Holder. — Protection at Santa Catalina 111 



conservation of the fishes and bore the brunt of the bur- 

 den, which meant various attacks. 



In 1913 the writer made a careful examination of the 

 situation, summed up the information from eminent au- 

 thorities, and decided that the fishes of Southern Cali- 

 fornia had decreased, since 1886, 75% or 80%, and that 

 it was emminently necessary that something should be 

 done. The claim which I made, which was based upon my 

 own observations and examination of the island by Dr. 

 David Starr Jordan and many other experts, was that 

 Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands were spawning 

 grounds for the great sea fishes of Southern California; 

 in other words, were sources of supply for market fishes 

 of all the region about, and I beg herewith to include a 

 letter received from Dr. David Starr Jordan bearing on 

 this point: 



December 5, 1912. 

 Db. Charles F. Holder, 



Throop College of Technology, 

 Pasadena, Cal. 



Dear Sir: I trust that you may be successful in having Santa Cata- 

 lina and San Clemente islands set aside as game preserves. These two 

 islands and the smooth waters off their shores are the spawning grounds, 

 above all others, of the greatest game fish in the country. The white" 

 sea bass, the great jevvfish, the spearfish, swordfish, tuna, bonito, alba- 

 core, the Japanese tuna (yellow-fin tuna), all spawn on the rocky and 

 other places about these islands, as well as a multitude of smaller fishes 

 valuable to the angler or to the markets. 



Many of these fish spawn in the kelp which surrounds these islands. 

 The netting carried on inshore disturbs these fishes at spawning time, 

 and it is said that there has been a very marked falling off of these 

 species. As Avalon, on Santa Catalina, is the great center of big game 

 fishing, the disappearance of any of these species makes a great loss to 

 the people who have investments there as well as to the visitors who 

 come there for fishing purposes. 



It is desired to prohibit the use of seines and all nets for market pur- 

 poses within three miles of the shores of either of these islands. This 

 allows the professional fisherman the entire Santa Barbara channel, 

 Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and the rest comprising the Santa Barbara 

 group. 



I trust that you and our friends will be successful in getting the 

 statute passed which shall protect these islands and set them apart as 

 spawning grounds for the great game fishes of southern California. 



Very truly yours, 



David Starr Jordan. 



It was argued that the fish would spawn along the 

 chores of these islands in the summer months and that 



