14 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



tested out on the 1939 catch, the 1940 individual reports reached the 

 statistical department at the same time as the 1941 returned question- 

 naires, and it was thought desirable to put them aside in favor of the more 

 up to date material. They will be recorded later as time becomes available. 



2. As the number of licensees has increased, the percentage of them 

 who fish for trout has remained comparatively constant at between 55 

 and 60 per cent (59.7 per cent in 1941). The total trout catch has 

 increased, but the average catch per angler has declined. Part of this 

 decline is due to the difference between the estimates derived from the 

 license application reports (1935-1938) and from the mailed questionnaire 

 (1939 and 1941) but part of it is significant. There were not as many 

 trout available per angler in 1941 as in 1935 ; or, to put it differently, 

 there has not been a rapid enough increase in the State 's trout population 

 to provide the same average catch per angler, although there has been a 

 definite increase in the total number of trout taken. 



3. The percentage of all licensees who fish for striped bass has shown 

 a steady decline from 32.5 per cent in 1935 to 28 per cent in 1941. The 

 total number of anglers for this fish has increased, but the total catch 

 has remained quite constant. The decrease in the average catch per 

 angler is not, in itself, evidence of depletion as long as the total number 

 of fish taken does not decrease as the number of anglers increases. 



4. The great increase in the reported numbers of crappie, sunfish and 

 catfish after 1938, and especially in 1941, is probably due in large part 

 to the new system of collecting the data and in part to the increased fish 

 rescue program since 1938. All evidence points to the fact that on the 

 mailed questionnaire, filled out at leisure and in private, the angler is 

 more apt to count and report his catch of these comparatively minor 

 species than he was on the old application form filled out at the time of 

 buying his license. 



It is evident from the foregoing statistics of the anglers ' catch records 

 for trout that more trout will have to be reared and planted if we are to 

 keep pace with the increasing demands for that type of fishing. In the 

 last biennial report attention was called to the need for certain changes 

 and additions to the present facilities for rearing trout. A program was 

 outlined for the construction of new hatcheries with particular emphasis 

 on the need for rearing ponds to supply trout of catchable size for plant- 

 ing. 



This program has in part been put into effect through the establish- 

 ment of new stations and the addition of facilities at existing hatcheries. 

 At Hot Creek, in Mono County, temporary ponds had been in use since 

 1931 and it had been demonstrated that the water at a temperature of 

 approximately 60 degrees made possible a rapid growth that could hardly 

 be duplicated any other place in the State. 



The need for permanent and expanded construction there coincided 

 with the construction of two large dams in the area by the City of Los 

 Angeles. At neither of these dams did it appear that fish ladders would 

 be practical and as provided by Sections 526 to 529 of the Fish and Game 

 Code a request was made to the city for fish cultural facilities in lieu of 

 ladders over the two dams. After negotiation the city agreed to provide 

 the hatchery site of about 140 acres, the use of all water arising on the 

 property, and the sum of $25,000 for construction. Since the hatchery 

 was planned of a size to serve a greater area than that affected by the 



