Rainbow-steelhead trout fishing parties traveled an average of 

 29 miles during May, 1948. The distance traveled rlropped to 17 miles 

 in June as the opening day enthusiasm subsidedo An increase to 68 

 miles in July and 75 miles in August corresponded with the intensity 

 of tourist traffic. A drop to 56 miles in September followed a 

 slackening in tourist travel. During October, the heaviest trout 

 fishing month of the sefison, the mileage again dropped to 40 miles 

 as camping fistiermen increased in number. CaiTiping dropped off in 

 November, another month of heavy trout fishing, and the average 

 distance traveled increased to 55 miles. Trout fishing was mostly 

 local during December, January and February when the travel dropped 

 to 17 miles, 12 miles and 19 miles respectively. 



The distance traveled by striped bass fishermen varied directly 

 with the catch. Travel increased from a low of 10 miles per party in 

 May, 1948, to 31 miles during July when greatest catches were made. 

 The mileage fell to 22 miles in September as catches fell off sharply* 

 Striped bass fishing was mostly local. Most treveling or vacation 

 fishermen turned to striped bass as a second choice. 



The distance traveled by catfish fishermen followed closely the 

 pattern for striped bass. The fisheries are very closely related as it 

 is possible to fish for both species with the same bait in some locations. 

 Travel by catfish fishermen varied from 10 miles in May, 1948, to a peak 

 of 16 miles in July and subsided to 11 miles in September. Catfish fisher- 

 men were mostly of local origin* 



EVALUATION OF THE SPORTS FISm^RY 



The increasing value of the sports fishery along the Upper 

 Sacramento River is clearly demonstrated by the rapid growth of 

 business benefiting from the fishery. In 1945 there were no comm- 

 ercial boat landings in the upper river area. The first organized 

 sportsmen's landing and rental was established in 1946 and three 

 were operating during 1947. At the close of the 1948 season, eight 

 boat landings were in operation^, and three additional landings went 

 into operation in the early part of the 1949 season. The greatest 

 knoTm growth in the number of establishments carrying complete lines 

 of fishing tackle occurred in the Orland-Chico area where the number 

 increased from some 3 to 21 during the period from 1945 to 1949. 



Of the eight boat landings in operation at the end of 1948, five 

 were in full operation most of the year. At the close of the year the 

 eight landings were valued at $104,000 and had a gross income for the 

 year of $40,200. The gross income of the five landings in full operation 

 was $34,000, averaging $6,820 per landing. The eight landings offered 98 

 boats and 53 motors for rent to fishermeno All eight offered private 

 docking facilities, five had tackle shops, six served refreshments, three 

 served lunch, five had trailer space and one had cabins for rent. Twelve 

 full-time and ten part-time employees operated the eight boat landings, 

 putting in 176 man months of labor during the 1948 season. 



23 



