we 
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 
euracy and care with which age readings 
have been made in the cases of other 
species—and indeed, well-known biologists 
have openly challenged the fact that scales 
and otoliths actually do show age. The 
work on the age of the albacore has dem- 
onstrated clearly and unmistakably the 
absolute correspondence of the actual age 
of the fish and the marks on the scales 
by a method entirely free from the in- 
fluence of the worker’s personal judgment. 
Painstaking and time-consuming as the 
work has been, it has proved entirely 
worth while, and is the first direct knowl- 
edge we have of the age of any of the 
species of the mackerel family on this 
coast. 
These results show the albacore to be 
a fast growing species, with all that im- 
plies regarding the effect of commercial 
fisheries upon it. Their discussion must 
await the final publication. But atten- 
tion may be called to the fact that with 
their aid conclusions have been tentatively 
reached regarding the migration of the 
albacore. It is believed that the species 
shows a gradual migration to the north- 
ward through a period of years, but that 
the migration of any one year class is in 
general limited. The seasonal migrations 
are the most prominent and striking. 
The summer’s work has also continued 
to add to our material bearing on the 
migrations and the fluctuations in the 
run of fish and on the relationship of 
catch to temperature or some allied factor, 
thereby placing certain facts beyond dis- 
pute. These can not be treated very fully 
here, and it is hoped that as soon as the 
work on the age is out of the way, atten- 
tion may be turned to these data, which 
will, it is believed, prove highly interest- 
ing. The data at hand are exceedingly 
extensive, perhaps more so than the data 
available for any other fishery, as the 
' records for the whole industry from its 
beginning have been collected. The re- 
sults are already well defined, but remain 
to be placed in shape for publication. 
It will be recalled ‘that we have ana- 
lyzed the relative abundance of fish dur- 
ing past years (see Pacific Fisherman 
Year Book, 1919) and found a steady 
fall in the catch of the same unit of gear 
from year to year. We ventured to say, 
however, that this fall was not, judging 
from various things, due to depletion, and 
the events of this summer have reassured 
179 
us in this regard. The catch has shown 
an inerease and the reappearance of 
younger classes of fish, both encouraging 
signs. The possibility that overfishing 
may occur is not, however, eliminated. 
Wise 
PROGRESS OF THE CLAM WORK. 
Since April, 1919, F. W. Weymouth has 
been devoting a portion of his time to 
the completion of a survey of the shell- 
fish of the California coast commenced 
several years previously by Will F. 
Thompson. A report is now ready for 
the press embodying all the collected data. 
The primary purpose of the survey has 
been to put on record the number and 
abundance of the species of commercial 
importance and the location and condi- 
tion of the beds at present being utilized. 
The scope of the report has been extended 
by the inclusion of descriptions and 
figures, together with a key for ready 
identification of some forty species of 
present or possible commercial value. 
Heretofore no such key has been avail- 
able, and it is hoped that by this publica- 
tion, campers and amateur clam diggers 
can be made acquainted with the edible 
bivalves of the coast. Besides the de- 
scription and range of each species an 
account of its habits has been included. 
Though many collections of attractive and 
interesting ‘“‘shells” have been made, there 
are few observations on the varied habits 
of these animals and it is hoped that 
those recorded in this report may lead to 
more study of the remarkable ways in 
which the bivalves are adapted to the 
diverse conditions of life under which they 
are found. 
In connection with this survey certain 
important points have developed. One is 
the need for a more detailed study of the 
life history of at least some of the more 
representative and important species. At 
present, though several of the eastern 
species have been carefully investigated, 
no facts concerning the age or rate of 
growth of a single native Pacific species 
are known. 
In an attempt to remedy this lack, 
data have been collected ‘throughout the 
year on the Pismo clam, one of the most 
important California species, and these 
are now being carefully studied. The 
preliminary work indicates the main 
features of the age and as soon as it can 
