fTSH«-GAME
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u
LIBRARY
CALIFORNIA DLPARTMENT
OF
FISH AND GA\fE
1
J
VOLUME 40
JANUARY, 1954
NUMBER 1
Published Quarterly by the
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
SACRAMENTO
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
GOODWIN J. KNIGHT
Governor
FISH AND GAME COMMISSION
WILLIAM J. SILVA, President
Modesto
LEE F. PAYNE, Commissioner CARL F. WENTE, Commissioner
Los Angeles San Francisco
HARLEY E. KNOX, Commissioner WELDON L. OXLEY, Commissioner
San Diego Redding
SETH GORDON
Director of Fish and Game
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
Editorial StafF
PHIL M. ROEDEL, Editor-in-Chief Terminal Island
RICHARD S. CROKER, Editor for Marine Fisheries „_ Sacramento
CAROL M. FERREL, Editor for Game Sacramento
LEO SHAPOVALOV, Editor for Inland Fisheries — Sacramento
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ra(«
A Nesting Study and I^opulation Survey of Canada (iiM'se
on the Susan Jiivcr, Lassen County. ( 'aliforiiia
A. Iv Navi.ok am> Iv C. Hint 5
A Nesting Study ol' Ducks ;iuil ('ools on Tulc Lake ami
Lower Klamatli Xatioual Wildlife K'ld'uges
A. W. .Mn.i.iK AM) I', I). ('(ti.i.iNs 17
Observations ou the Saury {('(ilahihis saira) Seen N'ear tlie
Califonna Coast During !!).')( )-.')!> KoI'.i.kt L. IOhi;kiiaui)T W
Observations on the Sexual iJehaxioi- and S|)a\vnin'_' of the
Squid, Loligo opalescens, at La -lolla. California
• lolIN A. .\I(C")UA\ 17
The Pacific Mackerel Fislieiy in ilie VXA-sl and lii.VJ-."):!
Seasons J'liu. Al. K()i;i)i;l and David ('. dosii-ii .").')
A Note Regarding the Toxicity (if tlic l-'islies of the Skiji-
jack Family, Katsnwonidae liurci-; W. 1Ialsti;a!> fll
The Summer Food of Some Tntertidal Fishos of Monterey
County, California Kkhakd F. .Ioiivstov (i,")
On the Supposed Stenobathic Habitat of the California Sea-
Mussel S. Stn.i.max I'.ikicv «)0
An Apparatus for Collection of Ectopar;isites from .Mam-
mals Raymond E. Ryckman, Kakl C. Fismkk and
Charlks T. Ami:s 7')
Notes
Underwater Explosions Not Harmful to Salmon
Wavni: .] . Uai.dwin 77
A Kelp Bass, Paralahrax clathratus (Girard), With Al)-
normal Fins .Luin L I'.axt!:k 78
Retirement — Edward Clessen 80
Reviews 81
2—88193
( 3)
A NESTING STUDY AND POPULATION SURVEY OF
CANADA GEESE ON THE SUSAN RIVER,
LASSEN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA'
A. E. NAYLOR and E. G. HUNT
Game Management Branch
California Department of Fish and Game
INTRODUCTION
In the production of waterfowl in California tlie Honey Lake Valley
is surpassed only by the Klamath Basin, and compares favorably with
Goose Lake, Surprise Valley and the Pit River Valley. These areas are
distributed over the great basin region of northeastern California, and
together produce almost one-third of the waterfowl reared in the entire
State.
One of the important w'aterfowl areas in Honey Lake Valley is the
Susan River and its diversions. The river is composed of the main chan-
nel and diversion canals along the course it follows through the valley
to Honey Lake. The river channel is deep and narrow; it seldom exceeds
a width of more than 60 feet. The banks are bordered with intermittent
stands of willow, sagebrush and greasewood, grass, or devoid of vegeta-
tion altogether.
Honey Lake Valley is located in the southeastern section of Lassen
County, and is typical of the great basin sagebrush type of vegetation
described by Jensen (1947). The average elevation throughout the val-
ley is about 4,000 feet, and the climate is distinctly semiarid with an
average rainfall of slightly less than 18 inches annually. However, this
data is from the nearest weather station (Susanville) which receives
considerably more rainfall than the remainder of the valley which lies
to the east. A more nearly correct average rainfall for the valley would
fall between 8 and 10 inches annually.
The early winter rains and spring runoff during wet years combine
to fill Honey Lake ; when this occurs a buildup in nesting density of
waterfowl is evident. During these periods of high water, the marsh
vegetation which is nonexistent through the drier years recovers
quickly, resulting in greater abundance of nesting habitat. Honey Lake
was full in 1937, and gradually became dry until 1951, when abnormal
winter rains and snowfall combined to fill the lake again and, with the
continuation of wet years, it has remained full since that time.
^Submitted for publication August, 1953. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act,
Project California W30R. Cliffa E. Corson prepared the maps and figures.
(5)
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
FIGURE 1. Great Basin Canada Geese. The bird on the left is an immature male and on vhe
right is on immature female. Photograph by A. E. Naylor, August, 1952.
The majority of resident waterfowl in the valley, including the Great
Basin Canada Goose {Branta canadensis moffitti), nest in the agricul-
tural area adjacent to the north shore of Honey Lake (Figure 1). The
north shore of the lake (the Susan River delta) has a fair growth of
marsh vegetation suitable as nesting cover. The remaining edges of the
lake are bare or have a low growth of salt grass, and as a result, have
little nesting activity occurring there. In addition to the agricultural
area, the irrigated pastures and meadowland bordering the Susan River
and the banks of the river are suitable as cover for nesting waterfowl.
A study (Najdor 1953) of nesting Canada geese on Honey Lake
Refuge, located along the north shore of Honey Lake, was conducted
in 1951. Throughout this report references are made to the 1951 study.
However, further citations of that study will be omitted. In 1939 and
1940, Dow made a nesting study of Canada geese in the Honey Lake
Valley. Since the study in 1951 was limited to the refuge, it seemed
necessary to evaluate the nesting along the Susan River in order to
obtain an over-all picture of the A^alley as a breeding area for the
Canada geese.
The objectives of this study were to determine the number of Canada
geese using the river and to obtain production data from goose nests
found along the river as compared to the nesting on the Honey Lake
Refuge. The results are given in this paper.
This study encompassed an area along the Susan River and its diver-
sions from the town of Johnstonville to the Honey Lake Refuge, a dis-
tance of approximately 16 miles (Figure 2). Land use in this study
CANADA (;i;i:sr; (».\ 'iiii; sisan mwim
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8
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
area was mainly devoted to agriculture of which a major portion was
irrigated pasture. Little or no attempt was made by the landowners to
improve nesting habitat for waterfowl.
Both sides of the river and adjoining pastures or fields were searched
where the cover was suitable for nesting geese. The 16-mile study area
was divided into sections. By systematically searching one section each
da.v, two men could cover the entire study area at one-week intervals.
All the nests that were found were marked to facilitate return visits;
and nest historj'- cards were compiled for each nest. All pertinent infor-
mation concerning the individual nests, their contents and develop-
ment was recorded on each visit. The interval between visits to all
nests was seven days.
A sample of nests was also taken on Ploney Lake Refuge for com-
parison Avith the production data obtained from the Susan River. Since
the two areas are different in cover type, land use and management, no
attempt was made to obtain a random sample, and only nest history
data was completed on the refuge. It was felt that a comparison of
cover types and nest sites between the two areas would be misleading.
The study was begun on April 1, 1952, and continued until the last
nest history was complete on May 26, 1952. During this time nest his-
tories were completed on 58 nests along the Susan River and 57 nests
on Honey Lake Refuge. The nesting density of 58 nests in 16 miles of
the river represents 3.6 nests per mile.
NEST SITES AND COVER TYPES FOR THE SUSAN RIVER
Six different types of nest sites were utilized by the nesting geese
during this study. It may be well to define the classifications of nest
sites in order to clarify the subject.
Marsh — Areas such as artificial ponds, sloughs, lake shores, and
semiwet land constituted the marsh type of nest site.
Ditchbank — Ditchbank sites were elevated margins of any slough,
river or irrigation ditch.
Island — An island was construed to be any body of land, regard-
less of size, surrounded by water.
Undisturbed Field — Any field not under cultivation at the time of
the studj^ was classified as an undisturbed field.
TABLE 1
Nest Sites Utilized by Canada Geese
Nest site
No. of nests
Percent
Ditchbank -.
28
17
8
3
1
1
48.3
jMarsh _ _
29.3
Island- --
13.8
Pasture . ...
5.2
Undisturbed Field .. .
1.7
Fence Row
1.7
Totals ...
58
100.0
CANADA (ll.l'.Si: OX 'VWV. SUSAN IMNI'.K
TABLE 2
Cover Types Utilized by Canada Geese
Cover type
llardsti'in liulnish (Scirpus acutus)
( irii.sses (Gramineae)
Willow (Salix sp.)
Sweet elover (Mflilolus alba)
Three-square {Scirpus paludosus) .
Cnlifoniiii wild rose (liosa californica)
Five-liookod bassia {Bassia liyssopifolia)
Cockle burr {Xantliium canadcmse)
Marsh sniartweed {Pohji/onum miihlenhergii)
Totals
No. of nests
Percent
23
39.7
10
17.2
6
10.3
5
8.7
4
6.9
3
5.2
3
5.2
2
3.4
2
3.4
58
100.0
Pasture — Irrip-ated pasture used for pTazing livestock was classi-
fied as pasture laud. This site could be included in the marsh
type areas that are generally wet throughout the spring.
Fence Row — The nests located in the cover along any fence line.
Nest site preferences are summarized in Table 1.
Table 2 summarizes the data on the specific plants that make up each
cover type. In all cases the dominant plant in the immediate vicinity
of the nest was taken as cover type.
The high incidence of hardstem bulrush is due to the occurrence of
this plant in the shallow sloughs and ditches that meander through
some of the fields and pastures adjacent to the river (Figure 3). This
type was highly sought after as nesting cover. The remainder of the
cover types are more indicative of the actual cover on the islands and
along the river banks. The stretches of river bordered by wet ]iastures
FIGURE 3. irrigated pasture showing a slough with hardstem bulrush along edges.
Photograph by A. E. Naylor, July, 1953.
10
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
or meadows seemed to be preferred, and larger numbers of geese used
these areas for loafing, feeding or nesting. Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate
the major types of cover found along the banks of the river.
FIGURE 4. The Susan River during low water showing the banks lined by willows. Note the
narrow, deep channel which is typical of this river. Phofograph by A. E. Naylor, July, 1953.
*?*#r
:•'»;
■'IS,
^,
*■'"■,•:
FIGURE 5. The Susan River, showing grasses growing to the banks' edge. Very little nesting
occurred in this type of cover. Phofograph by A. E. Naylor, July, 1953.
CANADA OKESK ()\ 'II 110 SUSAN KIVKK
n
■jm^xg^a^r-
% w
, >^-.*:>r .
^s
-*s.*>1t'-*.V>**^'
«^*^ i^
FIGURE 6. The banks of the Susan River with sagebrush and black greasewood growing to the
water. Photograph by A. E. Noylor, July, 1953.
NESTING PERIOD AND HATCHING DATES
The nesting" season was retarded almost a month by the inclement
weather conditions, and the geese were delayed in nest construction
until the latter part of March.
The s,ystematic searching for nests was begun on the Honey Lake
Refuge sample April 9tli and the first nest was recorded on that date.
Searching for nests along the Susan River began on April Kith with
the first nest being recorded on that date. It should be remembered that
the nesting season was under way on those dates, and the first nests
found were not necessarily the first nests on the area. The 1951 nesting
season began on March 18th on Honey Lake Refuge. Dow (1943) states
the nesting season was well under way on March 16, 1939. and the first
nest was discovered on March 6, 1940. In 1952, at Tule Lake and Lower
Klamath National Wildlife Refuges, ]\Iiller and Collins (1953) reported
finding the first nest on April 5th.
Figure 7 illustrates the interval of hatching between the two study
areas. It is interesting to note that 58 percent of the hatching on Honey
Lake Refuge took place during the one week interval of April 27th to
May 3d. Eighty-three percent of the nesting population on the Susan
River completed their nests successfully between April 27th and May
10th. Nesting along the Susan River was approximately one week later
than that on the refuge. The peak of tlu^ hatch in 1951 occurred during
the period of April 15th to April 30th. These data indicate a later nest-
ing season in 1952, but the latter population, after being delaj'ed by the
weather conditions, nested over a shorter period.
All nesting on the study areas ceased by May 26th, and the study
was terminated on that date.
3—88193
12
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
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DATE OF HATCH
May 18-24
FIGURE 7. Comparison of the peak of hatch between Honey Lake Refuge and
Susan River Canada goose populations
FATE OF NESTS
Some description of the fate of the nests will clarify the method of
recording that data. If some or all of the eggs in the nest hatched, or if
shell fragments and membranes from hatched eggs remained, the nest
was recorded as hatched. Destroyed nests were classified as such when
the nest showed signs of molestation by some outside factor. A nest was
considered as deserted if egg-laying or incubation had ceased and no
evidence could be found of the nest having been disturbed. Table 3 gives
a breakdown on the fate of nests.
Only data from the successful nests were used in determining the fate
of eggs and average clutch size. Of the 115 nests found in the study 83
were hatched successfully; 46, or 79.3 percent, were successful on the
TABLE 3
Fate of Nests
Susan River
Honey Lake Refuge
Fate
Number
of nests
Percent
Number
of nests
Percent
Hatched -.
46
7
5
79.3
12.1
8.6
37
12
8
64.9
Destroyed - - - - -
21.1
Deserted
14.0
Totals- --
58
100.0
57
100.0
CANADA GKESK ON TllK SUSAN lllXlAi
13
Susan Kivor and 37, or 04.9 percent, on the rcfujic unit. Tlio successful
iicsts ])r()(Iu('e(l 432 efi-fis of -wiiicli li'iS were lialclied -21(i on the river
and 142 on the refuge — giving a hatching' percent of 88.9 and 75.1
percent respectivel3^
The Susan River sam])le of successful nests ijrndiiccd a total of 243
eg'gs for an average elntcli size of 5.3. On the i-efuge, tlie 'M successful
nests produced 189 eggs for an average clutcli size of 5.1. The average
clutch size in 1951 was 5.5 eggs per nest.
Any eggs remaining in the hatched nests with the \-olivS suspended or
pai'tially suspended in the albumen were considei-ed as infertih> eggs.
All other eggs were recorded as dead embryos in the various stages of
development. The diiference between dead embryos and infertile eggs
was determined by the method used by Kossack (1950). The 243 eggs
in the river sample produced only 2, or 1 percent, infertile eggs while
7, or 3.7 percent, infertile eggs were found in 189 eggs produced in the
successful nests on Honey Lake Refuge. A 2 percent infertility was
recorded on Honey Lake Refuge in 1951.
The destroyed nests were grouped into the rather broad classifications
of mammalian predation and unknown causes. The latter group con-
sists of nests where no clues to the fate of the nest w^ere ascertainable.
Avian predation, while it was the most prevelant form of nest destruc-
tion in the 1951 study, was entirely absent on both study areas in 1952.
Identifying a nest predator from the remains of the nest is ditHcult
in most cases and it was believed the broader classification used would
still be significant (Table 4). Predators known to inhabit both areas are
striped skunk, coyote, weasel, ring-billed gull, California gull, crow and
magpie.
There were no nests lost by flooding, a fact which may have been due
to the late nesting season. By the time the geese started to nest the
major runoff had passed.
BROOD DATA
The first brood was recorded on April 21st, three weeks later than the
first brood record in 1951, substantiating further the later nesting sea-
son in 1952. Seventy broods of the one-wcek-old. class were recorded with
a total of 289 young for an average brood size of 4.12. Brood counts
were made throughout the Honey Lake Valley and the circumstances
TABLE 4
Fate of Unsuccessful Nests
Susan River
Honey Lake Refuge
Fate
Number
of nests
Percent
Number
of nests
Percent
Mammal
2
4
1
28.6
57.1
14.3
3
7
25.0
16.7
58.3
Unknown
Destroyed when found. -
Totals
7
100.0
12
100.0
14
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
TABLE 5
Brood Records
Brood records
One-week old
Two-week old
Three-week old
Total broods
70
4.12
21
4.09
5
5.2
96
Average brood size -
4.17
made it impossible to differentiate between the two areas. Table 5 pre-
sents the data on brood sizes based on a comparatively small sample
of brood counts. The habit of the goose broods grouping together after
the first week makes it difficult to obtain true records of older broods.
Data on brood regression is masked b}^ this habit and is thought to be
unreliable.
POPULATION
One of the objectives of this study was to determine the numbers
of geese using the river during the breeding season. To arrive at a
population figure a ground survey was carried out during the study on
the river and the adjacent fields. Two aerial surveys were made to
substantiate the ground count. One survey was flown early in the study
(April 6th) ; the ground survey covered the period from April 6th to
28th, and the second aerial flight took place on May 12th near the end
of the nesting season. The figures for the Susan River portion of the
1952 California Breeding Ground Survey (Chattin, et al.) are in-
cluded to further illustrate the seasonal shifts of the geese in this area.
In all the surveys except the June 6th flight (Calif. Breeding Ground
Survey) pairs and single birds were counted as breeding pairs, and the
groups of three or more were taken to be nonbreeding geese. Only
adult geese were counted, and no broods or young of the year are in-
cluded in the figures for the ground survey and the first two aerial
surveys. The June 6th figures represent total numbers since this flight
is made annually to determine production, and the survey usually oc-
curs after the geese have completed nesting (Table 6).
It was believed that many of the pairs counted were actually non-
breeders that had paired in their second year, but would not breed until
the following year. Also, some of the geese in the groups may have been
breeding pairs that were unsuccessful in nesting attempts during the
current nesting period.
TABLE 6
Population Surveys of the Susan River
Type
Date
Pairs
Groups
Total geese
Aerial
4-6-52
4-16 to 4-28-52..
5-12-52
357
506
221
458
314
662
152
1,172
Ground
1,326
Aerial _
1,104
152
Aerial
6-6-52.
CANADA Gi:i':si': ox 'nil': shsax |{i\i;i:
15
TABLE 7
Age Ratio of Banded Geese
1950
19.-) 1
1952
19 ")3
TotJil
Percent
Adults
(>7
173
74
227
98
39
147
350
386
795
32.7
1 iiiMiiiture
07.3
Totals
240
301
137
503
1,181
100.0
It i.s llic opinion of the writers tliat the ])()|)iihit ion of uecsc inhahitin<r
tlie Susan Hivci' are mainly nonbreech'rs spendini;' tlie early pai't of the
l)ree(lin<i' season in this area. With the advent of tlie post-nuptial iiionlt.
tlie g'eese seem to feel the need for more seeluded ai'eas and larger
bodies of open water and emergent vegetation for esca])e cover during
the flightless period. These areas of concentration for the Iloucy Lake
Valley birds are believed to be Eagle Lake, Honey Lake (both in Lassen
Count.v) and Pyramid Lake just across the state line in Nevada. Breed-
ing ground surveys for previous years indicate there is a buildup of
the adult population in these areas during the latter part of the nest-
ing season.
As further evidence of the population sliift, the adult-immature ratio
of Canada geese banded at Honey Lake and Honey Lake Refuge during
the years of 1950 through 1953 is included in Table 7. The annual band-
ing operation usually takes place during the first half of June and is
of the drive trapping type with a corral. Immature birds of the year
and adults in the iiightless stage are trapped, banded and released.
Sixty-seven percent of the 1,181 geese banded have been immature birds
hatched the same spring as they w^ere banded. If the 32.7 percent adults
banded was indicative of the number in the area it was obvious that
some adults had deserted the valley to spend the flightless period else-
where. It is more than likely that most of the adults banded are breed-
ing geese that remained to care for their broods, and the adults leaving
the area were made up of unsuccessful breeders and nonbreeding geese.
From the combined surveys it may be concluded that 1,1()U to 1,3U0
adult geese were occupying the river and adjacent areas for nesting,
feeding, and loafing in the spring of 1952. The ground survey during
the nesting season indicated a total of 506 pairs of geese on the area.
The number of nests found on the Susan River w^as 58 representing an
estimated 60 j)erceiit of the nests on the area. The comparison of these
TABLE 8
Habitat Preference of Canada Geese in Honey Lake Valley
Unit
Susan River and diversions; adjacent fields
Farm land
Meadow, irrigated pasture and north shore of Honey Lake
Honey Lake (other shores)
Sagebrusli and greasewood
Nesting area
Fairly abundant
Limited
Major area
Very limited
None
Nonbreeding area
Major area
Limited
Major
Limited
None
16 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
data corroborates the assumption that the majority of the population
were nonbreeders.
The breeding pairs that successfully hatched off broods along the
Susan River later moved down the river to the north shore of Honey
Lake where food and escape cover were more ideal.
The Honey Lake A^alley was divided into tive definite types according
to vegetative cover, water, and land use. The value as a nesting area
or an area utilized by nonbreeding geese was determined for each type.
These data are presented to give an over-all picture of the valley as
habitat for Canada geese (Table 8).
SUMMARY
1. A study of population and nesting Canada geese was completed on
the Susan River and Honey Lake Refuge in 1952.
2. Nesting density along the 16 miles of the river was 3.6 nests per
mile.
3. Preferred nesting sites were ditchbanks.
4. Nesting was delayed almost a month by weather conditions.
5. Nesting success on the Susan River was 79.3 percent successful and
64.9 percent for Honey Lake Refuge.
6. Nest destruction was the major cause of unsuccessful nests on both
areas.
7. The population of the Susan River during nesting season was ap-
proximately 1,100 to 1,300.
8. It was concluded that the Susan River was primarily a nonbreeding
area and secondarily a nesting area.
REFERENCES
Chattin, .John E., A. W. Miller and A. E. Naylor
1952. Preliminary report : Waterfowl breeding ground survey, 1952^ — California.
Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, 5 p. mimeo.
Dow, Jay S.
1943. A study of nesting Canada geese in Honey Lake Valley, California. Calif.
Fish and Game, vol. 29, no. 1, p. 3-18.
Jensen, Herbert A.
1947. A system for classifving vegetation in California. Calif. Fish and Game,
vol. 33, no. 4, p. 199-266.
Kossack, Charles W.
1950. Breeding habits of Canada geese under refuge conditions. Amer. Midi. Nat.,
vol. 43, no. 3, p. 627-649.
Miller. A. W., and B. D. Collins
1953. A nesting study of Canada geese on Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Na-
tional Wildlife Refuges, Siskiyou County, California. Calif. Fish and
Game, vol. .39, no. 3, p. 385-396.
Naylor, A. E.
1953. Production of the Canada goose on Honey Lake Refuge, Lassen County,
California. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 39, no. ], p. 83-94.
A NESTING STUDY OF DUCKS AND COOTS ON TULE
LAKE AND LOWER KLAMATH NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGES'
A. W. MILLER and B. D. COLLINS
Game Management Branch
California Department of Fish and Game
During- the spring and sunnuer of 1952 a waterrowl nesting study was
conducted at the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife
Refuges by the California Department of Fish and Game. A total of
826 duck nests and 154 coot nests were located on 11 sample areas com-
prising 1821 acres. The average nesting success of all ducks was 83.4
percent while that of coot was 94.6 percent. Desertion, flooding-, and
predation were the causes of nest failures in that order of importance.
A review of 3814 brood counts indicated that the major reductions in
brood size occurred during the first week of life.
INTRODUCTION
Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges are located in the California
portion of the Klamath Basin, northeastern Siskiyou and northwestern
Modoc counties, at an elevation slightly more than 4,000 feet. These
refuges are key points in the Pacific Fly way (Gabrielson, 1943, p. 183)
providing resting and feeding areas for several million migrating
waterfowl each year. They are also important as nesting areas for
waterfowl in California.
During 1952, Lower Klamath Refuge, encompassing about 21,000
acres, was still in the process of being developed into excellent water-
fowl habitat. The refuge consisted of four developed units with im-
poundments of open water interspersed with islands and patches of
emergent vegetation. Five additional units were in tlie process of de-
velopment, while another unit was nnder cultivation. Tule Lake Refuge
totaling about 32,000 acres, is comprised of approximately 13,000 acres
of water area maintained in two restricted sumps (Fpper and Lower
Sump) and 19,000 acres devoted to agriculture. The water depths of
the sumps averaged two to three feet and about one-fourth of the
Upper Sump supported a dense stand of hardstem bulrush {Scirpus
acutus) and cattail {Typlia latifolia).
PURPOSE
This study was motivated by the need for basic data pertaining to
waterfowl production in this important area. Also, the need for data
relating to the fundamental needs and preferences of nesting ducks
1 Submitted for publication September, 1953. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act,
Project California W30-R.
(17)
18 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
and coots was recognized. Such information would be useful in the
formation of future management programs in this area. A similar study
on Canada Geese was carried on in conjunction with this survey. The
results of that studv have alreadv been published (Miller & Collins,
1953).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Personnel of the California Department of Fish and Game who par-
ticipated in the collection of field data were AA^illiam Anderson, E. G.
Hunt, A. E. Naylor, J. K. LeDonne, Robert Weld, Philip Arend and
the authors. Frank M. Kozlik assisted with the preparation of the man-
uscript and Cliffa E. Corson prepared the maps and figures. The refuge
management cooperated in many ways especially by the loan of the Fish
and AYildlife Service airboat. Also, most of the brood counts were taken
by Paul E. Steel, Refuge Biologist, and Victor Oglesby (now with the
Nevada Game Dei^artment) .
PROCEDURE
Selection of Sample Plots
The choosing of workable sample areas for the study was necessitated
by the size of the refuges and the extent of the breeding population.
Sample plots were established in the refuge units where major nesting
occurred. The size and number of the plots depended upon the extent of
the unit, the nature of the terrain, the cover tyi)es involved, and the
accessibility of desirable areas. The sample areas had to be large enough
to be representative, yet limited in size and number so that all areas
could be searched often and thoroughly enough to obtain complete and
accurate information. The use of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
airboat facilitated the inclusion of plots that would have been difficult
and time consuming to reach and search by other means.
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF PLOTS SELECTED
Five plots were selected on Tule Lake Refuge, three in the Upper
Sump and two in the Lower Sump (Figure 1). Plot number one,
located in the extensive hardstem bulrush gro^vth in the northeast cor-
ner of the L^pper Sump, comprised approximately 120 acres. The area
was selected as typical of the dense stands of emergents, which was
interspersed with channels and potholes of open water formed mainly
by the activities of muskrats. The second plot, about 10 acres, on the
Tapper Sump was selected to represent nesting in areas of sparse bul-
rush stands. The third sample, 12 acres, was located along the shore-line
in tlie southwest corner of the Upper Sump and was characterized by
a band of vegetation ranging from 20 to 100 yards in width, bordered
by open water on one side and high ground on the other. The vegetation
was composed of hardstem bulrush, river bulrush (Scirjjus fluvia-
tilis), cattail, nettle (Urtica calif ornica), mustard {Sisym'brium sp. and
Brnssica sp.), saltbush (Atriplex sp.) and some grasses.
The two plots located on the Lower Sump were along the south shore.
Plot 4, about six acres and Plot 5, about three acres. These two plots
were of the same general aspect in relation to cover as Plot 3 on the
Upper Sump (Figure 1).
NESTINd S'l'lliN (H' niCKS AM) COO'l'S
1!)
TULE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
'i 0
■ ■
JL
3
Scale of miles
This map does not show differentiation between open water and
areas of ennergent vegetation
FIGURE 1. Map of Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Siskiyou County,
California, showing location of study plots
20 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
The remaining study areas were located on Lower Klamath Refuge
in the units where major nesting occurred (Figure 2). Plot 6 was lo-
cated in the northeast corner of Unit Two and contained some 400
acres. Natural islands ranging from less than one to several acres char-
acterized the sample. The cover consisted mainly of patches of nettle,
saltbush, mustard, foxtail barley grass {Hordeum jiihatum), rushes
{Juncus sp.), alkali bulrush {Bcirpus paludosus), river bulrush and
hardstem bulrush.
Plots 7 and 8 were both located in Unit Three. Plot 7 contained
about 70 acres, and was typified by dense stands of hardstem bulrush,
bordering open water, while on higher ground there were patches of
nettle and saltbush interspersed with foxtail barley grass and rabbit-
foot grass {Polypogon monspeliensis) . Plot 8 consisted of the dike bor-
dering Unit Three on the east side and islands adjacent to it. The
cover on the islands varied from dense stands of cattail and bulrush, on
the fringes, to hea^^" stands of nettle surrounding patches of mustard,
saltbush and grasses in the center. The cover along the dike consisted
of a band of nettle along the slopes with saltbush and mustard along
the crest. The total acreage of the plot including open water areas was
approximately 120 acres.
Islands, peninsulas and dikes in the flooded portion of Unit Four
constituted Plot 9. The acreage of the plot consisted of some 800 acres
of flooded area, but onlj'- a small fraction of that was actually nesting
habitat. The estimated acreage of actual nesting habitat was 100 acres.
The land cover was primaril^^ nettle and saltbush with some grasses and
mustard present. In some places, bulrush and cattail growths fringed
the land areas.
The north half of the flooded portion of Unit Nine and the dike sepa-
rating it from Units Eight and Twelve made up Plot 10, an estimated
240 acres. The only nesting vegetation on the dike was along the slope
away from Unit Nine. Heavy stands of saltbush, mustard, five hooked
bassia (Ba^sia hyssopifoUa), and some scattered patches of nettle and
Russian thistle {Salsola kali) comprised dike cover. The sample in Unit
Nine was composed of areas of open water bordered and interspersed
with stands of cattail and bulrush, and islands supporting stands of
nettle, saltbush, five hooked bassia and foxtail barley grass.
One plot. Plot 11, was established in Unit Six to represent nests
occuring in units of the refuge as yet undeveloped but adjacent to
those having been developed. About 40 acres were included in the
sample, the vegetation being made up primarily of foxtail barley grass
and patches of saltbush. The total area included in the 11 plots was
1821 acres.
This type of sampling did not necessarily lend itself to accuracy in
determining over-all nesting density or species com]30sition, but was
general enough to be representative of the nesting conditions found
on the refuges. The selection, location and visitation of a large enough
number of small random plots to insure a representative sample of the
area, would have been too difficult and time consuming to be practical.
NESTING STUDY OI' DUCKS AND COOTS
21
LOWER KLAMATH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Plots
Plot 7
Plot 8
Plot 9
Plot 10
I / 0
I I i_
2
Scale of miles
This mop does not show differentiation between open water and
areas of emergent vegetation
FIGURE 2. Map of Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Siskiyou County,
California, showing location of study plots
22
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
LOCATION OF NESTS
Nests were located on sample areas by systematic search, either cover-
ing the entire area on foot, using a drag-rope wherever feasible, or by
cruising the plot with the airboat. Each nest found was assigned a
number and the data recorded on a prepared nest card bearing the
same number (Miller and Collins, 1953, p. 388). To aid in relocation
and identifieation, each nest was marked with a willow stake. The stakes
were placed two or three yards from the nest and in line with some
chosen landmark common to all nests of the area. Each marker was
numbered to correspond with the number assigned to the nest. After
the initial location, each nest was visited at intervals of about 10 days.
OBSERVATION OF BROODS
Some brood counts were made in conjunction with the regular field
work, but most of the observations were made by the same observer at
weekly intervals along established transect courses. The age of each
brood was estimated to the nearest week and grouped in Aveekly age
classes. The criteria used in determining the age of the broods was
quite similar to that described by Blankenship et al. (1953, p. 6). Our
one week old class corresponded to their Class la, "Bright ball of
fluff"; the two week old class equal to lb, "Fading ball of fluff"; three
weeks the same as Ic, ' ' Gawky-downy ' ' ; four weeks equal to Ila,
"First feathers"; five weeks equal to lib, "Mostly feathered"; six
weeks equal to Ilia, "Feathered-flightless; and the seven, eight and
nine week classes the equivalent of Illb. In the case of the seven, eight
and nine week old classes the relative size of the ducklings and their
ability or lack of ability to fly was used as a criterion of age. South-
wick (1953) describes a similar system of classifying broods but recom-
meiuls only five categories.
TABLE 1
Sample Size as Compared to Breeding Populations
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Pintail (Anas acuta tzitzihoa)
C Teal (A nas cj/anoptera)
.Shoveller (Spatula clypeata)
Redhead (A thj/a amrnricand)
Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis rubida)
L. Scaup (Athya affinis)
Total ducks
Coot (Fulica americana)
Estimated
nesting
population
(pairs)*
2,150
3.100
400
1,500
800
3,000
1,500
1.50
12,685
4,000
Number of
nests in
sample
209
381
44
40
39
60
25
10
808
149
Percent of
nesting
population in
sample
9.7
12.3
11.0
2.7
4.9
2.0
1.7
6.7
6.4
3.7
♦ Figures taken from estimates submitted by Paul Steel, U. S. Fish anri Wildlife Service for the Preliminary Breed-
ing Ground Survey Report for California, Pacific Fly^-ay Report No, 19, August, 1952.
NKS'riNc; s'irii\ in' i)r( ks and coots 'J.">
DATA COLLECTED
Tlic
fii'sl (luck nest (iiuillai'd ) was located and rccoi-dcd on Api'il 17,
l!)r)l2, only 14 days alter the fii'st <i()osc nest was i-ccorded (hifin;^ the
same season. Dnck nesting' coiitinncd until about Septrnihcc 1st when
the last of the iicwl\' hatched i'U(ld> diiek hi'oods were noted. The duek
nestin<>' pei-iod on Tule Lake and Lower Klainath lasted appro.xiinatejy
IT)!) days. A total of I'M nests wei-(> lost dui'inu' the course of the stu<ly
and wei'c not used in the compilation of data to foHow : The oceiii-cnce
of the lost nests were as follows: IMot 1, lixc mallard, four redhead,
one cinnamon teal, four ruddy and thi'ce coot ; I'lol '■>, one coot ; Plot 4,
one mallard; I'lut G, one yadwall, one coot; Plot 8, two <iadwall.
Tu table 1 the size of the sample of each species is eompai'ed with the
estimated total breedinji' popnlatiou in the area dnrin<i' the same season.
The table shows the relatively small samples taken t'oi- some species. In
the case of the redhead and ruddy duck, the j)rincii)al cause for the
small sample was the ditficulty involved in searching' the areas in which
they nested. Plot No. 1 comprising only 120 acres, where most of the
]"uddy duck and redliead nesting was found, required approximately
one-third of the total time used to search all of tiu' plots. The small
samples of cinnamon teal and shoveller were thought to be due pri-
marily to their particular preference for upland sites with low. rather
dense cover. Cultivated barley fields provided such sites but since no
agricultural land was included in this study no corroborating data is
presented here. Gadwall and pintail nested on relatively high ground
and their nests were fairly easy to locate.
FATE OF NESTS
Five categories, with definite limitations governing the recording of
each, were outlined for classifyinu' fates of nests as follows: (1) hatched
nests, (2) deserted nests, (8) flooded nests, (4) destroyed nests and (5)
fate unknown. These categories have be(Mi defined in a previous article
(Miller and Collins, 1953, p. 391).
SUCCESSFUL NESTS
The nesting success for the duck nests in the sample was 83.4 percent
with 674 of the 808 complete nest histories having hatched. Of the 149
completed coot nest histories. 141 hatched resulting in a nesting success
of 94.6 percent, a higher rate of success than any single species of duck.
Pintail, gadwall, lesser scaup and shoveller were most successful of the
ducks with success rates of 93,2 percent, 90,3 percent, 90,0 percent and
89,7 percent respectively. Mallard and cinnamon teal were moder-
ately successful with 85.2 percent and 80.0 percent, respectively. The
least successful nesters in the sample were redhead with 45 percent
success and ruddy duck hatching only 32 percent ( Table 2 ) .
24
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
TABLE 2
Fate of Nests
Species
Percent
nests
hatched
Percent
nests
destroyed
Percent
nests
flooded
Percent
nests
deserted
Totals
Mallard _ . _.
85.2
90.3
93.2
80.0
89.7
45.0
32.0
90.0
3.7
3.4
4.5
2.5
2.6
1.7
4.0
10.0
3.4
0.0
0.0
7.5
0.0
38.3
40.0
0.0
7.7
6.3
2.3
10.0
7.7
15.0
24.0
0.0
100.0
Gad\vall
100.0
Pintail
100.0
C. Teal ._ - _-. . -
100.0
Shoveller-
100.0
Redhead.. .... .. _-
100.0
Ruddy duck
100.0
L. Scaup
100.0
Total ducks ..... ...
83.4
94.6
3.5
1.3
5.3
3.4
7.8
0.7
100.0
Coot _ -_ _ . -..
100.0
UNSUCCESSFUL NESTS
Flooding
The high incidence of unsuccessful nests of the ruddy duck and red-
head, and to a lesser degree, the cinnamon teal, was due primarily to
the flooding of nests on Plot 1, which was caused by the changing of
water levels on Tule Lake. The nests built on this plot during the early
part of the nesting season were in lodged clumps of bulrush from the
jjreA'ious year 's growth. Thus, when water levels rose during the middle
of May some of the nests were flooded (Figure 3). Nests built during
the latter part of June and early July were constructed on top of the
4036.0
.9
.8
.7
.6
.5
.4
.3
.2
.1
4035 0
.9
.8
.7
.6
.5
.4
.3
.2
.1
4034.0
(I0)(f;)
(7)(4)
(4)
(5)
(3)
(i:
I 16 I 12 I IB I 24 I 30 I 6 I 12 I 18 I 24 I 30 I 6 I 12 I 18 I 24 I 30 I 6 I 12 I 18 I 24 1 30
3 9 15 21 27 3 9 15 21 27 3 9 15 21 27 3 9 15 21 27
APRIL MAY JUNE JULY
FIGURE 3. Water Levels Chart-Tule Lake, 1952 *
♦ Figures supplied by the Tule Lake National W^ildlife Refuge.
NKSTIXri STI'in' OK DrCKS AND COlt'l'S 25
old, lod.ucd |)idi-iisli willi llic new oTowlli of liulnisli ;is coiKM'jdin'/
cover. As ;i I'ldc these nests wei'e lii'jliei- above the walei- than thosc
])nilt oavlicr. llowcxcr, e\-en these hii^her nests wece snh.jeeted to soino
lloodinji;. Aettially, the pei'ioil of liiuh water, .Inne loth to July ir)th,
accounted for llie pjreatest nnnibei- of Ihxxh'd nests, t)ecaiise the \olntne
of iiestiiiji' had increased as the season pro^i-essed. Another fador to be
considered in the Hoodinji' of nests Avas the settling- of nests built without
adecpiate support. Tt -was jn-obable that in some cases the nests of either
ruddy duck or redhead witli a full (dutch of eu'^s plus the incubatinjr
bird "was sufficiently heavy to cause tlie lu'sts to settle enouj,di to be
flooded. Nests built close to the level of the water were especially
susceptible. The effect of wind on both the water levels and settling of
nests was regarded as an important factor. The water level in the
vicinity of Plot 1 was raised occasionally by the effect of strong winds
from the southwest causing water to "pileup" in the northeast corner
of the sump. The whipping of the bulrush stalks by the wind probably
also accelerated the settling of the nests.
Figure 3 is a chart of the recorded water levels on Tule Tiake during
the nesting season. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the date and
the number of nests found flooded. Some of the nests recorded as flooded
June 12th and 13th were probably flooded during the high w-ater in
May but were not relocated after the initial recording until two or
three visits later. The same relationship to high water applied to nests
recorded flooded during other periods. The inability to relocate all nests
during every visit was due to the difficulty of searching the type of
cover found on plot 1.
Desertion
Only 1 coot nest, or 0.7 percent of the total, was deserted while 63, or
7.8 percent, of the duck nests were deserted. Twenty-one of the total
duck nest desertions occurred on Plot 1 and involved mainly the ruddy
duck, redhead and cinnamon teal. The principal cause of desertion by
ruddy duck and redhead was thought to be intraspecific parasitism
which resulted in "dump nests" (four redhead and three ruddy duck).
Interspecific parasitism involving a ruddy duck apparently caused one
cinnamon teal to desert its nest. The activity of muskrats w^as also
recognized as a possible cause of desertion. In one instance a young
muskrat (still blind) was found in a redhead nest. The low incidence
of desertion on other plots involving dabbling ducks for the most part
was considered of little importance. The desertion that did take place,
however, was considered due partl}^ to adverse weather conditions. High
winds with rain and snow occurred during the first and second weeks
of May and the second and third weeks of June.
Destruction
The rate of nest destruction by predators on Tule Lake and Low^er
Klamath Refuges was not high enough to greatly influence nesting suc-
cess. The predator involved in nest destruction was not known in all
instances. Seven nests were definitely thought to have been destroyed
by coyote ; six of these nests occurred on Plot 4 (42.9 percent of the
nests on that plot). The remaining coyote destruction was on Plot 6
with the nest indirectly destroyed bv the killing of the nesting hen. In
26
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
eight other cases of nest destruction by mammals, the specific aniiral
was not definitely established, but the probable predators involved were :
skunk in five instances ; coyote in two ; weasel in one. The primary
avian predator in the area was considered to be the gull with large
populations of both the ringbilled and California gulls present. Some
ravens and magpies were in the region, but were seldom seen in the
marshes where nesting occurred. One of the five nests destroyed by
birds was accomplished by the killing of a nesting ruddy duck by a
hawk or owl. Two nests were recorded as having been destroyed by
snakes. In another case, the incubating hen was found dead at the nest
and, for want of a better classification, the nest was recorded as de-
stroyed. No clues were found regarding the predator involved in five
additional nests recorded as destroyed. In all, 20 nests were destroyed
accounting for 3.5 percent of the total nests in the sample as shown in
Table 2.
FATE OF EGGS AND CLUTCH SIZE OF SUCCESSFUL NESTS
To determine fate of eggs and average clutch for each species, only
the data from successful nests were used to avoid possible distortion of
figures. To include egg data from all nests would have required hypo-
thetical criteria to have been set up to determine for the unsuccessful
iiests the probable number of eggs that should have hatched, resulted in
dead embryos, or have been infertile. Where some eggs were destroyed
or missing, an examination could not be made to determine probable
outcome. Nests that were hatched when found were also excluded from
the determination of the fate of eggs or average clutch, because the
uumber of eggs in the original clutches could not be accurately de-
termined.
The eggs resulting from interspecific parasitism and parasitism by
pheasants are indicated in parenthesis in the total eggs column of
Table 3 for each species affected. The figures in parenthesis in the
average clutch column show average clutch after eggs resulting from
known parasitism were subtracted from the total eggs of each species
TABLE 3
Clutch Size
Species
Successful nests
Total eggs
Average clutch
Mallard -
178
344
41
32
35
t27
8
9
1622 (44)
3834 (38)
376
343 (16)
389 (14)
303
64
96
9.2 (8.9)
Gadwall
Pintail
C. teal- -
11.1 (11.0)
9.2
10.7 (10.2)
Shoveller
Redhead
Ruddy duck
L. scaup
11.1 (10.7)
13.8
8.0
10.7
.All ducks _ . .___..
674
tl41
7027 (112)
1114
10.5 (10.3)
Coot
7.9
* Figure.^ in parenthesis indicate the known number of eggs occurring as a result of nest parasitism and the result-
ing clutch size with those eggs suljtracted from the totals,
t Five nests hatched when found not included in computation for total eggs or average clutch.
t One nest hatched whr-n found not included in computation for total eggs or average clutch.
NESTING STUDY OF DICKS AND COOTS
27
involved. These fiuiires wei'C eoiiipiled for the sake of aceiiraey and addi-
tional information, aitlion^h tlie definition of clutch is n;;;ard(Ml as
inelndiiifi' all the eg'fjs iiicnhated by the Mcstin'j hii-d.
The total Cfi'<i'S resulting;' from |)a rasil ism in iliick nests was 111? of
wliieh 72 were pheasant e^'us and the i-emainin^' 40 wei-e duck e^'^'s I'rf^ni
species other than the iiestin<ji' duck. The ]n'reent of pheasant and duck
e<i<;s that were hatched in the parasitized nests was 44. G and 17.5 per-
cent respeetivety. Intraspecific parasitism of duck nests was, of course,
not apparent except where the effect of tlie parasitism I'esulted in
"dump nests" (four redhead and three ruddy duckj. Some intra-
specific parasitism was thought to have taken place in successful red-
head and ruddy duck nests and may have eoiitrihiited to slightly higher
avei'age clutch for those species than Avould normally occur. The high
rate of dead embryos found in unhatched eggs in successful nests of
those species (Table 4) further substantiates that assumption, since it
is likel.y that fertile eggs deposited in a nest after incubation had begun
woidd not hatch Avith the original clutch but would r<'sidt in partially
developed embryos.
The successful duck nests produced 7,027 eggs of which (),435 hatched
resulting in an over-all hatching success of 91.6 percent. The hatching
success for coot was 97.6 percent with 1,086 eggs hatched from the 1,114
eggs produced.
Unhatched eggs left in successful nests either contained dead em-
bryos or were infertile and were classified according to Kossack's
method of determination (Kossack, 1950, p. 646).
From the sample of 7,027 eggs, 376 were found to contain dead em-
bryos and 93 were infertile (Table 4). Though a high percentage of
redhead and ruddy duck eggs contained dead embryos, the total num-
ber Avas not great enough to have an appreciable effect upon the average
for all species. The eggs that w^ere destroyed or missiiig accounted for
the remaining 123 eggs. These eggs were not considered to be a source
of error in determination of any factor in the fates of eggs, but rather,
were regarded as an index to the number of eggs from otherwise success-
ful nests that would meet various fates during the course of a nestino-
TABLE 4
Fate of Eggs
Species
Mallard
Oadwall
Pintail
C. teal
Shoveller
Redhead
Ruddy duck
L. scaup
Average
Coot
Eggs
Percent
hatched
91.4
94.2
92.3
88.4
91.5
68.6
70.4
87.5
91.6
97.6
Percent
dead emb.
4.9
3.3
5.1
9.0
4.4
24.8
28.1
10.4
5.4
1.7
Percent
infertile
1.6
1.1
1.9
0.9
1.3
3.0
0.0
2.1
1.3
0.2
Percent
destroyed
0.4
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.4
Percent
missing
1.7
1.1
0.7
1.7
2.8
3.3
1.5
0.0
1.4
0.2
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
4 — 88193
28
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
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ro • S~Tt< So o CO CO Mm 5i"-* 00 -* CO t^
00
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-^ g
OOtOO .^--.— -.^-^-to .(M -(M ■
w
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OT
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CO ■
T-HCO'-iCO ^ -TtH-^-'CD^CD — ^ — ^CD
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o
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lO -C^ -^ ••-1 -iM --^ -O -cq •
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^r~cqco'^t~-^co~— 'Ocqio^io^-^co
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o
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^
M
f^OOcDOO^lOCDtD^CoSooS'lM'^CO
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l>
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CO •
>-i a
(MtOCOCO'^-^CD^ — ^CO — 'l>C<ICD'-liO — 't^
t— 1
CD
---lO
t;
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c3 o
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CO
00
00O00O:Oai"3O3
a.
t>
> -S-T^,
T-H T-l
<,_.-
13
o
o
u
X!
tH
<D
p.
M
c
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o
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1 1 1 1 1 1 -^ !
3
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J J ' 1 oj T3 -3 a
(3
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p
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bjO
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o
o
NESTING STTinV OF DrCKS AND COOTS 2!)
soasoii ill lliis ;irc;i. II is (iiiitc likdy, liowcNcr, tluit tliry would have
hatclied, t'ontaiiied dead cmhi-yds, or li;i\c hern in Irri i |c in iln- same
i-alios as sliowii in Tal)lc 4.
Table 4 docs not show sepiiratc (l;it;i For parasitized iirsts. 'I'lic pres-
entation of those data was {'onsid(;red unnecessary since no important
changes would be apparejit in an}- eatejior3\ Also, since no definite
deteniiination conid be made coneernini:' intt-aspecific ])ai'asitistH. the
figures would not be consistent.
BROOD DATA
Table 5 shows the average nninber of individuals hatched Irom the
nests of each species of waterfowl whose nests were studied, compai'ed
to the average number of young per brood remaining during each suc-
cessive week of life up to nine weeks.
The highest mortality rate in the young ducks produced on the
refuges took place during the first week of life with 30 percent re-
duction in the average brood size hatched from nests in the sample. The
average brood size resulting from hatching success of all species in the
sample was 9.6 individuals. The average brood size for all species of
ducks aged one week or less, as computed from 1,118 brood counts
taken on the refuges, was 6.7. The average number of young hatched
from the coot nests studied was 7.8 and the average brood size at the
end of the first week was 5.2, a reduction of 33 percent. The apparent
reduction in brood sizes during the first week of life in all species listed
as compared to the average hatch per clutch in column one, Table 5,
cannot be definitely accounted for. But, considering that natural mor-
tality rates should be inversely proportional to the age of the young,
a reduction in brood size during the first week would not be uncommon.
In species that show" high first-week mortality, especially gadwall with
a 35 percent reduction, it was suspected that gull predation on downy
young was partially responsible. Where average brood sizes remained
relatively stable from the second week on, either the brood regression
was masked by grouping together of broods causing higher counts for
brood size, or that natural mortality and predation became insignifi-
cant. However, it is unlikely that grouping had an enlarging effect
upon broods in the same proportion that mortality reduced the average
brood size, thereby producing the stable brood sizes indicated in Table
5. Since the grouping together of broods was recognized as a possible
source of error in determining average brood sizes in different age
classes, only those broods that seemed free of grouping were counted.
Since most of the grouping occurs in the older broods, the practice of
not counting groups of broods is evidenced by the lower number of
counts recorded for the older brood classes. Thus, for these reasons, it
was thought that mortality factors did not greatly reduce brood sizes
after the first week. Other evidence to support this conclusion is that
predation on broods by gulls seemed limited almost exclusively to the
downy young. Other predators that might have seriously affected brood
sizes were practically nonexistent in this area. Weasels, though common
in the area, are not aquatic and the mink is rare. Disease did not seem
to be a factor in brood reduction.
30
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
DATE OF HATCH
The actual hatching dates of nests could not be ascertained except
when the nest was found hatching during a visit. The hatching dates,
grouped into 10-day periods, were approximated from the visiting dates
and the accumulated data gathered during the various visits to the
nests. Fifteen 10-day periods running from April 3cl to August 31st
were required to cover the nesting season for all species. Data from
hatching dates recorded are shown in Figure 4 indicating the peak of
hatch for ducks and coots occurred between June 22d and July 1st. Fig-
ure 5 illustrates the relationship of the hatching dates by species for
comparison with Figure 4. Figure 5 includes the dates wherein the
greatest volume of hatching took place in all species. It would be
expected that extremes (both early and late nesting) would be en-
countered in any nesting population, but not necessarily appear in the
sample areas due to their limited occurrences. Some late hatched nests
were indicated for the ruddy duck, as newly hatched broods were noted
on the refuges as late as September 1st. However, no extremely late
hatched nests were noted on the study plots.
FIGURE 4. Date of hatch
NESTING STUDY OF DUCKS AND COOTS
31
MALLARD
1 1 1
)
GADWALL
t 1
1^""^^^^^
PINTAIL
'
1
CTEAL
SHOVELLER
REDHEAD
RUDDY
1
'■ ' 1
L. SCAUP
COOT
CVJ
>
<
2
CVJ
>-
UJ
z
-i
liJ
2
3
-3
CVJ
LiJ
Z
-3
>-
_l
3
-3
1
_J
3
-5
1
>
ro
>-
ro
CM
>-
CJ
UJ
z
3
UJ
CM
CM
UJ
CM
>-
_|
<
2
<
<
2
z
3
-3
Z
3
-s
3
-3
OJ
fO
o
O
CM
>-
>-
o
O
3
<
_I
_I
3
3
3
<
-9
-3
1
CM
CVJ
—
"~
CM
o
O
>-
>
3
3
_J
_l
4
<
3
3
-3
-3
FIGURE 5. Hatching periods by species
NEST SITES AND COVER TYPES
Nest Sites
Tlie categories used to present nest site data in Table 6 are, for the
most part, self-explanatory. However, for the purpose of clarification,
it may be well to define some of the classifications used. ]Marsh applies
to nest sites that occurred over water or wet area and in most ca.ses
indicates a nest basket built in bulrush or cattail or on a pile of vege-
tation erected by the bird. Although the muskrat house category could
be grouped with "marsh," it seemed desirable to separate the two.
Upland denotes areas that were normally above the water level and
had grown rank with weeds and grasses. No distinction was made
between dikes, levees and ditch banks, traveled or untraveled, and they
were held synonymous as nest sites. Nest sites were recorded as occur-
ring on islands when the area of the island was less than 8 or 10 acres.
Where nests occurred on larger islands (Figure 2, Plot 6) the site was
considered to be in "upland" type.
TABLE 6
Location of Nest Sites
Species
Dike
Marsh
Muskrat
house
Island
Upland
Total
Mallard . . .
25.9
13.4
6.7
20.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
17.3
0.5
0.0
15.0
0.0
86.6
100.0
0.0
2.4
0.3
0.0
5.0
0.0
6.7
0.0
0.0
33.1
61.9
31.8
42.5
18.0
5.0
0.0
80.0
21.3
23.9
61.4
17.5
82.0
1.7
0.0
20.0
100.0
GadwaU
Pintail
C. teal
Shoveller..
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Redhead. .
100.0
Reddy duck
L. scaup.
100.0
100.0
Total average
14.4
0.0
15.0
87.3
1.5
0.0
43.8
8.7
25.3
4.0
100.0
Coot-. .. . .
100.0
32
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
TABLE 7
Distance From Nest Site to Water
Species
Over
water
0-3
3-50
50-100
Over 100
Total
Mallard - - - - -
15.8
1.0
0.0
17.5
2.5
93.3
100.0
0.0
11.5
7.4
6.8
22.5
5.1
0.0
0.0
20.0
66.1
85.3
61.4
60.0
64.1
6.7
0.0
80.0
4.8
5.3
29.5
0.0
18.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.8
1.0
2.3
0.0
10.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
100.0
Gadwall - - -
100.0
Pintail --
100.0
C. teal - _
100.0
100.0
"Rpdhead - -
100.0
T?nfl(iv duck
100.0
100.0
15.6
85.9
8.4
8.7
68.2
4.7
6.2
0.7
1.6
0.0
100.0
Coot - -- -
100.0
The location of nests in relation to water was recorded for all species.
Five categories were used: over water, 0 to 3 yards from water, 3 to
50 yards from water, 50 to 100 yards, and over 100 yards. The con-
ditions in relation to water existing at the time the nest was located
were recorded and that information was nsed to compile Table 7.
Cover Type
Only the dominant species of the plant community occurring at each
nest site was recorded. The physical characteristics of that dominant
plant served to illustrate the type of cover present at the nest (Table
8). During the early part of the duck nesting only the dead vegetation
of the previous year was available to the birds as cover. Early in May,
the nettle patches began to grow high enough to be utilized as nest cover
with other cover types following throughout May and the early part
of June. The hardstem bulrush had begun to show by May 1st, grow-
ing continuously until about the first of July and reached heights up
to 10 feet.
The characteristics of cover utilized by ducks and coots is illustrated
in Tables 9 and 10 showing the height of vegetation surrounding the
nest and the degree of concealment preferred. The information used to
compile the tables was from data recorded upon the initial location of
the nest and therefore more nearly represents the conditions existing
at the time the nest was established. The vegetation height above the
ground or water level was estimated and grouped into one of four
classifications: 0 to 12 inches, 13 to 24 inches, 25 to 36 inches, and
over 36 inches (Table 10). The degree of concealment afforded the
nest by the cover was assigned numbers to simplify the recording of
data. Numbers one through four indicate the number of sides of the
nest concealed, i.e., 1, cover on one side; 2, cover on two sides; etc.
The number 5 indicates cover over the nest affording concealment from
above as well as on all sides while the classifications 1-5, 2-5, 3-5, denote
cover over the nest and with one, tAvo, or three sides of the nest con-
cealed.
NKSTINCl S'lTDV dl' DIIKS AM) ( OO'I'S
y:{
oo :^
-a:
"a
oooooooo
o
a
*•*
o
8S8SgS§§
8
d
1 «
t~ O CO lO oo l~ o o
r-
1-
6 s
CO CI 10 CI "M -H O O
-f
f*
i ^
Tfira^oi-ooo
t^
-r
2 od
.-<' o oi 10 ^: o c d
Tf
".-3
O £3
i.O .o
r*
g^^
-w 2 o
CD'-hOlOOcDOO
CI
t^
m 3 .
"O .i; (D
00 -h' d ci d — ' m o
d
d
!3 3 ^
.-< (N 05 05
I— (
<o
h^ j:~-"
L.-^
P §2?
CJOOiOCOOO
t^
M<
.-idociod'td
d
lO
03 ^
■5 t^
oooooooo
to
t^
^'dddoodd
o
O
lO lO CO o o c o o
lO
o
t/3
c3 O
d o ci d o d d o
d
d
pq ^
OJ ---v
:s ^
OOiCCi-OCCt^OO
-t
-*
a> 00
LOOit^OO'-HOO
r-(
w
iz; c
CC t^ C> T)> rt Tj<
lO
5 ^
OOOiOiOOOOO
CO
o
§ JO
OOt^Oit^OOOOO
d
d
CI r-H ^
-
altbus
(3.7)
M O 05 "O o o o o_
d t-' >n t>' ci d o o
1^
d
d ,-1 .-1
.—1
CB
w
2
3
3
0)
-3
cc
A! 1
' i i ' J ' §
t
<
.^^
gopL,OMtftfi-a
o
o
O
34
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
TABLE 9
Vegetative Height
Species
0" to 12"
13" to 24"
25" to 36"
Over 36"
Total
MaUard _ . - -.
32.5
8.7
68.2
42.5
82.1
6.7
0.0
0.0
49.3
39.4
25.0
32.5
15.4
8.3
4.0
50.0
13.4
43.5
6.8
12.5
0.0
16.7
4.0
30.0
4.8
8.4
0.0
12.5
2.5
68.3
92.0
20.0
100.0
Gadwall
100.0
Pintail . -- - ...--
100.0
C. teal - ------
100.0
Shoveller
100.0
100.0
Ruddy duck - - - - _
100.0
100.0
Average (ducks)
'Coot ----- -
22.7
17.4
36.4
6.0
26.7
17.4
14.2
59.2
100.0
100.0
TABLE 10
Nest Concealment
Species
5
4
3
2
1
None
1-5
2-5
3-5
Total
Mallard - -_ -
50.8
71.3
20.2
70.0
18.0
40.0
28.0
40.0
15.8
20.5
6.8
15.0
30.7
30.0
28.0
30.0
8.6
3.7
13.7
5.0
10.3
6.7
20.0
10.0
5.8
0.5
18.3
2.5
15.4
3.3
4.0
0.0
2.4
0.0
11.4
0.0
10.3
1.7
8.0
0.0
2.4
0.3
9.2
2.5
5.1
8.3
0.0
10.0
1.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.9
0.0
4.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
11.9
3.7
15.9
5.0
10.2
10.0
12.0
10.0
100.0
Gadwall .-- -. -_
100.0
Pintail _ ------
100.0
C. teal
Shoveller-- --
100.0
100.0
Redhead - --
100.0
Ruddy duck
100.0
L. scaup
100.0
Average (ducks)
Coot
56.5
15.4
19.7
16.8
6.7
17.4
4.0
18.8
2.1
12.1
2.4
14.1
0.4
0.0
0.5
5.4
7.7
0.0
100.0
100.0
SITE-COVER RELATIONSHIPS
Table 11 represents a summary of nest site-cover relationships based
on information from the previous tables. The table shows the over-all
conditions preferred most often by each species. The term ''general"
in some categories was used where no particular preference was shown
by a species for any one classification, or when no definite pattern of
preference was evident. In classifications where more than one item
is listed, the items are listed in order of importance.
Mallard
No particular preference was shown by the mallard regarding nest
site. Most of the nests, 61.3 percent, Avere found in cover of saltbush or
nettle that afforded good concealment. Only 12 percent of the nests
were considered to be poorly concealed. Mallards were found to nest
over water to a greater extent than most dabblers and 27.3 percent were
within three yards of water.
Gadwall
The over-all trend in gadwall nesting indicated a preference for the
drier nest sites, particularly islands. Nettle 13 to 36 inches high
afforded concealment cover for 79.9 percent of the nests. Nearly all the
NKSTiNO ST^M)^■ OF nrcKS and coots
TABLE II
Site-cover Relationships
35
Species
Nest site
Cover type
Vocctation
hciglit
Conncal-
iiicnt
Distannc
to \vut(!r
TVTnllRrcl
General
Island
Upland
General
Upland
Marsh
Marsh
Island
Salthush, nettle
Nettle
13-24"
25-36"
0-12"
0-12"
0-12"
Over 36"...
Over 36"...
13-24"
5
3 to 50 yd.
(;..,! wall
5
3 to 50 yil.
I'intail
Mustard nettle
Nettle (General)
Grasses
Hardstein bulrush
Hardsteni bulrush
Grasses, nettle
General
5
General
5, 4
5, 4, 3
5,4
3 to 50 yd.
('. teal -
3 to 50 yd.
Siioveller
3 to 50 yd.
Hcdhead
Over water
Kuddy duck
L scaup
Over water
3 to 50 yd.
Average (ducks)
Island
Marsh
Nettle
Hardsteni bulrush
13-24"
Over 36"---
5
3 to 50 yd.
2. 3, 4, 5.--
Over water
nests, 05.6 percent, were well concealed. l*i-iniarily as a result of the
elioseii nest sites, 85.3 percent of the gad wall nests were from 3 to 50
yards from water.
Pintail
With respect to preferred nest sites, pintail were similar to gadwall
in selecting dry areas, but nested principally in the upland type habi-
tat (61.4 percent). The concealment of the nest did not seem to be
important with 38.9 percent poorly concealed and 70 percent of the
nests in cover less than 12 inches high. Distances greater than 50 yards
from water were recorded for 31.8 percent of the pintail nests found.
Cinnamon Teal
Cinnamon teal nested in varying sites and cover but built their nests
on islands using nettle cover less than 12 inches high in 42.5 percent
of the recorded instances. The nests were usually well concealed with
only 5 percent occuring in sparse cover affording poor concealment.
Like the mallard, cinnamon teal nested in sites over water more com-
monly than other species of dabblers. A preference was also shown for
sites in close proximity to water witli 40 percent of the nests within
three yards of water.
Shoveller
A definite preference was shown by shoveller for upland nest sites
of low grass or similar cover. All nests were located on u]ilaiul or island
sites with 97.5 percent of the nests in cover less than 24 inches high.
No particular pattern of desired concealment was evident but 30.8
percent of the nests M^ere poorly concealed with 78 percent of the nests
in concealment less than what was considered excellent. ^lore nests
were located over 100 yards from water than in other species, witli
28.3 percent over 50 yards.
Redhead
As would be expected, nearly all redhead nests were in marsh type
habitat over water (93.3 percent including muskrat house sites) with
6.7 percent found in other areas. Only 8.4 percent of tlie nests were
36 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
found in cover other than hardstem bnlrush. The concealment afforded
by bulrush was good to excellent since the height of the bulrush ranged
from two feet to as high as 10 feet in 85 percent of the cases. Eighty
percent of the nests were well concealed.
Ruddy Duck
Nests of the ruddy duck were found exclusively in marsh type sites
over water with good concealment. Hardstem bulrush cover was used
to the exclusion of other types except river bulrush which afforded
cover for 4 percent of the nests. Ninety-two percent of the nests
were recorded in cover over 36 inches in height.
Lesser Scaup
The lesser scaup, a diving duck, nested principally on islands with
no nests recorded on other sites except upland, completely excluding
marsh type. Nettle and grasses furnished cover for 90 percent of the
nests, generally affording good to excellent concealment. Ten percent
(one nest) was found in sites with poor concealment, but none were
located in cover less than 13 inches high. Although no nests were found
over water, all were within 50 yards.
Coot
A definite preference for nest sites over water was indicated by the
sample of coot nests studied. Only 5.4 percent of the nests were found
more than three yards from water. Little regard for concealment was
apparent although 85.8 percent of the nests occurred in marsh type
cover ranging in height up to 10 feet. The preferred cover, however,
was primarily of a sparse nature.
Islands were most preferred as nest sites by ducks with upland,
marsh, dike and muskrat house sites following in that order of prefer-
ence. A\"itli the exception of the lesser scaup, diving ducks ancl coots
used nest sites over water almost exclusively while lesser scaup and
dabblers, as a group, preferred drier nesting sites. However, 92.2 per-
cent of all nests located in the stud}^ were within 50 yards of water.
Mallard and cinnamon teal exhibitecl the least selective preference for
particular types of nesting habitat and would be the species least likely
to be greatly affected by a change in availability of an^^ one of the nest
site types. Others, however, showing limited adaptability would be
greatly affected by a change in available desired nesting habitat, par-
ticularly diving ducks and coots.
Desirable nesting cover for waterfowl was furnished by the extensive
stands of bulrush and cattail that occurred on Tule Lake and Lower
Klamath Refuges. The importance of the bulrush was greater than that
of cattail because of the heavy, lodged clumps remaining from the
previous year furnishing good concealment and support for nests. New
growth of bulrush eventually formed a canopy over the old lodged
growth adding further concealment.
Nettle was utilized as nest cover more than any other plant (51.4
percent) although it accounted for only 18 percent approximately of
the total nest cover on the study plots. Nettle occurred on the favored
nest sites of dabblers, particularly islands, and provided excellent cover
not only as new vegetation but in lodged stands from the previous
NESTING STUDY OF DICKS AND COO'I'S 37
year's growth. Otlioi- ])l;iiils oF mi'dinin liciL'lit, as cxciniilil'nd liy salt-
hlisli, iniistai-(l and lliistic, lluil jirr riuiW when nwitiiic ;iimI [xts'isI
throiiji'liuiil llic wintci', riiniishcd ^(lod nesting coNcr in the cai'ly part
of the nestiiiji,' jx'riod. H'oxtjnl h;iiley f^Tass remained over the winter
in low dry chimps and was ntilizcd cxlcnsixcly hy stiovcllci- ;ind to some
extent by pintail as iiestin<;' cover.
SUMMARY
1. A duck nesting study, including data on coot, was conducted diic-
ing the spring and summer of IDo'i on Lower Klamath and Tide
Lake National Wildlife Refuges in ('alifornia by the Pittnum-
Robertson Research Project 3U-R, Califoi-nia Department of Fish
and Game.
2. Eleven sample plots with a total area of 1,820 acres were studied,
five on Tule Lake and six on Lower Klamath.
3. A total of 826 duck nests and 154 coot nests were located.
4. The nesting success of all ducks included in the sample w^as 83.4
percent and of coot was 94.6 percent.
5. The major cause of duck nest failures were desertion, flooding, and
predation; the major cause of nesting failures in coot was flooding.
6. The hatchmg success in all successful duck nests w'as 91.6 percent,
while 97.6 percent of coot eggs hatched.
7. A total of 3,837 brood counts revealed that the major reduction in
broods of all species took place during the first w^eek of life and
the brood size became relatively stable thereafter.
8. The nesting period of ducks and coot lasted approximately 150
days, with the over-all peak of hatch during the period from June
22 to July 1.
9. In general, the dabblers and the lesser scaup preferred the dryer
nest sites. The other diving ducks chose marshy nest sites almost
exclusively as did the coot.
10. Ninety-two percent of all nests located were within 50 yards of
water.
11. Nettle was the most important duck nesting cover, while hardstem
bulrush was most important for coots.
REFERENCES
Blankenship, L. H., C. D. Evans, M. H. Hamond and A. S. Hawkins
1953. Techniques for brood production studies.
A special report for the Mississippi Flyway Council Technical Committee.
Edited by W. H. Marshall, University Farm, St. Paul, Minn. 14 p. mimco.
Gabrielson, Ira N.
1943. Wildlife refuges. New York, Macmillan Co., 257 p. •
Kossack, Charles W.
1950. Breeding habits of Canada geese under refuge conditions. Amer. Midi.
Nat. vol. 43, no. 3, p. 627-649
Miller, A. W., and B. D. Collins
1953. A nesting study of Canada geese on Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Na-
tional AVildlife Refuges, Siskiyou County, California. Calif. Fish and
Game, vol. 39, no. 3, p. 385-396
Southwick, Charles
1953. A system of age classification for field studies of waterfowl broods. Jour.
Wildl. Mangt, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 1-8.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE SAURY (COLOLABIS SAIRA)
SEEN NEAR THE CALIFORNIA COAST
DURING 1950-52'
ROBERT L. EBERHARDT-
INTRODUCTION
The frequency with whicli the saury can be observed along the coasts
of California and Baja California suggests a poinilation of incredible
size. If this population is as large as it seems to be then perhaps the
fishing industry is correct in considering the species a likely source of
supply as yet untapped. This, together with a decline or disappearance
of more readily obtained fishes, may mean the sauries now face utiliza-
tion. A preliminary step in determining the extent of the resource is to
establish the degree of occurrence of the species.
The saury is a slim and brilliant silver and blue fish which grows to
a foot in length. The flanks shine as if they were made of burnished
aluminum. Along the tail is a series of finlets, a mark of the mackerels,
but the saury is a close relative of the flyingfish and halfbeak. Typically
a fish of the open seas, it is frequently seen inshore during the night.
The fish school at the surface both in very small groups and in gigantic
shoals, which may extend at night as far as can be seen even in the ray
of a searchlight.
Sauries are easy to clean, and they are delicious to eat. The fish has
very thin and soft scales which are readily removed. A thin alimentary
tract can be easily taken out. Fried sauries can be eaten without tremble,
since the fishes are not bony. If sauries can be canned and if the natural
coloring can be held, the pack would be an attractive item.
Records published before 1900 describe the saury as. a rare fish off
the California coast. Up to 1915 only a dozen specimens had been ob-
tained. Great schools of fish appeared at San Clemente in 1916 and
were of a species "never noticed by anyone in that region before"
(Jordan, 1916). Subsequently this species was identified as the saury
we know. It was further identified as the same fish well known in
Japanese seas where it supports a fishery (Hubbs, 1916).
Today the saury is known on our coast from Alaska to Baja Cali-
fornia and westward near the Hawaiian Islands (Schultz, 19-40; Roedel,
1953). On the eastern Pacific coast great numbers of the saury have
been reported only from the waters of California. Specimens have been
1 Submitted for publication June, 1953.
- Formerly with the Marine Fisheries Branch, California Department of Fish and Game,
Terminal Island.
(39)
40
CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME
125°
40°| —
120°
115°
35'
30*
25°
' ',7 ' ^nnrn Barbaro
o»"'''°^^^fe6rN--^ 'Los Angales
<■ Channel ^, ^^'^N^S^n Clement,
islands -^V/Z/yZ' \
Cedros Is.
HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS
— '/// ADULTS
:;' JUVENILES
Cope San LazaroU
Mogdoleno Boy"*
40^
125°
120°
115°
FIGURE 1. Occurrence of the saury on the California and Baja California coasts, 1950-52
taken off Cape San Lazaro (lat. 25°00'N.) in Baja California. It has
been landed for the fresh fish trade at Monterey and other California
ports but in such small amounts as not to have been identified in the
published records. An exploratory pack was made in 1947 at Monterey.
Personnel of the Marine Fisheries Branch of the Department of Fish
and Game have from time to time noted unusual occurrences of the
saury, but there has been no organized program to investigate the
species (Aplin, 1939 ; Phillips, 1932).
()USi:i{\'A'n()\s ()\ 'I'm: s.\ri;v
41
I nrornuil ion which t'<ilhi\\s is drjiwii I'rdin (irhl i-i-curds nijidi' on 1h<'
M/V Yellowfin by biologists cn'i'Mji'ctl in the ( ';ilit'orni;i ( 'oop'Tativo
Oceanic FisluM-ics I nvcst i<iiil ion. The (l;it;i vrl'rv to niiihttinic observa-
tions made lai'<i-('ly witliin the ;")() rnthoni cniM' bclwccn San P'rancisco
and Maydalcna F.ay, Baja Californi.i, bctwi'in Octoltcr, !!).")(), and No-
vember, 1952 (Fi<i'ni-e 1). Men on the n'sr;i ii'h \cssrl were attemptinjr
to j>'et sani])1es of sai'dines (Sardi iiups cdrniha} ;ind .i;icl< inai'kerel
(TracJiurus synimrirlcus) bnt also kept ;i reeoi-d of otiier species. Ob-
servations were made while cruising' oi- whih' (hil'tin^- witli a brilliant
li<>lit suspended over the side.
Perhaps the sanry can be described as nl)i(|nitons, for tlie fish was
sio-hted in nearly eveiy locality the ship visited, (ienerally there were
a few present every nif>'ht at one time or another, bnt on some occasions
there were uncounted numbers in view. Characteristically, schools of
sauries form a very shallow layer near the surface, and Ihey are not
often detected or recorded by a Fathometer.
OCCURRENCE
California Waters
During the fall of 1950 the Yellowfin o])erated between Point Reyes
and the Channel Islands. Great schools of leaping sauries were seen in
the San Francisco area (Table 1). No other fish were as abundant be-
side the ship, and large numbers were seen south to Point Conception.
In Southern California during November they were not abundant.
TABLE 1
The Relative Abundance of the Saury (Cololabis saira) Observed on the
Eastern Pacific Coast During 1950-52
1950
1951
1952
Central California
(Pt. Reyes to Pt. Conception)
October
November
Deceinber
Southern California
(Pt. Conception to International Border)
January
February
March
May
June
August
September
October
November
December
Baja California
(International Border to Magdalena Bay)
March
April
May
July
August
September
dense
moderate
moderate
moderate
moderate
dense
dense
moderate
none
none
moderate
poor
dense
dense
poor
poor
poor
poor
moderate
moderate
none
none
moderate
dense
moderate
poor
poor
poor
none
moderate
42 CALIFORXIA FISH AND GAME
The coast of California was covered from Point Reyes to the Inter-
national border in 1951 and 1952. Observations were made during 1951
from January to March, briefly in both June and August, and from
late September to December. During the next year, except for a period
in Maj and June, the cruises were made after mid-September and until
Xovember.
Peak concentrations of adult fish were seen during the winter months.
These occurred in the Santa Barbara Channel region. During the spring
sauries were generally not seen in the waters of Southern California.
In the fall schools were seen with increasing frequency and size as the
ship approached Point Conception and the offshore Channel Islands
from both the northwest and southeast. Young fish were seen as far
north as Point Eeyes.
Baja California Waters
From March to May and during August and September of 1951, the
Yellowfix was engaged in work along the coast of Baja California. In
1952 the same area was covered during March, April, and from July
through September. Very few sauries were seen; those typically re-
corded were small adults or young found in small and isolated groups.
Consequently, no concentrations were observed at any time in the Mexi-
can waters that would seem to support a fishery.
Until April adults were seen alone, but after that display with young
lasted for several weeks. Above Point Abreojos and along the shores of
Sebastian Vizcaino Bay young fish were usually noted at every point.
However, the largest numbers of young of the year and yearlings were
seen in the fall and then off the steep coasts between Point Canoas and
Descanso Bay.
LENGTH .MEASUREMENTS
Length measurements were made of 507 sauries (Table 2). These
were drawn at random from samples taken between October 1950 and
November 1952. The average fork length was six inches (150 mm.)
with a range of 2 to 10 inches (50 to 250 mm.). These samples represent
fishes in varying stages of growth drawn in some cases from widelj^
separated localities.
The largest average size in the samples was 10 inches. These large
fishes came from the coasts along the Channel Islands of Santa Cruz
and San Clemente. Eight and nine inch (203 and 228 mm.) sauries
were typical in a series of sami^les secured from Point Sal to Point
Reyes, which was as far north as the ship went. In October the average
size of sauries between San Francisco and Point Conception was 6^
inches. In September sauries in Southern California were about six
inches. None of the Mexican samples contained fish of a size comparable
to those of the central California coast. The fish from the Mexican
coast ranged from two to eight inches (50 to 203 mm.) with an average
length of four inches (100 mm.). The smallest sauries were taken at
San Ilipolito Bay. The average length of those on the Baja California
coast above Cedros Island was four inches during August. Most of the
fish below Point Eugenio were 2^ inches (64 mm.).
()Hsi;i;\A'ri()NS ox tiik sAruv
v.',
TABLE 2
Fork Length Measurements of 507 Sauries ^Cololabis saira) Taken During 1950-52 Off the Coast of Cali-
fornia and Baja California From l^/V YELLOWFIN, California Department of Fish and Game
Time
Central California
(Pt. Reyes to Pt. Conception)
October,
November,
December,
October,
October,
October,
October.
November,
November,
November,
No^•ember,
November,
November,
lil.'iO
1950^
1950.
lO.'il.
1951.
1951.
1951.
1952.
1952.
1952.
1952.
1952.
1952.
Southern California
(Pt. Conception to International
Border)
1950
1951
1952
1952
November,
September,
September,
October,
Baja California
(International Border to Magda-
lena Bay)
July,
1952
July,
1952
August,
1952
August,
19.52
August,
1952
August,
1952
August,
1952
I.oculity «f Hiiiiiple
Monterey
Pt. Sal
Cape San Martin,
Monterey
Pt. Siir_.
Pt. Buchon
Pt. Arguello
Pt. Reyes
Farallon Islands..
Monterey
Monterey
Cape San Martin.
Cape San Martin-
La .Tolla
Santa Cruz Is
Santa Cruz Is
San Clemcnte Is.
Pt. Eugenia
San Hipolito Bay.
Descanso Pt
Pt. Banda..
Cape Colnett
Cape Colnett
Pt. Canoas
Niimtinr
in
"iiniple
20
(■)«
10
II
0
20
.50
2.?
9
."•
II
15
10
22
29
.5
12
13
14
8
13
41
3()
50
A vcriiKc
fork
lunKth
223
239
237
192
230
195
193
208
218
185
195
1.33
210
176
179
2.57
248
KlttlKl-
1.38 271
128 297
223 .302
147 2.37
217-248
183-217
151-222
100 310
211-2.30
174-200
1.53-225
120-163
185-247
126-223
1.5.5-192
2.37-264
234-275
135
123-1.56
.5.5
41-90
140
1.36-147
146
136-167
82
.59-145
97
71-1.35
192
144-229
PARASITISM
One particular hiiulraiice to ready use as a eaiuied t'nuil wouhl be tlu-
degree to which sauries in some areas are infected with the parasitic sea
louse Penella sp. This copepod embeds in the musculature, and a de-
generation of its body parts occurs. During this jn-ocess a thread-like
egg-bearing organ develo])s oiitsifh' tlie body of tlie saury. This (hirk
stringy organ gives the fish an uiiwiioh'some appearance. ]More often,
however, a small, round scar caused by the infestation was seen. Few
sauries anywhere were with(mt at least one such scar, although samples
were taken where no infection of any kind was visible.
Some samples were taken for both measurement and examination for
parasitic infection (Table 3). The fisli were considered blemished if
either the parasite was present or if the scar of attachment was visible.
Heaviest incidence of parasitism was observed otf central California.
Sauries seen in the southern latitudes of the surveyed region were con-
sistently free of signs of parasitism.
44
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
TABLE 3
Fork Lengths of 250 Sauries (Cololabis saira) Infected With a Sea Louse (Penella sp.) From the
Coast of California and Baja California, 1950-52
Date
October, 1950
November, 19.50
November, 1950
December, 1950
September, 1951
October, 1951
September, 1952
September, 1952
Locality
Monterey
La JoUa
Pt. Sal
C. San Martin
Pt. Descanso--
Pt. Arguello--
Pt. Banda
C. Colnett
Number
Average
Percent
in
fork
with
sample
length
infection
16
223
80
22
176
45
68
239
81
10
237
20
30
103
23
50
193
18
13
146
8
41
82
0
Average
length of
scarred
fish
232
181
246
226
103
198
133
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS
Dr. H. N. Brocklesby, Terminal Island, California, kindly supplied
data on the gross chemical composition of two samples of sauries taken
March, 1953 (Table 4).
TABLE 4
Chemical Analysis of Sauries (Cololabis saira) Taken in March, 1953, From
Waters Off Baja California, Mexico
LocaUty
Number
in
sample
Average
length,
inches
Moisture
Crude
protein
Fat
content
Ash,
(mineral
matter)
Cedros Island
Turtle Bay
4
7
6
8
70.90%
71.10%
21.31%
21.88%
4.65%,
3.80%
2.90%
3.20%
BEHAVIOR
One of the best ways to detect a large school of sauries at night was
to see light reflected from their bodies. The quick flash of a spotlight
would then invariably reveal countless more. Any large group which
was exposed to deck lights would flip and leap vigorously when the
lights were turned out. On the YELLOwnpiN a 750-watt bulb and 20-inch
reflector was suspended 8 to 10 feet above the water to attract fish when
the ship was drifting. Schools of great size have also attracted attention
by the roar of the water as they leaped and splashed. Sauries were seen
at one time nearh^ 500 yards away after this splashing had been heard
above the usual shipboard noises. A Fathometer generally did not pick
up a saury school because of the fishes' tendency at night to remain in
the upper one or two fathoms.
Not many species of fish were seen with sauries. Bather often finger-
ling halfmoons {Medialuna calif orniensiB) were taken in saury samples.
The bulk of these occurrences during 1952 was in Mexican waters near
Sebastian Vizcaino Bay. Off the California coast the only mixed schools
were observed near Monterey in October, 1951. Present at that time
OBSERVATIONS ON THK SAIJKV 45
with llic saiii'ics were Jiuciiili' siin'lt ( ( )siiicri(|;i(' i ami l*ai-ifi(; herring
{Clupca pallasi). On one occasion a solitary adiill sardine was observed
harrying a <;'r()ui) of small sauries.
Sharks and sea lions ])r('v on llie saury. On scvci-al occasions near
the Channel Islands Avhen schools were attracted alongside the vessel,
blue sharks (Friunacc glauca) sw'ani into the tiii-bnlcnt masses to feed
on the sanries. Calii'ornia sea lions ( Ztih)j)li its i-nlijOniiiis) art- diligent
in pursuing and capturing sauries.
SUMMARY
In the course of a fishery survey along the coasts of California and
Baja California, Mexico, from 1!)5() to 1952, observations were maih-
of the occurrence and behavi<n; of the saury, Cololabi.s saira.
The work was done at nigiit in waters generall}' less tlian 50 fathoms
deep. The sauries were attracted bj^ a light, and samples were obtained
by dynamite. Dense schools of tiic fish responded to searchlight rays
by leaping from the water.
The greatest number of adult, coiinucrcial-sized fish were seen in the
Santa Barbara Channel during tlie fall and winter. Large groups were
noted at other points between San Diego and Point Reyes. Typically,
the fish were near the surface in a layer seldom thicker than three
fathoms.
Sauries occurred throughout most of the study area both in small.
scattered groups and in dense aggregations. Adults were seen north
from Cedros Island and smaller fish north from Cape San I.azaro.
Nursery grounds were apparently located on the northern coast of l*>aja
California.
Approximately 500 sauries were used for measurements of length.
Those from California waters were eight to ten inches (193 to 240 nnn. )
on the average, while those from the Mexican coast were less than six
inches (152 mm.).
Infections of copepod parasites marred tlie appearance of sauries. In
California waters these infections occurred in excess of 20 percent of
the sample.
Occurrences indicated that a seasonal abundance took place in the
coastal waters of the survey. Sauries were very scarce during the mid-
year, while dense shoals were seen most frequently during the late fall
and winter in Southern California. Other fish species were rarely pres-
ent in saury schools.
46 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
REFERENCES
Aplin, J. A.
1939. The occurrence of sauries in southern California. Calif. Fish and Game,
vol. 25, no. 4, p. 343-344.
Hubbs, Carl L.
1916. Notes on the marine fishes of California. Univ. Calif. Pub. ZooL, vol. 16,
no. 13, p. 157-158.
Jordan, David Starr
1916. Notes on California fishes. Copeia, no. 36, p. 80.
Phillips, J. B.
1932. Unusually good fishing in and off Monterey Bay. Calif. Fish and Game,
vol. 18, no. 1, p. 23.
Roedel, Phil M.
1953. Common ocean fishes of the California coast. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game,
Fish Bull. 91, 184 p.
Schultz, Leonard P.
1940. The Pacific saury, Cololahis saira Brevoort, from the North Pacific Ocean.
Copeia, no. 4, p. 270.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND
SPAWNING OF THE SQUID, LOLIGO OPALESCENS,
AT LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA'
JOHN A. McGOWAN
Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California
La Jolla, California
INTRODUCTION
It has long been known that the Pacific Coast squid, Loligo opalescens
Berry, tends to migrate to certain inshore areas for spawning. This
same habit has been described for certain other species of the genus,
L. pealii of the Atlantic Coast of North America (Verrill, 1881) and
L. vulgaris in Northern Europe (Tinbergen and Verwey, 194")). This
inshore migration generally occurs in the late spring and snmmer
months in the two Atlantic species. But, according to Fields (ll»r)()i the
egg masses of L. opalescens may be found at ^Monterey Bay, California,
during any month of the year, but the most intense spawning is during
April, May, June and July, with a minor peak occurring in November.
As a result of the availability of specimens near shore durimr tlie
spawning period, many studies have been made on the embryoh )gy of
the genus, and Drew (1911) observed copulation and spawning in the
aquarium. However, no one appears to have observed these activities
in nature.
An unusually large spawning population of L. opalescens appeared
in the La Jolla area during February and ^NEarch, 1953. This provided
the author with an opportunity to make direct observations in tlie fiehl
and thus to corroborate and supplement the obserxations of Di-ew.
Tinbergen, Fields and others.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank Mr. Ivan Simpson of the U. S. Navy Electronics
Laboratory who was my diving companion during this investigation.
Special thanks are due to Mr. Conrad Limbaugh of Scripps Institution
of Oceanography, whose instruction in the use of. and whose loan of
diving equipment made this investigation possible. I also wish to thank
Dr. Martin W. Johnson of Scripps Institution for valuable criticisms
and suggestions. Mr. Donald Lear and :\Ir. Sam llinton. both of Scripps
Institution, also provided me with much valuable assistance.
FIELD AND LABORATORY OBSERVATIONS
On Februarv 16, 1953, a local fisherman reported that the net he had
set two days earlier was so heavily laden with squid eggs that he could
1 Contribution from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Xew Series No. 670. Sub-
mitted for publication September, 1953.
(47)
48
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
OBSERVATIONS OX Till: SC^ril) 41)
not raise it out ol' llic watci-. Tliroiij^li iiilcrvicws with lliis and olln-r
fislu'niicii, it was Icmi'ihmI lh;il iar^i' schools of sipiid had Ix-cii in thf
\-i('iiiity of the La .lolia suhiiijii'iin' caiiynn ;d)i>iil l.loO IVrt ol't'shoi-t- for
a period ol' about a week. At ;dioiil this tiiiM' .\<|ii;i liiii^j; divers rroiii
Seripps I list it ill ion ot ( )c('aiio.L;raphy rc|)ort('d hii'^r miiiilirrs ot" dead
s(piid lying on the bottom at depth of from 'M) 1o 70 i"cel. As a result (ji'
these reports, a spccijil iincst igat ion \\;is ni;i(h'. 'The nifihods employed
were: (1) diving Nvith the use ol ;in A(pia-lung at vai'ious points in the
area to explore for the site of tiie chid s|)awniiig areas and to ret-over
eggs; (2) ])lankton liauls for scpiid hii\a<' at the sui-race and near the
bottom to (h'tcniiine when hatching took phicc and how long tlie hirvae
remained in the vii-inity; (3) rearing ot the 1 resldy laid eggs, in tin;
hiboratory, to determine the length of time reciuired J'or the embryos to
reach the hatching stage and to obtain freshly hatched larvae to aid in
identifying those canght in tlie plankton.
RESULTS
Diving Observations
The first of a series of dives was made by the antiior and a companion
on March 8, 1953, in the vicinity of the IScripps submarine canyon
(f^'ignre 1) at a depth of 50 feet. The bottom of this area is sandy with
occasional small rocky ontcroppings. Tlie water temperature at this
time was 12.6 degrees C. Observations on the bottom indicated that a
mass mortality of the adult squid population was taking place; the
bottom was littered with dead and dying squid. The estimated concen-
tration of squid was one to two indixiduals per square foot and this
situation held for the entire distance that we were able to survey (^75-
lUO yds.). A large mass of egg capsules was discovered attached to the
sandy bottom along the general trend of the 50-foot contour. This mass
was estimated to be 10-15 feet in diameter. There were great nnmliers
of actively swimming squid in the immediate vicinity of the mass. Man\'
females were seen depositing tlu^ir indixidnal egg capsules around the
peripherj^ of this mass. The manner in wliich they depositeil their eggs
and their activities at this time were similar to those of LoUtiu pcalii
as described by Drew (191]), except that the egg cai)suies were never
attached to protruding ob.jects such as shells or rocks but always to
the base of some previously laid e^^g capsule. A short distance above
the egg mass a number of copulating pairs of squid were seen.
Of the two methods of coi)ulation described by Drew (1911) for L.
pealii only one was observed in L. opalcscciis. In this method the male
is ventral to the female and has his arms and tentacles wrapped
around her mantle just posterior to her mantle opening. While in this
position tlie male is able, with his left ventral arm. to gra>p the jiaeket
of spermatophores as they are extruded from his siphon and insert
them into the mantle cavity of the female (Figures 2 and 5). Since all
of the pairs in the vicinity of the egg mass were in this jiosition. it
appears that this method is emi)loyed .just previous to ega-laying. How-
ever, sperm were also found in the buccal sperm receptacles ol" the
females (Figure 4) and this woidd indicate that the second method of
50
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
FIGURE 2. Semidiagrammatic illustration of copulating squid showing the animals' position
when spermatophores are transferred to the mantle cavity. Drawn from observations in life.
Male is embracina female from below.
FIGURE 3. Semidiagrammatic illustration of copulating squid showing the animals' position
when spermatophores are transferred to the buccal sperm receptacle. After Drew.
copulation described by Drew (Figaire 3) is also used. But since this
second method was never observed during any of the dives, it seems
likely that the squid use it at some time previous to their arrival on
the spawning grounds. A collection of living and dead squid was made
at this time.
The next day, March 9th, another dive was made at the head of the
La Jolla submarine canyon (Figure 1). The water temperature at this
time was 12.4 degrees C. During this dive, large schools of squid were
seen in the waters immediately above the canyon. As many as a dozen
large egg masses were seen, one was estimated to be at least 40 feet in
diameter. These masses seemed concentrated along the edges of the
canyon, some of them being' on the more gentle slopes and shelves of the
canyon wall itself. One such mass, situated on a fairly steep slope, was
followed from a depth of about 70 feet down to a depth of 114 feet and
appeared to continue on down even farther. At some places in the
vicinity of the 40-foot contour, the sandy bottom was completely
covered with dead squid. The activities of the squid observed at this
time were the same as those seen the previous day near Scripps canyon.
A number of squid and freshly-laid eggs were collected. The eggs were
promptly placed in an aquarium of running sea water and kept for
further study.
The living animals observed on this dive were all very pale and there
were large shreds of epithelium hanging down from their mantles.
Those collected had a loose flaccid consistency of the body unlike the
firmness characteristic of squid caught in open waters during other
seasons of the year. This "spent" condition of the population is, ac-
cording to Fields (1950), a result of spawning and occurs occasion-
ally at Monterey Bay during June and September.
OHSIIKVA'IIONS (l.\ 'I'lllO SC^L'II)
51
FIGURE 4. Semidiagrammatic illustration of the buccal membrane of the female,
(b) beak, (bm) buccal membrane, (sr) sperm receptacle.
During this and the following six weeks, utlier divers from Scripps
Institution, who were engaged in geological research in other parts of
the La Jolla Bay region, reported only occasional small groups of eg:g
masses Avhieh had become detached from tlie substrate and were met-tdy
lying on the bottom.
As soon as it was apparent that the canyons and their environs were
the chief areas of spawning in the bay, all subsequent dives and plank-
ton hauls were made there. Since it was impossible to make routine
surveys of both canyon spawning areas, it was decided to follow one
relatively small spot where the spawning seemed to be most intens(\
The area selected was that branch of the La Jolla submarine canyon
known as Sea Lion Gulch. Dives and bottom and surface ]ilankton hauls
were made every third day during the second and third weeks in ^lareh.
After this, only weekly dives and plankton hauls were made for the next
five weeks, weather permitting.
Laboratory Observations on Animals Collected by Diving
Measurements made on random samples of dead and dying adult
squid taken from the bottom gave a modal size of from 15-16 cm. mantle
length for the males and from 14-15 cm. mantle length for the females.
This is one centimeter smaller than the modal sizes for both males and
females of the Monterej^ Bay spawning population of L. opahscois
(Fields, 1950), and 5 cm. smaller than the males and "2 cm. smaller than
the females of a spawning population of L. viilnnri.'^ at TIehler. Xether-
lands (Tinbergen and Verwey, 1945). The sex ratio obtained from this
52
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
FIGURE 5. Ventral view of female with mantle laid open to show place of attachment of
spermotophores under mantle, (sp) spermotophores, (od) oviduct.
OHSKRVATIONS ON TIIK SQUID 53
sampling' was nii('((ual, llic males compi-isiiij,' (')'■' pcrcciif, ol' the popula-
tion. Ac,'(',orcliii<;- to TiiibcryxMi and Vcrwcy (11)4.')) tin- si-x i-atio (jf tlieir
sj)awnin<^- i)0[)iilatioii was niKHiual, 57 porfont being malis.
An cxaniiiiation of tiie j^'uts ol" llic rciiialcs showed them In \)<- roin-
pl(>t('ly empty. Tlie guts oL' tlie males contained oidy a few shreds ol'
mantle epidei-mis which had apparently been torn i'roni the i'emale.
Results of the Plankton Hauls
A 40 em. IFansen type |)lanktoii net was used to make lO-minnte
hauls over the vicinity of Sea Lion Gulcli. These hauls were made at
the surface and as close to the bottom as possible, for a period of six
weeks after the main spawning was observed. Only four larval squid
were caught in these hauls, although diving observations made at the
time the plankton hauls were taken indicated that the number of egg
ca])sules in the vicinity was progressively decreasing. While it would
have been more desirable to use a larger net and to cover a larger area
of the bay, it is believed that the results of the plankton hauls taken are
significant and that they indicate that the larval squid did not stay in
the vicinity of the spawning grounds but were swept away by currents.
Result of Egg Rearing in the Laboratory
The freshly laid egg capsules which were brought into the laboratory
were maintained in aquaria of running sea water at an average tempera-
ture of 13.6 degrees C. The egg capsules are from 3| to 4 inches long
when first laid but swell to 8 or 10 inches within a few days. Develop-
ment to hatching stage required from 30 to 35 days. The freshly hatched
larvae have an over-all length of 4.5 mm. and a mantle length of 2.5 mm.
There was a 25 percent mortality of the eggs. This mortality, however,
was apparently induced by laboratory conditions because the eggs in
nature, observed by diving, showed no mortality, even up to the hatch-
ing stage. The larvae hatched in the laboratory still had a very small
yolk sac. This sac persisted for about a day. No attempt was made to
rear the larvae beyond this stage.
It was noticed that after about the second week the egg capsules which
were kept in the laboratory w^ere infected with a large, bright red
polychete worm CapiteUa ovincola (identified by Dr. D. J. Reish). The
egg capsules which were observed in nature at this time were also para-
sitized by C. ovincola. The worms did not appear to be feeding upon
the developing embryos but merely to be boring through the gelatinous
matrix of the egg capsule. As many as 15 of these worms were found
in a single egg capsule. The egg capsule also provided a substrate for
two other organisms, the hj^droid Ohelia geniculafa (identified by
Dr. Cadet Hand) and naviculoid diatom.
SUMMARY
The sequence of events in the s])awning of L. opalescens as based on
the above observations and on those of other authors seems to be as
follows: (1) a population which is ready to spawn moves from offshore
into a relatively shallow area near shore. It seems probable that at this
time the males transfer sperm to the buccal seminal receptacles of the
females. (2) The squid tend to congregate near the sandy bottoms of
54 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
semiprotected bays. (3) A few minutes before the females lay tbeir eggs
the males transfer a second group of spermatopliores to a place under
the left side of the mantles of the females. (4) The females attach their
egg capsules either to the sandy bottom or to the base of some previously
laid egg capsule. This results in large masses of egg capsules, which
may be as much as forty feet in diameter. (5) Both males and females
die after spawning. (6) The eggs require from 30 to 35 days to hatch
at a temperature of 13.6 degrees C.
LITERATURE CITED
Drew, Gilman A.
1911. Sexual activities of tlie squid Loligo pealii (Les.). I. Copulation, egg-lay-
ing, and fertilization. Jour. Morphol., vol. 22, p. .327-359.
Fields, G. W.
1950. A i^reliminary report on the fishery and on the biology of the squid Loligo
opalescens. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 36, no. 4, p. 366-377.
Tinbergen, L., and J. Verwey
1945. Zur Biologie von Loligo vulgaris Lam. Arch. Neerland. Zool., vol. 7, p.
213-286.
Verrill, A. E.
1881. The cephalopods of the north-eastern coast of America. Part II. The smaller
cephalopods, including the squids and the octopi, with other allied forms.
Conn. Acad. Sci., Trans., vol. 5, p. 259-446, 28 pis.
THE PACIFIC MACKEREL FISHERY IN THE 1951-52
AND 1952-53 SEASONS'
PHIL M. ROEDEL and DAVID C. JOSEPH
Marine Fisheries Branch
California Department of Fish and Game
The purpose of this paper is to bring' up-to-date tlie eateli statistics
for the Pacific mackevel {PneKmatophorus diego) fishery with partic-
ular reference to the Los Angeles region. Data for previous seasons
were presented by Roedel (1952). The season is defined as commonfinir
in ]\Iay and ending in April.
The outstanding development in 1951-52 and 1952-53 was the virtual
disappearance of the scoop fishery. As a corollary, the total catch de-
clined to its lowest level since the depression years of 1980-1938. Anal-
yses of the age composition of the catch (Fitch 1952, 1953a, b) have
shown that the catch has become increasingly dependent upon the
strength of incoming year classes. There is no evidence of good spawn-
ing success in recent years, and the fishery in the period under dis-
cussion was dependent largely upon the good 194:1 year class and the
fair 1948 class. These fish were five and four years old respectively in
1952-53. Over the 12-season period 1939-40—1950-51, about 87 percent
of the total catch consisted of fish less than four years of age. Obviously,
no improvement can be expected in the future until there is a succession
of better-than-average year classes.
As has always been the case, the great bulk of the catch continued
to be delivered in the Los Angeles region (Los Angeles and Orange
Counties). Annual state-wide landings for 1951 and 1952 (Table 1)
show 1952 with 10,302 tons to be the worst year on record since 1932,
when 6,236 tons were brought ashore. Contrary to the general down-
ward trend, San Diego experienced its best season since 1942 (904 tons)
in 1952 (606 tons).
TABLE 1
Annual Landings in Tons of Pacific Mackerel
Year
Region
Total
Monterey
Santa Barbara
Los Angeles
San Diego
1951
179
126
388
20
16,000
9,550
192
606
16,759
1952
10,302
1 Submitted for publication September, 1953.
(55)
56
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
The Los Angeles region fishery reached its peak in October during
the 1951-52 season and in July in 1952-53. Earlj^ season (May-August)
catches were actually fairly good in both seasons. Midseason (Sep-
tember-December) catches were poor, however, with mid-1952-53 the
worst such period since 1932-33. Landings in the late season (January-
April) were very small. Over the 23-season period 1928-29 — 1950-51,
the midseason was by far the most productive, accounting for nearly
68 percent of the entire catch.
The outstanding feature of the two seasons, as noted earlier, was the
continued decline of the scoop fishery in 1951-52 and its virtual disap-
pearance in 1952-53, when only 325 tons of scoop-caught mackerel were
landed. The bulk of the catch originated at Santa Catalina Island. At
its peak, 1944-45, the scoop fishery produced over 30,000 tons.
TABLE 2
Landings in Tons of Pacific Macl(erei, Los Angeles Region
Season
25 seasons
(1928-29—1952-53)
1951-52
1952-53
Tons
Percentages
May - -
100
158
975
3,329
464
941
2,989
1,643
23,480
23,993
46,077
65,365
3.4
June --- -__ -
3.4
July. . . .
6.6
August L_
9.3
Early season
4,562
6,037
158,915
22.7
September -
1,359
7,265
1,731
113
1,062
1,238
856
76
118,089
154,119
117,939
80,055
16.9
October
22.0
NDvember
16.8
December .
11.4
TVTiHsefl.ROTi
10,468
3,232
470,202
67.1
January. _ __ . _
199
9
25
48
53
32
1
7
39,197
18,898
10,516
2,651
5.6
February. _. .. .
2.7
March ---.. _.-
1.5
April _ . - -
0.4
Late season . . _
281
93
71,262
10.2
Season totals
15,311
9,362
700,379
100.0
TABLE 3
Pacific Maci<erel Landings in Tons by Gear, Los Angeles Region
Gear
Season
14 seasons
(1939-40—1952-53)
1951-52
1952-53
Tons
Percentages
Seine .- ..
12,850
2,435
26
9,022
325
15
154,024
227,286
5,352
39.8
Scoop -- _- ___
58.8
Other and unknown
1.4
Totals.. -
15,311
9,362
386,662
100.0
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Si'iiii'i- cak'lu's al)(>iit held their own ulicii (■(uiiparcd with thi- iirriod
1941-42—1950-51. However, the 1952-5:! cat.-h was inaiiitaiiicl ciily
because th(> seinei's extended thcii- operations into a hithei-tn vii-tnally
nnex])|oited area eoiii])fisinu 'I'annei- and ('ortes Hanks. 'I'hese hanks lie.
respeetively, alxMit ."iO and 40 inih-s sonthwest of San ('h-mente Island.
Because of weatliei- eonditions and heeaiise of Ihi'ir distance from port,
they were rarely fished in pfe\ious yeai's. Tlie usual lishin;.'- •.'•i-oMnds
AV(M-(> extremely unjii'oduet i\-e in l!l52-5:i.
Tables 2 to 5 preseid detailed data for thr two seasons with enmn-
lative totals eai'i-ied forward fi"om similar tahles presented by lioedel
(1952). l\(M'OT-ds of total ]audin<>-s (Table 2) cover the 25-season history
of the fishei-y Avliicli first became of major im|)oi-tance in 192S-29.
Kecords by j^ear (Tables 8-5) cover the 14-season period comniencinjr in
1939-40 when the scoop fishery first became of major importance.
REFERENCES
Fitcli. .John E.
1952. Tlie docliiip of the Pacific mackerel fishery. Calif. Fish ami (lame, vol. I',.S,
no. 8, 1). 3S1-3S9.
1953a. Age composition of the Soiitiicni ( ".ilit'iirni.-i (•••ilcii nf I'ncitir riKnkiTi'l fm-
the 19."')l-r)2 season. Calif. Fisli and (ianic, vol. 39. iid. 1. \>. 141 -14f).
19531). Age comi)osition of the Southern California catcli of r.icific niaekfrt'l for
the 1952-53 season, ("alif. I'^isli ;inil (J.-inir. \ul. .■'.".). nu. 4. p. .")5:'>-55s.
Roedel, Phil M.
1952. A review of the I'acifie inaclu'i-cl { I'lKiihinlnptioniti tlicfio) tishrr.\ nf th<'
I,os Angeles region with special i-efci't'iice to the .\i';irs 19.".9 1951. ('.-ilif.
Fish and Game, vol. 38, no. 2, p. 253-273.
A NOTE REGARDING THE TOXICITY OF THE FISHES
OF THE SKIPJACK FAMILY, KATSUWONIDAE '
BRUCE W. HALSTEAD
School of Tropical and Preventive Medicine
College of Medical Evangelists
Lomci Linda, California
During August, 1950, there was an outbreak of fisli poisoning at tlie
1505 Air Base Group, U. S. Air Force, at -Johnston Jshmd (lat. M')"
45' N, Ion. 169° 30' W), involving a communieations sergeant, his wife,
two children and the family cat. The causative agent was a black skip-
jack, believed to be Euthynniis yaito Kishinonye. The specimen was
described as a "tuna-like" fish having dark spots in the region of tiie
pectoral fin and stripes along the sides. The fish was captured in the
vicinity of the northern peripheral reef of Johnston Island. No other
information regarding the fish w^as available. The fish was taken home,
cleaned and cooked within a short time after capture, so there was no
opportunity for spoilage. Neighbors stated that they had captured this
same species of fish on previous occasions and had eaten it without
ill-efi:'ects.
A few hours after the meal, all of the members of tlie family
developed nausea, vomiting, tingling and numbness of the lips, mouth
and extremities, cold clammy skin, mild diarrhea, intestinal cramps,
w^eakness, muscular aches, palpitation, and mild to modei-atcly severe
prostration. The acute phase of the episode lasted about 36 hours and
then gradually the symptoms subsided. The convalescent period was
slow, lasting several weeks, during which time weakness and muscular
pains were the predominant symptoms present. Treatment was of a
nonspecific type. Within a period of two months, the family had com-
pletely recovered. The family cat, which had eaten a liberal portion
of the fish, became very ill, afflicted with vomiting and diai-rhea, but
appeared to have recovered Avithin a period of 2-t hours. The ])atients
were examined by Dr. John T. Martin, formerly base surgeon at Joliu-
ston Island, to whom I am indebted for the preceeding clinical data.
Dr. D. V. Villadolid, Director of Fisheries of the Philippine Bureau
of Fisheries, recently reported (in litf.) a series of outbreaks which
occured on January 9 and April 9 and 10, 1!>51, in Manila, Philippine
Islands, as a result of eating freshly caught Katsuwonus pclamis (Lin-
naeus). A total of five persons was involved. The symptoms developed
in about 20 minutes and consisted of acute abdominal pn'm. dizziness,
dryness of the throat, stiffening of the muscles of the extremities, anil
an urge to defecate and urinate, but an inability to do so. All of the
patients recovered within a few days.
1 This investigation was supported by a research grant from the Xational Institute of
Health, Public Health Service, and a contract with the Office of Xaval Research,
Department of the Navy (Contract No. NONR205(00). Submitted for publication
September, 1953.
(Gl )
62 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
Numerous references appear in the literature regarding the toxic
properties of A^arious scombroid fishes. Scrutiny of these accounts will
reveal that in most instances they are not referring to ichthyosar-
cotoxism, true fish poisoning, which is caused by a neurotoxin that is
present in the tissues of the fish, but rather to bacterial food poisoning-
resulting from spoilage. However, some of the accounts are concerned
with a type of histamine intoxication which appears to be caused not
infrequently by certain tropical scombroid fishes. In most instances these
histamine outbreaks have resulted from eating tuna, bonito or skipjack,
which are a day or more old, rather than from freshly caught fish. In-
adequate refrigeration or failure to cook the fish promptlj^ after capture
ai^pear to be significant contributing factors.
The symptomatology occurring in histamine intoxications caused by
scombroid fishes has been described bv Henderson (1830), Autenrieth
(1833), Meyer-Ahrens (1855), Morvaii (1857) and Knox (1888). The
s;^Tnptoms listed in these accounts can be summarized as consisting of
nausea, vomiting, redness and flushing of the face, engorgement of the
soft tissues of the eyes, swelling and c3^anosis of the lips, tongue and
gums, giant urticaria, severe itching, headache and respiratory distress.
The symptoms generally develop within a few minutes after ingestion
of the fish, and the victim usually recovers within 8 to 12 hours.
In some instances patients have stated that the fish had a sharp
''peppery" flavor. These symptoms are typical of a histamine reaction
and not a neurotoxin such as is observed in most types of ichthyosarco-
toxism, nor are these symptoms characteristic of ordinary bacterial food
poisoning. Giinther (1880), Jouan (1867), Maas (1937), Phisalix
(1922) and Tybring (1887) all list Katsuivonus pelamis (Linnaeus)
as toxic, but do not go into detail regarding the clinical characteristics
of the intoxication.
Legroux, Bovet and Levaditi (1947) obtained a large piece of "tuna"
which had caused a severe histamine reaction in four persons. Bacteri-
ological examination of the sample for human pathogens was negative.
Intramuscular injections of tissue extracts of the ''tuna" into guinea
pigs resulted in nervousness, inactivity, muscular tremors, convulsions
and death within five minutes. Boiling the extract for 20 minutes in
a water bath did not inactivate the toxic substance. Also, it was ob-
served that pretreatment of the guinea pigs with antihistamines pro-
tected the animals from any untoward reactions when the tissue ex-
tracts were injected. The authors thus came to the conclusion that
histamine was present in the "tuna" and probably resulted from the
decarboxylation of histidine, a normal constituent of fish flesh. There
was some question as to the exact mechanism of histamine production,
but suggested the possibilities of bacterial enzyme action, aseptic cytol-
ysis, or a normal physiological condition of the fish during spawning
season.
The Johnston Island outbreak is particularly noteworthy in that the
victims developed neurotoxic symptoms as a result of ingesting a skip-
jack. Moreover, the symptoms present were typical of tlie Ciguatera-
type of ichthj^osarcotoxism such as is commonly produced by most reef
fishes (exclusive of moray eels and puffers), rather than the usual
histamine reaction that has been observed by previous workers. The
Johnston Island outbreak once again points up the need for further
TOXicrrv oi- skiimacks 68
invest iji'.il ion on jioisonoiis fishes .iiid ttnir i-chil ionsliii) to tin; eco-
uoniie development ol' fisheries resources in llir ti-opieal I'acifie. l*'iitiiro
world demands for ])rotein food sources will necessitate more rij^'id con-
trol and efficient utilization of the vast food reserves of the ocean. The
]n-ol)lem of ])ois()nous marine organisms will hci-onn' of increasin<r im-
])ortance in the years to eome.
LITERATURE CITED
Aiitenrieth, H. F.
IHIVA. Ueber das Gift der Fisclic. Tiil)iiij,'en, C. F. Osiaiidcr, p. 19-2S.
Giinthcr, A.
18S0. An introduction to tlie study of fislios. Ediiiliiir^'h, A'lnin .•iiid f'harlfs
r.laclv, p. IS!).
IIcudiM-son, P. B.
1S30. Case of poisoning from the I)onito (Sconihcr pclamis) . Kdiid)ur;,'li Med.
Jour., vol. 34, no. 10"), p. 317-.'!1.S.
Jouan, II.
1807. Note sur quelques poissous nuisihles du Japon. Mem. Soc. Sci. Chorixnirg,
vol. 13, p. 142-144.
Knox, I.
1888. Poisonous fishes and means for iirexcutinn of cases of poisoniu};; by them
(in Russian). Voenno-med. Zhurn., Mil. KH. no. 3, p. 443-446.
Legrou.x, R., D. Bovet, and J. C. Levaditi
1!)47. I'resence d'histamine dans la chair d'uii tlimi rcspdiis.ililr d'anc intoxication
collective. Inst. I'asteur (Paris), Ann., vol. 7."!, p. 101-1(14.
Maas, T. A.
1937. Tabulae biologicae. Gift-tiere, Holland, N. Y. A'an de Garde and Co., vol.
13, p. 197-198.
Meyer-Ahrens
1855. Von den giftigen Fische. Schweiz. Zschr. Med. Chir. Geburtsh., p. 188-230,
269-332.
Morvan, A.
1857. De I'empoisonnement i)ar Ic sourdnn (('(ndiiini ediilc) et par la honite
( Sconihpr pnlfiniiis] , deux cxpcccs (raiiiniaux niarins qui ni'oMt i)as etc
indiquees comme veneneuses jusqu'a present. Jour. Chim. Med. (Paris),
vol. 3, p. 719-729.
Phisalix, M.
1!)22. Aniniaux Ncniincnx ct venins. Paris, M.issuu (>t Cie, \<>i. 1, p. (>n7-6()S.
Tybring, O.
18S7. Poisonous fish. U. S. Fish. Comni., Bull., vol (!. p. 148-1.->1.
THE SUMMER FOOD OF SOME INTERTIDAL FISHES
OF MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA'
RICHARD F. JOHNSTON -
III a recent paper IMitehell (I!)");}) listed I he food itcnis fomid in !•''
speeies of fish obtained by rotenone poisoning From a lai"<:(' tidrpool ni
Fortngiiese Bend, Los Angeles ('ounty, California, in March, l!t4!>. The
present paper is concerned with a similar fauna at a ditferent time of
the 3'ear, outlining the results of stomach examinations of nine coniinon
intertidal fishes collected between June 21 and July 1!), l!).")!. at Mussel
Point, Point Pinos, Asilomar Point, Pescadero Point, aiul Soheranes
Point, Monterey County, California.
The fishes were collected with a dip net during low tidal conditions
and put into a glass jar and allowed to suffocate; they were then put
into 10 percent formalin for preservation before examination. Tt is well
to note that the fish regurgitated the contents of their stomaclis if tliey
were put alive into the formalin. The stomachs of larger fishes were
injected with formalin to ensure ])reservation of the contents. Pul)li-
cations used in the identification of the forms encountered included
Cupp (1943), Hatch (1947), Light (1941), Oldrovd (1927), and Wilson
(1932).
Olig'ocottus snyderi. Twenty-seven individuals; length 33-66 mm.
(average 48). Collected in the lower mid-intertidal zone. One stomach
was found to be empty. Algae were found once, forming 90 jiercent of
that stomach mass. The animal matter found included iui\iuL;- mnnber
of individuals and number of fish containing them) :
Pol.vcliaeta Gaininari<lea
Eunicidae, 3 (1) ITi/ale sp., 73 (14)
Sahellidao, 2 (1) Mclita sp., 83 (2)
Uiiideutifiod, 3 (2) CaproUidoa, 2 (2)
Copepoda Staphvlinidae
Harpacticoida, 454 (13) ILiparocephalits sp., 27 (3)
Calanoida, 15 (2) /-. ^ i
Gastropoda
<^li^lif^i"^ Acmnea sp., 1
A)ii('it(iis twnnani, IS (3) Monjarites sp., 1
Isopoda Liirioia sp., 1
Exosphaeroma sp., 6 (4) Bryozoa
Cheilostoiuata, 1 fraginent
Oligocottus rubellio. Four; 41-75 mm. (60V Lower mid-intertidal
zone. No plant matter found.
Polyohaeta Clit'lit'cra
Torcbellidae, 1 AntenniK uormani. 2 (1)
Eunicidae, 1 r.aniniaridea
Neroidae, 1 //,^„/<, sp.. 10 (3)
Unidentified, 2 (1) ^^^'^^^^^^^^
Pagunis sp., 1
1 Submitted for publication September, 1953.
''Present address Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
(65)
66
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
Clinocottus analis. Thirty; 31-120 mm. (52). Higher mid-interti-
dal zone. One stomach empty (120 mm. ovigerous 9 ). Algae, primarily
Ulva, detected in eight individuals : a trace in five, and 30 percent, 50
percent, and 100 percent of the stomach mass in the remaining three.
Ascaroida, 3 (2)
Sipiinculoida
Fhi/scosoina agassizi, 2 (1)
Polychaeta
Eunicidae, 11 (1)
Lumbrineridae, 15 (4)
Unidentified, 6 (3)
Ostracoda
'iCythereis sp., 9 (7)
Copepoda
Harpaeticoida, 1368 (2;1)
Calanoida, 12 (4)
Chelifera
Antenais normani, 17 (5)
Isopoda
Exosphaeroma sp., 8 (2)
Cirolana harfordi, 38 (3)
Gammaridea
Hyale sp., 27 (7)
Melita sp., 1
Caprellidea, 2 (2)
Decapoda
Megalopa larva, 3 (2)
Itipirontocaris sp., 1
Pagunts samueliH, 1
Acarina
Halicaridae, 2 (1)
Clinocottus recalvus. Fifteen; 24-58 mm. (37). Lower mid-interti-
dal zone. Chloro- and bacillario-phytous algae were detected in 12 indi-
viduals ; the occurence ranged from a trace to four cases of 90 to 100
percent incidence per stomach. Diatoms of the suborder Pennatae were
most abundant. Nitzschia and Surirella were identified to genus but
neither was commonly found.
Ascaroida, 6 (5)
Sipunculoida
Physcosoma agassizi, 1
Ostracoda
ICytheyeis sp., 1
Copepoda
Thisbe fiircata, 199 (10)
Cirripedia
Tetrac-lita squamosa,
cirri (2)
Chelifera
Antenais normani, 5 (4)
Isopoda
Idothea sp., 1
Gammaridea
Melita sp., 1
Decapoda
'it^pirontocaris sp., 1
Coleoptera, 1
Echinoidea
Stroiigylocentrotus sp.,
tube-feet (2)
Gobiesox maeandricus. Eight ; 46-82 mm. (58). Mid-intertidal zone.
Two stomachs empty. No plant material found.
Polychaeta Isopoda
Syllidae, 1 , Exosphaeroma sp., 5 (4)
Ostracoda Gammaridea
"iCythereis sp., 3 (2) Allorchestes sp., 2 (1)
Copepoda ^^'^^'t"' «P-' 2 (1)
Harpaeticoida, 215 (3) Gastropoda
Cyclopoida, 7 (1) Acniaea sp., 1
Cingula sp., 8 (4)
Littorina sp., 3 (3)
Gibbonsia metzi. Five; 36-78 mm. (54). Lower intertidal zone. Two
stomachs empty. No plant matter found.
Copepoda
Thishe furcata, 4 (2)
Gammaridea
Hyale sp., 1
Decapoda
'iSpirontocaris sp., 2 (2)
Gastropoda
Acmaca sp., 1
Crepidula adunca, 1
FOOD Ul' JNT1;K'11I)AL IISIIKS fiT
Epigeichthys atropurpiireus. Two; si, l;;i imn. Mid-inlertidal
zone. ()ii(' stoinacli \\;is ciiipty, the otlirr |i;hI (iO pci-cciif of its mass as
alyac, plus two uiiidcnt ilicd polyehuctcs, iT) liar|)act.i<-oi<l copcfjoils. ami
two j2:aminarids.
Xiphister mucosus. 'rincc; iMifXi iiim. iTO). Mid-iiitertidal zone.
One sloiiiacli empty and oin' with IM) pcri'i^nl i.f I lir ,i,'astri(; mass as Ulvn.
Vo\h'\><hI;\ ( :,i iriinii ridfii
IIjirpjH'tifoichi, 1 lli/alf sp., 2 {-)
. I Ihiirhrslvx sp., 7(1)
Xererpes fucorum. Tlncc; 77-12.") mm. (107). ]\Iid-intertidal zone,
in P/i|/^^ospadi*x. No plant matci-ial IoiiikI.
Ostriiooda l.soiiodu
'iCi/thcicin, sp., ~>4 {'.'>) E.itisplunriiiiKi sp., 1
Copepoda ( !;i inmaridea
Ilarpacticoida Ili/nJf sp., 5 (2)
IVltidiidae, 108 (2) Mlorchrsten .sp., .'i (1)
Thishe furcntii, 7 (2) il/e/i7« .sp., 3 (2)
2'j(/n"op«s sp., 202 (2) Dorai)oda
Pagurus samuelis, 2 (!)
DISCUSSION
The roundworms were less than U.5 mm. in len<i:th and resembled
])lanktonic forms that occurred in ]\Ioiitoi'ey Bay at the same time ot
year. There was no indication that the worms were secondarily derived
from other animals eaten.
Of the poh'chaetes, eunicids and hunbrinerids appeared with frreater
frequency in stomachs from fishes taken in -lune. Some of tl\e worms
were tube-builders, but there was no m-idciicc of tubes in any stomach.
Copepods were a numerous and stable food item, especially foi- fish
under 50 mm. in total length. An orange harpacticoid, apparently a
species of Tigriopus, was found most abundantly.
The cirri of the barnacle Tct)-(iclif(i s<ii((int(>s(i were the most numer-
ous animal remains in the stomachs of two specimens of Clitwcottus
recalvus; these fish were taken at Pescadei-o Point on -Iidy 19. The
ciri'i were present in sufficient amount and of sneli uniform size that
it is hi<ihly probable that the fish i)urposely took them from livin.ir
barnacles, and had not merely <irubbed cast molts from otV the bottom
of a pool.
The insect larvae and parts that appeared in small nuud)ers were
apjiarently all of the same yenei-al kind; however, it was not possible
to identify all that were found. The heads of the insects bore a stronfj
resemblance to the head of the staphyliuid Lipitmct plinlus as fiirured
in Chamberlin and Ferris (11)2!): tig'. ."), 0). Probably the insects were
dislodged by waves from their niches in the splash zone, as they were
taken by fishes occurring normally in the mid-intertidal areas.
The tube-feet from Strongyloct iitrotiis were fonutl in the same in-
dividuals of Cli)tocoffus recalvus that had taken barnacle cirri. The
pigment in the tube-feet had diffused i)nt to dye the gastric mucosa a
deep, pink color and also to color the stomach contents variously from
pink to purple.
68 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME
Mitchell [op. cit.) found 42 -|- species in his larger sample. The pres-
ent report lists over 40 forms, but of a different and wider group of
invertebrates. This proportionally larger representation is what would
be expected a priori from a collection made in the summer months. A
further and larger increase in the number and variety of forms, espe-
cially for the summer months, would have been gotten if more speci-
mens of Gitdonsia metzi and G. elegans had been collected, as well as
larger fishes (certain embiotocids and rockfish) that forage in the inter-
tidal areas during high tides ; indications from small samples collected
at different points along the California coast are that, when they are
able, the larger fish definitely utilize the intertidal fauna as a food
source, thus entering integrally into the picture of intertidal ecology.
LITERATURE CITED
Chamberlin, J. C, and G. F. Ferris
1929. On Liparocephalus and allied genera (Coleoptera; Staphylinidae) . Pan.
Pac. Ent., vol. 5, p. 1.37-144 ; p. 153-169.
Cupp, E. E.
1943. Marine plankton diatoms of the west coast of North America. Scripps Inst.
Oceanog., Bull., Tech. Ser., vol. 5, p. 1-238.
Hatch, M. H.
1947. The Chelifera and Isopoda of "Washington and adjacent regions. Univ.
Wash. Publ. Biol., vol. 10, p. 155-274.
Light, S. F.
1941. Laboratory and field text in invertebrate zoology. Berkeley, Univ. Calif.,
Assoc. Students Store.
Mitchell, D. F.
1953. An analysis of stomach contents of California tide pool fishes. Amer. Midi.
Nat., vol. 49, p. 862-871.
Oldroyd, I. S.
1927. The marine shells of the west coast of North America. Stanford Univ. Publ.
Geol. Sci., vol. 2, no. 3, p. 605-941.
Wilson, C. B.
1932. The copepods of the Woods Hole region, Massachusetts. U. S. Nat. Mus.,
BuU. 158, 635 p.
ON THE SUPPOSED STENOBATHIC HABITAT OF THE
CALIFORNIA SEA-MUSSEL'
S. STILLMAN BERRY
Redlands, California
ABSTRACT
The California sca-iuussel is i'l-cqucntly stated to be ex(-lu-
sively intertidal in habitat, and the oeeurrenee of empty valves
in off-shore hanls lias even been cited as evidence of recent
strong orogcnie movement. However, the ease witli which these
animals may be maintained in well-aerated aquaria for ex-
tended periods without benefit of either pounding surf or tidal
oscillation might well have prepared us for the ever increasing
discoveries by southern Califcn-nia divers of rich beds of this
species in suitable areas considerably below tide-level. The re-
covery from bay dredgings at San Pedro of a fairly fresh valve
of this Mytilus bearing numerous attached examples of the
small deep-water brachiopod PIaf>idia, while not in itself con-
clusive, is of value as evidence. More definitive is the capture
of a very large living individual (long. 228 mm.) in 48 fathoms,
southwest of Seal Rock Light, Humboldt County, California.
The presumption is strengthened accordingly that M. cali-
fornianus is very much more eurybathic than has prevailingly
been assumed.
The common California sea-nmssel is by far the most ])revalent and
conspicuous member of its family along our shores, occurring in untold
masses and numbers from boundary to boundary wherever surf and
rocks meet. So characteristic is it of such situations that the assumption
is often made that it is confined to them. For examiile we may cite among
many others the observation of Hewatt (1937:180), "There are certain
organisms which apparently can survive only on the rocks which are
subjected to severe wave action. Myi'dus caUfonilaiius forms^ beds
several inches in thickness on the rocks of the surf swept area.'" And
again that of Ricketts and Calvin (1952:163), "Here is another ani-
mal that is distinctly at home in crashing waves. Indeed it occurs only
where there is surf. ' ' Taking for granted this concept of a narrow ver-
tical range for this species, some have even gone so far as to make it
the assumptive basis for ideas of far wider import, as quite recently
does Hanna (1952:315) in writing concerning the geologic history of
central California: "There is additional evidence of relatively recent
subsidence of a lesser magnitude. This consists of the presence of inter-
tidal shells of Mijtilus ccdifornianus at several places down to 50
Submitted for publication August, 1953.
(69)
70
CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME
o
Of
1/5
00
/
-D
O
O
U
5
O
STKNonA'ruic iiAi'.i'i'A'r or 'iiii; si;A-.MrssKri 71
r.-it lidiiis. 'riicy were cspcci;! II V iioliccd iiniiiiid ('urdi'll r.;iiik wiiirh is 30
mill's t'l'oiii the nearest slioi'eline. All wliidi were ree(tvere(i wcce xcry
old 'deud' shells but -would not be classed as fossils. . . . (!ordell liaiik,
34 I'lus. About 100 |)i»uu(ls of «irauitie frajiiiients. Most of these were
heavily encrusted with orfi'anisiiis aud soinc cunlaiiicd boring's iif) to
one inch in <lianietei-. These holes are vei-y ohi and aic exactly like those
made by mollusks such as J'lioh/didca ov()i<J((t but in no case was tliere
a trace of shell reniaiinug. This together with the presence of very old
shells of Mjilihis californianus in the same haul, indicates strongly that
at no very distant date Corded T.aidv was intei't idal."
Gradually aeenmnlatin<i' meanwhile in both field and laboratory is a
body of evidence that Mijiilxs caHforinnvu^ is in actual fact by no means
so stenobathic as quotations such as the foregoinp; would indicate, and
that any wider conclusions drawn ui)on that assumption are not, in this
respect at least, soundly founded. AVe have first the important and sug-
gestive observations of Fox (1936:2) who states: "This mollusk . . .
can be maintained in a healthy condition for indefinite periods in labo-
ratory aquaria that are adequately aerated or provided with running
sea water." And {ihifl., p. 9) : "Aeration is a factor very beneficial to
the prolongation of the life span of 31. californiamts in water of any
salinity that is not fatal in a short time." And further (ihid., p. fiU :
"Mytilus californianus is capable of surviving long periods of immer-
sion in aerated sea water of widely different salt concentrations, vary-
ing from hypotonic solutions of about half the salt content of natural
sea water to hypertonic solutions w^hich are about one-third again as
concentrated in sea salts. This heterosmotic adaptation on the part of
the mussel would permit of an extended range of habitation." Even
Ricketts and Calvin, despite the comment previously quoted, made the
further suggestive observation (1952:163) that "The mussel. Mjitilus
californianus . . . forms great beds that extend in favorable localities
from above the half-tide line to well beloAv extreme low water"; while
Fitch (1953:52) is also somewhat less dogmatic than others when he
writes, "Halits: Attached to rocks by the byssus, sometimes in great
masses between the tide lines where it is directly exjKJsed to surf. Some-
times attached to pilings on the outer coast with the bay mussel anil
less frequently inside sheltered bays."
From all this it would appear that aeration of the water affords a
more likely clue to the habitat re(|uirements of the California mussel
than either intertidal exposure or the violence of surf, and that wliere
such aeration can be brought about in other ways, as either by tidal
movement or by strong currents, the species nught be expected to be-
come more eurvbathic unless other factors wore to prove themselves
sufficient to block such extension of range.
We should not then have been altogether unprepared when skin
divers, exploring off the south Californian coast, began to report in
recent years their observation of this mussel on the sea bottom in appre-
ciable numbers and in areas which suggested some difficulty in explain-
ing them as washed there from rocky shores. At one time a few years
since. Dr. T. H. Bullock of the University of California at Los Angeles
(where much interesting experimental work on this mussel is being
done), still affected to some extent in his thinking by the stenobathic
reputation of M. californianus, even went so far as to suggest {in litt.
72 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
to author) that the possible involvement of two species might be worthy
of serious inquiry. From an examination of the rather scanty and im-
perfect material available to me, however, I failed to discover any
sound taxonomic ground for the suggested separation. The offshore
shells appeared to be a little thinner and ran somewhat larger than
average intertidal specimens, but as of this date I have quite failed to
detect any differences between shells from the respective sources that
could in any way be regarded as taxonomically significant.
This first offshore material seen by me was taken by H. J. Jacobs in
diving to a depth of seven to fifteen fathoms somewhere near Palos
Verdes. Just as I am putting this paper into its final form Dr. Bullock
(in Hit.) adds that 'SSince then, our own divers have reported beds of
mussels of this species several times from Palos Verdes and the vicinity
of Pt. Dume in water of 15- to 40-feet depth. We have felt we are deal-
ing with a real disjunct distribution as we have repeatedly looked for
and failed to find beds in water from the minus one- to the minus ten-
foot level. ^ The beds are real and the specimens brought up are very
much alive — we have extensive quantitative data on them, showing for
example that they are physiologically like mussels from far to the
north . . . and that they show just as good a persistent tidal rhythm
[in laboratory aquaria] as intertidal specimens." The important point
in the present connection is that the California sea-mussel is shown to
have the ability to live and thrive and does so live and thrive well below
the tidal zone.
Another bit of evidence to be considered as suggesting the possibility
that yet greater depths might lie within the range of this species came
to hand in the form of a right valve brought to me by Mr. Emery P.
Chace of Lomita who had picked it up, apparently from the bay dredger
rejectamenta at San Pedro. This was a "dead" shell which was fresh
enough to retain much of the original periostraeum as well as some
trace of lustre in the nacreous interior, which is, however, dotted with
various small encrusting organisms such as young chamids, tubiculous
annelids, and a few vermetoid gastropods. The significant point is, how-
ever, the circumstance that amongst these is to be found a considerable
sprinkling of the minute brachiopod Platydia [or Morrisia] radiata
Dall, which is unknown to us above or near the low-tide line, but is regu-
larlv reported as living in waters of 25 to 200 fathoms depth (Hertlein
and Grant, 1944:111).
Final proof that Mytilus calif ornianus may flourish down to at least
half a hundred fathoms lies in a specimen which has lately been sub-
mitted to me through Mr. John E. Fitch by Mr. Kalph B. McCormick
of the California Department of Fish and Game at Eureka. This is a
magnificent example (Berry Coll. No. 17235) measuring in longitude
approximately 228 mm., altitude 89.5 mm., diameter 69.2 mm., which
was taken alive bv the Trawler Winga, Skipper Byron Anderson, in 48
fathoms, southwest of Seal Kock Light, CF & G Block 109, off Humboldt
County, California. The shell is not only large for the species, but quite
2 Nevertheless Mr. John E. Fitch has lately reported to me a quite different situation
observable westward from the lighthouse on the Long Beach (federal) breakwater,
where the mussels appear first just below the high tide line and are found in an
unbroken mat from there to a depth of 30 feet or more. At one locality there were
large clumps of mussels attached to rocks In 33 feet of water (measured with a
depth gauge attached to wrist). Typical shells from about 12 feet down measure
from 153 to 204 mm. in length.
STENOBATIIIC IIAIUTAT OF Tlir; SI;A- .\1 I -SSI ;i, 73
tliin, and the coiilructiiiy periosiracum is already causiii',' a serious
splitting oi' the right valve. As usual there is a scattei-ed int^rustation
of baby barnaeles and bryozojins as well as a lew bristly algae. 'I'he
major growth ridges would indicate au age of a (-(jiisiderjdjle number of
years, seven or eight it' all of tlu; larger ones are genuinely aniuud, or
possibly even nu)re than that. This specimen is illustrated in the accom-
panying figure. We have of course yet to learn whether a situs so far
off-shore is a genuinely normal one, or whether by some means, such as
being dropped by a gull, such occurrences are but adventitious or
sporadic, in any event this mussel is at least able to live and maintain
itself to maturity in waters of considerable depth. It is of interest that
the specimen studied was found to contain a female commensal crab,
measuring 16 nun. across the carapace, the species of which has been
determined as Fabia subqtiadrala (Dana).
The tendency toward a greater size off-shore appears to be directly
opposite to the situation with the common edible mussel (M. edulis) in
England, where examples are likewise sometimes brought in from off-
shore but are then reported (White, 1937 : 5) to be much below average
intertidal size.
Grateful acknowledgment is due to Dr. T. H. Bullock and Mr. John E.
Fitch for some of the more consequential data used iu the foregoing
discussion and to Mr. Edgar R. Fisher for his fine photography.
REFERENCES 3
Fitch, .J. E.
1953. Common marine bivalves of California. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Fish
Bull. 90, 102 p., G3 figs., front.
Fox, D. L., and others.
1936. The hal)Itat and food of the California sea mussel. Scripps Inst. Oceanog.,
Bull., Tech. Ser., vol. 4, no. 1, p. 1-64, 6 figs., front.
Hanna, G. D.
19r)2. Geology of the continental slope off central California. Calif. Acad. Sci.,
Proc, ser. 4, vol. 27, no. 9, p. 325-358, 1 fig., pis. 7-14.
Hertlein, L. G. and U. S. Grant, IV
1944. The Cenozoic Braehiopoda of western North America. Univ. Calif. Los
Angele.s, Publ., Math, and Phys. Sci., vol. 3, 236 p., 34 figs., 21 pis.
Hewatt, W. G.
1937. Ecological studies on selected marine intertidal communities of Monterey
Bay, California. Amer. Midi. Nat., vol. IS, no. 2, p. 161 -20(;, 1.~. figs.. 2 pis.
Ricketts, E. F. and J. Calvin
1952. Between Pacific tides, 3rd. ed. rev. Stanford Univ. Press, 502 p., 134 figs.,
54 pis.
White, Kathleen M.
1937. Mytilus. Liverpool Mar. Biol. Comm., Memoirs, 31, 117 p., 10 pis.
3 The foUowing publication, possibly containing material of significance in this field,
has not been accessible to nie prior to the completion of this paper. This is a paper
by R. T. Young, "The distril)ution of the niu.ssel {Miitiius caUtHrniauus) in relation
to the salinity of its environment" in Ecology, 22 (4) : .379-3SG, 1941.
AN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTION OF ECTO-
PARASITES FROM MAMMALS'
RAYMOND E. RYCKMAN, KARL C. FISHER, and CHARLES T. AMES
Department of Entomology
School of Tropical and Preventive Medicine
Loma Linda, California
Diiri n<|- the ])ast ;?() nioiiths over 3,500 animals have been collected by
this dei^artnient and their ectoparasites removed. A laro'e portion of
the animals collected were Calii'oniia <;'roiiiid sqnirrels; over 200, OOO
fleas have been obtained from this host. During late summer and fall,
ground squirrels are heavily j)arasitized by fleas; the following maxi-
mum flea counts have been ]'(>corded from Citellus Jjcfcheiji (Richard-
son) at Loma Linda, California: 979, October 8, 1952; 1,176, August
11, 1953; 1,244, August 12, 1953; 2,475, October 25, 1953.
To successfully conduct certain insecticide studies it was necessary
to remove all fleas from heavily parasitized animals. Several methods
were attempted ; the method described below was ultimately adoi)ted.
Essential factors of the apparatus are shown in Figure 1. A standard
vacuum cleaner was used as a source of suction. The distal end of the
metal attachment tube on the vacuum cleaner was cut off Avitli six
inches of the metal tube remaining; see number 5 in Figure 1. A hole
1^ inches in diameter was cut in a Mason jar lid and the metal tube
mentioned above was passed through the hole in the jar lid and soldered
in place. To prevent the escape of fleas from the jai- into the suction
tube a fine copper screen, 70 wire strands per inch, was fastened
over the end of the metal tube. The copper screen was held in place by
a tight fitting section of plastic tubing. The tube through which the
fleas passed, number 2 in Figure 1, was constructed from a three-
fourth-inch plastic hose, nine feet in length. This hose was held out of
the way of the operator by being suspended from a spring attached to
an overhead arm; suspending the hose from an overhead spring per-
mitted greater mobility of the nozzle when removing ectoparasites. The
hose coupling was screwed to a threaded pipe, the latter was firmly
fastened into the jar lid by two large flat nuts on either side of the lid.
The collection nozzle is a standard vacuum cleaner accessory which was
attached to the three-fourth-inch plastic hose. A one- or two-ipiart. wide
mouth jar may be used as a receptacle for the ectoi)ai'asites whieli are
removed from the host by suction. Fleas are readily siu-ked out of the
nlanunals' fur by moving the tip of the vacuum nozzle through the hair.
1 This research project was made possible by a contract (DA-40-007-MD-1S5 ) from
the Research and Development Board, Office of the Surgeon General, Department
of the Army. Submitted for publication October, 1953.
(75)
76
CALIFORXIA FISH AXD GAME
I. COLLECTION NOZZLE
Z PLASTIC HOSE
3. JAR
4. COPPER SCREEN
5. TO VACUUM
FIGURE 1. Equipment used for collection
of ectoparasites from mammals
With the aid of the equipment described above, it was possible
to remove 20,000 fleas from 100 California ground squirrels during
a period of one week. It was found that most of the fleas were re-
moved by suction, those that remained were collected with forceps.
AYhen this technique is used it is recommended that the recently killed
mammals be placed in paper bags and their carcasses chilled by placing
them in a refrigerator for 12 hours at a temperature of 10 degrees to
15 degrees C. Animals removed from the refrigerator in paper bags
should be left at room temperature for one hour to permit the fleas to
become active. Contents of a single bag, fleas and dead host are next
emptied into an enamel pan of suitable diameter and five inches in
depth. The active fleas and other ectoparasites seeking to escape from
the dead host can readily be picked up by suction in the enamel pan
and the fur of the animal. A limited amount of hair and debris may
be sucked into the collection jar with the fleas. This extraneous material
can be separated from the fleas by covering the mouth of the jar Avith
a disc of 18 mesh screen held in place by a screw cap band. When the
jar equipped as above mentioned is inverted in an enamel pan most
of the fleas pass through the screen into the pan ; hair and other debris
is retained in the jar by the screen.
NOTES
UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS NOT HARMFUL TO SALMON
Dining the months of Jime, .Inly, and Angust, 1953, submarine geo-
physie-al operations Averc in pro<iress in Central and Northern Califor-
nia waters. This is the first time that seismic explorations have ventured
into salmon fishinp; areas. The major areas of operations were as fol-
lows: oft' Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Crnz, Halfmoon Bay, Drakes
Bay, Point Arena and Eureka, the most northern point beinf;- the mouth
of the Mad River. Previous to this time, Point Buchon was the northern
limit of operations. The majority of work was within one to five miles
of shore and in depths ranging from 60 to 300 feet.
The work was carried on in the usual manner as described by Fry
and Cox (1953). The explosive used w^as FFFG black powder. The
charge, suspended six feet below the surface, may be either 45 or 90
pounds depending npon the distance from shore. In accordance with
the permits issued to the surveying party, a Department of Fish and
Game employee, acting as observer, is present at all times during the
operations. The author, assigned to the job in this capacity, w^as ap-
proached on several oceassions by interested salmon fishermen with two
questions predominating: (1) Will the explosions kill salmon? (2) "Will
the salmon be chased out of the fishing areas by these continuous ex-
plosions?
At no time were dead or injured salmon observed. The author noticed
many salmon swimming about in the blasting area prior to detonation
but none were harmed by the explosions. By trolling with gear similar
to that used by commercial salmon trollers, the author and other mem-
bers of the party were successful in catching 4 king salmon {OncorhfDi-
chus tshawytscha) and 11 silver salmon (0. Jx-isutch). These fish, rang-
ing from 2 to 30 pounds, were caught within a close proximity of tlie
shot positions during actual shooting operations. One seven-pound
silver salmon was caught in the "bubble" approximately 20 seconds
after the explosion.
Other species caught included black rockfish (Sehastodes nieJniwps),
blue rockfish {S. mystinus), jacksmelt {Aiherinopsis calif ornicnsis),
and jack mackerel {Trachurus symmetriciis) .
REFERENCE
Fry, Donald H., and Keith W. Cox
1953. Observations on the effect of black powder explosions on fish life. Calif.
Fish and Game, vol. 39, no. 2, p. 233-230.
— Wayne J. Baldwin, Marine Fisheries BrancJi, California Department
of Fish and Game, September, 1953.
(77)
78
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
A KELP &ASS, PARALABRAX CLATHRATUS (GIRARD),
WITH ABNORMAL FINS
A kelp bass -with unusually long fins (Figure 1) was caught off San
Clemente Island from a sportfishing boat about June 15, 1953. These
abnormalities left doubt as to the specific identification and the fish was
turned over by the Dearden Fish Company, Long Beach, California, to
the Department of Fish and Game where the identification was verified.
""^^
FIGURE 1. Abnormal specimen collected 15 June 1953
FIGURE 2. Normal kelp bass
The most obvious differences were the lengths of the raj'S on the soft
dorsal fin, anal fin, left ventral fin and caudal fin. The right ventral,
both pectorals and the spinous portions of the dorsal and anal fins,
however, appeared to be normal. A detailed comparison was made of
this fish with 24 normal specimens ( Table 1 ) . In addition to the abnor-
mally long fins, scA^eral body proportions fell beyond the range of
variation shown by the normal sample. The maxillary was longer and
the distances from tip of snout to insertions of the anal, pectoral and
ventral fins were greater.
The specimen has been deposited in the fish collection at the University
of California at Los Angeles.
NO'I'KS
70
TABLE 1
Comparison of Various Counts and Body Proportions of Normal and Abnormal Kelp Bass
St;iii(i;ir(l Lcii;;lli Is P^xpressofl in M iljinifiri-^. (Mlur- .M"-;isiiri>iii<'ntH ;ih
Percentage of Standard Lcngtli
Measurements (mean values in parentheses)
Standard Iciicth
Total length
Anal fin
Ventral fins, right
left
Dorsal fin
Pectoral fin
Head length
Fleshy orbit
Maxillary length
Snout length -
Suborbital width
Bony interorbital width
Snout to dorsal insertion
Snout to first dorsal ray
Snout to anal insertion
Snout to pectoral insertion
Snout to ventral insertion
Ventral insertion to dorsal insertion
Pectoral insertion to dorsal insertion
Depth at anal insertion
Least depth of caudal peduncle
Counts (number of fish in parentheses)
Gill rakers, upper limb
Gill rakers, middle
Gill rakers, lower limb
Gill teeth, upper limb_
Gill teeth, lower limb_
Dorsal spines
Dorsal rays
Anal fin
Pectoral fin
Ventral fin
Principal caudal rays
Pored scales, lateral line (to end of hypural
Longest rays
Dorsal
Anal
Pectoral
Ventral
Caudal
plate).
Normal (24 specimens)
173-201 (244.8). ._.
121.3-127.8 (125.3).
14.2-17.6 (16.0)
1!) .0-24.3 (21.3)
13.1-10.5 (14.7)
23.7-28.2 (25.9) _
34.0-39.3 (37.0) _.-
5.8-7.3 (6.7)
13.7-15.8 (15.0)
9.4-12.8 (10.5)
2.8-4.3 (3.4)
R.7-9.1 (7.6)
36.3-39.9 (37.7)
59.1-65.5 (62.7)___
64.3-69.3 (67.2)
32.6-35.2 (33.8)
35.3-40.6 (37.8)
27.8-33.1 (30.0)
18.9-23.1 (20.6)
23.4-29.8 (26.1)
11.3-12.6 (11.8)
11(8); 12(15); 13(1).
1(24)
19(6); 20(3); 21(3);.
22(7); 23(5)
7(4); 8(19); 9(1)---
17(4); 18(8); 19(8);.
20(3); 21(1)
X(23);XI(1)
12(1); 13(18); 14(5).
in, 7(23); III, 8(1).
I, 13(6); I, 14(18)-.
I, 5(24)
9 + 8(24) .....
63(7); 64(6); 65(4);.
66(4); 67(2); 68(1)..
3-5
2-3
5-7
2-3
2-4 (Dorsal lobe) .
Abnormal
(1 specimen)
281.0
145.9
32.7
20.1
35.2
27.2
26.7
37.4
6.8
16.3
11.4
3.5
8.0
39.9
64.4
70.1
37.2
41.3
30.2
19.5
26.2
12.0
12
1
21
9
18
X
13
III, 7
I. 14
I, 5
9-1-8
66
11
5
10
2
3,4
(Ventral
lobe)
-John L. Baxter, Marine Fisheries Branch, California Department of
Fish and Game, September, 1953
RETIREMENT
EDWARD CLESSEN
Among the more than 800 employees of the Department of Fish and
Game no group has a more important role to play year in and year out
than the foremen in charge of the State's fish hatcheries. With the
closing of the Brookdale Hatchery the Department of Fish and Game
lost the services of its oldest foreman in years of state service in tthe
retirement of Edward Clessen on November 1, 1953.
Eddie first started work at the old Sisson Hatchery, Mt. Shasta, in
March, 1904, at the age of 17 and worked intermittently to 1911. Since
then, with the exception of military leave during World War I from
November, 1917, to March, 1919, he has worked continuously for a
total of 47^ years with the Department of Fish and Game.
During his early years of employment, he assisted with the construc-
tion of the fish racks and spawning facilities at Fall Creek. He assisted
the late George Neale in the first fish rescue operations in California
and over 40 years ago was briefly assigned to the Brookdale Hatchery,
from which place he retired. His early assignments included the trans-
fer of catfish from the Sacramento River to Clear Lake and seasonal
work on the old railroad fish distribution cars. In 1920, he was tempo-
rarily placed in charge of operations at the Kaweah Hatchery, Tulare
County. When a permanent hatchery was built at this location in 1928
he was promoted to foreman. In 1934 he was transferred to the Fort
Seward Hatchery, Humboldt County, and when this station was aban-
doned in 1942 he was placed in charge of the Brookdale Hatchery.
Eddie plans to spend his retirement in the vicinity of Brookdale. His
host of friends and co-workers extend their best wishes for an enjoy-
able retirement. — Earl Leitritz, Supervisor of Fish Hatcheries.
(80)
REVIEWS
How fo Fish the Pacific Coasf
r.y Jvayiniiiul ( ':i iiiioii ; I.anc T'iil)lisliiii,u: Co., Mt-iilo Park, ("alif., I!!."!! ; xi -r ''>'-''~
p., liO;; ligs. $4.
It is not ofirii iliat a hooU livos up to the publisher's words of praise ou the jacket
but Mr. Cannon's manual does just that. The description reads aptly, "How to catch
every I'acific Coast game fish — complete anf,'ling techniiiues for boat, surf, rock,
breakwater, pier and dock."
Six years of preparation went into this book, preceded by many years of fishing
along the coast. The result is one of the best "how to fish" texts to appear in print.
At last Pacific Coast fishing has a manual on a par with the better trout and black
bass handbooks.
Of i-eal value is the introductory section, "Fishermen's Province." Here is a
readable description of the area encompassed — Vancouver, British Columbia to San
Quintin. Baja California, as described by one who not only knows the coast but
loves it. Following this is an account of fisheries conservation written in fishermen's
language. The excellent treatment given this complex subject is recommended reading
for all fishermen, sport or commercial. The ideas expressed are the author's own.
but the scope of this chapter reflects his close association with the leading research
and conservation workers of the Pacific Coast.
Fi.shing methods are described in two ways — the general type of fishing such as
piers, surf, party boats, etc., and by species of fish. Perhaps the best feature of the
book is the inclusion of all types of fish and fishing. Everything from catching grunion
on the beaches by hand to the mighty swordfish is given equal treatment. Too often
angling books are confined to the most refined — and expensive — kinds of fishing with
the driest of flies and the driest of prose. Cannon, however, speaks in everyday
terms of everyman's angling.
The reviewer in searching for omissions can find but the slightest of faults. The
cursory treatment given to "jig" fishing with the heavy silver lures so popular from
Port San Luis north was compensated for by the detailed description of the in-
creasingly used stripbait technique.
The section on fish identification is well done. In his laudable effort to standardize
the confusion of fish names along the coast, the author consulted with numerous
fishermen, ichthyologists and fisheries workers to produce a useful list that should
go a long way to solve the problem.
I have no hesitation in recommending Mr. Cannon's handbook to all fishermen,
experienced or beginners. — Seth Gordon, Director, California Depart ment of Fish
and Game.
Mefhods and Principles of Sysfemaiic Zoology
By Ernst Mavr, E. Gorton Linsley and Robert L. Usinger ; McGraw-Hill Book
Company Inc., New York, 1953 ; ix + 328 p., 45 figs. $6.
Nomenclature and systematics in zoology (and botany) have long been scorned or
held in awe l)y the average worker in the field of natural sciences. Most of this
results from lack of understanding of the subject rather than lack of interest in it.
To alleviate this situation there has long been a need for such a wurk as this present
volume. The general format and skill of organization shows careful planning and
preparation on the part of the three capable authors. Some of the concepts set forth
here will undoubtedly be looked uix)n with a jaundiced eye but these sections are
completely overshadowed by the over-all fundamentally sound reasoning and practical
advice.
Generally speaking the style and construction is such as to make reading almost
as interesting, definitely as intriguing, and far more informative than a good his-
torical novel. It should be required reading for college zoology teachers, their
students and the novices and old-timers in the field who are now practicing biologists.
(81)
82 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME
The book is divided into three major sections : taxonomic categories and concepts,
taxonomic procedure and zoological nomenclature. The first section treats broadly
such subjects as taxonomy, its history and functions ; the species and infraspecific
categories ; and classification and the higher categories. Perhaps the most important
and helpful chapter in the entire book is, "Quantitative methods of analysis." The
sections covering presentation of findings and preparation of taxonomic papers will
be especially helpful to the novice (and some old-timers). An excellent summary
of and commentary on the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature is par-
ticularly timely, especially as the subject is now again in a state of flux and there
is no up-to-date edition of the rules. A final chapter on ethics in taxonomy should
be read and reread several times a year and the philosophy expounded should become
an integral part of every workers "bible." A fairly comijlete bibliography is followed
by a glossary and the entire volume is well indexed. — John E. Fitch, California
Department of Fish and Game.
Culture and Diseases of Game Fishes
By H. S. Davis ; University of California Press, Berkeley, 1953 ; x + 332 p. ;
55 figures. $5.
At the 1936 meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Grand Rapids, Dr. J.
E. Bost read a short paper entitled "Why is There No Text Book on Fish Culture?"
In the discussion which followed, Mr. Elmer Higgins commented at length and
among other things he said, "Why there is no textbook on fish culture can be an-
swered briefly by saying there is no one in the United States capable of writing
such a book at the present time." This may have been true in 1936, but in the
following 16 years many "capable" men emerged and still there was no textbook
on fish culture. I believe I can express the thought of most by saying that no one
had both the background and the time to write such a book until Dr. Davis produced
the work under review. Previously he had published two editions of "Care and
diseases of trout," the last having appeared in 1946. Briefly, the present book is a
revision of this earlier paper with some short additional sections on the propagation
of salmon, grayling, pikeperch, pike, muskellunge, black bass and other centrarchids,
channel catfish, minnows, and suckers.
Since this book has been so long in the making and so eagerly awaited, a few
remarks should be made concerning the degree to which it fills the need of all its
potential readers. There are three large groups of interested people : the college
students taking courses in wildlife management, the fish culturists employed by
governmental agencies, and the commercial fish culturists. It is not likely that any
one book will ever be written which will fill the needs of all these groups. Surely the
present book does not do so. However, of the three groups which I have mentioned
it seems probable that this book comes closest to meeting the requirements of the
college students. There is no reason why it should not be required reading for all
college students of practical fish management. I presume that every college offering
courses in this field will have several copies in its library.
This book is essentially an introduction to the field, not a source of basic material.
It is a guide to further reading. The author cites abundant references throughout,
and the bibliography contains 338 titles. Since most of these papers are cited and
since the book itself contains only 307 pages of text it is needless to say that the
literature has been lightly touched. The serious student will find a great many things
which have not been included ; it is a tremendous field and to give thorough treat-
ment to all important phases would require several times this many pages. I feel
that several matters have been dealt with to an extent out of proportion to their
real value while other subjects have not been included at all. It seems to me that
this is the first edition of a book which should go through many editions, each new
one being a step toward the "complete" source book which is badly needed.
As long as the book is essentially an introduction to the field, it is in order for it
to contain sections on the culture of fishes other than the salmonids but if it is to be
revised, as it should be, I cannot see how it can continue to treat the culture of the
so-called "warmwater fishes." These fishes and their culture should be treated in a
separate book.
Although Dr. Davis is as widely experienced in the field as anyone in the United
States, he does not bring himself into the book with objectionable frequency. The
exchange of opinion on bacterial gill disease enlivens a subject which, to all but the
specialist, must seem dull. There is a minimum of technical terms except Avhere they
are absolutely necessary.
i;i;\ii;ws h;{
("li;iii|('T-s •"), '.t. 1(1. 11 mill ID li;ivo no illiisl r;i I inns ulnilsorN rr .-iiid lliis si'oms unfur-
lnn:ilc; I he \.ilii(' iind t lie interest of tiie hook could !»' ;;rc;itl,v increiiMMl hy the inclu-
sion of many more jiood illustrations. Some of the dra\vin>,'.s iniidc- speciticall.v for it,
for exaniplo. those on pase 44, are ratlier sorrowful, hut most of I lie others ar«
excellent and the authoi- and the pul)lisliei' should he con)iiIimented. The whole ]irint-
iiifC joh is "modern" and pleasinji.
A large part of the book ( IIU pages) is devoted to diseases. Some will feel that
this is out of proportion to the subject's real importance. I'erha|ts the descriptions
of the diseases and their treatment could have been handled a little more conci.sely,
thus ^'i\ing space foi- tlu' man.v diseases which were not mentioned at all. From the
standpoint of the heginner, this subject may have been treated as thoronijhly as
need be, but here again the specialist will he troubled liy thi; omission of many
diseases, some quite important.
The presentation of more technical subjects in the appendices is an excellent idea
and should be expanded in the next edition. Tt might not be out of order to include
descriptions and sketclies of fish-planting eciuipment, particularly the pickup truck
with tank and aeration equipment and the airplane and its equipment for transporta-
tion and planting. Some of the more recent developments in the feeding of .salnionids
might be included in the appendix, and sketches of the various types of trout sorting
devices could be added.
Despite the fact that this book will not please everyone, the author nevertheless
has written the first book on American game fish culture and he has done a good
job. — Joseph H. Wales, California Departmenf of Fish and Came.
printed in California state printing office
88193 10-53 5M
'?M
-.SS'^t
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FISH AND GAME COAAMISSION
Notice is hereby given that the Fish and Game Commis-
sion shall meet on January 8, 1954, in the State Building,
San Francisco, California, to receive recommendations from
its own officers and employees, from public agencies, from
organizations of private citizens, and from any interested
party as to what, if any, orders should be made relating to
fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibia, reptiles, birds, and
mammals or any species or variety thereof.
Notice is hereby given that the Fish and Game Commis-
sion shall meet on February 26, 1954, in the California
State Building, Los Angeles, to hear and consider any ob-
jections to its determinations and proposed orders in accord-
ance with Section 14.2 of the Fish and Game Code, such
determinations and orders resulting from hearing held on
January 8, 1954.
FISH AND GAME COMMISSION
WM. J. HARP
Assistant to the Commission
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