CALIFORNIA (Cont. ) 



12. Coastal Streams Anadromous Trout and Salmon Study 



The current objectives of this project are: (a) To deternnine the survival 

 to the angler's catch and to spawning of artificially propagated steelhead. (b) 

 To determine the survival to the angler's catch and to spawning of naturally 

 reproduced steelhead under varying conditions such as controlled numbers of 

 spawning fish and/or controlled water flows, (c) To measure the reasons for, 

 and extent of, mortality occurring to these different kinds of fish while they 

 are in freshwater, and to test ways of reducing this mortality, (d) To test 

 the effects of various management methods, including physical and biological 

 habitat improvement and regulations on these fish and the fisheries for them, 

 (e) To provide information needed for evaluating the effects of proposed and 

 existing water developments on salmon and steelhead in the project area. 



Statewide; began February 1955, indefinite; $38,500; Leo Shapovalov, 

 Leader; reports available. 



Address inquiries to: As in No. 1 above. 



13. A Study of Sturgeon and Striped Bass 



Sturgeon: Life history studies include determination of the statewide 

 distribution, migration patterns , age at sexual maturity, fecundity, place and 

 frequency of spawning, and age -length-weight relationship by sexes. The pec- 

 toral fin ray method of aging is being validated. Estimates of harvest are 

 obtained from tag returns. 



Striped Bass: Activities involve the determination of angler harvest 

 through tagging studies and maintenance of a continuous system of party boat 

 catch records. The annual sampling of fry on the spawning grounds is intended 

 to show spawning success and to be correlated with later year class success. 

 The effect of the salmon and shad commercial fishery on the species is being 

 evaluated. Problems of sampling for mortality studies and the effect of environ- 

 mental changes are being investigated. 



Statewide; began July 1954, continuing; $17, 000; J. B. Kimsey, Leader; 

 reports available. 



Address inquiries to: As in No. 1 above. 



14. Trout Management Study 



This study was set up to integrate all basic research being conducted on 

 trout by the Department. Current work of this project is aimed toward the 

 following objectives: (a) To develop a means of evaluating the results of 

 catchable trout stocking. Tests involving tagged and marked trout have been 

 carried out at various waters throughout the State. A subcutaneous tag has 

 been developed and used with a great deal of success, (b) To determine the 

 species of trout or the strains within species that are the most suitable for 

 various California waters. Several different strains of rainbow trout and 

 three different strains of brown trout are being studied in selected test waters, 

 which include Castle Lake, Rush Creek, and several lakes in the Lakes Basin 

 Recreation area in Sierra and Plumas Counties. The eastern brook and 

 "splake" trout are also being compared with each other, as well as with 

 various strains of browns and rainbows in mountain lakes lying between 5, 000 

 and 7, 000 feet elevation. Considerable differences in catchability, as well as 

 other factors, have been found to exist among strains of the same species, 

 (c) To decrease the mortality and improve the health and vitality of trout 

 through the control of disease. 



Statewide; began October 1953, continuing; $55,000; E. D. Bailey, Leader; 

 reports available. 



Address inquiries to: As in No. 1 above. 



