6 through 15. In figures 16 through 30 

 the summaries for San Pedro from 

 1932-33 through 1959-60 are shown. 

 Ensenada summaries from 1951-52 

 through 1959-60 appear in figures 31 

 and 32. 



These figures present a graphic 

 history of the Pacific sardine catch 

 over 28 seasons and illustrate general 

 trends of production and age composi- 

 tion in the fishery. For example, in the 

 Pacific Northwest the rapid decrease 

 in total landings was acconripanied by 

 a gradual increase in average age over 

 the eight seasons, 1941-42 through 

 1948-49. In San Francisco a similar 

 pattern occurred during 11 seasons. 

 Monterey summaries show a gradual 

 increase in fishery production, reach- 

 ing a peak in the early 1940's with a 

 stable average age, followed by a de- 

 crease in catch and an increase in 

 average age. San Pedro is the only 

 port for which consecutive seasonal 

 summaries over the entire period fronn 

 1932-33 through 1959-60 are available. 

 These exhibit fluctuations similar to 

 those at Monterey, but with lesser 

 amplitudes. Ensenada sunamaries indi- 

 cate a gradual increase in landings 

 through the 1950's. This is the reverse 

 of trends in more northern areas and 

 undoubtedly resulted from fishery ex- 

 pansion rather than a population in- 

 crease in this area. The average age 

 of fish at Ensenada, though usually 

 lower than that of San Pedro during 



this period, has renr\ained relatively 

 stable. 



Certain year classes of sardines 

 were distinctly above the average in 

 abundance. Whenever one or more of 

 these year classes have appeared in 

 the catch, the total catch has increased. 

 In Monterey and San Pedro, the 1931 

 and 1932 classes were above average in 

 abundance. The four year classes 

 spawned from 1936 through 1939 were 

 responsible for the good production of 

 sardines at all ports in the early 1940's. 

 The year classes produced fronn 1940 

 through 1945 were above the 28-year 

 average in numbers, but they were not 

 large enough to sustain the level of 

 catch established by their four pred- 

 ecessors. The 1946, 1947, and 1948 

 classes were sonaewhat above average 

 in abundance but were followed by 

 extremely weak classes in 1949 and 

 1950. Subsequent to 1950, all year 

 classes have been markedly below 

 the 28-year average in abundance, 

 with only the 1952 and 1956 classes 

 showing even nnoderate success. 



LITERATURE CITED 



DAUGHERTY, ANITA E., and ROBERT 



S. WOLF. 



I960. Age and length composition of 

 the sardine catch off the Pacific 

 coast of the United States and 

 Mexico in 1957-58. California 

 Fish and Game, vol. 46, no. 2, 

 p. 189-194. 



