/?-F/>^)/?r i i CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME i i ; i ^ c/f> y NATURAL RESOURCES DATE DUE ^ A x\ c, DATE ISSUED TO GAYLORD 40 -!ES AGENCY LIBRARY Jing, Room 1 17 \h Street ~, California 114 STATE OF CALIFORNIA Fish and Game Commission TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT .,,;i,..j':gi^. For the Years 1922-1924 CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFFICE FRANK J. SMITH. Superintendent SACRAMENTO. 1924 34744 STATE OF CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT For the Years 1922-1924 34744 CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFFICE FRANK J. SMITH. Superintendent SACRAMENTO, 1924 BOARD OF FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. Commissioners appointed bj^ tlie Governor, by and wiih the consent of the Senate. Term at pleasure of Governor. No compensation. F. M. XEWBERT, President Sacramento M. .J. CONNELL, Commissioner Los Angeles G. H. ANDERSON, Commissioner l San Jose George Neale, Executive Officer Sacramento J. S. Hunter, Assistant Executive Officer San Francisco Iv. I). Duke, Attorney San Francisco SACRAMENTO DIVISION. F. M. Newbekt. Commissioner in Cliarge Geo. Neale, Executive Officer Forum Building, Sacramento Phone Main 4.300 SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION. G. H. Anderson, Commissioner in Charge J. S. Hunter, Assistant Executive Officer Postal Telegraph Building, San Francisco Phone Sutter (ilOO LOS ANGELES DIVISION. M. .1. CoNNEix, Commissioner in Charge Edwin L. Hedderly, Assistant Pacific Finance Building, Los Angeles I'hones : Broadway 11 .");"), Home F .5705 DEPARTMENT OF FISH CULTURE. ^\■. 11. SuEULEV, 111 Chaige Sacramento DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. X. P.. S( ()!• ii;i,n, ill ('liari;c San Francisco DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. PUBLICITY AND RESEARCH. Dk. it. < '. PiHVANi. In Chaige Berkeley Fra_nk M. XewberTj President. M. J. CONNELL. Geo. H. Anderson. George Neale^ Executive Officer. BOARD OF FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. \ ^ "''Ml' si" * * LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Sacramento, California, September 1, 1924. His Excellency, Friend Wm. Richardson, Governor of the State of California, Sacramento, California. Sir: In fulfilment of legal stipulation, we hand you herewith a biennial report of the activities and accomplishments of the Board of Fish and Game Commissioners of the State of California and trust that it will meet with the approval of yourself and of the members of the legislature. As in the past, there will be found a summary of accom- plishments, reports of the various departments and, in the appendix, a complete statistical statement. Yours truly, George Neale, Executive Officer. ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN BRIEF. Both a land and a sea patrol maintained as a means of limiting violations and conserving fish and game resources. Over 2700 arrests for violations of the fish and game laws made. More than fifty-six and one-half million trout and nearly thirty-five and one-half million salmon reared in state hatcheries and planted in the streams of the state. A new stock of eastern brook trout obtained from the east for the state's hatcheries and thousands of the resultant fry planted in lakes and streams. Two shipments of Mackinaw trout (the largest trout in North America) eggs secured and hatched successfully and the resultant fry planted in Clear and Eagle lakes. Supply of cutthroat trout secured from the Rocky Mountain region for planting in north coast streams. Policy of building small hatcheries to supply local streams, thus eliminating long hauls, continued. The pond system at the Mount Shasta Hatchery developed so that the brood fish now furnish 10,000,000 eggs annually. Numerous surveys made preliminary to the erection of fishways over dams to allow fish to reach their spawning grounds. Inspection of 253 screens in irrigation ditches and surveys looking toward the installation of 142 others made. Many cases of pollution by sawdust and oil remedied. The most dependable statistics as to the monthly and annual take of fishery products taken anywhere in the world regularly compiled. State Fisheries Laboratory maintained with staff engaged in fishery research. Foretelling the catch of fish and means of discovering depletion are being made possible through these investigations. A thorough investigation of the effect of the purse seine fisheries made and recommendations offered. Possibility of foretelling catch of sardines proved by a scientific investigation. Marking experiments on salmon have proved the parent stream theory and valuable data as to the age and rate of growth have been obtained. Control of the worst enemy of the deer, the mountain lion, continued. Special patrol and permanent boundary signs given game refuges. Lectures, talks in schools, newspaper items, magazine articles and educational work in summer resorts featured the educational and publicity campaign. Quarterly publication acquainting people with the activities and accomplishments of the Commission regularly issued. Saving of migratory fish in Klamath River by creating a fish reserve and blocking the move to erect a 250-foot dam near the mouth of the river championed and an initiative measure placing it on the ballot for decision by the people promptly secured. Refilling of Lower Klamath Lake to restore breeding grounds for waterfowl advocated. Drainage of Lake Earl in Del Norte County opposed on conservation grounds. Many deer saved from death in a large power ditch on the American River by quick action. CONTENTS. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAD 7 ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN BRIEF 8 TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT 9 Introduction 9 Personnel 9 Finances — 9 Value of Fish and Game Resources 10 Law Enforcement 11 Fish Culture — 13 Commercial Fisheries 13 State Fisheries Laboratory 14 Education and Publicity — — 15 State Fair Exhibit 16 Mountain Lion Control 17 Fish and Game Protective Associations 17 Game Conditions 20 Fish Conditions 20 Problems 22 Acknowledgment , 24 DEPARTMENTAL AND DISTRICT REPORTS— * Department of Fish Culture IT'. H. >ShcbIc!/ 25 Department of Commercial Fisheries V. B. Scofield 48 State Fisheries Laboratory W. F. Thompson 56 Department of Education, Publicity and Research H. C. Bryant 71 Sacramento District Office — Geo. Ncale 77 San Francisco District Office ./. »S'. Hunter 79 Los Angeles District Office E. L. Hcddcrhj 82 APPENDIX— Fish Distribution by Counties 87 License Sales 94 Violations of the Fish and Game Laws 9>^ Seizures of Fish, Game and Illegally Used Fishing Apparatus lUO California Fishei-j- Products 101 Nativity of Licensed Commercial Fishermen 108 Lion Bounties 110 Financial Statement 111 - TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. INTRODUCTION. To properly administer the fish and game resources of a great state like California is at best a difficult undertaking. AVith forces of destruction to be fought at every turn, new problems arise daily. But with finances in a more settled condition, and with the confidence that the administration, the sportsman and the conservationist have given us, our burden has been lightened and our belief in the worthwhileness of conservation work constantly strengthened. With this review of accomplishments in which the perplexities are overshadowed by the final attainments, the Commission is ready to set its face toward the future with renewed energy and optimistic outlook. PERSONNEL. One change in the personnel of the Coriimission was occasioned on December 12, 1922, when George H. Anderson of San Jose was appointed a Fish and Game Commissioner to succeed Mr. E. L. Bosqui of San Francisco. During the biennium death has claimed five valuable employees, two of them victims of accidental death : W. C. Fassett, superintendent of Fort Seward and Ukiah hatcheries ; John J. Barnett,* Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner ; James S. White,* Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner; S. L. N. Ellis, Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner; Earle Downing, assistant, Commercial Fisheries Department ; Lloyd V. Evins, assistant. Department of Fish Culiure; Mrs. Lulu Creasey, secretary to the executive officer. FINANCES. The decision of the Supreme Court of California in the recent case of Board of Fish and Game Commissioners vs. Ray L. Riley, State Con- troller, etc., 67 Cal. Dec. 581, has had the effect of entirely relieving the very critical situation with respect to the funds and activities of the Fish and Game Commission owing to "frozen" funds in the state treasury. This important case had its inception in the application on the part of the Fish and Game Commission to the Board of Control and to the Governor for permission to create a deficiency and to draw upon the special fish and game preservation fund in the state treasury for its i)ayment. This action was taken in conformity with the provision of section 680 of the Political Code, which i)urported to authorize the Board of Control, with the approval of the Governor, to create such deficiency and to order the payment of claims arising therefrom out of whatever special funds were in the state treasury applicable to such uses. At the time this application was made the special fish and game preservation fund in the state treasury amounted to apprf)xiinate]y the sum of $280,000. The Board of Control passed an order in accord with such application and Governor Richardson ai)proved the same, but the 10 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. State Controller, ju order that he might be perfectly protected in his allowance of the claim thereupon presented by the Fish and Game Commission in accordance with said order, insisted upon a decision of the Supreme Court justifying and commanding such allowance. The Fish and Game Commission thereupon brought this proceeding before the Supreme Court seeking a writ of mandate to compel the State Controller to approve and allow its claim. The matter was presented to the Supreme Court en banc and the court handed down its decision thereon upon June 12, 1924. The opinion which was written by Mr. Justice Richards and con- curred in by all the members of the court reviews exhaustively the history of the creation of the special fund of the Fish and Game Com- mission and of the legislation relating to the use of said fund. It also reviews the several recent decisions of the Supreme Court interpreting and applying the provisions of the budget amendment and of the budget bill. It holds that section 680 of the Political Code has applica- tion to such cases of urgency as this and to the relief of self-supporting boards and commissions having special funds derived from fees, fines and collections and devoted to the particular activities of such boards and commissions. It is needless to say that the decision of the Supreme Court in this important case ha.s given widespread satisfaction. The sole support of the Fish and Game Commission's work is dependent upon licenses paid by hunters and anglers and by the fines imposed on violators. Although there has been some increase in the number of licenses sold in the past two years, yet funds are not adequate for necessary conservation work. A deficiency appropriation allowed by the Governor and State Board of Control prevented a serious handicap to the work pending a court decision Avhich released the "frozen funds" of the Commission. A complete itemization of the income and expenditures will be found in the appendix. Most states have found* it necessary to increase the license fees to properly administer natural resources. California, even against pressure by the anglers of the state, has maintained its nominal license fee. However, the increasing demand for a greater output from the hatcheries and for better patrol makes it advisable to recommend a spcciftl license for deer and an increased angling license fee. VALUE OF FISH AND GAME RESOURCES. Following the present tendency to try and estimate the actual value of fish and game resources the following is offered. Nearly a half million hunting and angling licenses are issued annually. If each licensee spent an average of .$100 somewhere near $50,000,000 is expended in the pursuit of fish and game. Add to this sum the $25,000,000 valuation of the output of the commercial fisheries and we have a total of $75,000,000. Cut this for safety to $60,000,000 and we have a conservative estimate of the husiuess created yearly because there is game and fish available to the sportsnum, and fish resources in the sea. This business is well distributed throughout the state and there are few l)usiness men who do not profit tlierefrom. And this business has been built up on a "taxation ])y participation" license plan and is not supported by general taxation. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 11 Fig. 2. California's Game Refuges in 1916. (See F'ig. 3.) LAW ENFORCEMENT. That the wardens have been active in bring-ing the violator to justice is evidenced by the increased number of arrests. During the year 1923, 338 more arrests were made than during the previous year, and 4-57 more arrests were made in the past two years than in the previous biennium. An encouraging increase in the percentage of convictions, which exceeds 97 per cent, has been noticeable and $17,428.25 more in fines went into the fish and game protective fund than in the year 1922. Violations of the deer laws and of the bag limit laws continue to bring the largest totals in fines. There has been a laudable tendency on the part of .jud-ics tn lie less lenient with fish and game law violators, with the result that jail sentences and heavy fines were often given. In 1923-24, for the first time, the .jail sentences amounted to more than 1500 days, reaching a total of 4565 days. 12 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 'Material increase in the warden service commensurate with the large land and water areas of the state is urgently recommended. Fig. 3. California's Game Refuges in 1924. (See Fig. 2.) A COMPARISON. On tile accompanying map will be found interesting comparisons as to the income, expenditures and activities of the various state fish and game commissions. Considering the area and the wild life resources of the state, the sum expended on patrol and on other work of the California Commission is not adequate. A comparison of the patrol expense per scjuare mile of territory in all the states from which records were ol)tainal)le shows that California expends $0.64 as against New York's .tn.Bf), Massachusetts' $8.44, AVisconsin's $2.(10, Illinois' $3.35 and Missouri's $1.0(). Even the Pacific coast states of Oregon and Wash- ington show $0.71 and $1.13 respectively. Texas appears to spend less than all — liut 3 cents per square mile of territory. I TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 13 FISH CULTURE. During the past two seasons the output of the state's hatcheries has lieen greater than that of any simihir period since the beginning of fishcultural operations. The total trout fry planted reached 56,527,105, and of salmon fry, 35,495,550. All available hatcheries and egg- collecting stations were operated during the biennium. AVork was handicapped at some of them because they are still operated under tents, pending the construction of permanent hatcheries. With an ever growing demand for a larger output of fry, the fish- cultural department looks with alarm at the possible destruction of the best source of egg supply left for the hatcheries in the state — the Klamath Eiver. The building of a 250-foot dam can only mean the destruction of the run of king salmon and sea-run trout which has for £ several years furnished our state hatcheries with practically all of the f salmon eggs and a large majority of the trout eggs. Proper stocking of the streams of the state is absolutely dependent upon the saving of the Klamath River as a fish reserve and the building of more hatcheries. Worthwhile additions to the stock of fish in the state have been made. A cpiarter of a million cutthroat trout eggs from the Rocky Mountains were received, hatched, and planted in the streams of the northwest coast region. Eighty thousand eggs of the INIackinaw trout from the Great Lakes were obtained and resultant fry successfully planted in Clear and Eagle lakes. A fine, pure strain of Eastern brook trout was secured for the state through the exchange of a million Loch Tjeven eggs for a million eggs of this species with the New Jei-sey Fish and Game Commission. Screen and ladder surveyors report difficulty in enforcing installation of fishways and of screens and, in many instances, legal proceedings have been necessary. Too often a dry year furnishes an excuse for not providing the fishway with sufficient water to make it usable. The idea seems to be prevalent that water for irrigation and power is more valuable than that used for saving fish life. Recommendations include : 1. Legislation reciuiring a sufficient flow of water in a stream to maintain fish life. 2. Better means to force installation of screens and fishways. 3. Increased financial support for the building of new hatcheries and the enlarging of the pond system. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. The fisheries of the state have made a distinct recovery from the post-war slump. In both weight and value, the catches the past two years exceed those of 1920. The total pack at the canneries amounted to 1,981,027 cases in 1923 as against 831,232 cases in 1921. A notable increase in such fish products as smoked salmon, dried squid and salachini is indicated. Dried scpiid reached the quota of 99,000 pounds. Fish meal and fish oil, by-products of the canneries, also showed a notable increase — nearly 3000 tons in the case of fish meal between 1921 -"^^nd 1923, and over 6,000,000 gallons in the case of fish oil. The total value of the catch shows an increase of more than eiglit and a half millions of dollars in the same period of time. In spite of the fact that the value of the plants decreased nearly a million and a half. 14 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. there was an increase in the number of those employed in the fisheries. A compilation showing the nativity of fishermen shows 1032 as citizens out of a total of 4128, with 106 unreported as to nativity. There was a decrease in the take of both albacore and salmon in 1923 over that in 1921. On the other hand, the take of barracuda, shad and mackerel was increased and sardines showed a gain of 170 per cent. The most important problem confronting the Commercial Fisheries Department has been the regulation of the amount of sardines used by the reduction plants. The Fish Conservation Act has been found difficult to enforce and should be amended. The determination of "unavoidable" waste is exceedingly difficult. The amount of food fiish to be utilized in making fish oil and fertilizer should be definitely stated in the law, a violation should be a high misdemeanor and the goods manufactured in violation of the law should be subject to seizure by the state. Sentiment against the purse seine fishery appears to be based on the ancient objection that a new method or appliance upsets the old order of things. Investigation has shown that, properly regulated, this fishery is a worthwhile development and does not necessarily endanger the supply of food fishes concerned. Striped bass and shad now have sufficient protection in that these species are given a closed season of two and one-half months. This law makes the season for striped bass the same as that for shad. The salmon has had insufficient protection. A flaw in the law passed by the last legislature made it impossible to eliminate ocean trolling during the months when many immature fish are caught. Investi- gations have shown that ocean trolling for salmon causes the destruction of many immature fish and has shown exactly the season when mature fish are to be taken by this method. This fishery has constituted an added drain on the salmon supply and should be definitely restricted to a short season. Washington and Oregon have stopped both trolling and purse seine fisliing for salmon and they urge this state to do likewise. ' There is great need for an additional patrol boat for the northern section of the state. Although the south is cared for, no seagoing vessel is at present available in the northern part of the state for the enforcement of salmon and crab laws. As a result of the salmon investigation it has been possible to fix accurately the times of year which should be closed to salmon fishing in the sea in order to prevent the destruction of immature fish. Extensive marking experiments have shown the range at sea of salmon and furnished knowledge of the age and rate of growth. Progress is reported on l)otli the albacore and sardine investigations. STATE FISHERIES LABORATORY. Although hcindicapped by a loss of members of the staff, the State Fisheries Laboratory has been able to bring to completion the first part of the sardine investigation and to add valuable data in connection with the jilhacore investigation. Several members of the staff, being offered l)etter i)ositions, left the service. Their places have now been filled and, in addition, two assistants have been appointed under a TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAI- REPORT. 15 cooperative agreement with the Federal Bureau of Fisheries. Most of the staff is busily engaged in gathering statistics and in compiling them. The main conclusions in the sardine work are as follows: 1. In order to have an accurate picture of the commercial catch, it is necessary to take samples at least twice a week. 2. Studies of fliu-tuation show this phenomenon to he due to one of two factors : (a) Presence of dominant age groups which may appear in cycles of several years. (b) Diminution due to relatively unsuccessful spawning. No i-egu- larity in this instance has been discovered. 3. Reliable forecasts of the commercial catch can be made as a result of statistical study. 4. From available statistics, overfishing can not be readily detected in time to prevent depletion. 5. Since sardines are the source of food for albacore, barracuda, sea bass and tuna, the effect of overfishing would be far-reaching. Further .study of the albacore emphasizes the fact that migrations are not concerned in the peculiarities of the fishery. So-called ''runs'' are not the result of migrations, but the result of schools already present which begin to take bait at the surface. Studies have shown that albacore 211-) inches in length are just completing their second year; those averaging 27 inches in length are finishing their third year; and those 38 to 40 inches in length are in their eighth year or over. Tlie purse seine investigation, when com|)leted, brought out some interesting facts. Up to 1915 there was but one purse seine boat; thereafter, five were in service, and by 1920, over 100 boats were being utilized in the fishery. Blue-fin tuna are taken only by the purse seine boats, and the winter supply of barracuda, yellow-tail, and white sea bass is largely dependent upon this part of the fishery. In fact, over one-half of the fish reaching the fresh fish markets of Los Angeles harbor is a product of this fishery. Attention is called to the fact that the grunion, the life history of which was worked out l)y the laboratory, will sooner or later need j)rotection as grunion fishing is a popular sport on the beaches of southern California. This year will see added to the files the fifth successive annual statistical record of the daily catch. The total take by locality has been published (piarterly. These statistics are more complete than those collected by any other government and will give a dependabh' comparison of abundance in successive years, a fundamcnljd nerd in the proper development of fisheries. In addition, biological dala as to the varying composition of the catch in regard to sex, size, and otiier features, has been assembled. EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY. The Department of Education and Publicity was very active during the past biennial period, as shown by the report submitted. Many more people were reached through the medium of lectures than in any previous bienniura. The work in the summer resorts has proved par- 16 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. ticularly productive in the building of a favorable sentiment. Thousands of people are reached at a time when they are most susceptible tu information on fish and game and, with emphasis placed on first-hand information, conservation ideas are easily instilled. Schools, boy scout organizations, men's service clubs and groups of every kind have been reached by means of lectures, motion picture displays and literature. The quarterly magazine, California Fish AND Game, has continued to carry to its readers reliable information regarding the activities of the Commission and the conservation program of the state. This publication is used regularly in high school classrooms and the call for it from the sportsmen who support the work of the Commission is continually growing. Wide publicity has been secured through the medium of newspapers and magazines. STATE FAIR EXHIBIT. Each year the Commission has made an attractive exhibit at the State Fair in Sacramento. The permanent exhibit comprises a great panorama of the Sierra with wonderful lighting effects to show dawn to daylight and sunset to night. Cloud eft'ects and a thunder storm were very realistic. On those days when the attendance was the greatest a count showed 1500 persons, per hour, viewing the exhibit. Aquaria contained the different species of trout and all fresh water fishes found in the Sacramento region. Golden trout from mountain lakes at an elevation of 10,000 feet, after a journey of nearly a thousand miles by pack train, truck and railroad, were on display. Baby trout just hatched from the eggs and baby salmon were to be seen in the small model hatchery. Those who visit the State Fair can not help but be convinced of the extensive work being carried on by the Commission in caring for and conserving the fish and game resources of the state. The following letter expresses the appreciation of the directors of the State Fair. CALIFORNIA STATE AGRICUDTURAL SOCIETY Sacramento, Cal. September 9, 1922. California Fish and Game Commission, Sacramento, Calif. Gentlemen : We, the Board of Directors of the Califoraia Agricultural Society, take this opportunity to thank you for the beautiful and educational display of the work of your commission made at the State Fair in 1922; particularly do we wish to commend the enterprise of the conunission in placing- such a large and comprehensive exhibit. We trust this has given the people of California an idea of the importance of the work of the Fish and Game Commission. On every hand we have heard favorable comment upon your educational features and we sincerely hope that when the Fair opens next year you will be with us again with an equally attractive display. Again thanking you and assuring you of our desii-e to cooperate with you in the years to come, we remain. Sincerely yours', State Agricultural Society, H. A. Jastro, President. WJM-IC TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 17 Fig. 4. Jay Bruce, State Lion Hunter starts on a trip. Photograph by Mrs. J. Bruce. MOUNTAIN LION CONTROL. During the past two years state lion hunter Jay Bruce, secured sixty lions of which 34 were males, and 26 females. Of this number fourteen were animals less than a year old. Many of the lions (49 in all) were taken in or near game refuges, localities which are worked consistently because of the direct relation to deer conservation. It is believed that the total average lion population of the state has been reduced about 100 as a result of the activities of the state lion hunter. Complaints of the depredations of bears have been consistently investi- gated but no reliable evidence has been obtained that stock had been killed by them. However, frequently there is evidence that bears have fed upon stock killed by other predatory animals than bears. A complete summation of the lion bounties paid will be found in tlie appendix. FISH AND GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS. The staunchest kind of support for conservation measures comes from the twenty or more fish and game protective associations of the state. Could this favorable sentiment be unified in one great state organization the sportsman's interests could be better cared for. The Commission has been glad to lend support to these organizations and to receive suggestions from them. A plan is being evolved to C(>nter all of these protective as.sociations in a central organization to be known as the California Conservation League, in an attemi)t to crystallize sentiment and avoid duplication of effort. 2—34744 18 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 19 c o m ft O s. E-i bo o C5 >. ft o PL, 5 c s D O U 3 PQ > V « rt o c 03 2 best source of egg supply for the state's fish hatcheries. Almost the entire supply of salmon eggs is secured at Klamathon. and the best supply of trout eggs is secured at the four or five egg-collecting stations along this river. Practically every stream in the state, and most of the lakes, have been stocked with eggs secured from the Klamath River trout. 22 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. The Fish and Game Commission felt that it would be derelict of its diity if it did not champion the saving- of the fish in the Klamath. It consistently fought the applications for permits and failing in this decided that the saving of the fish could be accomplished only by sub- mitting the matter to the people through an initiative. Consequently, in the spring of 1924 the Commission aided in securing an initiative petition which finally went to the Secretary of State with the largest number of names ever turned in on a similar petition. As a result, the matter was referred to the people for a vote. The measure pro- vided for a fish reserve which would be open to the angler and available for a source of eggs for the state's hatcheries, but be closed to the building of dams or other obstructions that "would hinder the migration of fish. The saving of the fishery resources of the Klamath are largely dependent on a favorable vote on this measure. PROBLEMS. The main problems of the Fish and Game Commission are still to be summed up in three words: "]K)llution, drainage, and power dams. ' ' In spite of useful laws and better public sentiment, the pollution of inland and coastal waters with oil still continues. It is hoped that the aid of federal legislation will lielp to improve r-oiirlitions. Fig. 8. One year's accumulation of illegal nets in the Sacramento District being' destroyed by Are, March, 1924. Law provides for this mode of disposal of those nets having illegal mesh. Photograpli by George Neale. No better example of the danger attendant upon unwise drainage has been afforded than that of Lower Klamath Lake in the north- eastern corner of the state. This lake was in a federal bird reserva- tion and here thousands of shore birds and waterfowl reared their young each year. The area was drained at an expense of $300,000 and now it is discovered that the lake bed is wholly unfit for agri- culture and residents and conservationists alike are pleading for a reflooding of the lake. It was only through decisive action that the TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 23 24 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. draining of Lake Earl in Del Norte County was prevented. In many instances, lowered water tables nullify the expected valuable results of drainage. Marsh lands have real values and these values should be recognized before it is too late. The divei"sion of water from rivers where trout have existed for ages into ditches for power and irrigation purposes have in many cases rendered streams almost barren of fish life. Also the draining of a number of lakes and storage reservoirs by the power and irrigation companies have caused the death of many thousands of trout and bass which it will take the Commission many years to restore. The extreme drouth has been the cause of the drying up of many streams and the consequent death of many fish. The generosity of the Division of Water Rights in allocating the water of the streams and lakes without the least consideration of the needs of fish life and the overgrazing privileges given in the forests without due consideration of the needs of the wild life of the state are situations difficult to handle. Until such time as due consideration is given to the needs of wild life and less, perhaps, to the almighty dollar, California's wild life will continue to suffer. Legislation should be enacted that would conserve both feed for the deer and other wild mammals of the forest, and sufficient water in the streams and lakes to sustain fish life. Of what use are wardens to protect game that is starving or hatcheries to propagate fish which ultimately meet death because of a lack of water suificient for their existence? ACKNOWLEDGMENT. During the war, the free transportation which had been furnished the Fishcultural Department for the distribution of fish was rescinded, causing a large additional item of expense. The railroads of the state have again generously granted the Hatchery Department transporta- tion for employees and fish. The money thus saved the Commission in planting fish has been made available for the expense incident to a larger output in the state hatcheries. Grateful acknowledgment of the splendid assistance thus afforded by the various railroads of the state is hereby made. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 25 REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF FISH CULTURE. The Hjjnorahle Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, State of California. Sirs: In conformity to the regulations of the Fish and Game Com- mission, I herewith transmit the report of the Department of Fish Culture for the biennium ending Jane 30, 1924. During the seasons covered by this report, we have exceeded the out- put at our hatcheries over any similar period of fishcultural operations in this state by several millions of trout fry, having hatched and dis- tributed during the seasons of 1922 and 1923, 56,527,105 trout fry besides 35,495,550 salmon fry. This record plus the trout fry on hand that are being distributed this season, will make the largest output of fry and the three greatest years in the history of the Commission's operations. There were hatched and distributed during 1922 and 1923, 35,495,550 salmon fry. These were all collected at Klamathon egg-collecting station on the Klamath River in Siskiyou County. This take would have been exceeded by ten millions of eggs if our racks had not been flooded l\y the California-Oregon Power Company at the height of the season, during the month of October, 1923. A more detailed account of this will be given further on in our report. During the biennial period just past, the same number of egg-collect- ing stations and hatcheries have been operated as mentioned in our last report. We have practically operated during this time thirty hatcheries and egg-collecting stations. Two of our stations are still operated under tents as the funds have not been available for the construction of per- manent hatcheries. Had the funds been set aside from the amount available for fishcultural operations, the output of our hatcheries would have been greatly increased. As in former years, two fi^sh distributing ears have been used in dis- tributing fry from Mount Shasta Hatchery, as well as from Mount AVhitney Hatchery, to the different portions of the state that were not supplied from local hatcheries. As stated in our last report, we can not emphasize the necessity stronger than to repeat that the streams are fished so hard that very few, if any, adult fish are left for breeders and consequently, the great majority of the fish that are found in them are the result of hatchery production. There is a demand for more hatcheries and a larger output of fry, but funds must be provided before any further 26 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. increase of fish from our hatcheries can be had or new hatcheries con- structed. Several more hatcheries are needed in the state, not only to supply an ever-increasing demand f(>r trout fry, hut to save carrying the fish so far as they are now, paticidarly to the more remote parts of the state where the lakes and streams are situated far from the railroad. We are constantly giving instructions to persons applying for fish to make a M'ide distril)ution of the fry. The best results are obtained where the fry are well scattered and planted on the ripples and in the shallow water of the lakes some distance from shore. The large output of our hatcheries did not more than half meet the demands of the applicants throughout the state as the demand for trout fry for stocking the rivers, lakes and streams of California is increasing annually. And with the increasing population of the state, and the popularity of California as a recreation center, the fishing in the moun- tainous sections where the majority of the people enjoy their vacations is so excessive that measures to increase the number of fry to be dis- tributed each season must be arranged and a shorter open season established to allow the fish to attain a larger growth. Plans must be made for the construction and equipment of more hatcheries, building of pond-rearing systems and the improvement of the egg-collecting stations. The possibility of increasing the output of eggs from the Klamath River by the introduction of a larger number of rainbow and steelhead trout fry, as well as salmon fry, must be stressed so that this river may furnish eggs for the other hatcheries in California, where rainbow, steelhead and salmon are in great demand and where suitable waters are to be found for these species. The number of hatcheries in the state shouhl be increased as the demand for trout fry exceeds the limit of the present hatcheries. Lakes need to be set aside for the purpose of propagating brood stock from which the eggs can be collected, as well as pond-rearing systems where spawning fish can be reared for egg-collecting purposes. We have but the one egg-collecting pond system at Mount Shasta Hatchery and. to meet the demand of the angling pul)lic, the Commission should build one or two more systems equal in capacity to that at the Mount Shasta station. Mount Shasta Hatchery can not be enlarged as the water supply and land is limited to the present capacity of the station. Sur- veys should be made at an early date to find other suitable sites for pond-rearing systems for there is no method by which eggs can be more easily procured for propagating the exotic species of fishes than in pond-i-earing systems. The State Fish and Game Commission is niaking an efl'ort to procure more funds to establish pond systems where exotic species of fish can be raised in numbers great enough to furnish at least two-thirds of the .^:npply of eggs for the different hatcheries located throughout the state. We have one of the best pond systems to be found auywliere at Mount Shasta station ; but as stated in a previous report, it is not large enougli 1(» iiicci ihe growing demand for trout eggs. Approximately 30 per cent of the trout fry collected in California this season were taken from th(,' i)ond system at Sisson at the average cost per thousand less than the cost of collecting wild eggs when the expense of construct- ing ti-aps and other paraphernalia necessary in handling the spawners and the work of collecting eggs from wild fish is considered. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 27 Outside of tlie Klamath River, Lake Talioe, Bear Lake in San Ber- nardino County, and Plumas County stations, eggs can be procured from properly equipped ponds for less money than they can be from wild fish when the uncertainty of collecting eggs from wild fish is con- sidered. The droughts, floods, deep snow and extremely cold weather conditions always make the egg-collecting work uncertain. We do not know from one season to another what to expect. During seasons of extremely light rain and snowfall, conditions prevail that are unfavor- able for the collection of trout eggs. Other years floods and extremely high and cold water change the movements of the fish and the take of eggs is often far less than we expect. Breaking up of runs of trout in our streams by high dams built by hydro-electric companies and irriga- tion projects are all having their efl'ect and, to meet these new condi- tions, the legislature should provide ample funds for the construction of rearing ponds where a sufficient number of breeding fish can be raised to supply the demand for at least two-thirds of tlie waters to be stocked. Salmon, rainbow trout, and steelhead truut can be saved to the people for many years to come by the proper development of the Klamath River and the saving of this stream as a fish refuge. If this stream is lost to the public as an egg-collecting stream by the construction of high dams in the lower reaches of the river, it will mean a great loss to the general public. The expense of maintaining pond systems is costly and locations are hard to find where perfect conditions can be found for the rearing of a sufficient number of brood fish, particularly of the rainbow and steelhead species. The development of hydro-electric energy by the erection of high dams in the tributary streams of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers has materially reduced the number of salmon in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and Monterej^ Bay regions. Practically all the salmon now to be found in the Sacra- mento and San Joaquin river basins and Monterey Bay region are the product of hatcheries at Battle Creek, Mill Creek and Klamath River stations. The number of salmon fry produced in the Klamath River stations has assisted greatly in keeping up the supply in the SHoi-amento River. The larger portion of the salmon in tlie Klamath River are the Sacramento race of king salmon that, were introduced into the Klamath River by the Fish and Game Commission in its salmon cultural operations during the years past. The native Klamath River salmon do not appear in any great numbers in the river in the last few years. Our fishcultural experts at the Klamathon station support the view that the large majority of the fish taken from the Klamath River at the; Klama- thon egg-collecting station are of the Sacramento race. If the Klamath River is set aside as a fish refuge, by increasing the number of fry planted in this stream, a larger number of rainbow and steelhead eggs will be collected ; and, as it is the only river of any con- sequence left in this state in which there is a run of king salmon to handle for artificial propagation, it is of great importance that this stream be saved as a fish refuge so tli;it the state at all times may have, not only an adequate supply of salmon eggs to keep up the supply of salmon in the Sacramento River and ^Monterey Bay regions, but also furnish a large percentage of our rainbow and steelhead trout eggs 28 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. for distribution througliout the entire State of California. The con- struction of the proposed high dams in the lower reaches of the Klamath Eiver ^dll break np the run of these anadromous fishes so that the egg-colleeting work on this river vriW soon be a thing of the past. During the last two seasons, the experimental work on the South Fork of Eel Eiver near Branscomb, where several traps were located and temporary egg-collecting stations established in an effort to collect a large number of steelhead trout eggs and sufficient number of salmon eggs to stock Eel River, has proved futile as the uncertainty of the flow of water in Eel River, caused by extremely low water in periods when the fish should be running, or great floods, has proved that the upper reaches of the South Fork of Eel River where our experiments have been carried on is not a suitable place to attempt to collect eggs of either salmon or steelhead trout. The lower reaches of Eel River are subject to such extreme conditions of water from the minimum to the maximum flow that it is not dependable. The lower reaches of the South Fork of Eel River, near Garberville, or in the vicinity of Lane's Redwood Park, probably would be a suitable site for the collection of steelhead trout eggs ; but, until practical experiments have been made in attempting to collect these eggs, no positive statement can be made whether this work can be carried on successfully in Eel River or any of its tributaries, except the Cape Horn dam on the South Eel River, which is now badly affected by the water heing held back by the Gravelly Valley Dam during the season of drought, thus preventing the fish from ascending this fork of the river to the egg-collecting station located on Cape Horn dam. During the season just past, the dam did Fig. 10. A Klamath River king salmon. Photograph by H. C. Bryant. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 29 not lill so as to spill over and, consequently, no fish reached the egg- collecting station this year, thus depriving us of several millions of steelhead eggs. A lease was obtained on Gravelly Valley dam from the Snow ^Mountain Water and Power Company, the owners of this project, with the intention, if conditions proved suitable, of having this lake set aside as a preserve from which a lar-ge number of rainbow might be raised for the purpose of collecting their eggs to stock the streams of the immediate vicinity as well as have a supply to be shipped out to other stations. But protests from the citizens of Lake County, and the refusal of the Forestrj^ Service to grant the Cgmmission a lease on the lands bordering on Lake Pillsbury or Gravelly Valley dam, have prevented this department from carrying out its plans. The citizens of Lake County protested on the grounds that the dam was of greater benefit to them as a fishing resort to the public than for an egg-collect- ing preserve for the Fish and Game Commission. As they are drawing off the water each season for power purposes and the water in this lake fluctuates to such a great extent, it is somewhat doubtful Avhether the lake would furnish anywhere near the number of eggs that we formerly collected in the river immediately below the dam before its construction; that is, the Snow Mountain egg-collecting station located at the lower dam owned by this company. If these protests against our experimenting on this lake are removed, several years will have to elapse before it can be determined how mam" eggs the brood fish in this lake would produce. The number of eggs that may be collected from fish raised in dams that have fluctuating heads, is always uncertain ; and it becomes more apparent, as we look over the great State of California for suital)le places where spawn- fish may be obtained, that the Klamath River, the last stream in Cali- fornia that has not been seriously affected by the construction of high dams, should be left to furnish a sufficient number of eggs of rainbow and steelhead to supply the needs of the state in other waters, as well as to provide king salmon eggs to maintain a greater portion of the run in the Sacramento River and Monterey Bay regions ; and that adequate pond systems should be constructed for the rearing of our introduced species of fish, such as Loch Leven, European brown trout and Eastern brook trout. As the fight to prevent the construction of high dams in the Klamath River b}^ the residents of Siskiyou County, sportsmen's organizations and our Commission, has not 3'et been decided, since the matter is pending before the Federal Power Commission and in the courts of the state, as well as being submitted by an initiative petition to the voters of the state so that they may express their opinion, we can not add anything more to the argument submitted in our last biennial report, but "Rill publish excerpts from the same report so that the matter may be brought before the minds of the people of the value of the Klamath River as a fish refuge. We reiterate that the great Klamath River should be kept free from dams so that a stock of trout and salmon can be depended upon from that source for many years to come. The Klamath River runs through a mountainous region from the Oregon line, where it enters California, to its mouth on the boundary line of Del Norte County and TTumboldt County, where it flows into the ocean. 30 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. There is practically no tillable land where the waters of this stream could be used for irrigation. All the small areas of tillable land along this river could be irrigated by tributary streams. Applications have been made to construct large dams on this river for the purpose of developing hydro-electric energy. As there is enough water appropri- ated in the other river systen>s of California to furnish electric power for the development of the state for many years to come without destroying the salmon and other anadromous fishes of the Klamath River by the construction of dams impassable by these fish, the con- struction of high dams in the Klamath River should not be permitted. We feel positive, from our investigations and knowledge of the habits of the salmon, that the king salmon {Oncorliynclius tcliawytscha) and the silver salmon (0. hisutdi) will not ascend a fishway over a dam where the elevation is over thirty or thirty-five feet. Our experience in this state, and the experience of the experts of the Bureau of Fisheries and fishculturists in Oregon and Washington, confirm this statement. There is a great protest being made by the people of Oregon and the Bureau of Fisheries against the construction of a dam ninety feet in height across Priest Rapids on the Columbia River, which confirms our opinion stronger than ever, tliat where the people have a stream of such value as the Columbia or Klamath rivers, no high dams should ever be allowed to be constructed if the fishing interests are to be considered. The people are entitled to at least one stream in each state from which they can collect an adequate supply of both salmon and trout eggs to supply the depleted waters of other regions. The statement made that the Fish and Game Commission is retarding the industrial growth and development of the state by opposing these high dams is, in our judgment, not a fact, as there is sufficient energy being developed in other streams of California, where it is possible to construct power plants, to furnish the entire northwestern part of the state without embarrassing the development of that region or any other portion of California. FISH PROPAGATION. Applicants, without exception, are reporting fine results from pre- vious plantings of fry and are continuing making applications from year to year, thus keeping the streams as well stocked as the conditions will permit where the fishing is so excessive as it has been for the last few years. Tlie zeal and enthusiasm shown by the applicants who, year after year make applications to stock their favorite streams and lakes, is evidence of the intense interest in the fishcultural work in this state. The growing interest in the propagation and planting of trout fry is the result of good returns that we are producing by the coopera- tion of the persons planting fish for the Fish and Game Commission. Tlie distril)uti()ii of trout fry by the sportsmen's clubs, boards of supervisors, and other interested parties, continues with the same entTiusiasm as in former years. The public spirited citizens in the different communities have devoted their energy and furnished their ]a])()r ill seeing tliat the trout fr.y are pro])erly distributed. Each sea- son we find better i-esults of this cooperation as the persons interested in trout planting become more familiar with the proper distribution of the fry. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 31 Some sportsmen's clubs, assisted by the supervisors of tlie counties, have established resting pools at the end of the auto roads where the fry are deposited and given a few days' rest before being carried by pack animal to the more inaccessible lakes and streams in the higher alti- tudes. The Fresno County Sportsman's Club and the Madera Rod and Gun Club have built a number of these resting pools in the mountainous districts where they are making their distribution of fry ancl have obtained excellent results. This is very commendable work as it gives the fry a chance to recuperate before continuing the long journey to the lakes and streams that are not accessible hy trucks or wagons and have to be reached by pack animals. These resting pools are of great benefit if the fry are not held in them too long. A great many persons have advocated the holding of trout fry until late in the fall in ponds and nurseries along the streams where they desire to have the fish distributed, believing that if the trout fry are held until they are a larger size than when received from the hatcheries, better results could be obtained. Our experience has led us to believe that this is not a fact ; and Avhen trout are confined in ponds or nurseries they generally bect)me large, fat and domesticated, lose their wild instinct of natural preservation that they have when first taken from the hatchery and a greater number of them will be destroyed by natui;al enemies, if held until late in the fall or the following spring, than if liberated as soon as they are swimming up and in condition to plant directly from the hatchery. There are probably some places where larger trout might be of benefit when planted than those taken from the hatchery, but these places are very remote and in general trout planting, our experience has demonstrated to us, the sooner the trout fry are planted, the better the results. TROUT DISTRIBUTION. The total distribution of trout fry from the different hatcheries in the state for the biennial period 1922-1924 was 56,527,105, consisting of the following species : Rainbow _- 21,G9G,3<>5 Loch Leven 10.876,3.50 Steelhearl 1,3,011,:]00 Eastern Brook 5,106,550 Large Lake 2.11!).!).10 Black Spotted 810,090 Brown Trout 2,564. H.jO Cutthroat 255.950 Mackinaw 80,000 Total .56..".27,ln.-) On the date this report is being written. July, 1924, we have approxi- mately 28,000,000 trout fry that will be disti-ibuted as a result of this season's operations. SALMON. To maintain even a fair supply of chinook, or king, salmon in the Sacramento River, Klamath River and Monterey Bay regions, as well as Eel River and ocean areas fed hy this stream, becomes a greater problem each year. With the cutting otf of natural spawning grounds by high dams in the tributaries of the Sacramento River and the depletion of Eel River by the excessive fishing of a few years ago, the S2 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. supply of salmon eggs to a great extent must be supplied from the Klamath River. During the seasons of 1922 and 1923, owing to the low water and seasonal conditions, the Bureau of Fisheries at Battle Creek and Mill Creek did not have any surplus eggs to furnish any of the California Fish and Game Commission's stations. During the fall of 1921 there were collected at Klamathon egg- collecting station on the Klamath River 19,178,000 eggs. These were hatched and the resulting fry distributed as follows : Sent to Fort Seward, fall of 1921 2.000,000 rianted iu the Sacramento River, 1922 7,311,OIX) Planted in Fall Creek, spring, 1922 2,331,000 11,642,000 Planted in Klamath River, fall, 1922 5,000,000 Planted in Fall Creek, fall of 1922 1,000,000 17,042,000 During the fall of 1922 there were collected at Klamathon egg- collecting station on the Klamath River 20,824,000 eggs. These were hatched and the resulting fry distributed as follows : Sent to Fort Seward Hatchery 2,250,000 Planted in Sacramento River 12,089,000 Planted in Del Norte County 40,000 Planted in Fall Creek 3,550,000 17,929,000 The season of 1923 opened very propitiously for the collection of Chinook salmon on the Klamath River. The opinion of our superin- tendent, Mr. G. H. Lambson, and his assistants, was that an equal number of eggs w^ould have been taken, if not a greater number, than during the season of 1922, but, during the fore part of October when the pools were full of salmon between the racks and ready to be spawned and their eggs ready to be collected for our hatcheries, the California- Oregon Powder Company opened their sluice gates on the big Copco Dam without giving our employees any warning of the danger that threatened our racks at Klamathon, and caused a great flood of water to descend the river which overflowed the racks and choked them up with debris, logs, brush and other detritus so that the spawning salmon escaped up the river, and, as the tributary streams between the racks and the Copoc Dam were too low for any considerable number of these salmon to spawn, a great number of the eggs carried by these spawners was lost in the river between Klamathon racks and the Copco Dam, The Company's attention was called to this damage and they agreed not to open their flood gates again without giving the Commission due notice, and at no time to open them to such an extent as to cause damage to our egg-collecting station. This damage to the season's work is to be regretted as every salmon egg that can be collected and hatched is necessary to maintain even a fair supply of salmon in our rivers and ocean area. i:>nr-ing the fall of 1923, 4,041,000 salmon eggs were collected, 250,000 of which were sent to Fort Seward Hatchery for distribution in Eel River. The remainder will ])e held in the ponds and planted this fall, the statistical report for which will not appear until the next biennial report of the Commission. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNL\L REPORT. 33 For years we have called the attention of the public and the legis- lature to the rapidly decreasing salmon supply in California with recommendations given in former reports, ])ut, to date, no particular effort has been made to save this valuable fish from being greatly depleted, if not practically exterminated. In a last effort to save this valuable fish to the people, the Fish and Game Commission, assisted by the people of Siskiyou County, and other districts, initiated a petition to submit to the voters on the November, 1924, ballot the decision whether we are to lose the Klamath River, the last stream that is not affected by high dams, and from which salmon eggs can be collected in any considerable numbers. Tlie upper reaches of Eel River have been cut off by high dams and the uncertainty of the flow of water in Eel River caused by the great extreme between the maximum and minimum flow of the river makes Eel River one that cannot be depended on as a salmon egg-collecting stream; therefore, our efforts must be confined to saving the Klamath River as an egg- collecting stream for king salmon as we do not desire to see this valuable food fish practically exterminated in this state in the next few years. We refer again to the closing sentence in our report on king sal- mon in the biennial report of 1920-1922 : ' ' The Fish and Game Com- mission is waging an uphill fight when it comes to conservation as the people do not realize the destruction of wild life until it is too late." Recommendations to conserve our fish and to increase the output of our hatcheries by practical and scientific methods go unheeded. We can do nothing but reiterate the above sentence as practically the same condition prevails today as two years ago regarding the practical measures to save the fish in the Klamath River, with the exception that the measure will come before the people for their consideration. If they do not desire to see this valuable food fish practically exterminated, they will have a chance to prove it at the November election. MOUNT SHASTA HATCHERY. The high standard of work at Mount Shasta Hatchery has been maintained during the season of 1922 and 1923 the same as it has since the establishment of this station. Mount Shasta Hatchery has been operated to its full capacity during this period and 24,41:0,000 salmon fry and 27,994,450 trout fry were hatched and distributed from this station. This is one of the best equipped stations in the country, but it has practically reached its capacity for pond culture and for increased hatchery operations as we have not sufficient water or land to increase the capacity of this station. Therefore, pond systems must be established, as previously mentioned in this report, to enable us to collect a larger number of trout eggs to supply the other hatcheries now in existence and those that are to be established. There were collected from the ponds at ]Mount Shasta Hatchery dur- ing the season of 1922-1923, 18,428,000 trout eggs. This number, with the additional eggs from outside stations, gave us a grand total of 27,994,450 fry to be distributed throughout the state. The more important improvements made at this station since June 30, 1922, are as follows : A concrete settling tank, which is also used for the diversion of water to the different hatcheries, was constructed, the dimensions of which 3—34744 34 FISa. AiSTD GAME COMMISSION, are 36 feet long, 8 feet 10 inches wide, and 5 feet deep, with walls 8 inches in thickness, and concrete foundation. A new flume, 250 feet long and 1-4 inches l)y 16 inches, was built from the main supply ditch to hatcheries C and D. A number of the ponds were relined with new plank and inlets and outlets to six of the ponds were renewed. The ditch was enlarged west of the hatchery ground to make an additional fry pond. New screens were installed in all the hatchery troughs during the period covered by this report. Drain pipes were placed under the roads in front of Hatchery A. A new drain from Hatchery A to Pond No. 8 was installed. A new room was built in the attic of the foreman's dwelling and other improve- ments to keep the station in repair, l)ut just enough repair work was done to prevent damage to the system of ponds and hatcheries so that they could be operated. A number of improvements recommended to be constructed during the coming biennial period are as follows : A new food preparation room, refrigerating plant and cold storage rooms for keeping the fish food in good condition. A new building should be constructed to be used as a storage room for fish cans and a paint room. This should have a steam boiler installed for steaming the cans, keeping them sanitary, something essential to keep the fish in good condition. One new corrugated drain pipe to take water from Hatchery A. One galvanized drain to cross the road under the lane in front of Hatchery A, as the present culvert is in l)ad condition. All the ponds, except two, should l)e relined with planking, in whole or in part. The plankiiig on these old ponds and walls should be renewed, as they have been in use from 15 to 25 years. The superin- tendent's and foreman's cottages should be repaired; a concrete bridge constructed over the inlet of pond system on the road leading across the hatchery ground to barns and garage. These are only a few of the many improvements that are necessary to keep this important sta- tion in repair. An additional water supply should be furnished to this station if it is to be operated to its fullest capacity, as the drought has affected it several times in the past ; also, the water owners are using water from Spring Creek, from wliich this station receives its water supply, and take their usnal amount regardless of the seasonal conditions, and the hatchery suffei's accordingly. When the irrigation period was on this spring, the farmers diverted so inueh water that there were tiiiu's when the fish in the hatchery, as well as in the ponds, were in danger of suffering materially, if not perishing, for want of sufficient water supply. A meeting was called at Sisson on May 20, 1924, and the water users diverting water above JMount Shasta Hatchery agreed to turn back from tlieir ditches sufficieni water to mainfjiin the hatcherv' until seasonal conditions would l)ring about a larger flow in Spring Creek. This we greatly appreciated, as it prevented serious loss and damage to the fish at IMount Shasta Hatchery. The auxiliary stations under tlie supervisiou of Blount Shasta Hatchery were oi)erate(l (luring the last biennial pei'iod to their fullest capacity. These stations jire Fall (h-eek Hatchery, Klamathon egg- collecting station, H()rnl)rook egg-collect in a' station, Bogus Creek egg- col Icct in tr station, and Camp Creek egg-collecting station. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 35 KLAMATHON EGG-COLLECTING STATION. There have been no improvements made at this station cluiiiig the last two years other than the necessary repairs to keep the racks, traps, and station generally in condition for the catching of salmon and the taking of their eggs. There will be no improvements reqnired at this station for the next two years. There were collected at this station 26,586.000 Chinook salmon eggs, as follows: In the fall of 1922, 20,824,000 ; in the fall of 1923, 5,762.000. This take wonld have been at least ten million greater if it had not been for the disastrcms flood that came down the river caused by the opening of the gates of the bio- Copco Dam. FALL CREEK HATCHERY. This station continues to be successfully operated. Since our last biennial report no improvements worthy of mention have been made; but recommendations for improvements are necessary at this time, as the hatchery troughs that were installed in this hatchery in 1918, at th*e time of its construction by the California-Oregon Power Com- pany, were of poor material, being mostly soft pine Avhicli has decayed and become spongy to such an extent that we do not consider them any longer safe for the rearing of fish. "We recommend the placing of an entirely new set of troughs in the Fall Creek Hatchery, made of a well-seasoned redwood; a new tiume from the settling tank to the hatchery; a new floor in the hatchery, as the old floor has become badly rotted, owing to the leakage of these poorly constructed troughs ; and the painting of the interior of the ])nilding. As the interior of this building lias never been painted, the ceilings and walls are deteriorat- ing very rapidly. The construction of another salmon-rearing pond is also recommended at this station so that a greater number of salmon fry can be held until the proper time for distribution. HORNBROOK EGG-COLLECTING STATION. There have been no improvements since 1922 at this station and there will be none for the next two years. The take of eggs at this station was below the average, owing to the prevailing drought for the last two years. The total number of eggs taken Avere 3,733,000. BOGUS CREEK EGG-COLLECTING STATION. This station was well rei)aired two years ago and no improvements will be necessary for the next two years except the extension of a concrete apron under the racks. Tlu; take of eggs at this station was approximately the same as normal for the last two years, as the drought did not affect these streams as greatly as it did IIorn])rook Station. Tlie take of esgs for the last two vears was: In 1922, 4,336,000; and in 1923, 2,495^000. CAMP CREEK EGG-COLLECTING STATION. This station has not recpiired any improvements foi- the last two years and none will ])e needed for several years. This slation con- tinues to furnisli a large supply of rainbow trout eggs and will be one of our best stations until the seasonal rainfall is normal. The total take of eggs for the last two years was: In 1922, 2,356,000: and ifi 1923, 2,102,000. 36 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. MOUNT WHITNEY HATCHERY. Mount Whitney Hatchery has been operated to its full capacity during the last biennial period, and we would respectfully recommend that a new hatchery of equal capacity be established on the Mount Whitney grounds, or a new station established in the Mono-Alpine region, so that a greater number of trout fry could be produced in this section of the state. There are also several possible sites on other streams in the Owens River Valley, but the Los Angeles aqueduct has taken over the greater portion of these, so it is doubtful if sufficient water could be obtained for the iustallation of another hatchery in this section.^ The increasing demands for tish in southern California and the region consisting of Inyo, Mono and Alpine counties, must be sup- plied from a source where eggs can be hatched and the fry distributed within the shortest distance for transportation. In all probability, we will be able to recommend to the board within the next year the selec- tion of a site in either Mono or Alpine counties where a hatchery could be established that would relieve the heavy demand on the Mount Whitney Hatchery, thus allowing the output of this hatchery to be shipped to southern California. During the spring of 1923, meetings were held in Independence with the other users of the water from Oak Creek, from which is obtained our supply of water for Mount Whitney Hatchery, and an amicable adjustment was made of the amount of water to be used at this station for the propagation and rearing of fish, as well as the amount to be used on the lawns and flower beds. Mr. Gordon Zander, of the Divi- sion of Water Rights, kindly assisted in bringing about this adjust- ment. The amount of water for the use of the hatchery grounds, lawns, and flower beds, was measured and the amount determined that the state should use for this purpose, which was agreeable to tlie other users of water from Oak Creek. COTTONWOOD LAKES STATION. This station was last operated in 1920. Owing to the large take of eggs which filled our hatcheries to their capacity during 1921, 1922 and 1923, the Cottonwood Lakes Station was not operated. In the spring of 1924, at the request of a number of prominent sportsmen in southern California, we planned to open this station for the collection of golden trout L'ggs for distribution in barren lakes, and, also, in some of the lakes in which golden trout had been introduced several years ago in the Mono-Alpine region, and in which they are now thriving wonder- fully well. Upon the arrival of our crews at this station at the time the golden trout are usually entering the tril)utary streams of these lakes to spawn, our men found these streams practically dry owing to the extreme drought which has prevailed over the entire coast. The traps were installed in tbe creek flowing bdwcen the upper and lower lakes and 400,000 golden trout eggs were collected. These were hatched and will be distributed in the lakes suitable for this species of fish til is coming fall. RAE LAKES STATION. TTie Rae Lakes egg-collecting station was not operated during the spring of 1922 ; but, owing to the shortage of eggs at other stations, was operated again during the spring of 1924 and the 410,000 eggs collected were transferred to the Mount Whitney Hatchery and the resulting fry will be distributed from that station. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNL\L REPORT. 37 TAHOE HATCHERY. The new Tahoe Hatchery biiikling Avas completed during the fall of 1920; but since then we have not been able to construct the fore- man's cottage, food preparation room and other outbuildings, or improve the grounds as they should be to be in keeping with this fine station. This we hope to be able to do within the next year. The water system furnishing the water supply to this hatchery should be remodeled and open flumes constructed from the springs to the settling tanks, as well as ponds for a considerable area around the springs from which this water supply has its source, in order that the water will be more fully aerated and given a chance to reach a higher tempera- ture. The water in these springs is very cold and conducting it through pipes does not give the sun's rays a chance to warm the water to the proper temperature for rapid development of trout fry. The water is very pure and cold and the frj^ do remarkably well, but their growth is retarded by the low temperature of the water. AVe deem it advis- able to have open flumes with ripples so arranged that the water will receive a higher degree of aeration than is possible in passing it through the pipes, as well as giving it the benefit of the sun to raise the tempera- ture. There were produced from tlys hatchery during the last two years 2,935,000 trout fry, as follows : In 1922, 975,000 rainbow trout, 480,000 black spotted trout, 100.000 steelhead trout, and 145,000 large lake trout ; and in 1923, 445,000 steelhead trout and 790,000 large lake trout. MOUNT TALLAC HATCHERY. This station has been operated during the last two seasons under the same conditions that have prevailed during former years. We are always compelled to plant the fry quite early owing to the rise in temperature of the water in Fallen Leaf Lake, from which this hatchery receives its supply. After the warm weather sets in the temperature rises and the water moulds and algal growths have a deleterious effect on the fish, which necessitates planting earlier than we otherwise would. However, the fish are planted in good condition and, as the water is warmer from the beginning of the season than it is at some of the other stations, the fish attain a good growth by the middle of July, so at that time they can be planted and good results expected. We would recom- mend the installation of a new floor in this hatchery, as well as an entire new set of troughs and distributing tanks and other fixtures incident to the hatchery- equipment. The old equipment is now so badly decayed that it is not safe for any further use in the rearing of fish. This' work should be done during this coming fall as soon as the trout frv are out of the building. Traps were operated in Blackwood Creek, Ward Creek and Tayk)r Creek during the seasons of 1922 and 1923 and eggs collected as follows: lu ir)22— Taylor Creek 20."),(XN) Blackwood Creek 21. ..<""» Warrl Creek ]so,(hk) rtoo.ono In 1923— Taylor Creek .".l.'.fHXi Blackwood Creek .,'.h). Large Lake 0,S.2 Cutthroat l.V».2(M> 2,S(;2,<)Sn 40 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. BROOKDALE HATCHERY. All of the steelhead eggs collected at tlie Scott Creek Egg-Collecting Station were transferred as nsual to this station dnring the last two years, and from there distributed to the other hatcheries and the nsiial number of fry hatched for Santa Cruz County. Owing to the increasing demand for water from Alba and Clear creeks, which supply the summer residents who have cottages at Brookdale, and the drought which has prevailed in this section, and other causes, we deem it advisable to buy an additional piece of land at Scott Creek station where the state already owns the ground where the egg-collecting sta- tion is located, and construct a new building to hatch the fry for the district comprising Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. An ample supply of water can be obtained from Big Creek to operate a hatchery approximately twice the size of tlie Brookdale Hatcheiy, which is necessary to supply this section of the state. The fry can easily be distributed from this station to the railroad at Daven- port, as well as by truck to the main line at Santa Cruz. The county board of supervisors of Santa Cruz County have rendered every assist- ance possible to make Brookdale Hatchery a success and are cooperating with us to secure a hatchery site on Big Creek for increasing the pro- duction of fry for tliat section of the state ; and we hope by the time this report is published that we will have the site secured and be able to submit plans for tlie construction of a new hatchery on this pro- posed site. The hatchery at Brookdale is rapidly decaying, as the building is quite old and the troughs, tanks, and even the foundation would have to be rebuilt if the station is run longer than another sea- son. We do not deem it advisable to construct a new station on the old site and- recommend the construction of a new hatchery on Big Creek, a tributary of Scott Creek. The land held under lease at Brookdale could be hold and the small ponds used for the rearing of trout fry when the surplus fry from the main station at Scott Creek would cause us to look for more room than the hatchery would furnish. The small ponds might be put to good use by the county in holding their fry until they were ready to make the distribution. The total numl)er of fry distril)uted from Brookdale during the seasons of 1922 and 1923 is as follows: In 1922, 859,000; and in 1923, 850,000. SCOTT CREEK STATION. Tliis egg-collecting station has been holding its average up to the present time. The flow of water at this station has been interfered with by the appropriation. of water from this stream l)y a Mr. Widemann, who filed an application with the Water Connnission to divert a portion of the water from this stream for use on lands adjacent to Scott Creek. We protested the matter to the Division of Water Rights and are now awaiting an adjnstment of the water supply which we desire to remain in this stream so lliat the fry will liave ample water in which to main- tain tlicinselves during the summer months before descending to the ocean. 'I'll is is very essential if Scott Creek is to be operated as an egg-collecting station and spawners, oi- adnll (isli, maintained in this strcani. AVe are of the opinion that an amicable adjustment of the amount of water can ])e obtained and that there will not be any serious trou])Ic with the pumping plants established by Mr. Widemann. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 4X CLEAR CREEK HATCHERY. The Clear Creek Hatchery and egg-eolleetiiig: station has been snccess- fully operated dviring the last two years. During the spring of 1922 we had the usual run of fish in Clear Creek, a tributary of the Hamil- ton branch of the Feather River, from which the fish come that furnish the eggs for this station. There was also a good run in 1923. There was a larger run of fish than usual in the Hamilton branch of the Feather Eiver in the spring of 1924; but. owing to the low condition of the water in the Hamilton branch caused by the drought, and, also, by the diversion of the water by the Red River Lumber Company to their power plant, we had considerable difficulty in collecting eggs. How- ever, 3,100.000 eggs were collected this sprinsr (1924). During 1922, 1.683.000 eggs were collected and in 1923, 2,100,000 were collected, making a total for this station for the biennial period of 1922-23 of 3,783,000. A two-room cabin was built for the crew in the fall of 1923 and some additional troughs installed in the hatchery. Improvements were made to the traps and fish holding tanks. This hatchery should be enlarged as soon a.s funds are available as it is necessarv' to hatch a greater number of eggs to maintain the supply of fish in the streams and lakes of this region. WARNER CREEK TRAP. Owing to the exceedingly high water in Warner Creek, this station was not operated in the spring of 1923. During 1922 1.905,000 eggs were collected; and. owing to the low condition of the water in 1924, it was successfully operated and 2,892,000 eggs were collected. Improve- ments were made in the fall of 1923 at this station by repairing the traps and flume and adding sixteen feet to the fish holding tank. A small eyeing station of six or eight troughs should be installed at Warner Creek so as to hold the egg's until they are advanced far enough to ship to other stations. It is quite dilficult in the early spring, when the snow is deep in this section, to transport the eggs from this station to Domingo Springs station where they are hatched. The mouth of the creek, where it has its confluence with Rice Creek, should be widened and a permanent crib installed so the racks can be moved to this point, a more suitable place than the place where they now are. DOMINGO SPRINGS STATION. This station has been in operation the last two years with its usual success. In the fall of 1923 a new flume was built to furnish the water supply for the hatchery and tbe fish-holdinsr tank. As soon as funds are available, this station should also be enlarged .so as to increase its capacity to at least double what it is at present as more fry are needed each year to supply the lakes and streams in all sections of the state wherever hatcheries are located. To properly handle tlie situation in this section, a permanent rack, or rolling dain, should be placed acro.ss the north fork of the river below the junction of Rice Creek and War- ner Creek and a permanent station estaldished. Tliis Avould cost several thousand dollars, but the results that would be obtained would justify the expenditure as the work could all be concentrated at the one station and a great many more fish caught, and eggs procured that are now deposited on the spawning beds below Warner Creek and between the mouth of Warner Creek and Domingo Springs station. 42 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. These small traps and egg-collecting stations have been built because we did not have the funds to concentrate our work. The initial expense of installing the large stations was too great for the funds furnished our department. "Whenever funds are available for this improvement work, the benefits to be derived from the establishment of permanent traps, larger stations, and better equipment, will result in a larger output of eggs for less cost per thousand after the initial expense of establishing the station has been made. JOHNSVILLE EXPERIMENTAL HATCHERY. The Johnsville Experimental Hatchery was operated for two seasons. Owing to the great depth of snow and the inconvenience of getting eggs to the station in early spring, it was deemed advisable to select a more favorable site. During the spring of 1922, when our men arrive on the ground to begin operations, the snow was from 12 to 15 feet deep on the level, with great masses on the slopes of the adjacent mountains, threatening to come down in the shape of an avalanche at any time. The work of shoveling out the snow and opening the station was an arduous one and fraught with great dangers. As soon as the distribu- tion of the fry was over in the fall of 1922, arrangements were made to move the flume, tanks and otber material to a new site located on the property of Mr. W. A. Adams, on Haskell Creek, a tributary of Sulphur Creek, near Clio, Plumas County, in a locality where the snow does not fall so deep, and several miles nearer the railroad than the site on Jamison Creek. In the spring of 1923, after procuring a lease from Mr. Adams for 25 years, a foundation was laid for the support of 40 hatchery troughs. The water at this new site was thoroughly tried out last season and during the spring of 192-4. It proved to be of superior quality for the rearing of trout fry. We would recommend tliat a permanent hatchery building and station be established on This site, as it is the best site so far found anywhere in the inunediate vicinity of the Western Pacific Railroad in the Feather River region. During the last two seasons 877,380 rainbow and 857,000 steelhead trout fry were distributed from this station in the lakes and streams of the Feather River district. BEAR LAKE HATCHERY. The Bear Lake Ilatcliery is situated in the San Bernadino ]\Ioun- tains, in San Bernardino County, at Green Spot Springs near the shores of Bear Lake, and, as usual, has been successfully operated (lui-ing the last two seasons. During the season of 1922, 1,365,000 eggs were collected at the Nortli Creek Egg-Collecting Station on Bear Lake and transferred to tliis station for liatching and distribution. It was also operated in the spring of 1923 with practically the same suc- cess as in the previous year and 1,100,000 eggs were collected. This spring (1924), owing to the light snow fall and the lowering of the lake b.v the water company, it was more difficult to procure the eggs than in former seasons; luit there appear to l)e as many trout in the lake as at any time during the last five or six years. As mentioned in our rei)oi-t of 1920-22, l)lack l)ass were Ihouglit to have l)een inti'oduced in this lake, l)ut we were somewhat in doubt at that time. The fact is now well established that thonsands of this species of fish are in the waters of Bear Lake and are increasing annually as there is a great TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 43 abundauce of food in the waters of Bear Lake — probably greater than in any other lake of equal area in the state — consisting of all native aquatic insects, as well as gainmarus and minnows. There is an abun- dance of food to last for several years to come and the l)ass will not prey on the trout to any great extent until this supply of food is greatly reduced by the increasing numbers of bass. T5y holding our trout fry until late in the fall when the bass have left tlie shallows to return to deep water and become torpid, the trout fry can be released and will have a fair chance of maintaining themselves in goodly numbers' for a great many years, or until such time as the bass have destroyed the abundant supply of insects and minnoAvs and begin to devour their own young, as well as the trout. But until such time as this condition prevails, we shall continue the operation of Bear Lake Hatchery, as the trout fishing during the spring of 1924 was exceed- ingly good and promised to hold out during the entire season. As the period of the year during which bass will bite is very short, and as they do not furnish as good a game fish for the anglers as do the trout, and as there are so many lakes and streams in lower altitudes where the water is too warm and full of organic matter for trout to thrive, it is to be deplored that bass were ever introduced into this lake by thought- less persons for reasons best known to themselves. NORTH CREEK EGG-COLLECTING STATION. This station is located on the shores of Bear Lake. During the last two years the bulk of the eggs furnished the Bear Lake Hatchery were collected at this station. The total number of eggs collected was 3,611,000. Of this number 1,150,000 were hatched and distributed from the troughs where they were hatched after the other eggs were eyed and shipped to the main hatchery at Green Spot Springs. Tem- porary repairs to the traps and tanks were made at this station in the spring of 1922, as they w^ere damaged in the winter by the flood waters that came down North Creek. The repairs necessary to l)e made at this station to maintain it for several years longer are to re])air the roof by replacing it with an iron roof; the general overhauling of the hatchery troughs; and improvements to the trap and tank system. This work should be done during this coming fall. GROUT CREEK TRAP. Grout Creek station was damaged in the spring of li)21, in fact, it was entirely washed out and carried down the stream. There has been no water in this creek since that time to justify the exi)eiulituro of any considerable sum of money to install a permanent trap; but, if there should be a heav}^ snowfall in the watershed of this creek, it may, in all probability, be well to install a permanent trap to catch the trout that ascend the stream during the spawning ])eriod. The stream rapidly subsides after the snow is through melting, and if the fish are not caught and the eggs collected, a great many of Ihcm, in fact, the largest percentage of them, perish on the sniid flats at Ihc i ih nf this creek or are canglit in tlie pools above the sand Hals near tlie shores of the lake when the water recedes; tiierefore, i1 would jiistify the expense of installing a fairly good trap to catch these lish and collect their eggs and to prevent the loss of the I)1-iti|ci-s lli;it ai-i' stranded when the water dries up in the stream. 44 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. METCALF CREEK TRAP. This station is located on the shore of Bear Lake. During a season of normal rainfall this trap produces a fair number of eggs; but the take for the last two seasons was considerably less than in former years, owing to the small amount of water in the stream as well as to the blocking up of the mouth of the creek with sand bars. Considerable improvements caij be made there to better the conditions at this small auxiliarj^ station. WAWONA HATCHERY. Waw^ona Hatchery has been successfully operated during the last two seasons with the same good results as in former years. The total output of this hatchery during tlie biennial period of 1922-1924 was 389,300 steelhead and 498,200 rainbow trout fry. This station should be main- tained as it is located on a site where it is easy to get the fry to the lakes and streams south and east of the Yosemite Valley. A cabin for the foreman should be built on the hatchery grounds this coming spring so that better protection could be given the plant during the time when the building is closed. Under the present arrangement, the foreman lives in a tent and the accommodations are not very good. KAWEAH HATCHERY, Kaweah Hatchery has been operated for the last five years under a tent and it is time that a permanent building be erected either on the present site or on a site in the Sequoia or General Grant National Parks. The improved roads, constructed since this hatchery site was first selected, cause us to believe that a more favorable site may be found in the Sequoia or General Grant National Parks ; and a survey will be made in the near future to determine whether a better site may be selected. If the same can be found, recommendations will be made for the erection of a permanent hatchery in this section. If a new site can not be procured that affords better opportunities than the present site, we recommend that a permanent building be built on the present site. In the spring of 1923, to accommodate a larger output of fry, ten extra hatching troughs were installed in this hatchery, making twenty in all. This is not large enough to supply the district that is making requests for fish for Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, Tulare f*ounty, Tulare River, and lakes in the southern high Sierras. A hatchery witli a capacity of at least sixty troughs should be built for this section. The total number of fry distributed from this station was as follows : In 1922, 435,000 ; and in 1923, 440,000. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF LAKES AND STREAMS. In an effort to improve the methods of stocking the barren lakes and streams of the high Sierra range, we recommend that a biological surve.y of the streams and lakes of the Sierra rauge be )nade and plans to stock this entire region be carried out as rai)idly as money and fish can be had for this purpose. The region of the high Sierra range contains many thousands of lakes and streams that are barren of fish life. This region should be stocked with sj)ecies of fish best adapted to the physical con- ditions of the streams and lakes as regards temperature, altitude and aquatic insect life. Many of the higher lakes of this region, particu- TWENTY-EIGHTH B]:ENNL\1, REPORT. 45 larly the smaller ones, are residual glacial basins; and such should be stocked with a certain number of fry each season so that the people who are fishing these lakes will not have to depend on natural propagation, which is not feasible in some lakes as there are no tributary streams in which the fish may spawn, or springs welling up through the gravel near the shores in water not too deep for the fish to spawn. To determine the different species of trout best adapted to each individual lake, a biological purvey should be made by some person specially trained for this kind of work. The introduction of fish in these lakes without any scientific checking up of the physical conditions to determine the species best adapted to each lake Avould, in many instances, be a waste of time and money. After a suiwey of the physical conditions of these lakes is made, proper aquatic plants and insects should be introduced to improve the food supply for whatever species of trout is best adapted to each lake or stream where natural food is found to be lacking. The planting of trout fry in barren waters should be done under a system based upon a scien- tific survey of conditions necessary to get the best results when the fry are introduced. The planting of adult fish in small numbers in these lakes is not the best method of introducing fishes into barren waters. As said before, a great many of these lakes do not have proper spawning grounds for the species to be introduced, and, where such conditions exist, fry should be planted in sufficient numbers to insure fishing within a short period of time after the fish are introduced. Whenever, upon examination, it is found that the lakes do not contain proper spawning grounds, a certain number of fry should be introduced annually, or at least every couple of years, to maintain the supply in these lakes, depending on the number of anglers who visit these lakes each season. An experienced fish planter, with a well equipped pack train, should have charge of the planting of fishes in these lakes after the biological survey is made. This would not entail a very great expense and many hundreds of now barren lakes could be made to furnish good fishing to those who care to enter the high Sierra range for their summer outings, as the rivers and lakes in the lower altitudes are being fished so exces- sively by the ever increasing population of this state, and, with the advent of the automobile, it becomes necessary to stock these barren lakes to meet the demand made upon our waters by the angling public. Therefore, we recommend that this work be taken up and continued until all of the accessible lakes and streams are stocked. This work should be done under the auspices of the Fish and Game Commission and carried on systematically until all of the barren lakes and streams are stocked with species of trout adapted to the conditions best suited for their development.. Some of these lakes may allow the successful introduction of the Montana grayling. When this survey is completed, recommendations will be made to the board regardinLr the specie.; tliat will thrive best in each lake or stream. 46 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. SCREEN SURVEYS AND INSPECTIONS OF POLLUTION OF INLAND WATERS. Duriiiy the last two years surveys of screens and lisliways, and inspec- tions of the same, have been carried on the same as in former years. Two hundred fifty-three inspections of screens have been made and instructions given to the owners to repair, improve, or reinstall the same, where they have been removed from the ditches. One hundred forty-two surveys were made for screens, 82 being for new screens and 60 being resurveys where the time had elapsed for the installation of the screens and same had not been installed. Forty-one large rotary screen wheels were installed during the past year. The screen surveyor has investigated a great many plans for the impounding of sawdust and mineral refuse in many places throughout the state. In nearly every case where the streams have been polluted by persons, the nuisance was abated as soon as their attention was called to the law. A number of the larger corporations have not complied with the screen law, and these cases are not in the hands of our legal department for court action. It is recommended that these cases be pushed to a speedy termination, as it is very important that all canals, ditches, and pipe lines, taking water from rivers or streams where fish have been planted or may exist, should be screened at as early a date as possible. The legal department should be given every assistance that our funds wdll allow in prosecuting offenders who will not cooperate with the Commission in installing properly designed screens. A number of the larger corporations feel that they do not have to abide by the law, claiming that the cost of the construction of the screens is of a great deal more importance than the fish destroyed by passing through their canals into irrigated areas and through power wheels. The honorable C. J. Luttrell, of the superior court of Siskiyou County, issued an injunction against the Parker Cattle Company for not installing screens in accordance with the plans submitted by this department. As soon as the injunction was issued, the company got busy and installed the proper type of screen. This action of the superior court of Siskiyou County is highlj^ commended and should be followed in other eases pending throughout the state, as the action of Judge Luttrell in issuing this injunction has established the faet that those diverting water from rivers and streams must comply with the law and thus preserve the fish life. In most instances this can be easily done at a nominal expense. FISHWAYS. Our fishway survey and inspection service has been actively engaged during the last two years in inspecting fishways and making surveys where deemed necessary for the installation of new lishways. Plans for a number of new fishways have been served on different companies and individuals owning and occupying dams, rivers, and streams, who have not complied with the law. Th(^se, also, have been referred to our legal department and court action will be necessary in a number of cases to force the owners to comply with the regulations. The same is true of a lunnber of fishwaj^s in different parts of the state that have been built for a number of years; but, which, during periods of low Avater, such as has prevailed during the season of 1924, have not functioned. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 47 A great many owners of water rights have refused to allow any water to pass through the fishways, closing them entirely in defiance of the law which provides that sufficient water nuist be allowed to pass through fishways at all times to keej) in good condition any fish life that may exist below the dam, and that during the nunimum Mow of water in any river or Stream sufficient water must be allowed to pass each dam, culvert, or waste gate to maintain fish life. This provision of the law has been disregarded by a great many persons and corporations who do not consider that the fish destroyed are e([ual in value to the value of the water for other purposes. Such a small amount of water is neces- sary to maintain fish life below these dams that this law should be enforced strictly. If the provisions of this law are not drastic enough to compel persons who are diverting water from our rivers and streams to allow sufficient water to remain in the beds of the streams to maintain fish life, the law sliould be amended by the next legislature so as to maintain fish life. This is only fair to the people who are interested in the preservation of fish and enjoy the fishing that these streams nft'oi-d. RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING WATER LAW. We have asked in several of our former reports for the cooperation of the Division of Water Rights, formerly the Water Commission, in not granting an appropriation of water from any stream unless a sufficient amount is allowed to remain to maintain fish life during the minimum flow. But these recommendations have been disregarded ; and whether the Division of Water Rights is compelled to give all of the water to those asking for it in defiance of the rights of the people who have a right to the natural resources of this state, its fish and fishing waters, is not for this department to say. However, we respectfully recommend that some action be taken by our state legislature to investi- gate these conditions ; and if, in their wisdom, they agree with our idea that sufficient water should be allowed to remain in the bed of every stream to maintain fish life during the minimum flow, and if the present laws are not stringent enough to meet the situation, laws should l)e enacted that will preserve to the people at least a small portion of the water flow that formerly existed in our streams, so that the fishing in many districts will not be entirely destroyed. If the rights of the people are to be protected, action must be taken by the legislature to make the penalties for the violation of laws pertaining to fishing and minimum flow of streams more drastic. In no instance, in our opinion, is it necessary to divert the entire flow of any stream, thereby causing the destruction of fish life below the diverting point. If a small amount of water is allowed to pass each dam it will maintain fish life during the period of minimum flow and fish could be kept alive until the period of normal flow. The greed of water users is well known; and they do not regard the rights of any other persons or those \vli<> Ii.inc an interest in fisliing. A number of our lakes have been tapped and the water drawn beluw the natural level of the lake to such an extent that the fisliing interests have been greatly interfered with. Consef|uentIy it is also recommended that a law be passed preventing the tapi)ing of any natural lake helow its outlet. If it is necessary to take a greater amount (tf water from anv lake than the regular discharge of the lake through its outlet, 48 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. dams can be constructed and the water level raised to impound the surplus water. This practice of tapping the mountain lakes to increase the flow in the outlet streams for power and other purposes will soon cause considerable damage to our fishing streams. Those who are capitalizing the water for power can well afford to construct dams to raise the water, if it becomes necessary to hold back a surplus supply for the low water period, instead of tapping the lakes and thus causing damage to our fish life. Many other recommendations could be made on the subject of the preservation of the fish for inland waters; but, until some action is taken to regulate those who are taking water from our streams, we do not deem it advisable to make any new recommendations regarding the conditions that are detrimental to the lakes and streams of our state containing fish life. Respectfully submitted. W. H. Shebley, In charge Department of Fish Culture. REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. The Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners of the State of California. Sirs: In our last biennial report we told of the decline in the volume of California's fisheries products during the years 1920 and 1921 after a phenomenal growth of our fisheries which reached its peak in the year 1919. The most rapid growth was in our sardine fisheries, located at Monterey, San Pedro and San Diego, and the main stimulus was the export demand caused by the Great War. In 1919 the sardine catch in California exceeded 150,000,000 pounds, nearly all of which was put into pound oval cans, the great bulk being for export. With tlie slump in prices in 1920 coupled with the collapse of foreign exchange most of our sardine canners were soon in distress. There was an overproduction of canned sardines in this eountrv and foreign countries could not pay a price which would give our canners a profit. It so happened there was a good demand for fish meal and fish oil — the by-products of the sardine canning industry — and that more of a profit could be made by using the sardines for reduction purposes than by i)utting them in cans for food. As practically every fish cannery in this state has a reduction plant for handling the fish offal from the canning operations, the canners were naturally anxious to run these reduction ])lants to capacity. The so-called Pish Conservation Act passed in 1919 prohibited the waste of fish or the use of any food fish except fish offal for reduction purposes without first obtaining written permission from the Fish and Game Commission. In the prosecution of the sardine canning industry there is an unavoidable waste of fish, such as broken and soft fish or fish too large or too small to pack properly. The fishermen frequently make over catches which it is impossible to avoid. The written permits to be issued by the Pish and Game Commission as provided in the law, were intended to cover these unavoidable contingencies. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 49 The difficulty was in determining- what was nnavoidal)h^ waste, espe- cially in the case of soft, broken and off-sized fish discarded by the fish cleaners in selecting the fish for canning. It was a comparatively easy matter for a canner to discard half of the catch in this manner to his own great advantage and it was difficult to prove it constituted unnecessary waste. If a canner could make a sufficient profit on his reduction or by-products plant, he was able to cut down the price of his canned sardines to a point where they could be sold for export and thus he could find an outlet for the surplus production. The Fish and Game (Jommission whose duty it was to enforce the Fish Conservation Act had great trouble in doing so for the reason that the law did not adequately cover the emergencies which arose. It seemed desiralile that the sardine canners be permitted to use a larger percentage of the catch in their by-product plants where the profit lay, in order that they might be able to dispose of their surplus canned goods at a low price in foreign markets, and thus be able to weather the storm until foreign countries could pay more, or until a better home market could be developed. With this in mind, the canners and the Fish and Game Commission got together and had the act amended in the 1921 legislature. It was then provided in the act that the canners. if they wished to use food fish for reduction purposes, could make application to the Fish and Game Commission whereupon the Commission must hold a hearing for the taking of testimony and if it was shown that there was no other market for the fish and that using them in a reduction plant would not tend to deplete the supply, the commission could give permission to use an amount of fish for reduction purposes, of not to exceed 25 per cent of the capacities of the plants making application. Beginning with the fall season of 1921 the Fish and Game Commission has, under the amended act, given the sardine canners a definite l)ereentage of the catch for reduction purposes, the percentage to cover everything not used for canning except the fish offal. Experience has proved that the amended act is no easier of enforcement than the old act. Even with an efficient corps of inspectors to watch the different canning plants it has been impossible to satisfy the law-abiding ones that unscrupulous canners are not getting an advantage over them for the competitiun is exceedingly keen not only between individual canners ))ut between the different sardine canning districts. If a canner quotes a lower price than the others, it is believed by those who are unable to meet this low price that he could not do it unless he was using more fish in his reduction plant than the rules allowed. There are too many ways in which the Commission's order, fixing the percentage which can be used for reduction purposes, can be avoided. In case of a violation of flic order of the Commission, it t;ikcs too long to stop the oft'encler. The FLsli Conservation Act should be rc(Ii-;i\\ii and the hearings before the Commission eliminated. The amount of fish which it is legitimate to use for reduction purposes in the process of canning can be definitely fixed in the law. A violation of the law should be a high misdemeanor and the goods manufactured in violation of llic biw should be subject to seizure by the state. 4 — 34744 50 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. There is no doubt Imt tliat the present law giving a more liberal amount of fish for reduction purposes has enabled many canners to survive, who would otherwise have perished, but there is also little doubt but that permitting a certain per cent of the catch to be used for reduction purposes has resulted in the lowering of the quality of the canned sardine pack. In order to get the fish for reduction pur- poses most of the canners have lowered the quality as well as the price of the canned pack. For the export trade price is what counts and the quality does not cut much figure. The quality of California canned sardines liiust be built up. AVe therefore recommend that the amount of sardines which may be diverted for reduction purposes be limited to what is absolutely necessary in putting up a good pack and that this amount be definitely fixed in the law. In our last biennial report we said that the sardine industry showed decided signs of reviving during the winter season of 1921-1922. This revival was more marked in the two seasons which have passed since that time. The catch is again very near that of the banner year of 1919. Several of our sardine canning companies have failed and others no doubt will fail before the industry is again on a firm footing. But the crisis has passed and as soon as the industry can be freed from the demoralizing tendency to make profits out of the by-products plant and to sell the canned product below cost it is bound to have a healthy growth. PURSE SEINE FISHERY. The purse seine fishery of southern California was dealt with in our last report and our prediction that there would be a fight at the last legislative session against the use of purse seines was fully borne out. Those opposed to purse seines claimed they would eliminate them as a conservation measure, but we are not quite sure that the basis of the opposition was economic. It is the ancient objection to a new method or appliance which upsets the old order. The situation was investigated by Dr. Tage Skogsberg, one of our fishery assistants. Unfortunately, his report could not be published in time to be read at the last legislative session. It is possible that if it had been pub- lished and available, the measure eliminating purse seines would not have passed. As the bill was vetoed, the matter is soon to be brought up again. There was a good deal of misunderstanding amongst the legislators as to what were the real facts in the case. Since that time Mr. Will V. Thompson has written a condensed review of Dr. Skog-s- berg's report which was published in California Fish and Game, Volume 9, pages 87-98. This review and the complete report, which is now ready for the printer, should clear up the points at issue and enable the legislators to get a dear understanding of the situation. The report points out the necessity of carrying on a biological investigation of the principal species of fish involved in the dispute, especially the barracuda. This investigation would be along the lines of the investigations now being carried out in the case of the tuna and sardine. As such an investigation is required by law, we hope to start the work as soon as finances will permit. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 51 STRIPED BASS AND SHAD. The last legislature passed measures which give striped bass and shad considerable added protection. During the last live years the annual commercial catch of these two species has gradually increased in spite of a number of restrictions on commercial fishing. It is quite certain that shad are becoming more plentiful and the closing of the last half of May to shad fishing in addition to the closed months of June and Jul}^ may result in bringing them back to their former abundance. Although the commercial catch of striped bass is increasing in spite of the added netting restrictions, it is not so easy to convince anglers that they are not actually becoming less plentiful or even scarce. Closing the last half of May to netting for striped bass, the same as shad, is a very good added protection and it is our opinion that the present laws are adequate for a few years at least. SALMON. The salmon, unlike the shad and striped bass, are not sufficiently protected against the drain of commercial fishing. Prior to the last legislative session, conferences were held between the salmon fisheries interests and the Fish and Game Commission and important restrictions were agreed upon which were designed to eliminate net fishing on the Sacramento River above the city of Sacramento ; to eliminate all river and bay salmon fishing during June and July; and to restrict outside ocean trolling for salmon to those months when few immature fish are caught. These restrictions were all passed by the legislature but unfortunately a flaw which had remained undiscovered in the law for two years, was not detected until after the bill was enacted into law. This flaw has resulted in nullifying the closed seasons on the sea trolling. This was unfortunate for the establishment of closed seasons for salmon trolling in the sea was the most important part of the salmon conservation measure. Each salmon fishing district, from the ocean to the upper Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers were to be restricted so that the catch in each district would be cut down about 25 per cent. It was believed by all that this cut in the catch was absolutely necessary in the districts frequented by Sacramento salmon. All were agreed that it was most important to close those months in tlie sea districts when most of the salmon caught are small and immature. Investigations carried on for several years under Professor J. 0. Snyder, showed that the troll caught salmon in the sea are mostly small and immature except during two or three months at what is knowii as the height of the season. These favorable times, when most of the salmon which are caught are large and mature, were determined for each sea district along the coast and closed periods determined to prevent the catching of immature fish. The closed seasons would have cut down the total annual catch in pounds of salmon in each sea district about 2'5 per cent, but if we should estimate it in numbers of fish it would have been nearer 50 per cent. Commercial salmon trolling is of comparatively recent development. The old established salmon fisheries are on the bays and rivers. The bay and river fisheries are the ones which have had their fishing operations restricted. The salmon troll 52 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. fishery has been an added drain on the salmon supply with the result that the fishing restrictions in the inland districts have not been sufficient and the salmon supply as indexed by the number of fish which reach the spawning grounds in the upper Sacramento River has fallen off more than one-half. The bay and river fishermen believe that all sea trolling for salmon should be stopped; the salmon trollers think that after the salmon get into the bays and rivers on their way to spawn they should be protected. There are a good many arguments on each side of this question but, it is our opinion that the preponderance of the evidence is against the outside or troll fishing. Washington and Oregon have stopped the outside salmon fishing both for trolling and purse seine fisliing, and their opinion that we are unwise in permitting outside salmon fishing is backed up by the United States Bureau of Fisheries, which is deeply interested as it maintains extensive salmon hatcheries on all the most important streams. We recommend that the present salmon law be redrawn so as to eliminate present errors and in order to cut down the outside trolling season as far as is necessary to prevent the destruction of immature fish. PATROL. Our present commercial fisheries patrol service as described in former reports is sufficient to enforce the fisheries laws with only one or two exceptions. The law passed by the last legislature prohibiting the possession of trawl or drag nets in the southern California districts has made the patrol work of that district so much easier that the one patrol boat we now have there, the "Albacore, " should be able to take care of all of the sea patrol work in southern waters without the aid of another boat. In the waters from Monterey Bay to the north we are in need of a seaworthy boat for patrol. Recent expe- riences in trying to enforce the salmon and crab laws convince us that it is absolutely essential that a seaworthy boat be procured. We recommend again that the patrol boat Quinnat be sold and that it be replaced by a seagoing patrol boat. INVESTIGATIONS. The fisheries research and investigations of the department have been carried on mainly by the staff of the State Fisheries Laboratory under the direction of Will F. Thompson. Mr. Thompson's laboratory report is herewith presented. In addition to the investigations of the laboratory staff, salmon investigations have been continued under the direction of Professor J. 0. Snyder and by one assistant. Some of the results of this work have appeared at intervals in California Fjsh and Game. As a result of these investigations, we have been able to fix quite accurately the times of the year which should be closed to salmon fishing in the sea districts so as to prevent the destruction of small and immature salmon. This could not be determined except by an accurate analysis of the catch at the different fishing centers. Extensive marking exper- iments have been carried on which are shedding much light on the range at sea of the salmon from the different rivers. This knowledge TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 53 is necessary if we are, to properly regulate the river and sea fishing for salmon. We recommend that this work be continued and be made part of the present program. Caught Aug. 3, off the California Coast near Redding Rock . Length 30-^ in . Fourth year . Feb. 1922, age 3 years Length 23-2- in . Third year Feb . 1921, age 2 years Length 13^ in . Second year Liberated Nov . 1919 in Klaraath River . Length 2^ in . First year . Hatched Feb. 1919 . Eggs taken Nov . 1918 from the Sacramento River . Fig. 11. Photomicrograph of a scale of a kuig salmon of the 1919 markins experi- ment indicating age and rate of growth. Photograph by J. O. Snyder. THE COLLECTION OF STATISTICS. The statistics collected ])\ the Commission are for the purpose of detecting overfishing in case it occui^s, and for the study of the great natural changes which oceui- in the abundance of the fish. It is, perhaps, not generally known and appreciated that fishery statistics in general are verv defective, so much so, indeed, that it seems futile to 54 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. even attempt to use them in diseussing' the condition and the liability to overfishing of such great fisheries as those for the sardine or herring. This is all the more true in that until recently no data have been collected to throw light upon those great natural changes which confuse all present attempts to detect overfishing in such species as the sardine. To emphasize this fact we give the views of one of the greatest French authorities, Louis Fage, on the sardine, an opinion which may, in greater or less degree be held true of almost all great fisheries. As Fage remarks, the available work on the sardine indicates that while the insufficiency of our knowledge of the sardine is due in large part to the lack of method and correlation in research, it is also due to the lack of available records as to the course of the fisheries and the fluctuations in their returns. Many of the questions which arise must be solved solely by statistics, which must be well made and comparable; and, as he says emphatically, it is astonishing to note the insufficiency of statistics for such a great fishery. Those of France have had their basis changed thrice, those of Portugal are based on sale prices, those of Spain and Italy are nonexistent, while the statistics in England, although good, are very recent. He enumerates the facts which should be included in these records,, and are not, such as the monthly landings, the dates of appearance, the average sizes, etc., and ends with a statement the truth of which must be recognized, "La statistique bioloque de la peche, telle que Hjort (1914) I'a definie, devra s'imposer, tot ou tard, a tons les pays soucieux d 'exploiter ration- nellement leurs mers".* (Biological statistics of the fisheries, such as Hjort has defined, must be collected sooner or later by all the countries desirous of exploiting their seas rationally.) The statistics which the Commission is collecting are of the nature required for the following of the actual catch as it shows the abundance of fish, and for the study of the natural changes occurring. They are therefore of two kinds, of equal importance. One kind deals with the amount of the catch, giving riot merely the grand total, but also the catch per boat, with the species, place of landing, etc., and can be compiled day by day if desired. This type of data is that which is mentioned in the above Cjuotation as so lacking in the sardine fisheries. The California statistics of this kind are gathered by means of the carbon duplicates of fishermen's receipts for fish delivered to the dealers or canners. This system is described in greater detail in a previous biennial report. (Biennial Report of the California Fish and Game Commission, 1918-1920, pp. 56-58.) It is cared for by assistants of the Commission in San Diego, San Pedro, IMonterey and San Francisco. This year has seen the statistics for the fifth successive year correctly filed and deposited in the State Fisheries Laboratory for safe-keeping. The records are filed by the name of the individual boat, year by year, and it is possible from them tn trace the size of the daily catches for any species at any time. Tlic total take by locality has been regularly reported every three months in the quarterly publication, CaijIpornia Fish and Game, by an assistant devoting his time to such work. More detailed statistics are being at present compiled for the alhacore fishery by two assistants engaged under a co-operative agree- •Danish Oceanographical Expedition, Clupeidw, 1920. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIiM, REPORT. 55 nient with the Bureau of Fisheries. These statistics are, we believe, very accurate, more' so than those collected by any other government, and should be of especial worth as giving the individual catch per boat, upon which any real comparison of abundance in successive years must be based. This system, being unicjue, and original, has had its troubles in getting started, there being no precedents to guide in the collection and tiling of the "pink tickets" as the duplicate receipts are termed. There is at present, however, no doubt but that this system is now in full working order. As has been found in Europe by bitter experience, these data as to the catch per boat must be interpreted in the light of the nature of the boats and their equipment. Any change in the catching power of a boat necessarily conditions the comparison of its catches from year to year. Therefore, change in gear employed must be carefully watched. With this end in view the Commission has, in accordance with a law providing for it, required the registration each year of the boats and their gear. Necessarily incomplete at the start, each year has seen the list of boats registered more complete, as they have returned to fishing or as new boats have been put into use. This forms a natural com- plement to the records of catches landed, and is indispensable. From these records of catches and of boats used, there are incidentally compiled the usual form of statistics as to total catch by periods and by localities, as well as by species. The obtaining of such totals is, it is pointed out, entirely incidental and does not serve the primary purpose of the work, the furthering of our knowledge of the abundance of the various species concerned. It does, however, provide a measure of the commercial importance of the industry, and is of interest to the public. Such statistics have been issued by the Commission, as noted above, for each quarter of the year. The second type of statistics are in Europe termed "biological sta- tistics." These are taken by means of samples of the catch, and show the varying composition of ih e same in regard to sex, size, etc. They are indispensable in understanding the great natural fluctuations which occur, for those great fluctuations are characterized, and indeed consist of, changes in the internal composition of the catch. Examples of their great usefulness are found in such fisheries as the herring and salmon. These statistics are at present being gathered in two great fisheries, that for the sardine and that for the albacore, by the State Fisheries Laboratory, and the results are being properly organized for use by the assistants engaged. It is regrettable that such biological statistics have been collected for but two fisheries, but the time and thought necessary to organize the proper methods have been too much to permit of branching into more fields. Now, however, that the possibilities and necessities of these two cases are well known and can be eml)odied in a formal routine, it may be possible to enlarge the scope. It is, however, necessary in each case to carefully survey the data obtainable and to carry research far enough to decide upon what the main changes to be expected are. It is also necessary to decide what amount of sampling will correctly define the characteristics of the catch which must l)e followed during their changes. 56 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. It must be remembered that putting these systems into actual practice is no mean achievement. Adequate statistics of this sort have been so rarely attempted that the principles and organization necessary have had to be discovered by experience, as will be particu- larly shown in the forthcoming report upon the sardine. We are sure, as a result of this M-ork, that the administration of our fisheries in California is upon the best and most modern basis possible. And although the results of this may not at their inception be spec- tacular, they will and are proving themselves the indispensable, solid basis which is at present so entirely lacking for European fisheries. The collection of biological statistics (the second type) is a function of the State Fisheries Laboratory. A report on its work in connection with these and upon biological questions follows, dealing, however, wiily with the accomplishment of the first stage in the digestion and analysis of the accumulated data. The collection of these statistics as a whole must proceed as routine duties. They have been regularly performed, and results will follow from them in due time. Respectfully submitted. N. B. SCOFIELD, In charge Commercial Fisheries. REPORT OF THE STATE FISHERIES LABORATORY. PERSONNEL. Since the submission of the last report very great changes in the per- sonnel of the laboratory have occurred. The consideration of these changes will indicate certain alterations which necessarily have to be made in program and in organization in order that the work will con- tinue and be fruitful ; and it will explain certain limitations which have been put upon the work. Upon the employment of Mr. W. F. Thompson to direct the scientific work in southern California, it was necessary to obtain and train assistants, since none already trained were obtainable. Mr. Elmer Higgins, Mr. W. L. Scofield, Mr. 0. E. Sette, Mr. Harlan B. Holmes, Miss Frances N. Clark, and Dr. Tage Skogsberg, comprised the staff of the State Fisheries Lal)oratory at the time of the last biennial report. All of these had received their training in fisheries and statistical work in the State Fisheries Laboratory, and they had at that time reached a, stage ill their training whicb ])romised M-ell for the future. All of these assistants, with tiie exeeption of Mr. W. L. Scofield, have, however, now left the Commission, either for the service of the Federal Bureau of Fisheries or for work at universities. It has become very apparent that the retention of these assistants when fully trained will require a higher standard of salary and greater provision for permanency of employment than at present offers, since there is veiy o])viously a shortage of such men in the United States. It has ])een realized tluit the training of these men has been an accomplishment whi(;h can not fail to be of importMuce to the progress TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 57 of fishery science, and it has at the same time been found that the work finished during- the period of training' has been of high order. It can not be expected that reports of scientific work accomplished can l)e pro- duced readily by men who have never before done original research, but what is produced ranks high in freshness of viewpoint and thoroug-hness of treatment. There need therefore be no regrets for the time and effort spent in training these assistants, and there has been no hesitation in starting the training of a new group. It must at the same time be realized that such a process can not go on indefinitely. The direction of such work becomes a difficult task, and Avill become increasingly so. since it is well-nigh impossible for the director to specialize in all of the several lines to the necessary extent. Sooner or later mature investigators must be retained to make at least a working nucleus. It is necessary for a competent fisheries investigator to be trained in a highly technical way. He must have instruction and drill in the classification and anatomy of fishes, in the methods of determining age, growth. spaAATiing habits, and in the collection of data and in its handling according to modern statistical methods. In addition he must be widely read and well informed in the fisheries work of foreign countries, and in knowledge of distribution of life within the ocean. To this end considerable time must be expended by each assistant along these several lines, as their relation to the problem upon which he is engaged becomes apparent. There have now been appointned as new members of the staff Mr. Harold H. Greene, Mr. W. A. Selle, and Miss Ruth R. Miller, who, with Mr. Thompson and Mr. AY. L. Scofield (resident at Monterey), make up the present staff. In addition there have been appointed two assistants under a cooper- ative agreement with the Federal Bureau of Fisheries. The text of this agreement is incorporated in the following letter: April 22, 11>24. Mr. Will F. Thompson, State Fisheries Laioratoii/. East San Pedro, California. Mr dear Mr. Thompson : The sugKestion has recentl\- been made that the Bureau of Fisheries might well cooperate with the California Fish and Garne Oommi.ssion in the work which you are doing. We are interested in doing this for two reasons : First, in order to aid in the imiwrtant investigations of the sardines and tuna which you are making; and second, in order to provide an opportunity for more young men to be trained under your supervision. I appreciate very keenly the good work which you are doing and especially the renjarkable success which you have had in interesting younger workers in fishei"j' investigations and in giving them a broader viewpoint of fishery matters and a knowledge of, and expei'ience with, the best methods for attacking the complicated problems involved in work of this character. As you well know, it is, at the present time, extremely difficult to get men proi)erly trained in fishery investigation or men capable of collecting and studying fishery statistics. It is proposed that we reserve out of our allotments for tln' fiscal year of ir)2."i (July 1. 11^>24, to .Tune 30, 192.>) a fund of .$2/)(X) to be expended in the employment of two men to work under your supervision. One thousand dollars of tliLs is to be allotted from the appropriation of Scientific Inquiry and is to go toward paying the salary of a man to work on an investigation of the fi.=5heries of California. Another .$1,(XK> is to be allotted from the ai>propriation of the Division of Fishery Industries and is to go toward paying the salary of a man to work on the statistics of the fisheries of California. The California Fish and Game Commission may pay as 58 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. much more in the wav of salaiT to these men as it desires. The selection of men will be left to you, but it is suggested that they be either college graduates or men in their senior year; and preferably men who will be interested in engaging per- manently in fishery work. If you are unable to secure competent ones we will try CO find men on the east coast w^ho are capable. It may also be possible for uS to send out one of the men on our regular staff who can profit by the training you may be able to give. There is to be nc restriction, so far as the Bureau of Fisheries is concerned, upon the activities of these men— both are to work as you may direct. The only thing we ask is that whenever the positions in the Bureau are made available they shall feel free, so far as the California Commission and yourself are concerned, to accept. A copy of this letter is being sent to Mr. Scofield and if the proposed plan meets with his approval and yours, the necessary funds will be reserved and will be available for use after the first of next July. If the plan works successfully it is our desire to continue it during future years. Very sincerely yours. (Signed) Henry O'Malley, Commissioner. There is no short cut to knowledge or to the accomplishment of research, which is the extension of the boundaries of knowledge. The director has therefore at the present time found himself not merely responsible for his own research, but for those of his assistants as well. It is fortunate indeed that students of high enough caliber can be secured to render this course feasible. ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL. The work done during the past two years has been moulded to a very appreciable extent by these changes in the staff. Previous to the departure of the assistants wlio have left our service, every endeavor was made to bring their work to the point of publication. This was in itself a rather difficult matter, as anyone familiar with the vicissitudes of research will recognize. The net result was a temporary concentra- tion of attention upon the sardine reports, since the resigning assistants were engaged thereupon, but the field work was not neglected and the continuity of our records of the fishery has not suffered. The publica- tion of the work on the albacore has, however, been badly delayed. Now that the sardine work has been brought to the completion of the first publication, the available new assistants have been concentrated upon the albacore data, leaving two to carry on the sardine field work at Monterey and San Pedro. Whether the analysis of the all)acore catch can be completed in time to be of use this coming session of the legislature remains to be seen. No effort will be spared. SARDINE WORK. The first stage of the sardine work lias now l)een completed and the reports thereon are now at hand for printing. The significance of what has been found needs to be emphasized and clearly explained, because it points the way to the future of the work and indicates certain possi- bilities in regard 1o \hr fiitiir(> of tlio iTidusti-ics do])ondpnt upon the sardine. The stated purposes of the investigations have been fully outlined in previous Biennial Reports, in Fish Bulletin No. 2 and in Fish and Game, Vol. 6, pages 10-12, 32, 83, 180-182. They include: (1) The detection of depletion ; (2) the discovery of whatever great natural flue- t'\.\t:nty-eighth biennlm, report. 59 *0OOU>i iOOCUbi IOCX>Ux. 60° S0° -j^>,- Ai/^i/ir - CaKh of o/boco^e >/u/vi4 ta Ocfbbff/2,/S/S comporctf wirh daily mm imom temperature at Santa Sarbara for the some p«r>oef ^•^^^^ timoeroture ^"—— Catttt Fig. 12. The catch of albacore varies with the temperature. In this graph, temperature data have been set back three days so that that for July 27, for instance, appears on tlie same ordinate as does the catcli recorded for July 24. tuations occur, whether in abundance or in quality; (3) the foretelling of these fluctuations; (4) the analysis of whatever migrations occur, in order that the interdependence of fish of diflierent regions may be known, and (5) the foundation of measures for protection in case depletion should occur. Of these purposes, the second, although naturally not of greater importance, must precede all the others. It would be impossible to detect depletion, were the natural changes unknown ; and, as is made very clear in the law under which we work and in our published papers, the conservation of our fisheries must be set above all else. The thorough understanding of the natural changes leads to their foretelling and to the assignment of the proper causes for instances of decline in abundance. The analysis of the migrations is necessary primarily in -^^/7i.fart Fig. 13. Comparison of the amount of barracuda, white sea bass, and yellow- tail caught by purse seiners and that taken by other boats. Black : W'efkly landings by purse seiners at San Pedro, 1922. White: Weekly landings by other boats at San Pedro, 1922. order that the extent of tlie effect of overfishing or of natural over- al)undance in a given locality upon other localities, may be determined. It is nevertheless true that the discovery and correct definition of the great natural fluctuations in abundance is an end in itself. Thev must 60 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. be of great economic importance to the trade, because upon tbem depends the success or failure of the fishing, and their assignment to natural causes must be an insurance against rash and ill-advised restrictive legislation. In these first reports upon the sardine it has been sought to accurately indicate the actual changes which occur, regardless of traditional beliefs regarding the species, and it has been sought to emphasize the fact that the present work is part of a permanent program; that not only does conservation of marine fishes require the eternal vigilance of a well- handled statistical system, but that the understanding or foretelling of natural changes requires continuous study. SCOPE OF THE REPORTS. It must be understood before the findings of the work are presented, that a rigid adherence to a practical end was insisted upon from each of the assistants. This, the understanding of the commercial catch, necessitated first of all the accurate portrayal of that catch as it actually existed. It was realized that a theory is of no use if the thing it is supposed to explain does not exist, and that a secure basis of fact must exist for any theory. Therefore, instead of presupposing a com- plex of migrations and miscellaneous phenomena to which almost any- thing could be assigned, and which fishermen's theories and observa- tions should be regarded as proving, it was sought to impartially and rigidly record the facts of the run of fish. Our reports are, therefore, not attempts to explain phenomena which we merely suppose to exist, but they are records of what phenomena actually do appear. The first and most natural step in such a rigidly scientific procedure, was to find out how extensive our records must be to show the tenden- cies we desired to analj'ze. The only feasible way to accomplish this was to make sure that we had determined these tendencies as nearly as might be, by securing an excess of records. Then, by breaking these into independent series and comparing them, the degree of divergence one from the other would indicate to what extent the catch was dis- torted by reducing the extent of the record. Were two entirely inde- pendent series of samples of the catch similar in what they show^ed, then the inference is fair that what they indicated must he the truth. This is tlie phase of the problem dealt with by Mr. Sette. Mr. Sette has shown that to obtain a picture of the year's catch which is sufficiently correct to use, it is necessary to sample the commercial catch twice a week. He has shown that systems of samjiling used by other investigators upon the herring wouUl be entirely inad(M(uate in the case of the sardine. In coming to this conclusion he was not aided 1>\- m\y analysis of their own methods made by these investigators and we l)elieve that our anlaysis of what is necessary is one of the first to be made for any great fishery. Upon this basis of what we knew was necessary, the remaining reports ;ii-c made l)y Mi". Elmer Higgins, Mr. W. L. Scofield and Mr. W. F. Tliompson. ^riicy constitute a presentation of the coiumcrcial catch as a rigid system of sam])]ing shows it. Mr. Iliggins and Mr. Scofield show that tliere is a well-marked change ill tlic catch from year jo yeai' and that the al)iindantl\' n'|)i-esented sizes shift in a consistent way from year to year. This change is due TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 61 to tlie incoming of aJDundant groups of sizes, which then from year to year increase in length until lost in the mass of larger fish. They furthermore show that there may he periods several years in length during which the spawning is relatively unsuccessful. They can not, however, follow the progress of these groups above twenty-two centimeters. Their data show the passage of but one of these periods of poor spawning, and there is no ground as yet for assuming any definite regularity in the appearance of this phenomenon of dominant and sup- pressed groups. On the contrary it is expected that these periods of nonsuccess in spawning will vary greatly in length, and that at any time there may ensue periods of such length as to, for the time being, practically sweep out of existence the sardine fishery — for the smaller sizes at least. This same thing has happened in European herring fisheries. The advantage to the canners of keeping their product diversified should be plain. of pounds 200 V\G. 14. Amount of sardines in total California catch, i;il5-1923. It was also attempted by Mr. Higgins to correlate the sizes of sardines taken with the numbers of fish packed in the pound oval cans. He reports that the changes observed in the catch by our sampling methods are reflected in the pack of the canners. It is therefore possible to prophesy the take. A tentative effort at prophesying the catch during the season 1923-1924 was successful at San Pedro. There is nothing at all remarka1)le in this, considering the firm basis upon which our records are founded, and it is the conviction of the staff' that we may look forward with assurance to the time when very definite and valuable forecasts can be given the canners. It is, however, felt that considerable caution is vet necessarv in the use of this possibility. 62 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. An examination of the data from San Pedro by Mr. Thompson led to a report npon the extent to which the changes could be followed. The net result Avas to show that there is a cei*tain independence between the fisheries for large and for small fish. This leaves it doubtful whether a class which was dominant during passage through the smaller sizes would remain so during passage through the larger sizes. A certain year group might appear to be very abundant while it is among the smaller sizes, simply because the few age groups with which it would be compared are on a low level of abundance. But upon becoming one of the large sizes which run during January and Febru- ary the age groups with which it is contrasted are many more in number and may include among them equally dominant ages. There is, therefore, a necessity for careful observation as to just how far these conditions limit the prophesying of the catch. There is also room for thought in regard to just how far these phenomena limit our ability to detect depletion from overfishing. In discovering this it is necessary to rely upon two criteria which can not well be considered separately. The first of these is naturally the decrease in actual numbers of fish in the ocean. The second is a decrease in the average length of life of the individuals, or, in different words, the decrease in relative numbers of old fish, a decrease in the proportion of survivals. The presence of this great variation in numbers contained in a year class, which we have termed the phenomenon of dominance or of sup- pression, at once raises the question as to whether a lack of fish is due to the "natural" lack of success in spawning the younger fish, rather than to overfishing. This "natural" lack, however, would be accom- panied by a greater abundance of the older fish, overfishing by a lesser abundance. The phenomena of dominant age groups, which we have demonstrated, therefore throws the burden of proof of overfishing upon the second criterion, namely the decrease in average length of life, which would accompany the greater death rate caused by intensive fishing. The determination of the average length of life involves a com- parison of the young and old age classes. In many species it may well be a fair presumption that the younger age classes are always of approximately the same abundance, the success of spawning not vary- ing, so that at any given time the percentage of survival at a greater age may be determined at least approximately by the direct comparison of that older age group with the younger ages present. However, as we have shown in the sardine, the nature of the fishery and the errors in the necessary method of sampling, effectively preclude a reliable comparison of the smaller and larger fish, Avhich represent the young and old. There is, then, nu choice for us in our observation of the sardine fishery, save to rely upon following each year class through its life liistory, and to compare its abundance at each stage with an average obtained by many years' observation. The difficulties in so doing are manifold. We have therefore come to the conclusion that it is better in the case of the sardine to frankly face the possibility that we may not be able to detect overfishing until that overfishing has progressed fartlier than it might be wise to allow. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAIj REPORT. 63 It is entirely possible- that some such inadequacy of data lies at the basis of the prevalent idea that "pelagic" species snch as the herring are inexhaustible. I would therefore like to propose in this biennial report the use pend- ing the perfection of our knowledge, of the only alternative method possible, which is regrettably crude. This, the direct observation of the fishing methods, with careful record of place of fishing, apparatus, methods, and sizes of catches, should allow us to roughly compare at any desired time the relative difficulty of taking the two classes of fish, old and young. These two classes run at different times of the year, and these observations should allow us to make some estimate of their actual abundance relative to one another. In other words, our work has shown us that instead of observing a single unified fishery for the size of the catches and duration of life, we find ourselves compelled to correctly determine the catches in two more or less independent phases of the fishery, and to compare the course of the two. This is a more funda- mental and more difficult task than one would realize at first glimpse. It throws a very great responsibility upon those having in their care the collection of fishery statistics and the observation of fishery methods. But could it be shown that the fishery for old fish is persistently on a decline in comparison to that for young fish it would be fair to presume overfishing, unless change in methods or apparatus accounted for the increase in young. However, to summarize the whole, there can not be a shadow of a doubt that the securing of more refined evidence may be delayed beyond wliat it should be — our work has clearly indicated that to the writer. It may well be that our research, carried further, will clear this matter up and provide means whereby depletion can be detected at an early date. Thus our studies upon the seasonal run of fish may show that at some one part of the season the various classes of fish are all represented at once, and that a correct evaluation of their relative abundance may be obtained. In fact, the development of our knowledge and the per- iJO CO C^ oO CT> CD CTi cr> a-) m o cvj cvl of Iba. ■■" / ^^ / / / ^y/ ^s \ / // \ // ''/ i ^ \ / / . / V \ > / / \ ^' / ^ ta^ / / -»-"*" .»..^5^N ,011^2— ^^ L--- '"-.. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Fig. 15. California sardine catch by statistical districts, 1915-1923. 64 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. fection of theory may lead ultimately to the accurate observation of the condition of the species. Xo trouble or expense should be spared to accomplish this end, since the sardine fishery promises to increase far beyond its present bounds, and since the problems to be met with in the sardine investigation are faced in other great fisheries, but have never been solved. The sardine is a source of food for almost all our other great fisheries, such as the albacore, barracuda, sea bass, and tuna. Tampering with its abundance may result disastrously to many interests — and in the absence of any clear-cut and sensitive method of detecting overfishing, the greatest caution must be used. The writer has convinced himself that unnecessary drain upon the supply should be avoided until research has shown that it is possible to detect overfishing in time, and for that reason it is his belief that the use of sardines for fertilizer should l)e emphatically condemned, and a more conservative growth of the fishery awaited. Were we considering the use of the water in a great river, would it be wise to recklessly disregard all the industries which might be dependent upon the uninterrupted continuance of its flow? Would it not be wiser to use the water only when its use was clearly more valuable than the industries dependent upon it? And in the meantime, the need to develop our technique of detection of overfisliing can not be too emphatically stated. No other agency than the state government is in a position so to do, and no government has as yet succeeded in developing such technique, or indeed, made any thorough attempt at it. The program of investigation of the sardine has, however, indicated tlhat the prophesying of the commercial catch a short period in advance is possible and feasible and there is every prospect that further study will refine and perfect our methods. This is indeed fortunate, as hope of detecting overfishing in the future depends upon the thorough analysis of the catch, an object that is justified by its practical results alone. This analysis of the catch will accomplish another important end, namely, 'the clear understanding of the cases in which success in spawn- ing is lacking for a number of years, causing fish to become scarce, and ])ringing into existence an urgent popular demand for radical restric- tion of the fishery. In such cases it is going to be possible to show that the older fish are not particularly affected by the particular cause of the scarcity, and it should be possible to prophesy the restoration of the fishery in time to avoid undue restriction. In conclusion, the net results of the sardine investigations are that the present program is correct in the main but that more careful atten- tion must ])e given to the statistics of catch and to the recording of method. It is going to be possible to foretell the catch, although detec- tion of overfishing is shown to be further removed. THE ALBACORE INVESTIGATION. During llie past two seasons observations have been inade u])()n the albacore runs, as usual. The results from these have been filed away, but are now being subjected to analysis since the completion of the sardine work has allowed the concentration of the assistants ujion the data. The report upon the albacore, which has been for some time in TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 65 the final stages, lias Jiot been completed for publication, and it is not, at present writing, known how soon the writer can resume work upon it. The material has collected faster than analysis can be made by the much- interrupted labors of a single investigator, the more so as at times he has lacked assistance of any kind. It is possible, however, to give a resume of the results of the M'ork, which are of very considerable interest, especially when compared to those of the sardine. In common with all investigations carried on by the Fish and TJame Commission, the primary purpose of the work is to watch carefully for evidences of depletion from overfishing. Of this there have to date been found no good evidences in the albacore fishery, despite the decline in catch. In view of this, the writer is not ready to recommend restric- tive legislation which might aggravate a scarcity very probably due to the habits of the fish. The great changes visible in the albacore catch and the distribution of the fishing grounds cannot well be assigned to overfishing on the basis of our present knowledge. The abrupt cessation in 1923 of the fishing in the more northerly of the frequented grounds is not at all character- istic of overfishing, if tlie history of other fisheries can be taken as any criterion. Nor is it consistent therewith that the fishing near San Diego should be unusually successful at the same time. Furthermore, the decline to the north has been a failure to take fish from what schools were present, whereas were overfishing and depletion the cause there should be every reason to expect occasional good catches from small schools. Unless these phenomena, upon investigation and analysis by means of our statistical records, prove to have other meanings than they apparently have, there is need for caution in coming to a conclu- sion. Overfishing may nevertheless be taking place, despite this great vari- ability. Developments in fishery science have served to indicate how complex the factors may be which govern the abundance of fish, and have rendered it questionable whether overfishing can always be dis- tinguished from great natural fluctuations. It would therefore })e advisable to conserve the species in so far as possible until our knowledge of basic principles of fishery science can be more clearly applied. On the one hand, our work has indicated to us that the variability in the runs of albacore, just as in the runs of sardines, must delay recognition of overfishing and must throw increased emphasis upon the necessity for correct and thorough statistics of the catch. Our "pink ticket" system must become the foundation stone for oiir biological analysis. But, on the other hand, the possibility of detecting overfishing is heightened by the relative lack of variability in the numerical strength of incoming age classes, since some clue may very probably be obtained to the length of life. Analysis is proceeding along this line. The task is a considerable one, but providing there is a lessening in the propor- tion of mature taken, accompanying a decline in the catch, as shown by our "pink tickets," it will be safe to attempt restriction of the fishery, we believe. If this uniformity of incoming year classes continues in evidence despite closer analysis and the records of succeeding years, there will l)e no opportunity to foretell the catch by those methods so readily applied in the case of the sardine, becau.se of the dominance of certain age groups and the suppression of others in that species. 5—34744 66 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. In lieu of fluctuations in catch due to the presence of dominant or suppressed age groups, there have been found great changes due to the sensitiveness of the albaeore to physical conditions. At the present stage of the work, this analysis has been carried only so far as to com- pare the different sections of the individual runs. It will, however, now be attempted to carry the analysis to a comparison of the annual changes with whatever oceanographical or climatological data are available. It is entirely possible that the albaeore runs as a whole vary with, and that their magnitudes are the result of, conditions existing previous to the runs themselves. In such case the prophesying of the commercial catch may be possible. Such a case has been supposed to exist in regard to the mackerel off the British coasts, but the data upon which the reasoning was based seem to us very unsatisfactory ancl as they have never been followed up. we can place no dependence upon the relationship supi:)0sed to exist. It would appear that our knowledge of the albaeore runs is so thorough that we can logically hope for far more satisfactory results than in that case, and it is the present inten- tion to follow the work through. It is the hope of the laboratory staff that it may at some time in the future be able to utilize a boat in following up this clue to the behavior of the albaeore. This boat should make a daily traverse of a given region, taking careful scientific records, until a run occurred. Thereby it would be possible to definitely assign the runs of fish to the correct causes. As we have plotted the localities in which runs occur, it seems to us entirely feasible to accomplish this. It may be pointed out that, as in the case of the sardine, there has been attained at least partially th»^ first step in tlie understanding of the catch. The varying characteristics of the catch have been accurately recorded, and the actual variation brought to light as far as possible, both as regards the varying classes of fish taken, and as to the varying size of the catches. This, the first step in any scientific analysis of a natural phenomenon, is a secure basis upon which to base decisions. However, in considering the detection of overfishing we have found that the presence of this great variability in catch has the same effect — in lesser degree perhaps — that it did upon the detection of overfishing in the case of the sardine, that is, to render it more difficult. A per- sistent decrease in proportion of mature fish and in average catch per boat must be brought to light, and must exceed so clearly the inci- dental variations as to ])e unmistakably significant. Not merely must there be known the proportion oi' each age in the samples obtained by this rigid system, Imt there must be carried forward a comparison of the average boat catcii each year during the runs of the smaller or larger fish. The need for llic "pink ticket" system is obvious and great. It can not be dispensed with lest we lose the most of our signifi- ^ cant evidence. W The bearing upon theories of migration of the observed correlation ^ between the albacoi-c runs and the changes in climatological factors, deserves to be sharply emi)hasized. It has been possible to demonstrate this correlation to a sufficient extent so that it seems fairly certain that the minor intraseasonal so-called "runs" are not due to incoming schools but to schools whicli are already present. None of the evidence of migration has been found to bear critical examination. We must TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 67 conclude that whatever inigTation occurs is not responsible for the peculiarities of the fishery. The great variations in locality of the season's catches are impossible of comparison with any of the great proved migrations, sucli as those of the salmons, the eel, or the birds, for in no one of those cases are the appearances abrupt and unrelated one to another, nor in any one case are the migrations omitted or partially aborted as was the run of albacore during 1923 in southern California. Furthermore, the appear- ance of the albacore in our waters is not preceded by its presence in any other waters. It seems, therefore, plain to us that our albacore fishery consists of fish belonging to our own or ofl:shore and deeper waters, and that these reappear each spring as soon, and no sooner, than they begin to take bait at the surface. At present there seems to us to l)e two lines along which this phase of the albacore work, that of the study of movements, may be followed, in addition to the main one of correlating the catch with observed physical conditions. One of these lines is to carry out an intensive study aimed at the distinction of our albacore from that of any other region. This would be expensive work and wouhl involve work in Hawaii or in foreign countries. The other would be an intensive search for the spawning places of the albacore. This, wiiich w^ould at least require very expensive sea-going vessels, and is not within our reach at present, would be little likely to succeed, since the discovery of a few eggs and young would be far from establishing the spawning place of the species. The rate of growth of the albacore has been investigated as thor- oughly as possible. The work upon this, which has been difficult because of the indistinctness of age marks upon the scales or bones, shows that the occasionally present youngest fish are 21| inches long and just com- pleting their second year ; that the group of medium-sized fish, usually the smallest size taken, average about 27 inches in length and are finish- ing their third year; and that the larger fish, of 38 or 40 inches in length are in the eighth year or older. PURSE SEINE INVESTIGATION. Dr. Tage Skogsberg has completed his investigation of the purse seiners and has left the service of the Commission for employment at Berkeley. His report is a very exhaustive treatnient of the facts upon which regulation of that fishery must be based. He gives a descrii)ti()n of the industry and its history, deals fully with the importance of the purse seine method to the fresh fish supply and to the canneries, and analyzes their effect upon the supply and price of fish. He then con- siders them in relation to the various species which they take, such as the barracuda, the white sea bass, the yellow tail, and tlir Miic-lin tuna. His conclusions as to the possibilities and results of proliibitive or restrictive legislation are carefully considered, and he points out their great importance in the future development of our sea fisheries. The fact that the purse seine fishery Was enormously expanded in response to the wartime demand is well shown. Although the puree seiner Alpha operated as early as 1893, yet it was not until 1915 that expansion took place. In that year five boats were used. But each 68 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. year saw successful fishing and high prices, until in 1920 more than a hundred boats were operating. That such an enormous growth could be called forth on demand demonstrated tliat in case of war need great supjjlies of food can be drawn from our A\aters. But since then the demand has slackened, and certain of the fisheries not having been productive, there have been hard times in the purse seine fleet (at least until the time of completion of the report). It is also clearly shown, that regardless of the nationality of the fishermen, the ownership of the fleet has come to rest in the hands of the banks and of moneyed men. The fishery is not, therefore, a process of "fattening" the "alien" at our expense. The purse seiners are shown to be of the greatest importance to the several fisheries. Almost all the blue-fin tuna taken is brought in by purse seiners, and the canning of this species is dependent upon them. They also take a very large part of the yellow-fin tuna and the bonito usecl for canning. Of three species which are very important in the fresh fish market, namely the barracuda, white sea bass, and yellow tail, the supply during the winter half of the year is ahnost altogether obtained from the purse seiners. Although Dr. Skogsberg's analysis covered l)ut six months of the year it is evident that the purse seine is responsi- ble for nearly half the supply of fresh fish markets at Los Angeles liar])or. Examination of the individual fisheries shows no conclusive evidence of a harmful effect by the purse seiners. In the case of the barracuda the purse seiners are especially important as bringing fish from Mexico, thus lightening the demand upon our local fisheries, and acting as an aid in their conservation. The method is not more harmful than those of other great fisheries. Young fish are caught in excessive numbers in but a small portion of the year, a fault which could be readily corrected by a close season. In regard to the white sea bass, the same may be said as to the effect of the purse seiners in tapping distant grounds, and but few young bass are caught. Nor are there any evidences of overfishing in the cases of the yellow tail or blue-fin tuna. Dr. Skogs- berg concludes that overfishing must be discovered by careful biological study of the catches, and that as long as a given supply is to be taken from the water, the purse seines are as efficient and reasonable a means of so doing as any. It is evident from the report that any radical restriction of the purse seine fishery will result in rendering the supply of fresh fish precarious and inade(|uate, and that — instead of conserving our sui)plies — a much greater strain will be imposed on our local waters. Dr. Skogsberg recommends the making of a close season during April and May, as a ])i-()tection to the young barracuda then taken in numbers. Df. Slcogs1)erg's report is reviewed here at some length because it is indicative of the knowledge such woi-ls can phicc in the luinds of the administrator and the legislatoi-, and because it demonstrates the great value of our statistical system of boat catches, the "i)ink ticket" from which it was largely taken. He had time only to analyze the catches for a period of six months and there should be a similaV analysis of the i-emaining.six. There is no reason why such an analysis of boat catches cannot be carried on con- tinuously and i)resented in addition to the ordinary statistics of catch, for such an analysis may be made a step in the obtaining of the total TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIiVL REPORT. 69 catch. But the essential necessity on the part of the compiler for a knowledge of the biology of the fish and for a knowledge of statistical methods is obvious from a perusal of Dr. Skogsberg's report. For that reason it is elsewhere urged tliat changes be made in our organization which will allow of the development of such a system of reports. GRUNION INVESTIGATION. ]\Iiss Frances N. Clark, wlio was with the laboratory during the first year of the last biennial period, is now at the University of Michigan seeking a liigher degree. She is, while there, undertaking an investiga- tion of the gninion and of our common market smelts. The laboratory has taken samples of these species at regular periods, and has forwarded them to her for analysis. Her work has progressed through a study of the reproduction and rate of growth of the grunion, and has now begun on a study of the two smelts (Atherinops and Atherinopsis) from the same standpoints. The results of his work are promising to be of considerable importance, especially in the case of the grunion, which will sooner or later require protection, as it has becme a very famous fish on our southern beaches, and is sought by thousands of people during the periods of its runs. LOCAL RACES OF HERRING, SARDINE, AND ANCHOVY. Mr. Carl L. Hubbs, of the Museum of Zoology, University of IMichi- gan, has prepared for publication as a Fish Bulletin of this labora- tory, a report upon the local races of the three commercially impor- tant clupeoid fishes found on our coasts, particularly as the definition of these local races is atfected by seasonal variations. The importance of such investigations is very great, since through them has been expected some clue to the relative interdependence of fishes of different regions. The persistence of a given peculiarity of structure in the fish of a limited region argues that those fish do not migrate extensively beyond the boundaries of the region, and that they do not receive migrants. This would seem to be true regardless of the cause of peculiarity, and regardless of whether the peculiarity is racial, the result of environment, or transitory. The matter is, however, a com- plex one, and must receive intensive analysis, toward which ^Mr. Hubbs has made this contribution. THE LIBRARY. Since July, 1922, the library has received very few books. This is due in part to the necessity for economy, and in part to the ])rolonged absence of a librarian able to devote sufficient time to ordering and caring for accessions. However, enough recent publications have been secured, so that the laboratory investigators have had an opportunity to keep fairly familiar with tlie progress of fishery science. The library as it now exists, although of moderate proportions, eon- tains a good representation of tlie most important work in the subjects of interest to the research men stationed here. It has of course been the aim of those in charge of selecting ])ooks to eiiii)liasize sueli material as has fundamental significance and definite relation to the [)rol)]enis with which the Commission has to deal, keeping at a mininnun papers of purely local, incidental or general biologic interest. 70 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. The lines of future library development are clear. As in the past, it will be important to spend a certain percentage of the appropriation for current books, especially in view of the fact that fisheries research is now the object of increasing international interest and attention. A set of " Biometrika, " which is the chief journal of statistical method, would be an invaluable addition to our resources. However, the main mode of expansion must be acquisition of desired papers that are scattered in various scientific periodicals. Whenever possible, we will order only the issues which contain the special investigations of interest, so as to avoid purchase of large volumes in which most of the material would be useless. Aside from addition of books, provision for permanent preservation of the collection now shelved becomes more and more necessary. Three- fourths of the material here is in the form of paper-covered pamphlets, which are of course exposed to dust and other deteriorating influences. Their adequate protection requires that they be bound as soon as possible. As far as its immediate usefulness is concerned, the library's chief need is for a systematic catalog. Enlargement of the staff and growth of the library combine to make us acutely conscious of the waste of time consequent upon trying to use unindexed material. We therefore con- sider it essential to build up a catalog that will make available for ready reference the perhaps unrealized resources of the books already at hand. CONCLUSION. In this report, three facts are preeminently worthy of consideration. One is the necessity for retaining good men as guides for our student assistants ; another is the need for giving the scientific work a more stable position and a better relationship to the work of other agencies; and the third is the great emphasis which our work is now throwing upon the necessity for carefully fostering our statistical system. As far as concerns the first two facts, the retention of good men and the per- manence of the program are closely bound together. Good men do not work for the money immediately in sight. They must feel themselves engaged in work which has its place in the world, a place that is recog- nized as worthy. Much of the fishery work which has been carried on in the United States has been transitory and unstable in aim, and the fundamental principles of fisheries conservation have received very little attention because of the evanescent nature of each attempt. We have tried to so formulate our work that it includes those things which are funda- mentally necessary, and we are trusting that our devotion to a cause will not be wasted by the heedlessness of the future. There is, however, little ground at present for this faith in the persistence of the work, and as a result it is hard to persuade anyone that earnest, unselfish work will be worth while, or that the program will last long enough to solve any of the basic problems of fishery research and conservation. In short, the organization of which the laboratory now forms a part exists only in the minds of those who now hold office in and under the Commission. With the passing of these incumbents there will vanish all traces of the carefully thought out permanent program. None of the objectives have been made obligatory, and no provision has been made for seeing that our successors are well informed oi" vvell advised, Under TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 71 I such conditious good men can not be retained, and the following of fundamental and' difficult aims is rendered hopeless. The remedy lies plainly at hand, to formally organize the scientific work, to formally provide for good advice and cooperation from the outside world of science, and to see that our aims are rendered obligatory in so far as is proper and in such a way as to protect them from ignorance or malice. The whole of modern fisheries science teaches the lesson that adequate statistics are continuous statistics ; that conservation implies continuous observation ; and that some of the most fundamental problems are yet unsolved and must be the object of unremitting attack by biologists. And unless our work here can be placed on a permanent basis and pro- vision made for its close, intimate contact with the whole field of work there is little utility in proceeding further. The writer would therefore recommend a legal foundation for the formal organization of the laboratory, the formation of a cooperative arrangement with the Federal Bureau of Fisheries, and the creation of an advisory committee or board to keep a general supervision of the scientific work. The time is most opportune for these things, in that the bureau is friendly, and that the various states are awakening to the need of the study of conservation. By our action we can set a prece- dent whereby the bureau can be made a unifying and con-elating agency between the several states, to the end that cumbrous and awk- ward treaty control can be avoided. The writer would also urge that the work done up to the present has demonstrated the importance of the statistical system, and its intimate connection w^ith the biological work. He would recommend the careful reorganization of the statistical system to free it from any danger of its devotion to erroneous ends, and to place it under the immediate direction of a scientifically trained man. Respectfully submitted. AV. F. Thompson, In charge. REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, PUBLICITY AND RESEARCH. The Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, State of California, Sacramento, Cat. Sirs : It is with a feeling of gratification that I hand you herewith a report on the activities and accomplishments of the Department of Education, Publicity and Research, which you will find, reviews tbe most successful biennial period, so far as service to the ])ul)li(' is con- cerned, since the establishment of the department in 1914. T am more than ever convinced that no more fundamental conservation work can be done than that accomplislied through the development of n public sentiment favorable to wild life conserv^ation. The past biennial period has been marked by increasing demand for lectures and displays of motion pictures. Some of the increased demand has come from the numerous men's clubs such as Rotnry. Lions and Kiwanis. Continued endeavor has been made to reach the numerous 72 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. LECTURES. high schools of the state, as is evidenced by the record which shows that more than thirty were visited during the period. Return engagements are a common thing, showing that lectures and pictures are appreciated. One long-postponed trip to southern California resulted in a series of nineteen lectures and a total attendance of 9275. The demand for lectures continued from fish and game protective associations. A particularly fruitful field of endeavor has been the numerous train- ing classes for scout masters, camp fire guardians and leaders of girl scouts. Eight meetings with such groups have resulted in stimulating the interest of those who deal with boys and girls. Conservation needs can most readily be spread by contact with such groups as these. Each spring, a series of nine lectures on fish and game have been given in a course in forestry at the University of California. These lectures aftord a splendid opportunity for inspiring a student group that later goes out and carries the message of conservation into the field of forestry and industry. The usual series of illustrated lectures have been given at the State Fair at Sacramento each September. The following is a summary of the lectures given : Lectures Given DuriiKj Biennial Period, Juitj 1, I'J.i.i, ■fniir 30, 192Ji. Number of OrRanization High schools (ii'ammar schools Universities and colleges : ','"ivic and public Boy scouts, camp fire girls, etc State Fair Miscellaneous Motion picture films onlj- Tolal.s 168 3S,0G9 lectures .Vttemiance .31 10,223 17 8,100 23 3,21.-) 34 7,0'53 12 447 20 3.250 17 1.481 9 4,300 TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 73 Fig. 16. Studying nature first-hand. Nature guide field e.xeur- sion, Yosemite Valley, Summer, 1924. Photograph by J. Lloyd. SUMMER RESORT EDUCATIONAL WORK. Through cooperation with the National Park Service, opi)ortunity lias been given each suiiiiiipr to buihl up |)iil»li<- sentiment relative to con- servation in Yosemite National Park. The director of your Department of Education and Publicity .spent the summer of P)22 and that of 1!)2.':5 in Yosemite lecturing- and conducting field trips. The results have been most gratifying. ]Many thousands of people have heard conservation lectures and, better yet, have gained first-hand information relative to 74 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. game and nongame species. Personal contact with thousands and the teaching of natural history in the open is laying a worth-while founda- tion upon which the conservation of the future can be built. If "there is no more pitable sight than ignorance in action," then the converse is certainly true, that there is nothing more effective than intelligence in action. Let the people of this state really know the life history and habits of its fauna and its present status, and conservation will be assured. It is a satisfaction to chronicle the fact that the nature guide work in Yosemite has proved so useful that the original goal — a museum and a park naturalist in every national park and a nature guide program every season — is now assured. No little share in the success of the nature guide movement is to be attributed to the farsightedness of the California Fish and Game Commission in supporting the work in its beginnings. "With an increased personnel, the same program of evening lectures and campfire talks, daily tield trips and office hours has been pursued each suunuer with greatl.y increased attendance, as can be seen by reference to the following tables: Attendance Record Yosemite Nature Guide Service. July- August, 1922 . .Tune-Ausust, 1923 May-Juue, 1924 _. Field trips Lectures Number Attendance Number Attendance 99 1,970 43 27,100 22G 3.566 60 49,195 72 939 85 16,202 397 6.475 197 92,497 MOTION PICTURES. The Educational Department has not been in a position to push the use of motion pictures by schools and other organizations because of the small supply of films on hand and because several of the films are badly worn. The only additions made in the past two years were a reel devoted to the life history and habits of the king salmon and several hundred feet on waterfowl in the Sacramento Valley made by ourselves. Particular mention should be made of a fine series of pictures of whistling swans taken in the rice fields of Butte County. A flock of a thousand birds was photographed in a rice field and splendid pictures of the birds in flight were secured on Butte Creek. The need is for a more adequate library of films so that opportunity can be taken of the many requests for their use. Replacement of worn films is particularly urgent. Nor does the demand come from within the state only, for during the past two years, requests have come from four western states and Hawaii for the use of our films. It was necessary to refuse these requests in that the pictures are so constantly used in our own state. During the past biennial period there has been increased demand also for conservation literatnre on tlio ivart of teachers and pupils of the ])uhlic schools. Exidently the public- schools are placing more emphasis upon nature study and conservation and herein lies the reason for increased demand. The Commission's supply of teachers' bulletins is practically exhausted and hundreds of letters are written a year explaijiing that the supply of the bulletin, "Bird Study in the Public TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 75 Fig. 17. The place to teach conservation is out-of-doors. Coopera- tive work in Yogemite is building a better sentiment favoring conservation. Photograph by J. Lloyd. Scliools'' is entirely exhausted. Where can the commission's educa- tional campaign be made more effective than in the schools of the state ? Were we in a position to furnish suitable helps to teachers, much could be accomplished. Stress is here laid upon the urcrent necessity of supplying this great need in the immediate future. In the same connec- tion should be mentioned the opportunity afforded through boy scout organizations. If leaflets or bulletins, suitable for use by scouts, were available, suitable training relative to the conserv^ation of wild life would be included in the educational program of each scout troop. A special fund to cover the preparation and publication of such leaflets and bulletins is most iiiiportaiil. The department again cooperated with tlie State Department of Education in the preparation of a bird and Arbor Day manual. A great deal of material was furnished but funds not being available for the publication of the manual, part of the material was utilized in ;i special number of the "Western Journal of Education." 76 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. As in the past, many eontribntions of specimens of birds and eggs were made to schools and nature study departments. This department of the Commission aims to act as a clearing house for information relative to the teaching of nature study and conservation and also as a source of material for objective teaching. PUBLICATIONS. Volume 8 of California Fish and Game, the quarterly magazine of the Commission, contained 256 pages and 87 illustrations. Two special numbers, a Game Refuge number containing maps of every game refuge in the state and a description of each, and a Hatchery number of 80 pages containing a history of tish-cultural operations in California were issued. Volume 9 contained 192 pages and 41 illustrations. No special numbers were included. The edition of the magazine is now 7000 and the circulation very close to 6500. Many applications from individuals and libraries for early numbers of the periodical in order to complete sets have been received. Unfortunately many early numbers are now so rare as to preclude issuance to any but public libraries or libraries of public or important institutions. There is continued evidence that the magazine is read from cover to cover and numerous commendatory letters have been received. A clean-up of the mailing list in the fall of 1922 resulted in the elimination of only about 200 names. The mailing list grows at the rate of about twenty names per month. One use which the magazine appears to fill regularly is that in the classroom in our high schools where it is constantly used for reference by biology classes. Articles taken from the quarterly often appear in outdoor magazines and in newspapers. Numerous newspaper items have been sent to the more prominent newspapers of the state. These appeared to be well received by editors and nearly always appeared in print. Among the special series of articles should be mentioned a number dealing with books for sportsmen furnished the sporting editor of the San Francisco "E.xaminer," a short series of items dealing with the restoration of Lower Klamath Lake as a breeding ground and a long series of one item a week relative to saving the Klamath River as a fish reserve sent newspapers during the si)ring and sunnner of 1924. Material for several feature articles was furnished. INVESTIGATIONS. Several investigations of importance have been made. They include the destruction of steelhead trout in tbe Pajaro River due to pollution and low water, investigation of the status of game liirds in the marshes of Butte and Sutter counties, fish resources of the Klamath River, and an investigation of the relation of birds and mammals to the foot-and- mouth disease. Th(' latter was occasioned by the continued attempt to place tlie liUime for the spread of the disease upon wild birds and mammals. In the case of the Merced outbreak, ducks and sea gulls were accused. Although many migratory ducks were found on infected areas, yet the disease failed to develop along the line of flight and no positive evidence eould be found, ('erhiin ennlrol measures involving buzzards were advocated near Merced. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 77 An epidemic among- predatory animals in El Dorado County during the spring of 11)24: was found to be the result of rabies, as was shown by a positive test made on a California gray fox. The department continues to eom])ile data on the annual deer kill, on hunting accidents and on the work of the scientific collector. Respectfully submitted. Harold C. Bryant, In cJiarge Education, PuhUcify and EcscarrJi. SACRAMENTO DISTRICT REPORT. Thr Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners of the State of California. Gentlemen: Moving of the board office to Sacramento occasioned considerable reorganization and expansion of the office force. Prac- tically all of the general routine work of the Commission is now handled through this office. Deputies in this division, like those in other parts of the state, have greater areas to patrol than those in most other states. Comi)laints as to law enforcement come largely from those who do not realize the impossibility of being at every place where a violation occurs when one man -has to cover two counties. A larger patrol force is greatly needed. Fig is Ineffective .screening- of an irrigation ditcli was responsible fur this loss of fish life in Butte County. More than 2100 sunflsh are shown in the picture. Photograph by A. E. Culver. 78 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. During the biennial period endiitg June 30, 1924. this division has had to deal with many difficult conservation problems. Chief among them, involving this division, has been the problem presented by a cement power ditch on the American River which menaced the lives of hundreds of deer passing between their winter and summer ranges. It took considerable experimentation to figure out means of getting the deer safely across the canal. The power company cooperated splendidly in rescuing deer and immediately began the construction of a fence which will prevent recurrence another year. One serious problem in this division is found in the numerous projects where streams are wholly diverted from their channels for power purposes. Seldom is proper consideration given the fish thus destroyed. We sincerely trust that companies concerned will not divert all the waters in the streams but will permit sufficient water to flow in the main channels to insure the maintenance of trout life. The South Fork of the American River is one of the best trout streams of the state that is available to the large centers of population. It is useless to plant nearly a million trout in this stream and its tributaries if the water in its channel is allowed to be diverted. l'1(j. 19. Re.sfiiing deer from a power ditch on the American River. Until provision was made for safe crossing of migrating deer many were drowned or frozen and hundreds had to be rescued. Photograph by Euell Gray. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 79 Since much of the 'best shooting ground for waterfowl, as well as tlie best deer country, is found within this district, the enforcement of law occupies an imi)ortant place in our duties. Conservation senti- ment in this district continues to expand, as is shown by the percentage of convictions for violations and the increase in the number of fines inflicted. California deputies each patrol a greater area of square miles than do the deputies of any other state. The force, moreover, is inadequate as compared with conditions in other states. Residents and visitors are now beginning to realize what a great asset fish and game are to the community. In years past few arrests were made and it was almost impossible to secure a conviction by jury even in the face of strong and conclusive evidence. How different today ! The Commission now fearlessly submits the equity of the game laws to a judge or jury. Due to the steadily-growing belief of our best citizens that the fish and game laws are of equal value with other laws on our statute books, the Commission and its officers receive the hearty cooperation of the county prosecutors and justices. A glance at the comparative chart on page 12 will show the tre- mendous burden placed upon our law enforcement deputies. The land area of California comprises 153,650 square miles and has less tlian eighty deputies to patrol its land and water areas and enforce its fisli and game laws, besides it has nearly 1200 miles of coast line. Each Cali- fornia deputy's share of patrol is over 1387 miles, 810 acres of land, and more than 360 acres of freshwater streams and about 11,810 acres of lakes. New York state with but -16,070 square miles has 143 more salaried deputies than has California. The New England states with the addition of New York, Ohio and Delaware comprise less area than California, but have 436 wardens. These states expend $794,028, as compared with California's expenditure of $102,169 for warden service. Yet there are some who are prone to criticise the Commission for not detecting every violation of the fish and game laws. Respectfully submitted. George Neale, In churgc. SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT REPORT. The Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, State of California. Gentlemen : The past two years have noted few changes in game conditions in the San Francisco District. The biennial period, however, has been a severe one for trout on act^ount of the fact tliat tlic rainfall throughout the state was practically half normal and in many places even less than that. Streams that have never failed in previous years have been without water. Very few of the const stn>ams carried enough water to clear the bars at tlie moutlis, with the result that few steelhead were able to make their way into the lagoons, and even when they did the water was so low they could not i-each the si)awning grounds. In certain streams fishing was excellent at the opening of the season the first of May. One of these, the Gualala, in Sonoma County, had 80 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. Fig. 20. A scene on the Klamath River above the Copco dam. J. O. Snyrler. Photograph by particularly good fi.shing during the entire month of May. The river was closed and the fish that were in the lagoon could not make their way into the ocean. One Sunday there were 135 limits taken, the fish measuring from 8 to 10 inches in length. Many limits were taken in less than an hour's time. There were so many fish in the lagoon that by the first of June the fish caught were very poor, there being insufficient feed in the stream to take care of them. The dry season will have a very serious effect on the trout streams of the district. To bring conditions back to normal will require heavy stocking on the part of the Commission. It is hoped that with the return of normal rainfall the ocean steelhead will return and assist in stocking the coast rivers. The shortage of rain, however, is not entirely without some benefit. Predatory fish, such as suckers and hardheads, have been cleared out of many trout streams, and if the contention of many fishermen is true that these species prey largely on trout, newly planted trout will have nothing to do but to grow fat for the anglers. Duck shooting during the biennium was excellent everywhere except in the San Joaquin Valley, where water conditions were not normal. In the Suisun marsh, the .season of 1923-24 was as good as the most enthusiastic duck hunter could desire. The Fish and Game Commission is severely criticized for not entirely stopping the sale of ducks. Few hunters realize how great a task it is to control a matter of this sort. There are bootleggers in ducks as well as other things, we will admit, but as a matter of fact the number of ducks sold in San Francisco now does not equal five per cent of those sold before the nonsale law was adopted. In San Francisco in the old days there were sold every season from three to five hundred thousand ducks. There were game transfer companies in operation, with the permission of the courts, that handled thousands of birds T%VEXTT-EIGHTH BIEXXL^L REPORT. 81 each day. All of this ll'as been stopped. The eomparatively few birds that are now sold are smuggled into San Francisco by automobile and are peddled to those who are willing to take a chance. Restaurants and hotels are searched repeatedly and seldom do the deputies find in excess of the bag limit. The sale of ducks in the field is even more difficult to control. Market hunters will continue to sell birds to unlucky hunters. Such sales are between man and man and it is prac- tically impossible to secure evidence that would warrant the taking of anyone into court. Contrary to many reports, quail have not materially decreased during the past two years. More or less quail shooting can be had in every county of the state. Recently a well informed hunter from San Benito County was in the San Franeiscn office discussing conditions in that county. His estimate as to the number of quail in San Benito County was not less than 100.000 and not more than 200.000 birds. Fortunately, quail are good breeders. The average clutch of eggs is better than 15. "With 100.000 birds or 50.000 pairs as breeding stock, and 15 eggs per pair, in that county alone we have a potential flock of 750,000 quail for the hunters to harvest. Even if only one-tenth of this number of young birds reach maturity, it must be admitted that San Benito County is well supplied with quail. Valley quail can adapt themselves to civilization better than almost any other game bird. You need not go farther than Golden Gate Park or any other similar park in our .state to have this fact proved. Quail, as years go by, are becoming more and more educated as to the ways of the hunter and it is largely for this reason that complaints are received that quail are decreasing. In most sections of the state, as soon as a shot is fired, the quail take to the high brush where it is practically impossible for hunters to do any shooting. The annual kill of deer in California is between 15.000 and 20.000. Deer hunting has increased largely on account of the ease with which the deer country can be reached by automobile. One of the most serious crimes that we have to contend with is the killing of deer at night by spotlight. Xight hunters do not care whether they kill buck, doe or fawn, for they realize that it is extremely difficult to catch them. A deputy must be at the right spot at the right time, otherwise it is practically useless to go into court. We know of no laAv that can be drafted that will make it easier to control this illegal Avork. The present law is as strong as any law could be made. The only way that the work can be stopped is to put more men into the field. The respect that people in general have for the laws on our statutes is proportionate to the ability of the government of the state to enforce these laws. AYithout proper enforcement any law will soon become obsolete and will be broken by otherwise high class citizens. The t enforcement of the game laws is similar to the enforcement of all other laws, easier than some, perhaps, for game law ^-iolations are com- mitted for the most part by thase who fish and hunt or whose business brings them into direct contact with the law and not by citizens as a whole. Our California laws, with very few exceptions, are as good or better than the fish and game laws in other states. The laws are reasonable and are not opposed by those who take conservation seri- ously. There is, however, a con.siderable class who hunt and fish who are meat hunters and not sportsmen. Such men care nothing for 6—34744 82 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. tomorrow. If they had the opportunity, they would kill the last quail, duck, or deer and then brag about it for the remainder of their lives. Such men cannot be reached b,y appealing to their finer sensibilities but must be educated through the courts. This education can only be accomplished by having men in the field to enforce the laws, who are trustworthy in every particular, who have the backing of the judges, and the assistance of all good sportsmen. Day by day the sentiment for the enforcement of the game laws is getting better and better. Heavier fines are imposed and more and more violators are convicted, but the best results can only be obtained by having a greater number of active game wardens working at all hours of the day and night. It is unreasonable to expect one man to keep an area of many hundreds of square miles free from violations. Those who hunt are increasing year by year and make no complaint regarding the payment of a dollar for a license. If the number of hunters increase, so should the number of wardens increase. The more seriously the laws are enforced, the more seriously will violations be considered. The penalty for violating a game law can be made as high as the conscience of the justice of the peace before whom the violator is taken, will allow. Fines as high as $500 may be imposed and in addition a jail sentence may be given. In counties where heavy fines are imposed, there is a decided improvement in conditioixs. In other counties where the mini- mum fine is the rule, violations are more frequent. Many individuals are willing to take a chance on killing game during the closed season if when taken to court they will only have to pay $25 ; but if there was a probability of their having to pay somewhere near $500, they would not take a chance. The work of the deputies in the San Francisco District has, for the most part, been entirely satisfactory. The general public has no conception of the long hours that a serious deputy puts in. It is not everyone who can make good in law enforcement work. It requires a peculiar training and fitness to make good as a game warden. The most discouraging thing that can happen to a deputy is to take a good case before a justice of the peace and have the defendants liberated or made to pay a petty fine. More wardens, better couperation of the judges, and the active assistance of sportsmen "will assure game in California for years to come. During the last two years fines totalling $32,995 were imposed in the San Francisco District. Judge Ray Griffin of Redwood City imposed fines amounting to $3,455 in his court. Other judges in various parts of the district did almost as well. One deputy working in San Mateo arrested defendants who were assessed a total of $4,215. Another deputy in Santa Cruz County had fines to his credit in the amount of $3,675. A third deputy in "Marin County had $3,025 to his credit. Fines of $100 were not unusual. Some of the most noteworthy cases by deputies working in this district were as follows: ' August 13, 1922, Judge Griffin of Redwood City fined Felix Doer and John Perasso $250 each for killing a doe ; Deceml)er 10, 1922, Judge Whipple of Fort Bragg sent Amador Mecidas to jail for 180 days for using a set net; March 11, 1923, Judge Griffin fined P. S. Bogani $200 for liaving illegal abalones in ])ossession ; April 9, 1923, Judge Wallace TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 83 of Salinas fined T. Kohaiihoni, a second offender, $150 for the possession of illegal Pismo clams : May 17, 1923, Judge Evans of Loleto fined Fred Simmons $150 for killing a deer during the closed season; July 30, 1923, Judge Griffin fined Joe Trupiano $200 for possession of illegal abalones ; August 14, 1923, Judge Boyd of Plantation fined R. F. Webb and D. S. Cloughn $100 each for killing a fawn; September 2, 1923, Judge Snow of Napa fined Manuel Lopez and Tony Alvorez $100 each for killing a fawn ; October 21, 1923, Judge Johnson of Daly City fined four Italians $450 for taking 133 song birds in an Italian bird net; April 25, 1924, Judge Jacks of San Francisco fined Paladini Fish Company $250 for having small striped bass in possession ; May 25, 1924, Judge McGuinness of Dunsmuir fined the same fish company $500 for shipping small bass to Portland ; June 19, 1924, Judge Rudolph of Novato fined John Albert! $300 for killing illegal deer. Respectfully submitted. J. S. Hunter, In charge. LOS ANGELES DISTRICT REPORT. Tlu Honorahle Board of Fish and Game Commissioners of the State of California. Gentlemen: Geographically comprising but the lower third of California, this southern division, during the biennial period ending June 30, 1924, has had to deal with the most spectacular population growth ever experienced anywhere over an equal area, bringing upon us an even greater than proportional gain in outdoor sporting enthusiasm. Inevitably, this enormously has increased our responsibilities, far beyond capacity of the dollar-unit of license income adequately to finance meeting such demands by the general expansion in every department thereby indicated as necessary. That these primary outdoor-attraction assets have assumed a new and greater importance in their ever more valuable relation to the general public welfare, scarcely needs suggestion excepting to the ever- shrinking minority which sees in fish and game pursuit only a pastime of our large leisure classes, and with more wilful perversity, persists in ignoring the enormous material, physical and psychological worth of wild-life to the entire commonwealth of California. Our guiding principle during these troublous times steadfastly has remained the greatest general good, not only to the sporting classes most directly interested in conserving fish and game attraction-assets through their loyal and liberal support of our work with their hunting and angling licenses, but also to the non-sporting public. Through upkeep of these outdoor resources, so alluring to sportsmen of other older Eastern states where conservation has been less forehanded than here, our wild-life has called countless thousands of well-to-do men this side the Sierras to invest themselves, their families and their lifetime accumulations in the material up-building of this state. Yet, the nonsporting citizenry of California in this matter still continues enjoying the unique role of better than incidental beneficiary without 84 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. cost. The licenses of his sport-loving friends at an all-too-moderate dollar annual privilege-tax, have paid for everything the common- wealth has done in l)ehalf of rod and gun attractions until today licensed hunters and anglers stand more than ever ready to double the dollar and do the job to the limits of what more money could accomplish. Fig. 21. Klamath Kiver Steelheacl tiout. Photograph by George Neale. Conservation of fish and game, being carried on entirely by popular support of a minority, is dependent upon a favorable public sentiment for its financing to an even greater degree than any other self- supporting activity undertaken under state direction. The history of wild-life work in America is a chronicle of activities primarily initiated by sportsmen in l)ehalf of sportsmen and paid for by sports- men ; since under no other system of general appropriation from tax funds has anything of lasting consequence ever been accomplished. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL, REPORT. 85 Over fifteen years a»o. California's leading- sportsmen, with com- mendable foresight, saw this great truth, and shot to center with the Hunting License Act, followed in due course with a similar tax upon which has o-pown, all too gradually, the considerable superstructure of an organization which up to date at least has accomplished the demon- stration that money in large amounts intelligently invested toward the protection and propagation of fish and game, can long delay its extermination and the extinction of its allied industries, if not also perpetuate it. That, the future alone can determine; but present policy is being shaped to mould the conservation program along the indicated lines of civilization, and thus adapt it to the now assured destiny of southern California — intensive development. In face of these facts, the importance of broad popular education to the economic as well as sentimental value of fish and game hardly could be ignored ; so the last two yeai*s have seen no slackening in such activities throughout southern division work. Our veteran field patrol- men have consistently joined therein at every opportunity; liberal advertisement has been given of law-enforcement activities to the end that the law-abiding majority might know how much is being done to protect their interests against the careless or selfish who respect only the consequences of violation. That long years of patient efi'ort seem at last to have borne some fruit in fostering popular support for earnest wild-life eifort, is one of the gratifying demonstrations of the past biennium which ofl^sets many a disappointment. Transportation of sport-seekers and their housing has stinuilated a huge expenditure in itself, being an enormous and duly-recognized contributor to the automotive industry, now conceded to be among the biggest businesses of the country. Perhaps a better idea of the tinaufial importance of our outdoor assets may be derived from learning that this year the lower third of this state will license not far from a fifth of a million sport-seekers, each of whom, on a conservative estimate, will put into general circulation through the exercise of this dollar privilege, at least another hundred dollars in transportation, guns, ammunition, fishing-tackle, camping goods, general equipment; patronage of resorts and more beyond im^ntion. totaling perhaps 20 million dollars. Growing interest of other organizations than the Fish and Game Commission in wild-life, is another outstanding feature of the past biennium, due no doubt in considerable degree to desire of helping temporarily over a recognized emergency, of which expense an expected increase in sporting license will relieve the various now cooperating counties another year. Such cooperation, where genuine and non- competitive, nor losing sight of legitimate objectives, has been wannl\- welcomed as adding materially to the enforcement of law. Eventually the Fish and Game Commission expects in southern California to relieve these county cooperating agencies of any expense in fish and game conservation, just as the Supreme Court already has relieved the counties of any respon.sibility in fish and game regulation by con- sistently deciding that such regulation of hunting and fishing remains the .special province and prerogative of the biennial legi.slatures, thereby lending at least some stability to these restrictions and allowing the sporting public as well as industries allied thereto, the opportunity to 86 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. learn what regulations were to govern them until the next legislative session, at least. Suffice it to say that the ever-increasing needs of southern California these last two years have been met as far as we were able, and not as we would have met them ; but rather, as our controlling limitations required. Prosecution of petty offenders against the technicalities of the hunting and fishing restrictions is of course a necessary part of the day's work in wild-life conservation and must go on, lest the voluntary support of the vast ma.jority in observing the laws they believe in, be pre.judiced by seeing too large a proportion of persistent violators escaping the punishment they deserve. For this purpose, an elaborate and expensive patrol organization must be maintained. To the violating class, such constitutes the outstanding activity of the sportsmen's Fish and Game Commission; but to the vast majority who support the law consistently because they know that without restriction, fish and game speedily would become but a bad memory, real conservation represents bringing all the people to appreciation of what it actually means. The fostering and encouragement of sporting resorts open and acces- sible to all the people has played a prominent part in southern division activities during the past two years, it also being truly constructive conservation of a particularly important nature in view of the self- supporting nature of all wild-life work in (Jalifornia. Herein also, the general public has proved a very direct party-at-interest, since what- ever contributes to the outdoor attractiveness of the state can not fail to benefit every business in it, not to mention the inestimable advantages of facilitating healthful outdoor recreation. As one result of such work, we see a steadily-swelling increase in number of hunting and fishing resorts where the average sportsman of moderate means may enjoy himself at reasonable cost. There is a very common tendency amongst promoters to found their propositions upon the quite generally exploded theory of exclusiveness, forgetting that volume of business is the surest prospect of lasting profit. The enormous success of our largest resorts has been built upon a broad policy of serving all comers, since the millionaire class naturally is in the minority. Respectfully submitted. E. L. Hedderly, In charge. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 87 APPENDIX FISH DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTIES, SEASON 1922. Mount Shasta Hatchery. County Alameda-— Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras.. Colusa Del Norte. El Dorado. Fresno Glenn Humboldt. Kern Lake Lassen Madera Marin Mariposa Modoc Monterey Napa Nevada Placer Plumas San Benito San Luis Obispo. San Mateo Santa Barbara... Shasta Sierra Siskiyou Sonoma Tehama Trinity Tulare Tuolunme Totals. Rainbow 76,000 60,000 30,000 216,000 120,000 40,000 50,000 227,000 350,000 17,000 200,000 60.000 15,000 160,000 75,000 85,000 143,000 227,000 55,000 403,000 202,500 138,000 50,000 80,000 95,000 67,500 338,500 20,000 193,000 65,000 89.500 85,000 20,000 385,000 Loch Leven 4,438,000 135,000 120,000 425,000 30,000 389,300 590,000 15,000 158,000 10,000 90,000 75,000 130,000 33,000 180,000 100,000 723,500 277,500 119,000 72,000 42,500 22,500 388,000 35,000 284,500 4.000 62,500 28,000 150,000 630,000 Eastern brook 5,319,-300 60,000 125,000 53,000 48,000 60,000 195,000 170,000 10,000 50,000 50,000 56,000 47,500 160,000 191,500 84,500 5,000 8,000 2,000 10,000 10,000 20,000 197,500 Large lake 100,000 German brown 10,000 52,500 50,000 258,000 192,000 139,000 50.000 65,000 25,000 50,000 6,000 22,000 50,000 57,000 25,000 145,000 1,890,000 100,000 50,000 108,000 20,000 205,000 Salmon 12,311,000 1,302,500 12,311,000 88 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. FISH DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTIES, SEASON 1922— Continued. Fall Creek Hatchery. County Rainbow Salmon Siskiyou 495,000 3,331,000 Mount Whitney Hatchery. County Rainbow Loch Leven 1 Steelhead Eastern brook Fresno. _ - .-- .-- 16,000 89,000 210,000 195,000 44,500 222,000 52,500 70,000 8,000 11,000 110,000 246,000 187,500 1,461,500 Inyo Kern _ - 95,000 40,000 10,000 17,500 98,000 40,000 30 000 Los Angeles 70,000 55,500 15,000 35,000 15,000 80,000 5,000 145,000 60,000 157,500 736,000 Mariposa Mono. - 17,500 10,000 Orange 25,000 15,000 Riverside -_ Santa Barbara San Bernardino San Diego Tulare Ventura 85,000 15,000 302,500 20,000 Totals L 117.500 Fort Seward Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead Large lake Black spotted Cutthroat Salmon Humboldt _ -- 294,280 425,000 71,690 146,090 99,690 1 997 430 Uklah Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead Humboldt ... 194,500 182,000 6,000 55,000 50 000 Mendocino 325 000 Santa Cruz . . Snnnma 150,000 Totals 437,500 525 000 Tahoe Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead Black spotted Large lake Alpine 75,000 El Dorado 400,000 10,000 565,000 60,000 50,000 Nevada 45,000 Placer 40,000 405,000 25,000 Sacramento... Sierra 25 000 Totals 975,000 100,000 480.000 145,000 Tallac Hatchery. County Large lake Black spotted El Dorado 270,000 190,000 County — Plumas - Tehama. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. FISH DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTIES, SEASON 1922— Concluded. Domingo Springs Hatchery. Total. 89 Rainbow 437,300 75,000 512,300 County — Lassen. . Plumas. Total. County — Mendocino- Clear Creek Hatchery. Snow Mountain Station. Rainbow 400,000 25,000 425,000 Steelhead 109,000 County — San Bernardino. County — San Bernardino. Bear Lake Hatchery. North Creek Station. Rainbow 1,290,100 Rainbow 750,000 County — San Mateo.. Santa Clara. Santa Cruz.. Total. Brookdale Hatchery. Steelhead 30,000 251,000 578,000 859,000 Feather River Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead B^tte - 10,000 348,000 30,000 102,500 132,000 100,000 Yuba 15,000 Totals 490,500 247,000 Wawona Hatchery. Mariposa. County Rainbow 298.900 Steelhead 140,300 Tulare. Kaweah Hatchery. County Rainbow 295,000 Steelhead 140,000 90 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. FISH DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTIES, SEASON 1923. Mount Shasta Hatchery. County Rainbow Loch Leven Steelhead Eastern brook Large lake German brown Salmon Mackinaw Alameda 20,000 75,000 60,000 187,000 145,000 70,000 40,000 194,000 336,000 40,000 150,000 5,000 10,000 50,000 40,000 130,000 60,000 Alpine 144,000 86,000 135,000 245,000 50,000 38,000 100,000 38,500 92,000 35,000 70,000 238,500 177,000 20,000 80,000 Amador _ 50,000 Butte Calaveras 155,000 Colusa Del Norte 90,000 40,000 E Dorado 398 500 230,000 50,000 70,000 135,000 182,500 87,000 Fresno Glenn— Kern Lake 50,000 60,000 Lassen 10,000 79,000 25,000 120,000 10,000 85,000 50,000 68,000 10,000 60,000 20 000 Madera 30,000 25,000 50,000 Marin Mariposa _ - 120,000 110,000 50,000 Mendocino Modoc 71,000 352,500 15,000 10,000 415,000 177.000 168,000 27,500 100.000 50.000 40,000 80,000 71,000 50,000 9,000 35,000 10,000 10,000 132,500 35,000 90,000 20,000 50,000 45.000 20,000 10,000 20,000 65,000 7,500 .58,000 50,000 50,500 Monterey - -- Mono- 20,000 Napa Nevada _ _ _ 677,000 232,500 145,000 44,000 114,000 359,000 294.000 148,500 115,000 12,500 Placer Plumas San Benito 40,000 San Luis Obispo 8,000 10,000 10.000 10,000 32,000 47,500 37.500 305,050 San Mateo .- Santa Barbara 26,000 Santa Clara Santa Cruz . 10,000 287,500 15,000 154,000 Shasta 188,000 25,000 580,050 100,000 4,000 110,000 50,000 220,000 552,000 50,000 Sierra Siskiyou -. - - 50 12,089,000 Solano . finnnmn 35,000 87 000 70,000 30,000 355,000 Tehama - 115,000 50,000 30,000 315,000 22,000 60,000 74,000 323,000 Trinity Tulare Tiinliimne 350,000 10,000 Yolo Totals 4,020,500 4,820,050 1,782,000 2,890,050 90,000 1,262,050 12,129,000 80 000 Fall Creek Hatchery. County Rainbow Salmon Siskiyou 305,000 3,550,000 Mount Whitney Hatchery. County Rainbow Loch Leven Steelhead Eastern brook Fresno ... ... 10,000 216,000 Inyo . . . . .. 171,000 318,000 280,000 113,000 50,000 523,000 10,000 79,000 225,000 20,000 110,000 130,000 110,000 Kern Los Angeles .... . . 130,000 35,000 Madera ...... . . Mono 221.000 8,000 79.000 52,500 51,000 15,000 35,000 12,500 54,000 Orange .... Riverside .......... 5,000 San Diego ... San Luis Obispo .... Tulare 90,000 90,000 100,000 15,000 40,000 Ventura .... Totals 896,500 434,500 1,858,000 209,000 TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 91 FISH FISTRIBUTION BY COUNTIES, SEASON 1923— Continued. Fort Seward Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead Cutthroat Salmon Large lake Humboldt . 432,560 190,000 20,000 25,000 1,480,000 435,000 156,260 2,177,120 98 260 Mendocino Siskiyou Trinity 25,000 Totals 667,560 1,940,000 156.260 2,177,120 98,260 Ukiah Hatchery. County Rainbow SteelLead Lake -.- 20,000 80.000 230,000 315,000 85 000 Mendocino . . Napa . . Snnnma 99,000 186,000 Totals 199,000 816 000 County — ■ Mendocino- Snow Mountain Station. Steelhead 50,000 Tahoe Hatchery. County Steelhead Large Lake E 1 Dorado 120,000 160 000 Nevada 30,000 Placer ..... 285,656 40,000 575 000 Sierra - - _ - . - - _ 25 000 Totals 445,000 790 000 Tallac Hatchery. County Steelhead Large lake Alpine _ ... ... _. _. 60 000 El Dorado - - - _ .. _ . 805,000 495,000 Totals 805,000 555 000 County— Lassen Domingo Springs Hatchery. J Shasta Totals County — Lassen Clear Creek Hatchery. Plumas Total --- Rainbow 22,000 451,640 12,000 485,640 Rainbow 350,000 126,905 476,905 92 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. FISH DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTIES, SEASON 1923— Concluded. Bear Lake Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead San Bernardino 1,101,000 80 000 County — San Bernardino- North Creek Station. Rainbow 600,000 Wawona Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead Mariposa - . _ - _ 199,300 249 000 Kaweah Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead Tulare -- 195,000 245,000 County — Santa Clara _ Santa Cruz_. Totals. Brookdale Hatchery. Steelhead 300,000 550,000 850,000 Feather River Hatchery. County Rainbow Steelhead Butte . - - - 13,000 Plumas - - - 228,880 98,000 60,000 347,000 Sierra - 190,000 60,000 Totals 386,880 610,000 SUMMARY OF FISH DISTRIBUTION, SEASON 1922-1923. Hatchery Rainbow Loch Leven Steelhead Eastern brook German brown 2,391.100 80,000 1,709,000 Clear C'reek 901,905 997,940 800,000 877,380 961,840 490,000 8,458,500 Fall Creek Feather River 857,000 2,365,000 385,000 1,782.000 805,000 2,594,000 Fort Seward _. _._ 10,139,350 4,780.050 2,564,550 Mount Tallac 2,358,000 1,350,000 737,000 326,500 North C'rcek 159,000 545,000 1,341,000 389,300 Tahoe 975,000 636,500 498,200 Ukiah Wawona Totals.. 1 21,696,365 10,876,350 13,011,300 5,106,550 2,564,550 TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 93 SUMMARY OF FISH DISTRIBUTION, SEASON 1922-1923— Concluded. Hatchery Large Lake Cutthroat Black spotted Mackinaw Salmon Bear Lake Brookdale. Clear Creek Fall Creek 6,881,000 Feather River Fort Seward ___--. 169,950 255,950 146,090 4,174,550 Kaweah . . . _ Mount Shasta 190,000 825,000 80,000 24,440,000 190,000 North Creek Snow Mountain Tahoe 935,000 480,000 Ukiah . Wawona Totals . . 2,119,950 255,950 816,090 80,000 35,495,550 RECAPITULATION, SEASON 1922-1923. Trout 56.527,105 *Salmon , 35,495,550 Grand total 92,022,655 'There were 4,041.000 salmon hatched from eggs collected at the Klamafhon station during the past winter and spring that will not appear in the statistical report until the next biennial reiiort of the Commission. There would have been a great many more salmon eggs taken had not the racks been washed out by the floods. 94 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. LICENSE SALES. HUNTING LICENSE SALES, YEAR 1922-1923. Counties Total sales Citizen Non- resident Alien Declarant alien Alameda - . . $11,802 116 887 4,548 1,123 2,368 3,115 745 1,726 11,100 1,777 5,113 1,400 1,291 7,064 1,853 1,447 2,029 41,928 1,580 2,046 284 3.725 2.702 2,710 307 3,062 2,695 1,229 4,383 2,722 1,322 2,986 6,752 1,130 4,823 8,267 18,453 6,551 2,682 1,842 3,518 6,759 3,256 2,563 209 5,075 2,949 7,786 3,998 833 1,960 981 6,128 1,945 2,906 2,379 2,129 90 $11,347 56 862 4,503 1,123 2.303 2,920 665 1,631 10.845 1,707 4,803 1,400 1,281 6,934 1.843 1,407 1,869 41,223 1.460 2,016 284 3,460 2,537 1,425 147 2.947 2,375 1,094 4,373 2,382 1,252 2,966 6,067 1,030 4,778 8,177 14,993 6,291 2,602 1,707 3,448 6,474 3,011 2,458 209 3,960 2,864 7,096 3,878 823 1,940 961 5,918 1,865 2,906 2,249 2,119 $30 60 $225 $200 Alpine 25 25 Butte . - - . -- 20 Ca,Iaveras Colusa 10 25 175 30 20 Del Norte 80 70 10 50 10 El Dorado _ 25 175 Fresno _ 70 Glenn 20 Humboldt _- -- 150 150 Imoerial 10 Kern 50 80 Kings 10 Lake 20 140 100 10 20 20 Los Angeles . _ _ 475 50 130 Madera _ _- 60 Marin 30 Mendocino - -- 75 125 25 190 40 Modoc 1,260 160 75 50 25 40 Napa 270 Nevada _ 80 30 Orange 10 Placer _ _ 60 50 10 210 10 20 10 30 io5 180 20 Riverside 10 Sacramento - . 275 200 90 25 50 1,300 . 100 50 25 San Diego _ _ _ 30 San Francisco _ 2,130 160 San Luis Obispo 30 San Mateo 110 20 50 Santa Clara 75 25 25 210 220 Shasta . > _. . . 10 70 Sierra Siskiyou -- 640 125 25 450 50 350 Solano 60 Sonoma 240 70 Sutter 10 Tphama 20 Trinity- 20 Tulare 10 10 200 Tiinliimnp 70 Ventura Yolo . 10 50 70 Yuba 10 90 Total sales . . -_ - - $239,149 226,381 $225,264 225,264 $3,310 331 $4,525 181 $6,050 Total number of licenses - 605 Citizen, $1; non-resident, $10; declarant alien, $10; alien, $25. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. HUNTING LICENSE SALES, YEAR 1923-1924. 95 Counties Total sales Citizen Non- resident Alien Declarant alien Alameda _ $13,140 128 849 5,239 1,038 2,414 3,273 966 1,657 10,469 1,849 5,435 1,138 1,377 6,737 1,674 1,498 2,082 54,047 1,469 1,950 281 3,805 2,639 4,226 255 3,914 2,715 1,215 5,199 2,813 1,456 3,867 9,174 1,224 5,133 8,725 19,370 6,314 2.891 1,956 3,690 7,007 2,320 2,591 268 5,272 3,049 7,802 4,099 887 1,671 968 5,868 1,959 3,044 2,412 2,318 $12,635 78 814 5,114 1,038 2,384 3,188 781 1,572 10,339 1,759 5,000 1,088 1,377 6,587 1,664 1,488 2,022 53,252 1,394 1,930 281 3,665 2,549 1,566 165 3,789 2,385 1,120 5,189 2,493 1,426 3,847 8,164 1,144 5,068 8,640 15,375 6,069 2,731 1,721 3,485 6,712 1,970 2,466 258 4,257 2,999 7,307 3,969 887 1,651 923 5,743 1,874 3,034 2,262 2,298 $30 50 10 $175 $300 Amador 25 75 Butte . - 50 Colusa - - - 10 20 Contra Costa - - - 25 25 25 50 60 Del Norte > 150 50 10 90 20 10 El Dorado . 10 Fresno - 70 Glenn Humboldt - - - - - 225 50 190 Inyo Kern • 10 50 90 10 Lake 10 30 130 30 Los Angeles.. 425 25 240 50 Marin 20 Mendocino 140 50 40 2,640 90 " "'so' 30 20 Monterey 75 50 25 50 250 Nevada,. . _ _ _ _ _ _ 40 10 Placer 10 10 10 250 100 210 20 Riverside 10 400 360 San Benito 80 75 25 1,425 75 100 75 75 125 50 25 10 San Diego . _ _ - - 40 110 20 2,460 San Joaniiin 170 10 50 160 30 100 Santa Clara 170 300 Shasta - 30 70 10 Siskiyou 430 175 50 125 50 410 Sonoma . - . 10 20 360 60 Sutter 10 10 Trinity 25 125 25 20 Tiioliimnp 10 10 10 50 Yolo 50 90 Yuba 20 $260,846 246,299 $244,986 244,986 $4,380 438 $4,550 182 $6,930 Total number of licenses -- 693 Citizen, $1; non-resident, $10; declarant alien, $10; alien, $25. 96 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. ANGLING LICENSE SALES, YEAR 1922. (Sporting Fishing). Counties Total sales Citizen Non-resident Alien Alameda Alpine Amador __ - _ _ _ 59,192 389 763 3,907 964 656 1,522 558 2.098 10.765 633 5,128 371 2,778 3,008 1,145 578 1,550 31,734 1,203 1.011 315 2.416 1.216 884 782 1,790 1,679 2,014 2,213 2.456 2,036 1.818 8,534 403 6,407 3,893 16,136 5,519 1,716 775 2,915 5,296 2,774 2,647 559 4,705 2,296 4,846 3,395 348 1,348 617 5,863 2,153 2,892 772 1,311 990 1,056 S8,895 134 757 3,817 964 641 1,498 540 1,963 10,222 606 4,927 371 2,661 2,963 1,088 569 1,436 31,077 1,170 1,011 315 2,371 1,204 866 383 1,775 1,661 1,807 2,201 2.267 1.895 1.755 6,755 400 6,380 3,866 14,816 5,102 1,686 772 2,897 5.248 2,696 2,563 523 4,258 2,170 4,726 3,374 333 1,342 608 5,704 2,042 2,805 745 1,266 $6 240 S291 15 g Butte 9 81 Calaveras - . . - -- -. Colusa ._ ___^ ___- _-^ 15 Contra Costa _... . 24 Del Norte 18 51 21 El Dorado . _ _ _ 84 Fresno , . 522 Glenn... 27 Humboldt . . _ . _ 18 183 Imperial. ....... . ... Inyo . _ _ _. .. 66 9 51 Kern 36 Kings.. _ . . 57 Lake _. ... 3 51 162 6 Lassen _._.__ ... 63 Los Angeles 495 33 Marin .. . ... Mariposa.. . Mendocino... _ .. . ....- ._...-. 45 6 18 333 3 3 81 6 99 48 12 141 6 Modoc . ... 66 Monterey .. 12 Napa . . . . . . . 15 Nevada _._........... .. .. 126 Orange 6 Placer ......... ... 90 93 Riverside .. . .. . 51 Sacramento.. .._..__. ... 1,638 3 San Benito. San Bernardino . . . __ . . _. . 9 6 270 18 San Diego . _ . 21 1,050 417 San Joaquin . San Luis Obispo 6 24 San Mateo . 3 Santa Barbara . . . . . . 9 3 9 Santa Clara . 45 78 Shasta 18 12 264 66 Sierra . 24 Siskiyou ....... . ... 183 Solano 126 Sonoma .. 12 6 108 15 Sutter 15 Tehama . 3 3 Trinity 9 Tulare. 15 18 3 3 6 990 138 144 Tuolumne ... 93 84 Yolo 24 Yuba . .. 39 Reno, Nevada . . . . Yosemite Valley . 918 Total sales $189,738 183,116 $179,805 179,805 $3,195 1.065 $6,738 Total number of licenses . . 2,246 Citizen, $1; non-resident, $3; alien, $3. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNLVL REPORT. 97 ANGLING LICENSE SALES. YEAR 1923. (Sporting Fishing). Counties Alameda Alpine Amador Butte-. Calaveras Colusa Contra Costa Del Norte. El Dorado Fresno Glenn Humboldt Imperial Inyo Kern Kings Lake Lassen Los Angeles Madera Marin Mariposa Mendocino Merced Modoc Mono Monterey Napa Nevada Orange Placer Plumas Riverside Sacramento San Benito San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Joaquin San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Cruz Shasta Sierra Siskiyou Solano Sonoma Stanislaus Sutter Tehama Trinity Tulare Tuolumne Ventura Yol- Yuba Reno, Nevada Yosemite Valley Total sales Total number of licenses Total sales $11,849 524 791 4,572 982 855 2,064 627 2,360 13,440 730 6,191 334 3,618 3,396 1,401 841 1,939 37,640 1,479 1,217 147 3,057 1,717 989 836 2,632 2,069 2,338 3,822 2,852 2,529 2,282 10,901 483 8,642 4,956 18,234 7.770 1,932 1,107 3,594 6,303 3,243 3,063 715 5,856 2,417 5,873 4,892 614 1,635 750 6,633 2,335 3 370 904 1,768 1,434 1.451 $232,995 225.171 Citizen $11,510 119 785 4,449 470 810 1,980 582 2,222 12,735 724 5,957 334 3,528 3,354 1,293 832 1,837 36,995 1,437 1,214 144 2,988 1,669 920 464 2,563 2,021 2,179 3,798 2,603 2,364 2,222 8,993 477 8,5';8 4,923 16,950 7,266 1,896 1,0S5 3,561 6,258 3.129 2,952 676 5,184 2,249 5,780 4,808 602 1,611 729 6,477 2,254 3,343 886 1,702 1,298 $221,2.59 221,2.59 Non-resident $18 402 21 3 36 63 12 12 42 24 9 3 27 159 3 45 63 282 12 6 60 9 81 45 6 33 21 12 60 15 3 6 48 21 450 12 9 15 9 9 6 3 1,434 147 $3,768 1,256 .Alien $321 3 6 102 9 45 84 9 75 693 6 092 48 18 99 6 75 486 39 3 3 24 48 6 90 57 42 99 15 168 120 54 1,875 6 63 21 1,224 504 33 12 18 42 108 63 18 222 168 81 75 12 9 12 147 75 24 18 57 $7,968 2,656 Citizen, SI; non-resident, $3; alien, $3. 7—34744 98 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. MARKET FISHERMEN'S LICENSE SALES. Total sales, license year April 1, 1922, to March 31, 1923 • S44,720 00 Total sales, license year April 1. 1923. to March 31, 1924 _. 41,230 00 License fee: $10 to all persons. TRAPPING LICENSE SALES. Total sales, license year July 1, 1922, to June 30, 1923 $3,136 00 Total sales, license year July 1, 1923. to June 30, 1924 2,597 00 License fee: Citizens, $1; aliens, $2. FISH PACKERS' AND WHOLESALE SHELL-FISH DEALERS' LICENSE SALES. Total sales, license year July 1, 1922, to June 30, 1923 $1,170 00 •Total sales, license year July 1, 1923. to June 30, 1921... _. 1^240 00 License fee; Citizens, $5; aliens, 120. GAME BREEDERS' LICENSE SALES. Total sales, license year .January I, 1922, to December 31, 1922 $92 50 Total sales, license year January 1, 1923, to December 31, 1923 170 00 License fee: .All persons, $2.50. FISH BREEDERS' LICENSE SALES. Total sales, license year January I. 1922, to December 31, 1922 $45 00 Total sales, Ucense year January 1, 1923, to December 31, 1923 50 00 License fee: AH persons, $5. DOMESTICATED FISH IMPORTERS' LICENSE SALES. Total sales, license year January 1, 1922, to December 31, 1922 $5 00 Total sales, Hcense year January 1, 1923, to December 31, 1923 5 00 KELP LICENSE SALES. Total sales, year 1922. $10 00 Total sales, year 1923 None License for term of one year fromjdate of issue. Fee, $10. VIOLATIONS OF THE FISH AND GAME LAWS. GAME CASES. Violations, Hunting License Act Deer — buy or sell; taking and possession, run with dogs, closed season; failure to retain horns and hide; over bag limit Deer — taking and possession does, fawns, spike bucks Ducks — buy or sell; taking and possession closed season, over bag limit -_ Geese —taking and possession closed season, over bag limit... Mudheris — taking and possession closed season Swans — taking and possession Shorebirds — taking and possession Doves — taking and possession closed season, over bag limit.. Quail— taking and possession closed season, over bag limit. .. Pheasants — taking, possession Non-game birds— taking and possession Trespass Shoot wild game from automobile, power or sail boat; animal blind; illegal use of scull boat Night hunting. Game refuge — hunting and possession of firearms. Sage hens — taking, possession, closed season, over bag limit-. Rabbits— cottontail, brush; taking and possession closed season Grouse — taking and possession closed season Pigeons, wild — taking and possession (no open season) Squirrels, tree — taking and possession (no open season) Mountain sheep— taking and possession (no open season) Violations — fur trapping regulations M iscellaneous cases. Total game cases. July 1, 1922, to June 30, 1923 2; GO ^ -I. CO C7^ S» CD 93 93 51 52 6 1 21 24 32 4 38 19 34 14 3 19 2 21 1 1 5 6 548 §■§1 ■a a-c o ^a CO i^ .. = a $1,483 50 3,310 00 3,055 00 2,060 00 150 00 25 00 465 00 665 00 1,117 50 250 00 990 00 195 00 220 00 1,000 00 290 00 225 00 435 00 25 00 895 00 25 00 250 00 80 00 140 00 $17,351 00 o a CO S- 50 100 270 30 65 30 90 635 July 1, 1923. to June 30, 1924 2. E2. a 130 125 53 01 9 4 2 30 36 51 14 42 22 31 107 18 770 §■§1 O —3 go'- $2,040 00 5,493 00 5,175 00 2,845 00 175 00 45 00 50 00 825 00 880 00 1,425 00 635 00 1,360 00 470 00 885 00 2,650 00 375 00 500 00 50 00 100 00 100 00 70 00 75 00 $26,223 00 1^ 9 3 180 695 240 180 190 60 1,545 TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. FISH CASES. 99 Violations of Angling License Act Violations of Commercial Fishing License Act Trout — taking and possession closed season, other than hook and line, over bag limit __. Black bass — taking and possession closed season, over bag limit, undersized Sunfish, perch, crappie — taking and possession closed season. Night fishing, illegal Fishing — within }2 mile of hatchery; within 250 feet of fish- way; off dams Striped bass — sale: closed season; undersized; excess bag limit Salmon — sale: closed season; over bag limit; illegal spearing. Crabs — taking and possession closed season; undersized Clams — taking and possession closed season, over bag limit; undersized Lobsters — taking and possession closed season; over bag limit; undersized Abalones — taking and possession closed season; over bag limit; undersized Catfish — sale :undersized Halibut — undersized Barracuda — undersized ._, Sturgeon — possession Nets, traps, lines — illegal use or possession Obstructions in streams; failure to maintain fish screen Water pollution, use of explosive to take fish Failure to keep commercial fishing data; destruction of food fishes Illegal shipment — fish; shell fish Miscellaneous oases Total fish cases. July 1, 1922 to June 30, 1923 :? B CO o' 2. n> 72 44 128 17 14 16 47 5 20 96 28 85 2 3 10 2 44 654 > s's> B B B o •o o-e o _o ^ ^ ^ ■ re -^ Sl,545 565 3.122 50 400 280 195 470 925 200 440 3,485 880 2,385 50 75 450 50 2,950 200 00 120 25 100 $18,912 50 O 3 , — .<^ 95 195 50 210 240 183 30 1,123 July 1, 1923 to June 30, 1924 :; B sg- 65 47 77 15 2 28 16 59 16 32 117 41 146 1 26 7 7 1 6 26 743 B'Si ■a o-c o —3 2 o '^ .2,0 $1,415 00 580 00 2,836 00 950 00 20 00 595 00 225 00 2,035 00 550 00 665 00 3,940 00 1,885 00 4,990 00 20 00 240 00 1,965 00 150 00 800 00 275 00 1,155 00 $25,291 00 •a o O 3 P-3 200 20 360 180 1,800 120 90 100 '150 3,020 CASES JULY 1, 1922, TO JUNE 30, 1923. July, Aug., Sept. Oct., Nov., Dec. Jan., Feb., Mar. Apr., May, June Total Convictions .... 247 18 22 9 3 6 3 247 28 34 208 2 18 2 258 16 24 960 Bail forfeited 64 Suspended sentences 98 Pending ......_... ... 11 Acquittals 1 9 11 4 Dismissals 7 7 9 13 31 Juvenile cases 34 Totals 308 323 252 319 1 202 CASES JULY 1, 1923 , TO JUNE 30, 1924. July, Aug., Sept. Oct., Nov., Dec. Jan., Feb., Mar. Apr., May, Juno Total Convictions _ 302 27 25 3 7 4 5 424 10 26 3 5 16 6 323 9 16 5 5 6 6 235 7 34 1 1 2 1,284 Bail forfeited 53 Suspended sentences 101 Pending . .... 12 Acquittals . . . . . 18 Dismissals 28 17 Totals... 373 490 370 280 1.513 100 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. RECAPITULATION. Number of arrests Fines and forfeitures imposed Jail sentences (days) Fish cases 1922-1923 654 548 S18.912 50 17,351 00 1,123 Game cases 1922-1923 635 Totals 1922-1923 1,202 743 770 $36,263 50 $25,291 00 26,223 00 1,758 Fish cases 1923-1924 3,020 Game cases 1923-1924 . - - -- 1,545 Totals 1923-1924 1,513 1,202 1,513 $51,514 00 $36,263 50 51,514 00 4,565 Recapitulation — 1922-1923 --- 1,758 1923-1924 --- - - --- 4,565 Totals - - - -- 2,715 $87,777 50 6,323 TOTAL ARRESTS FOR A PERIOD OF TWENTY-TWO YEARS. 1902-1904 550 1904-1906 -- 774 1906-1908 1.192 1908-1910 1.771 1910-1912_ 2,063 1912-1914 1.993 1914-1916 2.087 1816-1918 1,797 1918-1920 1.891 1920-1922 2.258 1922-1924 2,715 SEIZURES OF FISH, GAME AND ILLEGALLY USED FISHING APPARATUS. July 1, 1922 to June 30, 1923 July 1. 1923 to June 30, 1924 Total Ducks - 3,896 65 43 68 77 3 1,258 pounds 5 27 26 13 36 3,290 20 36 143 16 7 2,091 pounds 3 7,186 Geese - -- - 85 79 Doves - 211 Quail - --- 93 10 Deer meat 3,349 pounds 8 27 Rabbits (cottontail-brush) _ _ _ _ _ - 16 2 267 2 42 Wild pigeons _ - - 15 303 9 3 3 Bear meat 40 pounds 40 pounds 2 2 Birdnets 9 1,075 pounds 38 pounds 10 5,664 pounds 1,420 pounds 650 pounds 11,888 pounds 400 pounds 140 pounds 97 pounds 7 9 Trout 2,857 pounds 146 pounds 52 3,002 pounds 2,123 pounds 1,0.50 pounds 12,906 pounds 3,932 pounds Black bass 184 pounds 62 Salmon 8,666 pounds Striped bass . 3.543 pounds Halibut 1.700 pounds Barracuda 24.194 pounds Snotfin croaker 400 pounds Sturgeon 254 pounds 177 pounds 31 40 pounds 4.501 4,112 5,011 pounds 711 260 170 pounds 394 pounds Catfish 274 pounds Hardheads .- _. 38 Whitebait 40 pounds Crabs . . . 11,362 8,431 1,750 pounds 1,652 15,863 Clams _ 12,543 Lobsters -_ ._ 6,761 pounds Abalones . _ . 2,363 260 Shrimps 170 pounds 19 pounds 72 19 pounds Illegally used fishing apparatus nets traps 57 129 Illceally used fishing apparatus, after condemnation in superior courts, is destroyed or sold by the board in accordance with the law. All wholesome fish and game is donated to public and charitable institutions, from whom many gratctul letters of acknowledgment have been received. TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 101 CALIFORNIA FISHERY PRODUCTS. CANNED, CURED AND MANUFACTURED FISHERY PRODUCTS OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE YEAR 1922. (Compiled by the Department of Commercial Fisheries, Fish and Game Commission of California.) Canned. Species of fish Size of cans Northern California district, cases Monterey district, cases San Pedro district, cases San Diego district, cases Total cases Abalone Mb 2,037 1,014 20,570 134,249 11,677 5,208 5,223 8,222 11,789 205 3,051 24,885 152,338 16,542 5,368 5,223 8,222 11 789 Albacore 1-lb.... 4,315 18,089 4,865 160 i^-lb M-lb Bonita . V^-lb. M-lb Fish cake (Kamaboko) 1-lb H-lb Mackerel Mb 205 Sahnon_ .,. . 1-lb. flat H-lb. flat. 1-lb. oval J^-lb. oval 4,162 15,338 4 162 15 338 Sardines . . 353,188 1,479 340,860 5,760 336 3,595 697 643 7,239 2,895 20,986 78 J^-lb. square . 2,559 20,986 }4-\b. square Mb. tall 78 Shad Mb 240 220 240 Shad roe ... . . i^lb 220 Squid H-lb... 137 9,011 45,939 21,211 2,512 13,727 7,455 3,711 14,400 5,823 5',000" 400 137 Striped tuna 1-lb 2,977 63,012 8,210 873 7,827 2,275 11 988 J^-lb 108 951 K-lb 29,421 Tuna, bluefin .__ Mb.. . 3 385 }i-lb 21 554 M-lb 9,730 Tuna, yellowfin . Mb 3,711 3-^-lb.... 1,002 15 402 i^-lb 5,823 Tuna, unclassified. 4-lb 635 31,153 127,919 78,419 315 3,,336 635 Mb. . 31,153 i.^lb 132,919 M-lb 78,819 Yellowtail .. Mb. 315 K-lb... 23 3,359 Totals 19,960 356,704 873,144 183,918 1,433,726 Salted, Smoked and Dried. Species of fish Size or quantity Northern California district Monterey Bay district San Pedro district San Diego district Total Anchovy ^salted) Barracuda (dried) Black cod (smoked) . . Bonita (smoked) Mackerel (dry salted). Mixed fish (dried) Salachini Salmon (mild cured), (hard salted). (smoked) Sardines (dried) (dry salted), (dry salted), (dry salted). (smoked) Shad (mild cured) Sea bass (dried) Yellowtail (dried) (salted)... (salted) Fish meal Oil. _ Estimated value of pack. Number of employees Value of packing plants.. Tierces Pounds Pounds Pounds Barrels Pounds 10-lb. tubs.. 50-lb. tubs.. 50-lb. boxes. Casks Barrels Pounds Pounds 50-lb. boxes. Barrels Pounds Pounds Tierces Pounds Pounds Barrels Pounds Tons.... Gallons. 98,760 1,571 163 1,086 3,000 200 8,000 104 3,000 28 Miscellaneous Data. 396 14,743 $497,374 400 $1,396,400 2,299 281,115 $l,y74,.591 1,2,53 $1,553,500 24,000 98 425 211,700 12,800 50 32,730 5,373 244,310 $.5,742,591 2,362 $5,101,846 5,000 172,000 600 11.000 55,000 959 6,882 $1,318,202 812 $1,070,200 5,000 98,760 24,000 98 172,000 3,000 200 8,000 1,675 163 1,086 600 3,000 425 211,700 12,800 28 11,000 55,000 50 32,730 0,027 547.050 $9,532,758 4,827 $9,121,946 Note. — Some Albacore included in Tuna, unclassified. Tierces— 800 pounds net. Barrels— 200 pounds net. 102 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. CANNED, CURED AND MANUFACTURED FISHERY PRODUCTS OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE YEAR 1923. (Compiled by the Department of Commercial Fisheries, Fish and Game Commission of California). Canned. Species of fish Size of cans Northern California district, cases Monterey district, cases San Pedro district, cases San Diego district, cases Total cases Abalone . . 1-lb 2,237 662 18,173 173,206 18,122 397 13,763 458 28,283 2 899 Albacore 1-lb.... 10,919 67,9.53 9,142 29,092 241,159 27,264 397 14.1b M-lb Bonita. 1-lb.... y^ih.... 69 13 832 M-lb 458 Fish cake (Kamaboko) 'i-lb.... 28 283 Mackerel 1-lb.... 271 — 271 Mackerel, filet. .. . 1-lb. oval 3,783 3 3 783 J^lb. oval 3 Salmon 1-lb. flat yz-lh.&at 1-lb. oval 6,629 12,385 6 629 12,385 Sardines.. 580,464 520 7,603 473 1,925 488,885 19,215 1,088,564 520 1-lb. talL l4-\h. oval 103 2',685" 1,179 581 1,311 1,621 26,058 9 017 I'^-lb. square 2,094 3^-lb. square .. 30 068 Sardines, kippered 1-lb. oval 1 179 Ji-lb. oval 581 Squid U-lb 1,759 1 759 Striped tuna 1-lb 4,197 105,781 25,824 571 72 1,548 27,698 2,630 1,924 7,246 91,070 8,644 1,061 1,948 20,405 10,539 1,029 4.645 50,637 8,144 201 405 2,697 19,373 99 8 842 J^-lb.... 156 418 i-i-lb 33 968 Tonno H-lb 772 M-lb... 477 Tuna, bluefiji 1-lb 5 245 3/flb 47,071 M-lb.. 2 729 Tuna, yellowfin.. 5-lb 1,924 1-lb 3,903 58,482 1,977 11.149 i^-lb 149,552 K-lb 10,621 Tuna, unclassified 4-lb 1,061 1-lb. 965 7,525 1,299 2 913 i^lb 27,930 i^-lb.... 11,838 Tuna flake 1-lb. 1029 i^lb 237 300 937 3,863 237 14-lh.... 300 Yellowtail 1-lb. 1.425 1,489 2,362 Ji-lb.... 5,352 Totals 19,014 595,252 1,064,784 301,977 1,981,027 TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 103 CANNED, CURED AND MANUFACTURED FISHERY PRODUCTS OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE YEAR 1923- Continued. Salted, Smoked and Dried. Species of fish Size or quantity Northern California district Monterey Bay district San Pedro district San Diego district Total Barracuda (salted) Pounds 42,264 1,415 42,264 Pounds 5,384 10,000 390 6.799 (smoked) Pounds 10,000 Mackerel (salted) 200-lb. barrel- -- 390 Pounds 6,889 1.075 335 1,730 6,889 Mullet (salted) Pounds 1,075 Rock bass (salted) Pounds _- 335 Rock cod (salted)., Pounds 1,730 Sablefish (smoked) Pounds 9,461 9,461 Salacchini 50-lb. tubs- - 600 28,000 450 6,000 91 571 1,171 50-lb. boxes 28,000 21-lb. tins— 4 to case 450 10-lb. boxes 6,000 Sfilmnn (m'M rnred) Tierces Pounds Pounds 1,320 151,400 1,411 (smoked) 151,400 RarHinps TmilH ciirpH) 16,000 200 320,451 16,000 (hard salted) Barrels 24 224 (hard salted) Pounds. -- -- 320,451 Sea bass, black (salted) Pounds 8,557 2,957 1,740 8,557 Sea bass, white (salted) Pounds --. 2,957 Sea trout (salted) Pounds 1,740 Shad (mild cured) Tierces Pounds __ - .- 116 116 Squid (dried) 99,000 99,000 Yellowtail (salted) Pounds 173,104 173,104 MLxed fish (dried) Pounds-- 69,718 69,718 Fish meal Fish oil Estimated value of pack Number of employees Number of plants operated- Value of packing plants Miscellaneous Data. Tons—. Gallons. 420 19,093 $533,768 366 25 3,.386 .557,460 ?2,936,466 1,015 16 $988,965 $1,261,193 $2,862,609 4,216 346,883 ^7,898,734 2,605 20 1,216 28,452 $2,671,873 1,076 9 $960,750 9,238 951,888 $14,040,841 5,062 70 $6,073,517 104 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 'c^ \~ o» a OC u < a> Ul F > E o o u. o en c 1- o o F 3 fe O OC Q. Q > c o cc ill CO I F CO B 11. o O I ffi UJ E CC ll. C3 ■o <• c z cc » o 11- _l ^ < T3 Mexican, brought into California 1 tO i 1 (N 1 1 r 1 1 lO 1 1 1 OS 1 iiOCD > cq (M ■ C^ Os OO t t i i ^ *M C^ OO " i 1 1 r— 1 1 c<) 1 1 1 I 1 I -^ 1 1 1 CO 1 1 CO CO ' OO -^ 1 1>- oo os i i i i oo co o ^^ ■ i t 'b-^ ' 1 OS^ 1 1 1 1 1 1 lO 1 • iW3 1 1 i-H ^_^ 1 iO n-«_^ ( CO CD_ — <_ r i i i ,-i cD_CO OS i i I I'oo" 1 Iio" J I I I I I I i' i' «^' 1 I oT Icd'co"" 1 -^'TtT I ! 1 I co'c^'co I I 1 1 "^^ 1 i"* 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 .^ C^ . '>^ 1— f (M — 1 1 1*9. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I loo ! 1 I ; ! i 1 1 t^ 1 , Total COCDOOCDOSCOCOC3SW^'-( iC-OOO rcD»OCD^OOC^ I'^-fTt^OOJCO-^Tt'OsOOC^'MO^CD (N'-H-rt^COCO-^'— ih-iOOO iCSOO^H 1.— i"rf"OC^OscD iCDCOrr'»OcOOO»OC^r^O'fOsC^^^CO-^ 00 lO ■^^^CO (M^hOscOO"^ 1 coo iU50s(MCDC0t-- iCOCD-^OCO'— i»0^-OlOSOii:D'^iO':M»0 ^ cm' ^ o^ oo" co' co' »o" co' oo" I oo" cm' ! ■*' co" oo' "-* ^ cc" 1 -rf' t^' i>r co' ^' -^ oo" ic o' oi" ^ co' cm' co' co' t^" COlOCM^f^^OOCOCM— 'CD , COOO ,t*O0'— i-^OOCO .CMCO •— i— 'OCOCOt^OSTfOOOO— (CDCM (M^cDt-- O^OO f-HCMlO , IOCS , ^ COu^'^i^^^; (N COOCMCM^OS ^ CO co" -^jT ^ t 1 (M* csf 1 co' tC^'co' lo ^^^ i co oi_ > c^i oo cm • > i ^ o -"^ o os ■ ■ TjT os" I I os" I I I ^" I oo' I I »o" I Ico'oi* I-^'^t" I os'cd" I I ! t^"'^"os"^"^" I I '^ '-HCO OOCO^^r--CM CM-HOO COOs—f ■^^ oi , , 111 1 "-"IiCOii^hI i^Hic;I,'*_ CM ;I '-*" r 1 1 ( 1 t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' I of It Orange CM iCO 1 'O 1 1 1 ' 1 1 ' 1 1 ICO 1 iCOCO ' 'CO ' Oi ICO 1 'CD 1 r r- 1 1 O CO 1 lO 1 0_ 1 Tt<_ 1 ' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 00 1 ' « OS ' 1 f-H 1 oo" 1 oT 1 ! I 1 I I 1 I .' I I I ^-" I I ^ I I ■-'' I ^1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 loo I I CO I ; I .-< O 1 lUOOOt^OOOO t 1 CD OS 1 1 CD CD Ol 00 O CO I I lO OS 1 1 CM CO CM »0 CO 1 t cd"»o" ! ! i— i" os' I I Los Angeles 11,769,022 364,797 3,675,366 5 ""Y,840' 1,548",479' 252.220 1.680,710 57,474 13,688 174,151 1,104,150 46,062,068 37,825 43.614 1,721,864 1,084 San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura 1 1 Tf lOO ■ ' lira t I-* 1 1 it>- 'i^cor- i -cm ' i ..— ( I10C5 1 1 11— 1 1 lO 1 1 iCO 1.— lOscO 1 lO ' 1 1 CM^ 1 03 CD_^ 1 1 ' 1 '00 ■ 1 ' l--_ 1 »0 CM ■-<_ 1 ' -^ ' 1 ! =^' I ^' ^' I I 1 ! ! I I I cm' I ^11 1 <^ '-' O CM .1^1 111 11 1 ' I-* I I 1 I lOOS 'O 'O iCMOS , 1 1 Oi'-rt^ ICO lOs iiOOs 1 1 1 t-- CO_ 1 11—1 1 CO QO_ 1 1 1 oo" I I 1 *^' I I I "^1 1 1 ^ I 1 I Monterey cDCO^HiOiOcD ' lOcO ' iCM ' 1 'CO ■ lOsi— i i '<— t lOO lOsOsi— '^OOS i i|>- i i , C0C0C0C0-*O t IIOCM 1 1 -* ( ' 'CD i i ^ b- i i^ i 'rt* ■ CM b- t- ^ OO i i OS i i i CM '^ O --« CO T-H 1 ' 0_i0_ ( 1 Ci 1 ' ' OS 1 'CD_^ ' ' t--_ 1 rP iOOO_r^CO"5 r iio 1 t 1 co'co'i^'^^'^sT I I -^lo" II I I 1 ^' I !oo'i>." I lo I I co'co'cm'co'co' 'I III CO ^ TT CD CDOO CM CMCO CM CO OO t^ '-' t-- ;; i; III II^mioII i I'^'^'^^.I 11! 11 r 1 111 II 11 ' 1 'Tji" 1 , 111 1 ' ' ' ' ' 1 < ^11 III Santa Cruz 1 ib--^COC=> ' iCOO 1 It-- 1 iCSCM lOcOcO ' 100 .CO I'^OOOOrfO ' iCD ' i i 1 1--OCOO 1 .OS CD ' rCO ' 'iO-# 'OOOTt< i tOs tCO 'COCDiOOsOS i i^^ i i i I ' lO CM OO lO 1 ' OS '^ 1 ii-H 1 lOOt-t lOOCO 1 1 t^ 1 . CM 00 CO r-- OS 1 'O 1 1 1 ' I -^"u^'co" I ! -h"co" I I cd' I Icd'-^' Ir-<'*"oi' I 1 CD I 1 Os'-+''t-"CM'^" I 1 '^ I I I oorHCM^"<*<^ 00^ .oiccrsco i"^ II '-' 11^ Ii 11 1 II 1 ICMCC-H II II, San Francisco, San Mateo icoi-i 'lO iCM icq--' I it^co icooi it'-^ ' 1 lO-ir-os lOt-t— ooo i .cmcoi^co 1 00 oo 1 00 ' C3 I >— 1 oo 1 iQOr^ 1 CD »0 1 oo CO ' ' 1 lO 00 »0 1 -tH O CO t— OS ' ' CO CO UT) I>- ' I>.^ '^ '^ "-l'~l. ' "-l.'^« "^-'^„ ' '^.'*_ ' ' ' CM^** =^. ' *^,00_'-*,I^_CO ' ' CM_ -^^-^ [c^ 1 co" 1 1— r 1 o"-^" I I cd"cm" I i>>*"os" 1 o'co" II I co" 1— r I Tp os' -— .' o o" I I oT 1— r lO CD i-H COi-* CO Oi W3 CO So , ^^ i— ( O »0 C^ t-- , CM CO Ir-t I I I'^II'^ I ICM III ICDOIOS O^^ I 1 .A.lameda, Contra Costa CDCO 1 ' ' 1 OS O 1 ' ' 1 »0 lO 1 ' 1 r-i OS 1 lO -« ' ' 1 ' O CD . ' t 1 'ft* CM ' ' 1 CD -^ 1 , 1 1 1 1 1 -rj* CM 1 ' 1 1 OS ■^^ 1 ' 1 ' CO_ III CM 1 I I 1 I l*o" III I co'i-T 1 I I lo" III '<** 1 I I 1 I 1 CO 11,1 I I 1 1 *^ r 1 1 1 ' i^O OS'^ 1 1 lOs , 1 1 1 , icqo 1 1 1 b-_ 1 1 1 , 1 1 r-_'-<_ I 1 1 "^ 1 I 1 I I I o~co" I 1 I"^ I I I I I I i '-' Sacramento, \ '. \ l : '.^^ 1 ! 1 ! ! 1 1 1 :g : 1 ; ; ! ;^ San Joaquin 1 1 1 1 1 Ij^'"^' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1" 1 1 1 1 1 1=^ I'liO' OOCO 1 I 1 lO 1 1 1 1 ' 1 03_ OS I I I ^' I 1 I I I 1 of cm' oa , t^ 1 I I CO I I 1 , I , Tehama, Colusa, Glenn... 1 I 1 1 I I 1 I 1 1 I I 1 I I 1 1 1 1 CO 1111,1 1 1 1 ikO I I Ico I I 1 1 1 1 I 1 : I :g : : I I : : ; ; i i i^ i : i i : : ; ; Solano, Yolo I 1 I I 1 loo 1 1 I I los I I 1 1 1 'I?* I'tiiiCO ^11,1 t'- 1 1 1 1 1 1 CO_ CO_^ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 [ 1 1 I I I I I I ko* I I I J I cm" I I I I I I I I I I I 1 1 llO 1 I 1 1 1 it^OO 1 1 iCM 1 1 1 1 1 liCCO 1 > ' OS 'Oeo ; i ;S i ; i i i i^5; J J ; lo ; J 1 [ ! ] Marin I I I 1 CD 1 1 I IcO 1 1 »0 ' ' iCM 'CD ' 1 ' "* ' 1 I 1 1 CM ' 1 1 ' OO 1 'CM ' 1 'CO lie ' ' ' 1 t^ ' 1 < 1 1 1 < 1 1 II 1 1 1 o 1 cO^ ' 1 ' 1 Os^ I I I I I I I I 1 II 1 I I •-"' 1 cm' I 1 I I ^ I lilt 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 —* I 1 I I "^ t Mendocino, Sonoma. Lake... tiO-^tOs OO 'P' lOsO ICO 1 1 1 1 1 I'* 1 1 1 1 1 lb- } ' 1 ■ ' • 't-CM -Tl^^ ^^ I I I 1 I 1 ^"co" I !>■* I I I I I I !>•" I I I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 c^ 1 1 I 1 1 1 i«> 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 lo i" 1 i i ! i 1 1 1 1 CO ' eo ' ' 1 t^ . b- ! CO 1 ^* I I I I I I I 1 , 1 «= ! ' 1 1 1 ' 1 1 t 1 1 ,.h' 1 ' 1 < t ' 1 ' Del Norte, Humboldt 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 lOO 1 'CO 1 1 ICD 'CM ' 1 ' >g> 1 11,11111 lO 1 1 Tti 1 1 ' ^H icM 1 1 1 'r^ ' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CO_ 1 1 CO__ 1 I ' 0_ ' CM_^ ' ' 1 ' ■*_ 1 I I I ] I I I I I CO I I '^" 1 I 1 oo" I cd' I 1 I I ^' I . ^^ . 00^ 1 1 1 1 'I I oi" I co" ! I I ! II ^ o 1 1=> 1 1 1 1 11 I 1^" 1 I 1 1 II j3 .§ o CO Albacore Anchovies Barracuda. Bluefish.-- Boccaccio - Boiiito--- Carp Catfish. Cultus Cod Dolphin Eels__. Grayfish Greenfish Hake Hardhead Herring Kingfish Mackerel-.- Marlin Mullet Perch Pike __- Rocic Bass Rockfish Sablefish Salmon., , Sandabs Sardines ,.. Sculpin Sea Bass — Black Sea Bass— White Sea Trout Shad Shad— Buck TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 105 ■ O M »o I b- .-' c<» 1 Oi CO ^ (N O Oi Oi O -rf 03 O OOCOOtMOO'— 'QOOO cooO'— '1— c-ii— •oo:' CO .— I (M b- 05 '-'_'^.'~'_ »r5 Qo' •-''" iO CI co" o' •^' t— .-H '— ' GO O ZO CO 'rt* OOOOCO-rt^t-^Oi'— '»0 oicncotMcoot— cooo Tj« oo C^ O lO o_i>- '-',C^_ (m' ^ .-T lo" >— '' M*" t--" — ' t-T t- .-H O CO C^l '— lO CO OO d ^- (M 050 co_eo_ o"co*" as CO Tj< --^ 1— < CD C^ CO a:. CO Oi CO CO oo CO lo d cs cq »o CO ,— r IC" CO fo' oo' Ca CO CO :3i -rt- 35 lO .-H CO 03 00 00 '^ . ^ I-^ -^ . oi t- tn . :£! O cO_ ^ OI CD 'i^ O O COOO 00^0_'~<_ O '^ lO W5 00 cm'o' i-T OO CD I CM r (M O i CO 00 fM IC O I r- CO r- oo OO I CO a:^oo^oo_ oo_ I ^co^oTco'ic" oo CD »— ^ - •rt< t- CD Tt^ COOO as CO o I to o " COiO — 05 I 00 cc OOO Ci OS oo CO CO CO Oi OQO ^oo CO o I »C Oi CO C5 ir- Tf CO CO "OOOl « O'* coco CO O 1-1 »o o l>- CO COOO ■^ CO csj*c TftM OS— < Q. 13 00 CO OS »o CD ^ IC CD oo OS U5 oo 00 CM OS WD CO— I 9 ^ 3 cy -a a C3 o . as I t~*cO I IT) CO I Oi^H »c as CO -t« CD CO —•00 v: v: v: v: X X vj I I — ^ a; . e 3 3 3 3 5 — .t:.-^^ = 00---'----=: E-E-HHHE-H: o •^ a> fl 73 o;r.2"o 3>.|Jisiajs.»s2 - - 2 g 3 = g^-5.aj g:.g.:a gg s S S I I m r/1 CJ aj Q) ^ *- ^3 Si S'S WmcQ'o-^OCiOCjO-jSoo goi.saciHE-'H J3 o 106 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. SI IE *" a >i o o I- Q a 0 g SI U. o o 1 a CO c ■D < i Z £ cc CO O C t >. < "2 u Mexican, brought into California. ■^ 11— ( I ICOI 1 it- 1 iW3 1 1 lOO t iOS»0 iCJOCO iCXiO'Tt* 1 1 1 1 'iCC^liC I 1 t CO iio . It- 1 1 iTji . It- . 1 ICO 1 i(MCs . — CO icocoos 1 1 1 1 iu5-ot2 , I ; CO_ it^_ f '"^^1 ' ' ' "-1 ' ' ' ^^ ' "-f*. "^,*^. 1 — CMOO 1 1 1 1 1 C^l OS OS 1 1 1 o" I'Tt*" ! |cd" ! ; ! 1 [ I I Id' ! 1 oo'oo* 1 -i-'co* 1 co'csTt-' IIII l^'o'o' I I I (M ,CO CO , , , ,00 CO coco r-iCQ^^ lOCOCO ,0 , , CO 1,1 1 , 1 , , oo , , , , IIII , '— W3 ] [ J ics' ] J ' ! 1 ' ' ' • ' 1 ' ' 1 III., lit Total cr=-f-*'csoc^'-'t-coocr> loo-oco lOic^scooio-^ -t— os-foc^ooc^io-^cococroioiot— -h cT!^-c^^^-»f^t— occico looooco icooicoiocoto iOTfc-iooco^c:co— ncco-^cOfCicKO ■^_O_CiC_C0_^C0_t--_C0 C^)_CO_CO_ 1 t-i t^_CO_ 1 01_C0 IC as_Tf^OS_ i 0^0_CO^t- OCOCMCMO;CO'*t^:CCOCt^iO co' t-' lO' CO* -rf oo' oo' CTi O r>.' 1 oo' O" ! oo' V oT co* co* co' I O' co' -** Cs' CSO* t-' oo* O* co' O-' O' lO* oo' Co' (M' CO* os' OOOCO-rj-< 0 '<*' — tos^cot— . w:>_ co_ I ; '^ ! I I I i I j , t- I I CM co_ I '-' I cq co_ I 1 -^^ co_ J ; ; J 00' '*'" ' J I ! I I I t II I I '^' I I *"■' I ' cS' «■ 1 . 1 t San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura.. 1 ICO "ieoo t til 1 »e 1 1 co M i iO i i— -co i i co O ' co O iiii 1 iO> i(MC» 1 ICO 1 i(Mi— 1 1 lOO 1 1-^00 1 iCOCO 'Ot— i i i i I "^^ ' 00 C^_ 1 t t 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 0_»0 1 I ^ 0^ 1 t-_(» till I I "~ I O'OO" I I I I I I I I I I co" I I CO*" I I II Cq't- I 1 ^ \ cm' OS* IIII I I (M I —t I I 1 1 I 1 . r I I =*5 1 t '-^ I 1 II «5 , -^ (1 1 1 1 t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CO , , , , , , , , 1 '~' 1 1 1 1 Monterey OSCOC'lOSO'e 1 iCOt— ' i»0 1 1 iCO 1 it-«— 1 1 iCq iCO iC^-rfOC^'M 1 iOOO 1 1 1 •^ -^ CO ir:> 01 c 1 ^ t- » lO 1 1 1 co 1 lOt- ■ lO lO 1 — coooot- 1 losco 1 i » 1-1 o_cs_^Tf_oo_co^ 1 ' oo_co__ I ' co_ 1 1 ' co_ 1 ' c^^co_ 1 i»e_ I.-I roo-^ooco_^ 1 1 co 1 1 1 ueco'os'os'co* I I —Tco" I Icd" I I I '^' I I o'o" I I cm" I I co*o'oi'c-)''M' II III 00 CM 00 CO OS ^ (^ C^l •* ^ (>) C^l CO ; 1 , , I.I 1 1 ^ "^ I I I I f^ '^ '^^ I I ill I < t 1 III II II 1 J »o' 1 1 III II tlll.lt 1 . 1 1 00 1 ' III Santa Cruz 116,919 257.704 28,693 ""5M82' 1,345 8,737 3,427 188" 50,848 944 1,884 187 "22'0,284' 329,238 306,336 130,215 275 "'"2,449" 49" San Francisco. San Mateo liOcO lOTt^— 1 i-^CM 1 i-^OO iCMO iiOiO-^ i iI^-tJhOO ilOOOOTf'rf i iiC lOt-lO lOOUD lOSt-CO tCO"-** 1 lOSO ICOO lOOCOt- . lOOOSi-t lOSCSTfOO 1 ■•0 it-(M 1 o_ tOS_iOcO__ .cs_»o_ i 'ooc^v "^l^. ' ^,„*^ ' ' "^V '-^ 1 CO__iOI>-_CO^OO 1 1 "^„ ' **. I 'f" I »o' os" I co'— r 1 loo'c-f lo'os" los"" I I co' Ico'oo'co'o'os' 1 ' CO* loo" 00 .-rt* eOCM^>Ot-— ICO «2 CSOOSOOCMCO— iCS I^ I ICOlI-^^I Ic^ II I'^^MCl^CO I I I Alameda, Contra Costa, . . - 1 1 1 1 1 icoos 1 1 1 It— 11)1 It- 1 1 1 tt-c^ 1 1 1 tco 1 1 1 1 1 1 OS ^ 0 CO -^ 1 1 1 f — < 1 t 1 1 1 00 1 1 1 iCSt- 1 1 1 I-* OSCOO 1 < 1 1 1 ' '-•_c^. ' ' ' ' ^. ^^ ' ' * ' '^^ ' ' ' ' ^ ®.^-'^. ! I I I I 1 00" CO I I I I cs I I I I I CO I I I I co" I I I I '—' I I I I I 1 t-"co"— < "^ f 1 c^i_oo ■ . 1 1 c^_ 1 1 rt rt 1 1 1 1 oo_ 1 1 1 1 ■ ■ in c^_^c-j_ I 1 1 1 1 1 ^ 1 1 1 1 CO* I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I ^'^'^ 1 1 1 1 1 I •-«"t-"'C) I 1 1 ; 1 1 ' < 1 1 1 ' I 1 1 1 1 ' 1 1 1 t . . "^ 1 ' I 1 1 1 ^^ Marin iiiiriiti(Mii'^iipO>i»OiiiiOOiiit^iaiiiiiOiiti iffO 1 1 (M ' 1 1 »0 ICO 1 1 1 1 -(JH 1 1 ICO ' (M ' 1 1 lOl till 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CO 1 1 ^^ 1 1 1 t^ 1 0_ 1 1 t 1 r-l_ 1 1 1 0 1 --H 1 1 1 1 0^ 1 1 1 I ! ! f 1 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I oo" I I I I co" I I I co' ,'»-'" I I 1 I o" I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 t 1 II III 1 ^ 1 1 1 1 ^ 1 1 1 1 ^o 1 1 1 1 IIII Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake... 1 1 1 1 1 11/^*41 1 C^ 1 ^H II Oi It^ II II 1 1 1 1 t lOOOO ICO i»0 1 O ICO 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 t 1 ^_OD_ 1 »0_ CO_ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CO^ 1 C3q_ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 t ! ! 1 1 ! Ic-i'o" I co" I 1 I I I loo" I I J I I I I I I I-"-!* ! c^" I I I I J I I I I •-1 »0 1 -H 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 |oo I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Del Norte, Humboldt iiiicOiiiiC^1iiO0iiicDi--tiiiit^iii»-inC Ill iiii^iiii^iicO-iiiiOi-^iiii^^iiiiOiCOi ^^ 1 1 cjs^ 1 1 1 T-H^ . eo^ 1 1 1 1 CO I 1 1 (M 1 c^_ 11 ! ! ! ! I I 1 I CO* I I ■^" I I I ^" I e»D I I I I co" I I I »o* I o' I I I I 1 I I I I --I ^ '^ -^ Oi 1 ^ ^ 1 t 1 1 1 1 t 1 1 03 dbaeore Inchovies. Jarracuda lluefish Joccaccio lonito 'arp Catfish ^ultus Cod --- iolphin >ls.. founders irayfish lake lalibut.. lardhcad.. lerring vingfish lackerel larhn lullet 'erch 'ikc_.. 'ompano lock Bass - {ockfish niblefish laimon ^3ndab3 . sardines >culpin lea Bass — Black «a Bass — White «a Trout ^had._. >had — Buck TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNI^VL REPORT. 107 I ■^ TjH lO I rj* ITS OS iC (M -# O ^ QO •-lOOt^OiOtDCCiOC^ »-r CO Oi oo" »o' ro" Ci" CO CO t~» d oo — I o — 'CDOcO'— "oorooio O ■— ' O 00_ O 00 lO iCi o fo" r^' oo" oo' •-<' r-' -r oo' o" c^ — (Tq cc re o t^ •* (M -^ ^i *-i CO C^ 00^ lOOO CO CO Tt* t^ oo oo IC »f:r cd" io' t^* cc" o" ":) CO 04 re oo -H »0 - t>. 3i ioco'io'tjTco" !>. CO "-H — i^ r* uocooo i-H_CO_C5_ csi ^ <^^ '* ooco Ci CO t^ O CDt^ 0(M IM 00 -HO O CO ooc^ o»o OiO '-' QO CO Tt< CO -T3T3 oo CO '-H - CMOOOO O lO 00 CO ^CO CO— « CDiO t-O oich* TJ< -^ OS OOs CD — f ot- CO CO c^co^ uo 00 -H COiO .S.«-' CO ccco C3 ^' c^ oi aj ai v^ a. M X ^ "• fe S: ■ E=3 I I m 5 o c — -> L. u. D HH r>1 2-Q ■^ '~ 2 — -.j-Q tc "t;:— o 3 3 " to — = M 2 — Sj1_-5j3^ g S fe 3 JS 108 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. X o cc < Q. < Q UJ en Z UJ o 111 S a: UJ z CO 2 u cc UJ S S o o b. O >• H > < Total CO r-l CM 0_03 r^ IMQOTf O C35 cc --0 Miscellaneous " OS CO CO CO 1— t San Diego, Imperial Ci CO ■* t^ffO ^co OOOi OS Tp ■^ C<1 c^ CO CO lO --H oo b- t— lO Orange •-H " 05 i »— 1 Los Angeles OS ^OCtiOrPi-HCDCO'-H.-l 00 ^ •lOCC oo CO Tj< -M O -^ ^H CVJ rji ^ C^ (N -S" 00 CD San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura rt CO T-MCo 00 'i CO 1 o CM Del Norte, Humboldt ^^ ^H »-H CD(M >— ( o CO " oo 1 :o 1 t-H 1 CM c t -a 1 s 11^ 1 p 5c 1 Ji ' »- c c 1 c y i ? a c C IS is "J C 1 C C !2 > 1 c: S c 2 3 c p- i (1 a > c ' c 'X c •t: ■i. s , c ■1 ' a 1 — ' s a i 1 i s c TWENTY-EIGHTH BIEXXLVL REPORT. 109 z u < m o I- cc a. < a HI 111 cc bJ Z en < o cc 111 o u II. o > < Total CO Miscellaneous 1 1 ^H 1 1 .-1 1 1 i : 1 I" 1* 2 San Diego, Imperial cc C -.^ t^ -.^ 1 . -t:o.*-H 1 ^ »c 'I- ^:l c^ 1 — i 1 lO C^ 1 lO icoioio l-H lec 1 »— » t ^ 1 1 1 -H I Orange — 1— 1 1 l l(M r^ .-SH 1.- 1 1—1 1 o San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura 1 —t I 1 .— < .-) 1 -H(M 1 1 1- 1 ^ 1 1 03 1 ^ 1 l-l Marin T-H 1 1 1 to P -H • CqcO ' • i Oi 1 11 1 .-1 1 CO 1 c^l 1 M Native of Austria Canada.. - Dalmatia - England - Finland Cireece Holland-... -- Hungary. Italy Mexico - Poland Kussm Slav Spain - Sweden United States 3 § i a C9 i •? 3 1 110 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. LION BOUNTIES. Statement of Lion Bounties Paid by the Fish and Game Commission from January 1, 1922, to December 31, 1923. 1922 1923 Total since 1907 ' Alameda _ - - - - - "2 1 '2 4 7 2 10 14 17 21 "5 "7 22 "1 16 i "2 4 13 26 1 37 14 1 14 19 22 13 1 299 1 "i 1 2 3 3 1 10 "i 22 21 "3 1 5 9 17 "5 "2 "3 3 I 10 13 11 2 16 "5 "4 11 15 11 8 1 225 2 Alpine ~ ~ - - 1 11 Butte ..... - 34 17 C jiusa - . . . . . 21 Del Norte . . . . . .. 107 78 Fresno ..... ..... 35 Glenn . . . . . . -_ . . . . 60 623 Imperial ■ ....... 2 12 Kern . . . . 193 Kings . . . 1 169 9 Los Angeles . . . . -. . 76 41 99 278 3 4 Mono - .. 11 157 Napa ...... -. . 3 7 9 64 Plumas - . - . . . . - 10 45 Sacramento . . . . . . 1 42 38 48 San Joarjuin .... ... 2 120 San Mateo . 1 158 37 4 Shasta . . . .'. - 330 6 Siskiyou . . . . . 271 25 10 Sutter .... 2 212 Trinity . .... 324 Tulare - . . 172 118 61 5 4,169 TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. Ill FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Comparative Statement of Income for the Fiscal Years 1922-23 and 1923-24. 1922-23 License sales^ Hunting.. _ ^. $249,511 00 -Angling 217,038 00 Market fishermen 46,510 00 Wholesale fish packers 1170 00 Fish breeders ' 40 00 Fish importers g oo Trapping MI".^ 3,119 00 Game breeders 152 50 Kelp ^ ^^.I 10 00 Totallicense sales $517,555 50 Other income^ Court fines $30,803 00 Fish packer's tax 38,033 44 Fish tag sales 3|lll 09 Game tag sales 7 oi Crawfish inspection 210 00 Abalone inspection Interest on bank deposits Sales of nets 140 OO" Sale of launch 60 00 Sale of typewriter 22 50 Sale of catfish _- Sale of automobiles.. Sale of deer hides Sale of two cabins Total otherincome $72,387 04 Total income $589,942 54 1923-24 $251,182 00 191,252 00 43,730 00 1,245 00 75 00 2,596 00 232 50 $490,312 50 $52,748 85 5.),921 01 4,804 99 60 81 10 00 235 00 463 75 27 00 100 00 375 00 41 00 70 00 $109,857 41 $600,169 91 STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 1922, TO JUNE 30, 1923, OF THE SEVENTY-FOURTH FISCAL YEAR. Function Materials and supplies Salaries and wages Service and expense Property and eijuipment Total Administration — Commissioners. $546 35 5,737 46 4,149 13 695 28 2,702 43 $546 35 Executive ofiices $346 32 $16,173 20 903 78 370"00" 23,100 76 4,149 13 5 63 1 2fi Printing Research and publicity 226 71 4,339 27 Accident and death claims . 2,702 43 Department totals . $573 03 $137 24 4,694 25 200 65 676 02 $20,512 47 $10,.381 58 21,798 19 17,204 28 4,698 87 $13,830 65 $5,398 05 6,756 84 2,166 35 158 51 482 00 988 80 $1,273 78 $219 37 194 74 314 13 5 25 $36,189 93 $16,136 24 33,444 02 19,885 41 5,.538 65 482 00 Commercial Fish Culture and Conservation — Superintendence. Inspection and patrol . Research . Statistics Market fishing license commissions Propagation and distribution of salmon 6,674 27 $12,382 43 $362 62 1,067 36 26,730 12 14,033 92 594 50 22,291 49 Department totals $68,116 84 $10,286 31 48,185 27 61,740 16 $15,950 55 $29,828 78 31.126 46 23.498 76 $84,454 00 $36 564 91 46, 89 69 $1,327 99 $6 25 268 93 5,938 80 $6,213 98 $97,777 81 $40 483 06 Sporting Fish Culture and Conservation- Superintendence.. General patrol (40 per cent.).. _ 80 648 "2 Propagation and distribution of trout. 117,907 84 Department totals $28,160 10 $120,211 74 $1,528 06 72,277 90 $239 039 82 Game Conservation^ Superintendence $38 092 97 General patrol (60 per cent.) $1,601 04 $403 39 120,972 02 Department totals $1,601 04 $123 82 $73,805 96 $659 25 $83,2,54 60 $19 08 $403 39 $159,064 99 Tahoe camping ground $799 15 Grand totals $42,837 42 $283,306 26 $197,508 88 $9,219 14 $532,871 70 112 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 1923, TO JUNE 30, 1924, OF THE SEVENTY-FIFTH FISCAL YEAR. Function • Materials and supplies Salaries and wages Service and expense Property and equipment Total Administration — $429 59 5,763 43 $429 59 $346 95 7,253 52 67 17 $15,489 97 $36 80 _ __ 21,637 15 Printing - - - 7,253 52 Research and publicity _ ^ __ 4,375 00 807 25 569 04 97 20 5.346 62 569 04 Department totals . . - $7,667 64 $236 99 2,221 31 608 22 616 35 6,478 11 $19,864 97 $7,495 00 20,943 23 12,290 81 5,078 38 11,424 96 $7,569 31 $2,729 13 4,977 90 2,102 20 80 83 1,145 02 $134 00 $35,235 92 Commercial Fish Culture and Conservation- Superintendence Inspection and patrol $10,461 12 $1.3 37 100 49 28,155 81 Research _ 15,101 72 5,775 56 Propagation and distribution of salmon 41 98 19,090 07 Department totals .. $10,160 98 $63 26 61 20 23,559 07 $57,232 38 $9,957 25 $11,035 08 $2,415 36 $155 84 $0 75 $78,584 28 Sporting Fish Culture and Conservation — Superintendence Printing ' $12,436 62 61 20 52,425 58 8,948 28 122 16 85,055 09 Department totals $23,683 53 $62,382 83 $11,363 64 $188 35 78,261 14 $122 91 $97,552 91 Patrol and Law Enforcement- Prosecutions and allowances $188 35 General patrol ._. ..._ $1,376 11 $117,499 16 $4 16 197,140 57 Department totals . $1,376 11 $117,499 16 $1,500 00 $78,449 49 $767 82 6,140 00 688 56 $4 16 $197,328 92 Fish and Game Conservation — $2,267 82 6,140 00 State Fair exhibit $175 77 241 92 1,106 25 Department totals . . $175 77 $1,741 92 $7,596 38 $45,906 90 7 25 $9,514 07 $45,906 90 Tahoe camping ground $62 95 $813 00 883 20 $43,126 98 $259,534 26 $161,928 05 $416 91 $465,006 20 Comparative Balance Sheets at Beginning and End of Each of the Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth Fiscal Years. July 1, 1922 .June 30, 1923 June 30, 1924 Debits. Available appropriated fund $11,630 49 Warrants receivable _ - - $28,936 62 137 00 35,000 85 $47,587 34 3,602 00 87,.530 87 1.069 82 52,206 00 435,841 50 271,010 00 67,327 79 Cash, state Fish and Game Preservation Fund 17,911 75 209,345 47 115 18 41,591 00 401,0.30 00 285,770 00 71,670 00 532,422 00 County clerks unissued license supplies - - 292,967 OO Fish ta£3 3,261 41 320 13 500 00 500 00 Total debits $792,965 47 $899,353 53 $1,206,971 22 Credits. $1,012 92 102 00 Doficiencv aDDroDriatioii for sunnort 10,515 57 $28,936 62 35.137 85 41,591 00 686,800 00 $47,587 34 92,208 69 52,206 00 706,851 50 67,327 79 Accumulated excess income . 227,372 40 Liability for bond deposit _-_..- _ 71,670 00 825,389 00 AtTountabilitv for fish tacs 3,261 41 320 13 500 00 500 00 Total credits - - - - $792,965 47 $899,353 53 $1,206,971 22 - 34744 12-24 2150 mm j;H ■•fli