off: the coasts of the Americas. Several trips were made offshore and along the California coast to determine conditions which govern the presence or absence of albacore. Fish were located oft'shore and just prior to the regular season but no albacore have yet been taken during the winter months. On these cruises gill net and long line fishing methods were used as well as trolling. A regular system of sampling the catch of albacore, yellowfin and skipjack has been set up to determine the sizes of fish in the catch. Pre- liminary studies of tagging methods have been made. In October, 1949, a meeting of all investigations studying tunas in the eastern Pacific was held at our Terminal Island laboratory. Similar meetings are planned annually to coordinate the work of all the agencies working on these fishes in the Pacific area. SALMON After the peak years of 1945-46, the salmon catches of California have dropped. The commercial catches of 1948-49 have been about the average of the periods since 1916 (Figure 8). The ocean catches of these , 1 1 1 1 1 r — ^ 1 1 12 — CALIFORNIA SALMON LANDINGS / \^ - II - / \ - lO - / ~~ \ - 9 - / \ - e - / •^ --^- V - « / ---' |7 » / ^ ^■"•^ \ ^ \^ _ & \ r / / ^,« \ \ \ / o/> \ / X / / / y \ / /" ^' »'' \ — « _ \ — J \ J *••-._ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■-..^ °. > -'<■•>•» ifi ■i) r- (D ff> } •» •» ^ -T 1 1 •J 'J « (Ti (T- - _ _ " - Figure S. California landings of comniei-ri;illy caught salmon, 1940-1949, showing poundages taken from the ocean and from the Central Valley rivers FORTY-FIRST JilKNNIAL ItKl'OK'l 45 two years Averc a])])r()xiiiiat('ly (M|ual, hut the iMvcr huidiufis of l!)4f) were considerahly lowei'. Tlie (lirCcrciicc in the i-ivcr catches was primarily clue to a strike by the river fishermen in the fall of 194f>. In the early part f)f the 1949 fall season before the salmon luid hc.min lo appear in any niinihers, tlie fisliermen received about 18 cents for fish under 14 pounds and 20 cents for those over 14 pounds, and evidently expected tiiat this price would last through the entire season. However, on September 8th fish began appearing in quantity; on Septembei- f)th the dealer's cut the price to a flat 18 c(>nts ])er pound, and the fishermen ])rom])tly went out on strike. This strike lasted through the entire remainiler of the season; hence, the bulk of the fall I'un was lost to the industry. A few fish were taken by non-striking fishermen. A somewhat larger number were taken upon the orders of the union itself. Bach day a few fishermen would be assigned to go out, make their catches, and deliver these catches to the union, which would in turn market the fish. The number of fishermen operating at any one time was small. The total number of fish landed during the strike was only a fraction of that which would have been landed under normal fishing conditions ; but, of course, it is impossible to estimate how good the catches would have been had fishing operations been normal. Catches of the few boats that were operating and of the Division of Fish and Game boat Striper (wliich was catching salmon for tagging purposes) are not at all conclusive, but such catches indicate that the season would probabl}^ not have been much better or much worse than that of 1948. The future of the salmon run in the main stem of the San Joaquin River looks bleak indeed. This is due to an intensification of the water supply problems which have ruined the runs for the past several years. In the Fortieth Biennial Report of the Division of Fish and Game, there is a brief description of fish rescue operations in which part of the spring salmon run of the San Joaquin was trucked past a dry stretch in the San Joaquin River. This turns out to have been a wasted effort, since it was not possible to get enough water to enable the young of these salmon to reach the sea in the spring of 1949. In order to avoid a repetition of this waste of money and effort, the 1949 spring salmon run was diverted into the Merced River instead of being trucked up the San Joaquin as was done with the 1948 run. This diverting was done by stretching a net across the San Joaquin River exactly at its junction with the Merced so that fish coming up the San Joaquin would be diverted into the Merced in- stead of having to back downstream any distance in order to find their way to this river. The salmon accepted this rerouting with very little fuss, probably because the small flow of return irrigation water coming down the San Joaquin was so warm that it would have been fatal to salmon to have had to stay in it for any prolonged length of time. Pre- sumably the fish realized this instinctively and were willing to accept the cooler and more copious waters of the Merced River. Unfortmiately, the salmon ascending the Merced River did not have a high rate of survival. This was because the fish ascended the river rather slowly and the great majority of them were too far downstream at the time when the irri- gators started diverting almost the entire flow of the Merced River. Sum- mer flows in the Merced are so low that salmon cannot or will not try to ascend the riffles from one pool to the next. As sunnner advances, water temperatures in the lower Merced become so high that the salmon are 46 If'ISH AND GAME COMMISSION unable to survive. The salmon which went farthest upstream found water which remained relatively cool all summer. In previous years, the salmon which went beyond the town of Snelling found water cool enough so that the survival was high. However, in 1949 the survival was poor except among the relatively few fish Avhich got as far as the Merced Irrigation District dam about four miles upstream from Snelling. 1950 started out to be a repetition of 1949 in that there was no water available for salmon in the San Joaquin River, and in that the Bureau of ^Marine Fisheries erected a diversionary net at the mouth of the Merced River and started the run going up that stream. The course of events in 1950 was influenced by the outcome of a court trial in which the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation was sued to compel them to allow a sufficient flow of water to maintain the salmon runs in the San Joaquin River below Friant. Without going into the details of a very complex and confusing trial, suffice it to say that the court arranged for the Bureau of Reclama- tion to release a flow of 25 cubic feet of water per second which was to be used by the Division of Fish and Game to get the salmon run upstream through a series of irrigation canals. One of these canals (the Delta Canal) crosses a body of water known as Salt Slough on a flume and trestle. The desire of the court was for the Division of Fish and Game to build a fish ladder at this point so that the salmon could climb from Salt Slough into the Delta Canal at the point where the two crossed. Salt Slough gathers a moderate flow of irrigation water from the farming land in the vicinity of Los Banos. Eventually the slough flows into the San Joaquin River a few miles above its junction with the Merced. The inten- tion of the court was for a route to be prepared by which the salmon could swim up the San Joaquin River into Salt Slough, up Salt Slough to the crossing of the Delta Canal through the fish ladder to be constructed by the Division of Fish and Game and into the Delta Canal, up this canal to its junction with the larger Arroyo Canal, and up the Arroyo Canal to the point where it was diverted from the San Joaquin River, thence up the San Joaquin to the spawning grounds in the vicinity of Friant Dam. T^nfortunately this court directive came too late to be effective as far as the 1950 salmon run was concerned. The order was issued in mid-May. Construction of a fish ladder of this height (12 feet) is a matter which usually requires many months of red tape and construction time. On this occasion the red tape was dispensed with in a matter of hours. Bids were obtained, one was accepted, and the ladder was operating on June 16, 1950, about a month after the issuance of the court order. This was far too late. To liave been effective the ladder should have been in operating condilioii about May 1st, a matter of several days before the court's totally unexpected action. As it was, the bulk of the salmon run went up the Merced River and only 36 fish availed themselves of the fish ladder whiili was constructed foi- their use. By June 26th it was obvious that the salmon run was over. AYater temperatures in Salt Slough were so high that there was no chance of any more fish getting upsteam to the ladder. Hence, by agreement with the division, the Bureau of Reclamation turned off the floAv of water \\ liidi was being used for these fish. The spring run of 1950 was officially declared ended. The program for tlie cf)nsti-uctioii of fish screens and ladders has received tremendous impetus IVoiii jidditional funds made available under tlic WiMlitc Conservation Act. However, as in any other long KORTY-FIRST HIKNNIAI. KEl'OKT 47 ran^e and ]ar<>'e scale pvo<>faiH tlio inoclumies of oi^oi-atioii have Ix'cii slow of aehieveniciit. The engineering lielp necessary for the drawing up of plans for large projects is now more readily available than when the Wildlife Board first began to make allocations of funds. Detailed plans have been comph'ted for the constrnction of two fish ladders on the Daguerre Point Dam oii the Yuba iiivei-. Tliis location is about 10 miles above Marysville. Plans also have just been finished for the construction of a fishway on the Sutter-Butte Dam on tlie Feather River. This dam is located about 10 miles below Oi-oviUe. Figure 9. Mill Creek electric fish screen The fish screen shown in Figure 9 has been built at the heading of the Los Molinos Water Company on Mill Creek. This site was chosen because of its suitability for further experimentation on electrical screen- ing. Electric fish stops so far have not been very successful. This screen incorporates several new ideas in its construction and hope is held that a truly effective electric screen may yet be produced. Four small wooden fish ladders were installed in gravel diversion dams along the Merced River. Their effectiveness has been doubtful due to lack of water at the proper time. This lack of water during the salmon run is not so much due to lack of runoff as to the mismanagement of this flow. Almost the total flow of the river is impounded early in the salmon season often allowing sections of the stream bed to dry up. Later when the dam is full, a larger spill occurs which is often damaging to both small diversion dams and their fish ladders. A more extended period of water release would make a great difference in the salmon production potential of the Merced River. The Division of Fish and Game has worked closely with the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation in the designing of a fish screen for the Tracy pumping plant. When completed this diversion will be the largest in the 48 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION State ; and as its water will be drawn from salmon streams, a screen has been considered necessary. This installation is also expected to save large numbers of striped bass and other species of fish. Bids have already been received for a pilot screen 200 feet long to be located in a temporary chan- nel. This structure will be adequate for the diversion capacity of the first three yea.rs of pump operation. The pilot screen will contain several types of debris-cleaning mechanisms and should give the information necessary for the designing of an effective permanent installation. Dur- ing the life of the pilot screen it is planned to transport the small fish out of the danger area by barge. The construction of a building at Elk Grove has supplied a much needed headquarters and shop for the men working on stream improve- ment ill the Central Valley. This shop when finished and equipped with power tools will greatly increase the efficiency of the personnel working in this area. This installation was constructed with funds provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board. As part of an interstate investigation involving California, Wash- ington, and Oregon, the Bureau of Marine Fisheries has started tagging salmon in the ocean. Taggers have been working out of San Francisco, Fort Bragg, and Eureka. In addition, the bureau has tagged salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as part of an investigation which is unconnected with the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission. TABLE 6. NUMBERS OF SALMON TAGGED Area SUver King Total 1948 Eureka and Fort Bragg 143 662 2 2,573 805 San Francisco 2 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta 2,573 Totals 143 69 1 3,237 461 371 864 3,380 1949 Eureka and Fort Bragg. - 530 San Francisco 372 .'^arramento-San .loaquin Delta 864 Totals 70 28 2 1,696 376 809 1,766 .January 1-June 30, 1950 Eureka and Fort Bragg - 404 San Francisco Sacramcnto-San Joariuin Delta 811 Totals 30 1,185 1,215 Tlie immbers of fish tagged are shown in Table 6. All innovation in tagging methods, tried for the first time in 1949, was moderately successful, and was tried again in 1950. The second time it was an overwhelming success. Sport fishing boats operating out of San Franciseo Bay were contacted before the salmon season opened. Arrangements were made with 15 boats to donate their time and catch salmon for tagging before the season was open. This included 11 charter boats, three private boats, and one commercial troller. Each charter boat's skipper contacted some of his best customers and asked them if FORTY-FIRST BIIONNIAI, Ri:i'()RT 49 they would like to go salmon fisliiii<^- without cluii-;^!', the n'S('i-\;iti(m beiii- the same period more intense fishin<>' has grad- ually increased the seasonal landings at San Fi-aneisco to about five and one-half million ixuinds which is about 2. ()()(),()()() ponuds above the pi-e- war level. Crab traps of stainless steel wire woven about cii-cuiar frames have become the principal fishing gear. However, there are still many smaller boats in both the San Francisco and Eureka regions contributing to the total landings through the use of the hooj) iu4s wliich once were the mainstay of the fishery. Since there must exist a limit to the amount of exploitation of the resource in relation to the natural production of the species, it became advisable in 1948 to begin a biological investigation of the crab to deter- mine if this resource can withstand the increased fishing pressure. The existing protection of females and the minimum size limit restrict fishing to a definite group of older male crabs. When these are taken crabbing must cease — but only until after the ensuing molting season which brings in a new group of legal-size crabs. Preliminary studies of the present biological investigation are yielding information on the rate of growth and size at first maturity of the crab in California waters. Crabs about to shed their shells are held in fresh circulating sea water at the Steinhart Aquarium, San Francisco. The growth of these crabs after molting gives increments of the various sizes. The seasons of molt- ing for different size groups are being ascertained and considered with periodic growth increases to give data for construction of the desired growth curve. Determination of the size and age at first sexual maturity will allow an estimation of the possibility of the intensive fishing oper- ations resulting in irreparable damage to the resource. There is indica- tion that legal-size crabs have passed through two mating seasons. Thus, it seems, since natural production has opportunity for success, that only a catastrophe for the females or the j^oung stages could harm the fishery for an extended period. PISMO CLAM After September, 1947, tliere was no legal commercial exploitation of California Pismo clams but limited quantities have been imported into the State from Mexican waters to meet the consumer demand. During 1948 there were no records of shipments into California from south of the International P)Oundary. In 1949, however, the imports amounted to about 645,000 pounds live weight. Kednced canning is the major factor responsible for the drop in importations from a high of over 53,000,000 pounds in 1945. In October, 1949, Fish and Game District 18 A (the LeGrande sanc- tuary just south of Pismo Beach) was open to the sportsmen of the State for the first time in 20 years. During a two and one-half month period following this opening an estimated 4,000,000 pounds were removed from this beach. At the same time that District 18A was opened, two other areas (one at Pismo Beach and one at Morro Bay) were closed to clam digging. It is anticipated that designated areas will be set up as clam sanctuaries and alternately opened and closed approximately every 56 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION five years, thus allowing a given population of clams limited protection for short periods. Pismo clam investigations, re-established m 1946, indicate that there •have been no exceptionally successful sets at Pismo Beach since 1946. A revieAv of available information about the Pismo clam was prepared for publication in California Fish and Game, July, 1950, and a more technical report on populations, maturity and local growth rates is being prepared in conjunction with Dr. Wesley R. Coe of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. ABALONE The production of abalones has increased slightly over that of the last biennium. Because of the great increase of abalone divers after the war. the drain on District 18 was excessive and practically all of the legal-sized abalones were removed. Most of the abalones now come from the Channel Islands. The present diving crews are the old timers who have followed the fishery for years. Only a few of the postwar semi- professionals have stayed in business. A new species (Haliotis sorensenii) described from a few specimens taken near San Simeon has been dis- covered in commercial quantities around San Clemente Island. The center of the industry is at present at Santa Barbara where a large modern plant processes the abalones as they are landed from the islands. ]\Iorro Bay has two processing plants which produce a small steady supply. OCEAN SPORT FISHING Ocean sport fishing has shown a continual rise in numbers of boats and fishermen since the end of the war. The increase in numbers of boats and fishermen between 1947 and 1948 was 21 and 22 percent, respec- tively, but the increase in total number of fish caught was only 8 per- cent. If the stock of fish was sufficient, the total ocean sport catch could be expected to increase in proportion to the number of fishermen. Spot checks of sport boat landings, made continuously since 1947, have revealed that the average catch of the inarine angler is about five fish of all species. The number of anglers catching 10 or more fish during any one day of angling averaged less than 10 percent of the total anglers lliioii'jliout the season. Seventy-five percent of the anglers caught five or less fish (liifing an average fishing day. In fact, over half of the 234 boats checked diiriiio 1948 and 1949 reported an average catch of three fish or less ])(•]■ (islii'i'nian. r.i'fore 1949, holders of sport fishing licenses were permitted to take 1.") fish in the aggregate of certain species. Beginning in 1949, the regu- lation was changed to a bag limit of 10 fish of certain species, and several additional species were placed on a limit of 15 fish. This new regulation was intended to perform two functions : to help eliminate some of the waste of fish that often occurs when an angler returns with a heavy catch and lias difficulty in disposing of it, and also to distribute the available fish more evenly among the anglers. This would be accomplished by causing the highly successful angler to give his overlimit fish to those anglers that were less successful. Preferably, of course, it is better that an angler cease fishing if he reaches his limit, or releases alive over- limit fish. FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL KKI'ORT 57 There has been little ehanp'e in the speeies eoniyiosition of the marine sportcateh. The important ones are barraenda, the poj)nlar kelp and sand bass (frequently called calico bass), the many species of rockfish, halibut, white sea bass and yellowtail. Perhaps the backbone of the Sonthern California s]>ortfishery is the kel]i and sand bass. Until the spring of 1950, very little research woi'k on these fishes had been done. At the present time an experimental tagging program is in effect and a total of more than 1,200 fish have been tagged. This venture is a cooper- ative one between several groups: the Bnrean of Marine Fisheries, sport- boat owners, boat landing operators, live bait dealers, a tackle manu- facturer, the Southern Council of Conservation Clubs, and the Sporting Goods Dealers Association of the Los Angeles area. Only because of th'e friendly efforts of all of these groups, and many individuals as well, has it been possible to put on this tagging program to the extent necessary. Figure 13. Tagging rock bass It is far too early to explain any definite results, although information is coming in at an unusual rate. In keeping with a policy set up in the summer of 1948, the bureau has maintained monthly news releases summarizing the marine sport- catch all along the California coast. The value of such a policy is mani- fold, but most important it does much to convince boat operators that they personally profit by keeping and sending in catch records that will be used as public information. 58 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION LIVE BAIT FISHERY Tliere has been little if any change in the past two years either in the manner in which live bait fishermen operate or in the handling of the catch records that these fishermen maintain for the bureau. The kinds and amounts of fish taken daily by the fishermen have been reported to us and we have accompanied as many bait boats as possible during each season. On these trips much information is gained that does not appear on the catch records and at the same time good relationships are maintained. During this biennium, the bait reports indicated that practically no small sardines were caught on the bait grounds of Southern Cali- fornia. The total bait catch has increased and adult sardines form a larger part of the total than was true in the 1946-1948 Biennium. SHARKS Since before World "War II the shark fishery in California has been primarily for the purpose of obtaining vitamin A from the liver oils. Within the last few months, this industry has died a rather sudden death. In California waters the vitamin fishery has depended primarily upon soupfin sharks. Dogfish were of secondary consideration. The soupfin has been subject to a A^ery intensive fishery and has shown signs of extreme depletion. Soupfin liver prices advanced to a point where first- quality male livers were bringing as much as $1 per ounce. Even at this fantastic price, the fish were so scarce that many fishermen were dropping out of the business, being unable to make a living. Early in 1950, there were extensive imports of much cheaper shark liver oils and the develop- ment of artificial vitamin A. Between them, these two occurrences forced the price of soupfin livers from $16 per pound down to about $2.25 per pound and made it impossible for the few remaining soupfin fishermen to stay in business. A corresponding drop in dogfish liver prices has made it a practical certainty that, barring a major economic upheaval, there will be no dogfish fishery when the species becomes available to the trawlers this coming wanter. SEA LIONS, SEA ELEPHANTS AND SEA OTTERS The sea lion population seems to have changed little in the past two decades. A considerable increase in numbers has been noted at Santa Barbara and San Nicolas Islands which is offset by a decrease in other I)laces. Tlie increased activity of the Navy at San Miguel and San Cle- mente Islands has caused most of the animals that previously used those islands to move away. T)u' protection given the sea elephants for many years in Mexican and Call ion lia waters is beginning to show results. Several hundred can usually be found about the Channel Islands. Sea lion surveys in the late twenties did not reveal a single sea elephant in California waters. The sea otters, inhabiting the stretch of coast between Monterey and San Simeon, appear to be maintaining their numbers. Several of the animals can u.sually be observed in many of the protected coves in this area. FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 59 KELP Of the several seaweeds ooeasionally gathered, only one, the j;iant kelp, is utilized in qnantity. Two fir-ms are eno-agv-d in harvestino' ji'iant kelp. One is located at tSan I)iey that time all of the ai'eas in whicli the companies were interested luid heen exi)loi-e(l by seismic methods and the commission denied a|)i)lica1 ions for more work soniji of Point ('(in- ception prior to lf)r)2. The comndssion requiretl that all ex[)lorator\- work caiTii-d on he a joint project of all companies concerned. This prevented re-ex[)lorat ion by each individual company and did much to reduce the kill of fish. The Bureau of Marine Fisheries maintained an observer with each seismic crew durinake Area Nevada County Sequoia Lake Fresno County Lake Pillsbury Lake County FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 83 TEST WATERS Although much useful information can be obtained from creel cen- suses of the type previously described, it is usually difficult to contact all anglers throughout the season and so obtain information on total yields from different lots of planted fish. Such information must be obtained at * ' test ' ' waters : streams and lakes where studies can be made under controlled conditions. The major test lake studied during the bicnnium was Castle Lake in Siskiyou County. A summary of results obtained there and at other lakes in California will be published in a forthcoming issue of California Fish and Game. Studies at Rush Creek Test Stream in Mono County and Sacramento River Test Stream in Siskiyou County, initiated in 1947 and 1948, respectively, were continued during the biennium. STREAM AND LAKE IMPROVEMENT FISH SCREENS The stream improvement headquarters at Yreka, Siskiyou County, continued as the center of fish screen activities conducted by the Bureau of Fish Conservation. This has been supplemented by a small screen maintenance shop in AVeaverville, to service installations in Trinity County. The Yreka shop installed screens mainly in the Klamath and Trinity drainages, but also constructed a few screens for use in other parts of the State. Perhaps the outstanding achievement of the Yreka shop has been the creation and development of a new type of fish screen known as the "perforated plate screen." This type of screen is fully described in an article in the October, 1950, issue of California Fish and Game. It has now been thoroughly tested and is widely recognized as the best type which has ever been devised for irrigation diversions. Screens of this type are now being installed in all diversions in Bureau of Fish Conservation District 1. An office building for use by the fish screen foreman and the local biologist was constructed at the Yreka headquarters during the biennium. FISHWAYS Existing fish ways in District 1 were maintained by personnel from the Yreka headquarters and the Weaverville shop, and plans were drawn for three new fishways which will be constructed in the near future. Tests were made of fishway models of a new type, which may be useful at certain obstructions. Repairs and minor alterations were also made to a few fishways by other personnel of the Bureau. BARRIER REMOVAL The removal of abandoned dams to permit salmon and steelhead to reach important spawning areas has progressed very satisfactorily in tributaries of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers, with five dams removed during the biennium. In addition, two log jam barriers were removed from these tributaries. 84 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION The stream clearance program of the Bureau of Fish Conservation, which in the main previously had been confined to District 1, was ex- panded considerably during the biennium. A general stream clearance program was started in the northern part of District 5 during the sum- mer of 1950 and the crew doing this work is being equipped with equip- ment as rapidly as funds permit. The most important project of this crew during its first season consisted of the removal of the dam on the Elk River at Falk, Humboldt County. This dam was built in 1883 and some of the logs were four feet in diameter and 25 feet long. In the entire State, seven dams were removed, 11 barriers were reduced, and seven log jams were removed during the biennium. IMPROVEMENT DEVICES Structures such as deflectors in streams and brush shelters in lakes have not been generally built in California, since considerable doubt has existed that such devices produce economically justifiable results. How- ever, some counties appropriated funds from their share of fish and game fine moneys for stream improvement and our personnel cooperated with sportsmen's groups and other local interests in designing, install- ing, and testing small rock and masonry dams in streams with low summer flows. For example, a series of 57 such dams was built in Holy Jim Creek, Orange County, principally to create pool areas. Advice was also furnished to the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, re- garding utilization of existing trees to create brush shelters in proposed large reservoirs. AQUATIC WEED CONTROL Aquatic weeds do not form a problem in the great majority of California fishing waters. However, members of the biological staff were called upon for advice and assistance in a number of troublesome in- stances, especially in Southern California. At Twin Lakes near Mam- moth, Mono County, personnel of District 7 applied 900 pounds of sodium arsenite to dense plant masses choking areas which were untreated in tlie initial control work during the fall of 1947. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD STREAM AND LAKE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS In addition to the work described above, some stream and lake improvement was initiated or completed with funds allocated by the Wildlife Conservation Board, including two barrier dams and two flow iiiMiiiteiiance dams at the outlets of lakes. For further information, ri'tVr to the section on Wildlife Conservation Board Projects. CHEMICAL TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF LAKES During the biennium approximately 1,755 acres in total lake area and over 70 miles of tributary streams w^ere chemically treated to elim- inatf rough fish wliich had so overrun these waters that sport fishing was practically destroyed in them and were then restocked with game fish. Some of the waters treated were reservoirs which had been drawn down far below their maximum and normal levels, so in effect a much FORTY-FIRST BIENNTAI. RKPORT 85 greater amount of water was rehabilitated. Tlie following waters were treated : Name of water County Surface area in acres Date Little Medicine Lake Siskiyou — _ Nevada Nevada - 3.6 7 5 (est.) 12 40 20* 2 21 7.5 1.5 37.4 12 24.2 233 18 175 375 1.2 600 90 50 20 July 25. .30, 1948 Little Catfish Lake. _ Aug. 21, 1948 Aug. 29, 1948 Sept. 9-10, 1948 IVTorris Lake Plumas Oct. 16-17, 1948 Jenks Lake San Bernardino Marin Los Angeles Nov. 1948 Bon Tempe Reservoir Nov. 8, 1948 San Gabriel Reservoir Nov. 9, 1948 Jackson Lake Los Angeles . Nov. 23-24, 1948 Lake Hinman Napa - _- July 1, 1949 Shasta _- July 12-15, 1949 Richardson Lake El Dorado.. . ... Aug. 20, 1949 Miller Lake Placer Aug. 21, 1949 Mono - Sept. 12, 1949 Tamarack Lake Mono.. Sept. 21-23, 1949 Blue Lake.. - _- Lassen . Oct. 1949 Lakes Merced San Francisco San Bernardino Mono Oct. 18-22, 1949 Dollar Lake __ Nov. 2, 1949 Nov. 7-9, 1949 Lake Elizabeth Los Angeles Los Angeles . Nov. 25-26, 1949 Lake Hughes _ -- - Nov. 25-26, 1949 Lake Munz _ Los Angeles Nov. 25-26, 1949 1,755.4 * One-fourth acre-foot when treated. Eock masonry barrier dams were constructed on the outlet streams of Richardson and Miller Lakes, to prevent re-entry of rough fish into the lakes. FISH RESCUE The rescue of game fish from drying waters and their transfer to safe waters is carried on each year throughout the State. In some areas such work is needed only occasionally, as when a reservoir is drained for repair or examination of the outlet structure at the dam. Unusual or isolated cases of this sort are assigned to crews recruited from one of the hatcheries, or are taken care of by state wardens or sportsmen in cooperation with the Bureau of Fish Conservation. In other areas, how- ever, large-scale fish rescue is required annually and forms a regular part of the program of the Bureau. This is true in some of the steelhead and salmon waters, and here this work has been placed under the super- vision of the biological staff. The fish rescued are tabulated in Appen- dix D. FISH INTRODUCTIONS If an existing fishery is not producing results commensurate with expectations, there frequently arises a great hue and cry for the intro- duction of some exotic species. Some sad experiences resulting from such introductions many years ago have taught us to exercise extreme caution in making any new ones. It is therefore the policy of the Bureau of Fish Conservation to seek first other means of producing satisfactory angling and to introduce a new kind of fish into a body of water only if the facts indicate that it will fill a previously unoccupied niche in the economy 86 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION of that water. In several studies all available evidence has indicated that addition of a species would improve angling, and during the biennium the following important introductions were made : Largemouth black bass into Shasta Lake, Shasta County, to provide a suitable warm-water game fish (April, 1949). These fish are now spawning in the lake, growing satisfactorily, and already producing some fishing. Kamloops rainbow trout into Shasta Lake, Shasta County, carried out by the local sportsmen with the aid of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Division of Fish and Game ; the sportsmen believed that this sub- species of rainbow would grow faster and be a better game fish than the native rainbows. Kokanee red salmon into Lake Tahoe, Placer and El Dorado Counties, to pro- vide forage for the lake trout (mackinaw) (1949 and 1950). Greaser blackfish into East Park Reservoir, Colusa County, to provide forage for the warm-water game fishes present. Five lakes of the Hooper Creek drainage, Fresno County, were planted with wild, adult golden trout obtained from the adjacent Bear Creek drainage. This plant was made at the expense of the Southern California Edison Company as part of its special use permit to divert Hooper Creek. WATER USE PROJECTS The continued rapid expansion of activity in the hydroelectric, irrigation storage, and flood control fields by governmental agencies and corporations in California has provided the fishery interests with a host of problems. With water as vital as it is to the economy of the State,_ it is small wonder that the agencies constructing major dams and reservoirs have been reluctant to look with favor on the release or reservation of water for fish and fishing. However, during the biennium encouraging progress has been made toward the recognition of fisheries interests in the utilization of water. For example, a release of a minimum flow of 20 second-feet of water was secured below a new dam on the San Joaquin River, whereas the release below an old dam just 11 miles upstream is only 3 second-feet. In most recent projects the protection of fish life has been included as an integral part of the planning, instead of being thrown in as an afterthought, as was so often the case in the past. Some of the major developments which have received study by the biological staff and for which we have submitted recommendations for fishery protection during the biennium are the following : Klamath River, Siskiyou County. California-Oregon Power Company. Hydro- electric power production causing fluctuation of river level and subsequent stranding of salmonid fishes. Trinity River, Trinity County. U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Proposed dams at Fairview and Lewiston for diversion of water to Sacramento River. Such diversion would greatly affect salmonid fishes below. Feather River, Butte County. Oroville (or Bidwell Bar) Dam site. Hydro- electric and irrigation water storage dam with powerhouse and canals. Will affect sections of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Feather River and will cut off considerable salmon and steelhead spawning grounds. Feather River, North Fork, Plumas County. Pacific Gas and Electric Com- pany. Crcsta and Rock Creek hydroelectric power dams and tunnels, affecting sections of the North Fork of the Feather River. Feather River, South Fork, Butte County. Oroville-Wyandotte Diversion Dam. Barrier to salmon and steelhead. Recommendations made for ladder. FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 87 Feather River, South Fork, Plumas County. Wyandotte Irrigation District. Hydi'oelectric power and irrigation project involving two dams (at Little Grass Valley and above present Lost Creek Reservoir) with storage capacity of 120,000 acre feet with accompanying conduits and powerhouses. Lake Almanor, Plumas County. Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Dam forming Lake Almanor, a storage reservoir on the North Fork of the Feather River. The company plans to raise this reservoir to an elevation of 4,500 feet if conditions are found to be safe. Exploration drilling at the dam now in progress. Sacramento River Canals, Tehama, Glenn and Butte Counties. U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Irrigation project with power and pumping features. A study of the possibility of utilizing about 120 miles of proposed canals diverting water from the Sacramento River for productive trout water open to public fishing is being conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sacramento River, Tehama County. U. S. Corps of Engineers. Storage reser- voir at Iron Canyon. Keswick Dam, Shasta County. U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Fluctuation contrgl dam for Shasta Dam. This problem is complicated by copper pollution. Silver Creek, El Dorado County. U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Union Valley dam. Ice House Diversion dam, several power houses and minor diversion dams which would affect South Fork Silver, Big Silver, and main Silver creeks have been proposed. Middle Fork Stanislaus River, Tuolumne County. South San Joaquin and Oakdale Irrigation Districts. Hydroelectric power and irrigation projects involving large dams and reservoirs at Beardsley and Donnells Flats, with accompanying conduits and powerhouses, which would affect sections of the Middle Fork Stanislaus River. Park Creek, El Dorado County. U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Proposed Sly Park Reservoir and Camp Creek diversion for irrigation and domestic water supplies. North Fork Stanislaus River, Tuolumne County. Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Involving Federal Power Commission licensing of existing dams at Lake Alpine, Union, Utica, and Hunters Reservoirs for hydroelectric power purposes. Cache Creek and Clear Lake, Lake County. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers. Dams on Kelsey Creek, Cache Creek, and North Fork Cache Creek for flood control and irrigation. Will affect creeks named and Clear Lake. Middle Fork Eel River, Mendocino County. G. L. Carrico. Hydroelectric and irrigation project involving large dams on the Middle Fork Eel River, a tribu- tary of the North Fork Eel River, and a tributary of the Middle Fork Eel River, with accompanying conduits. Would affect sections of the Middle Fork Eel River and tributaries of the Middle and North Forks. South Fork Eel River, Mendocino County. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers. Flood control and summer flow maintenance dam. Would affect South Fork Eel River and Eel River. San Joaquin River, Fresno/Madera Counties. Southern California Edison Com- pany. Hydroelectric power project involving a large dam (No. 7) and reservoir above the mouth of Willow Creek, with accompanying conduit and powerhouse (No. 4), which would affect 11 miles of the San Joaquin River. Big Dry Creek, Fresno County. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers. The Big Dry Creek flood control project involves a dam, dikes and reservoir for which a permanent pool for warm-water fish was recommended. Mono Creek, Fresno County. Southern California Edison Company. Hydro- electric power project involving a large dam and reservoir at Vermilion Valley, which would affect most of the easily accessible section of Mono Creek. Kings River, Fresno County. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers. The Pine Flat multiple purpose project, predominantly flood control, involves a large dam and reservoir at Pine Flat which will affect directly the lower portion of the Kings River, but which through re-regulation of discharge permits hydro- electric development upstream and thus indirectly will affect the entire Kings River drainage. 88 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Kings River, North Fork, Fresno County. Pacific Gas and Electric Company or Fresno Irrigation District or U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Hydroelectric power projects involving large dams and reservoirs at Coolidge Meadow and Sand Meadows (Helm Creek), with accompanying conduits and powerhouses which would affect the entire North Fork Kings River and many of its tribu- taries. Kings River and Middle and South Forks, Fresno County. City of Los An- geles or U. S. Bureau of Reclamation or Francis N. Dlouhy. Hydroelectric power projects involving large dams and reservoirs at various sites including : Paradise Valley, Zumwalt Meadows (Sentinel site), and Cedar Grove on the South Fork ; Simpson Meadow and Tehipite Valley on the Middle Fork ; and at the junction of the Middle and South Forks. The dams and reservoirs, to- gether with accompanying conduits and reservoirs, would affect the major sec- tions of the Kings River and its Middle and South Forks. Kaiceah River, Tnlare County. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers. The Terminus flood control and irrigation benefit project, involving a large dam and reser- voir which would affect the lower section of the Kaweah River. Tule River, Tulare County. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers. The Success flood control and irrigation benefit project, consisting of a large dam and reservoir which would affect the lowermost section of the Tule River. Kern River, Kern County. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers. The Isabella flood control and irrigation benefit project, involving a large dam and reservoir at Isabella which would affect sections of the Kern River. Owens River, Inyo and Mono Counties. Hydroelectric power project in the Owens River Gorge affecting some five miles of river above Birchim Canyon. Colorado River, San Bernardino-Riverside Counties. U. S. Bureau of Reclama- tion. A. Upper section affecting Nevada, Arizona and California from Davis Dam, Arizona to Needles, California. Davis Dam, a hydroelectric booster plant for Hoover and Parker Dams power plants — created a 65-mile long fishing reservoir. Studies were primarily on the effects of cold water releases to the river section below the dam. B. Upper section from Needles, California, to Topock, Arizona. River channelization over a 10-mile strip isolating and draining ox-bow lakes and sloughs with relative destruction to fish life present. C. Middle section from Taylor's Ferry to Palo Verde Lake in Cibola Valleys. Channelization to drain and reclass slough areas for agricultural uses and to drop elevations of outlets of waste irrigation drains with accompanying distress to fishes utilizing this habitat. Santa Ynez River, Santa Barbara County. Construction of Cachuma Dam by Bureau of Reclamation creates a barrier across the present steelhead stream in Southern California. The impoundment which provides domestic and irri- gation water for Santa Barbara and Central Coastal areas, may be utilized for public fishing. Santa Clara River Drainage. Flood control project. Santa Ana River Drainage. Of smaller individnal proportions than the above major projects, but in the aggregate of considerable importance to fish life, are the numerous small diversions from our streams and rivers. All new applica- tions for permission to appropriate water are filed with the State Division of Water Resources and are reviewed by the Division of Fish and Game. In cases where there is definite threat of injury to fish, the Division of Fish and Game enters a protest, with a statement of the conditions under which the protest may be dismissed. In most instances these conditions consist of the release of a certain flow of water to the stream below the diversion for the preservation of fish life. The disposition of protests madf* by the Division of Fish and Game during the biennium and during the preceding biennium is shown in Table 8. FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 89 TABLE 8. DISPOSITION OF PROTESTS BY CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME AGAINST APPLICATIONS TO APPROPRIATE WATER IN 1946-48 AND 1948-50 Total number of applications to appropriate water Number of applications protested by Division of Fish and Game Protest accepted Protest pending Applications cancelled Protest withdrawn after further investigation Informal hearing — settlement by agreement Informal hearing — action pending Formal hearing — compromised 1948-50 71 1946-48 1,248 1,126 71 49 24 19 34 20 6 2 3 2 3 3 0 2 1 1 49 The importance of water in the economy of California is well appre- ciated by the Division of Fish and Game, and in the cases of all protests that we have entered we have carried out careful field investigations to avoid protests that cannot be justified. The wisdom of this policy is borne out by the fact that during the period covered informal field hearings have been necessary in only three cases and only one formal hearing has been required. In the latter case there were a number of protestants other than the Division of Fish and Game. FISH DISEASE STUDIES During the biennium a trained parasitologist was added to the staff to cope with the many and often complex and puzzling problems created by fish diseases. Work of the disease unit is divided into two parts : (1) the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of hatchery and wild fish, and (2) research concerned Avith diseases and nutrition of fish. The major portion of diagnosis and treatment has been done at the state fish hatcheries. Correct diagnosis has enabled the selection of proper treatments which when used promptly have prevented the occur- rence of heavy losses. In addition to hatchery disease problems, diseased fish submitted by fishermen and commercial trout farms were examined and diagnoses made. Research problems being carried on are the following : 1. The study of Cryptoliia sp., a blood inhabiting protozoan found in salmonid fish. This investigation is concerned with the distribution of the parasite and its possible role in the fluctuating runs of anadromous fishes. 2. The study of a myxosporidian parasite has been carried on and work is con- tinuing on attempts to discover a resistant species of trout, with encouraging results to date. 3. Various drugs and chemicals have been screened for possible use in the treat- ment of fish diseases. Among the more promising drugs are phenothiazine, sulfamerazine, and pyridylmercuric acetate. 90 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION POLLUTION CONTROL Considerable progress in the abatement of pollution affecting fish and wildlife has been shown during the bienninm. In 1948, critical condi- tions led to the appointment by the Division of Fish and Game of two sanitary engineers for surveys and to supply technical assistance in the proseciition of pollution cases. By this time in a number of places in the State, the wartime and postwar expansion of population and industry had seriously overloaded the existing waste treatment facilities. At other locations disposal facilities had never been constructed and the resulting water pollution was more serious than even before, particularly in the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay areas. The primary pollution problems of interest to the Division of Fish and Game have occurred on the Central Valley salmon rivers, particu- larly the Tuolumne, San Joaquin, and Mokelumne. Following court action instituted by the Division of Fish and Game against the City of Modesto in 1947, sewage disposal facilities have been constructed, but a considerable organic load is still discharged to the river. In both 1948 and 1P49 water releases were required to get the salmon runs up the river. The salmon of the Tuolumne have not yet been completely protected from the dangers of pollution and a survey has recently been completed to evaluate the effects of the wastes now going into the river and those that are proposed for future discharge. Conditions for the salmon run in 1950 are satisfactory because of the small tonnage of tomatoes processed this year. A great deal of improvement has been observed on the Mokelumne since 1948. All of the wineries in the vicinity of Lodi now have facilities for impounding their wastes and no fish mortality or severe oxygen depletion has been observed for the past two years. Severe pollution still exists at Stockton in the ship channel and in the San Joaquin River, but conditions are not nearlj^ as bad as before 1949. A court action similar to that taken against the City of Modesto was instituted against the City of Stockton in that year and stipulations were obtained whereby the city will construct a certain amount of additional treatment facilities each year until r-omplete treatment is provided in 1954. The length of the San Joaquin River that is septic during the canning season has been reduced from about 10 to less than three miles as a result of the construction during the last two years. A study was made of the feasibility of using bottom organisms as indexes of pollution along the water front between Martinez and the Antioch Bridge. The rapid expansion of heavy industry in this area can be counted upon to present increasing pollution problems in the future as the load of industrial wastes builds up. Unfortunately so few macro- scopic bottom organisms were present in these waters that the above approach appears to hold little promise. This scarcity of bottom organ- isms has tentatively been attributed to the continual changes in salinity which fharactori/p the area. In 1949 the Assembly Interim Committee on Water Pollution pro- posed a sweeping series of changes in the existing laws. The resulting legislation established a State Water Pollution Control Board and nine regional boards for the purpose of coordinating pollution control activi- ties and establishing pnllntion policies at the local level. The Division of FORTY-FIRST lUKNNIAIi REPORT IJl Fish and Game was directly affected by the jiildilimi of Scition \>].'> \n the Pisli and Game Code, wliicli |)i'()vi(h's tluit all cont imiiiii;' and cliroiiic cases of water pollution be tunied ovci- to the local boards Tor ud ion. Tin; 1949 laws also provide that any persons desirin/4!» (o iniliatc program and complete es.senlia! work. Fish and Game Commission approved 0/23/49. liarrier dam at Miller Lake completed in 1949. $1,000 was transferred in June from 7XD.').5.2 to the Division of Water Resources for plans and investigations. PROJECT 51. SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST FLOW MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Board allocated $50,000 8/25/49 ; Fish and (Janie Commission approved 9/23/49. Sample agreements for the construction of Millwood and Indian liasin Lakes were received from the U. S. Forest Service on June 20. The sample agreements were very satisfactory and the signed agreements are expected shortly for submission to the Department of Finance. PROJECT 5 7. SAN DIEGO RIVER FLOW MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Board allocated $35,000 8/25/49 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 9/23/49. Progress in the investigation of this project has been delayed pending receipt of basic information from the County of San Diego. PROJECT 5 8. SAN DIEGO COUNTY FLOW MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Board allocated $25,000 8/25/49 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 9/23/49. Project requires further detailed study. PROJECT 61. SHASTA RIVER FISH COUNTING DAM Board allocated $16,000 8/25/49 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 9/23/49. A lease for site has not yet been approved in Sacramento. Project was turned over to the Division of Architecture and Public Works Board. Approval was asked on June 22, 1950. PROJECT 62. CANYON CREEK FISH LADDER Board allocated $10,000 12/13/49 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 1/6/50. The Goldfield Consolidated Mining Corpoi-ation is giving up their lease on this prop- erty on June 30, 1950. During the month of June, District Fisheries Biologist J. H. Wales investigated this project with the general objective of removing the dam com- pletely or building a smaller dam some distance upstream, since the estimated cost of a fishway was excessive. Negotiations will be undertaken with the owner of the dam to achieve one of these objectives. PROJECT 63. SAWYER'S BAR AUXILIARY DAM Board allocated $3,500 6/3/49 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 9/23/49. Division of Architecture is drawing up plans and specifications, and permission for preliminary planning was received from the owner on June 20, 1950. PROJECT 67. SACRAMENTO RIVER WEIR (ROUGH FISH CONTROL BARRIER) Board allocated $18,000 3/19/49 ; Fish and Game Commission approved. Project being further studied. Construction being deferred. PROJECT 72. RAMER LAKE This project is completely authorized and Public AVorks Board approval was requested on June 5, 1950. An inspection by an engineer from the Division of Water Resources and District Fisheries Biologist W. A. Evans is pending. PROJECT 73. CRYSTAL LAKE LEVEL MAINTENANCE Board allocated $20,000 8/25/49 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 9/23/49. Forest Service will make installation for the Division of Fish and Game during the summer of 1950 under an approved cooperative agreement. 96 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION PROJECT 74. COACHELLA VALLEY PUBLIC FISHING AREAS Board allocated $32,500 1/26/50 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 1/28/50. Xo water supply commitment has been received as yet. Maintenance has been tenta- tively accepted by the Board of Supervisors of Riverside County. District Fisheries Biologist W. A. Evans is planning a meeting for field inspection. PROJECT 76. CLEAR LAKE REARING POND Project completed. PROJECT 77. LINDO LAKE PUBLIC FISHING AREA Board allocated $11,000 1/26/50 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 1/28/50. Agreement was received from the County of San Diego on June 20th and forwarded to Sacramento for approval. On June 29th the agreement was sent back not approved because the amount of money to be expended was apparently over the $10,000 limit on projects that may be performed with the services of the Division of Architecture. Attempts are being made to straighten out this difficulty. PROJECT 79. SULPHUR CREEK DAM The original cost estimate of $22,000 received from Division of Architecture was too high and it has been requested to resurvey the site at lower water flows. PROJECT 81. SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST Board allocated $35,000 1/26/50 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 1/28/50. Field investigations are under way. PROJECT 82. DRY LAKE LEVEL 2VLA.INTENANCE Board allocated $4,500 1/26/50 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 1/28/50. Conferences with the U. S. Forest Service are planned. PROJECT 83. BIXBY SLOUGH PUBLIC FISHING AREA Board tentatively approved allocation of $100,000 at April, 1950, meeting, for a cooperative development of Bixby Slough. Necessary data and commitments from local interests being awaited. PROJECT 86. SAN ANTONIO CREEK PUBLIC FISHING AREA Board allocated $20,000 5/18/50 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 5/19/50. Field investigations being conducted. PROJECT 1010, DELTA FISH AND GAME OPERATIONS BASE Board allocated $27,000 .5/18/50 ; Fish and Game Commission approved 5/19/50. Negotiations to secure site under way. CHILDREN'S FISHING WATERS Many municipalities were aided in establishing permanent fishing ponds for children. For example, the Los Angeles City Park and Rec- reation Department was assisted in establishing its successful fishing program in the city park lakes, and catch data were obtained. STEELHEAD AND SALMON The steelhead trout and salmon of California represent a tremen- dous resource. This resource, of the greatest importance in the economy of the State, is under constant threat from large-scale dam construction. One of the main goals of the Bureau of Fish Conservation, therefore, has been to acquire as rapidly as possible the essential facts necessary for the preservation and management of our steelhead and salmon fisheries in our expanding and changing economy. The present applied steelhead and salmon management program of the bureau includes rescue of fish from drying streams, removal of FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 97 abandoned dams and otlier barriers, construction of fishways, and stock- ing with liatcliery fish. The activities of the bi<)h):',. Trout in !San Francisco's backvard. NN'cst Coast Si)orlsniaii. Mil. <>, im. 12, p. 40. 1950. California's striped b.-iss. Oiildoor West .Ma^'.r/iiif, vol. 12. iiu. :;. p. C 7, liS li!», May-June. Calhoun, A. J., and C. A. AVoodhull 1948. Projjress rejjort on stiulies of sli-ipt'd lijiss rcprodiicl inn in relation to (he Central N'alley I'roject. Calif. Fisii and (ianie, \oI. .'54, no. 4, p. 171-1M7. Calhoun, A. J., C. A. Woodhull and Win. C. Johnson 1950. Striped bass reproduction in tiu- Sacramento KImm- sysli'in in 1948. f.'alif. Fish and Game, vol. 30, no. '1, p. lo5-14r>. Curtis, Brian 1949. The warm-water game fishes of California. Calif. Fi.sh and Game, vol. '.',T>, no. 4, p. 255-273. Curtis, Brian, and J. C. Fraser 1948. Kokanee in California. Calif. Fish and Ganu', vol. ."U, no. :;. p. Ill 114. Evans, Willis A. 1950. Aquatic weed control and tish life. Report Seconil ("alifornia Weed Con- ference, p. 85-87. Evans, W. A., and O. L. Wallis 1949. Fishes of Yosemite National Park. Tosemite Nature Notes, vol. 23. no. 1, 1944. 2d edition, revised 1949. 32 p. Murphy, Garth I. 1948. A contribution to the life history of the Sacramento perch ( Archoplitt-x interntptus) in Clear Lake, Lake County, California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 93-100. Notes on the biology of the Sacramento hitch (Lnvinia e. exilicauda) of Clear Lake, Lake County, California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 101-110. 1949. The food of young largemouth black bass {Micropterns salinoides) in Clear Lake, California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 35, no. 3, p. 159-163. 1950. The closed season in warm-water fish management. Trans. 15th North American AVildlife Conf., p. 235-251. The life history of the greaser blackfish {Orthodon microlepidotus) of Clear Lake, Lake County, California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36, no. 2. p. 119-133. Taft, Alan C, and Garth I. Murphy 1950. The life history of the Sacramento squawfish {Piychocheihts grandis). Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36, no. 2, p. 147-164. Soule, S. M. 1950. Initial planting of golden trout in Hooper Creek drainage, Fresno County. California. Central California Sportsman, vol. 0, no. 7, p. 132-133, 136-137. Vestal, Elden H. 1949. A Piute trout transplant. Central California Sportsman, vol. 8, no. 10. p. 164-166. >c< ft 5