TWENTY-SEVENTir BIENNIAL RKI'ORT. 03 



REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMERlCy\L FISHERIES 



The Honoyablc Jioard of Fish <ni(l <l<iiii( Cininnissioin rs of lln Shih of 

 California. 



Gentlemen: In our last bicinuMl rc^port the rapid and spectacular 

 L'Towth of California's fislicrii's was reviewed: of how California had 

 reached first ])]ace aninnost the states in the si/e and vahie of its fish- 

 eries, with an annual eateh of over 250,000,000 pounds and witli a 

 wholesale value as fresh fish and manufactni-ed pi-olucts. of over 

 ^^25, 000. 000. The tuua and sardine industries which were responsible 

 for most of this increase were experiencing a healthy growth prioi- to 

 and during- the early period of the great war. Upon our entry into 

 the war our fish packers responded to the government's call for au 

 increased production of food by putting up an enormous pa'-k of sai-- 

 dines in pound oval cans. ]\Iany new canneries wer(> built and nearly 

 all of those already in existence were enlarged. The pack of sardines 

 in 1918 was about a uiillion and a half cases, requiring a catch of 

 150,000,000 pounds of fish. Our fishermeu made iucr(^ased catches of 

 .'■:ardines without increasing their i)rice and the canners in turn were 

 able, through increased productiou. to sell to the people for even less 

 than before the war. As fai- as we know the only food product which 

 did not increase in price during the war was California sardines. Our 

 canners and fishermen are deserving of credit for that. 



]\ruch of this great output of sardines, instead of going into con- 

 sumption in this country and especially in Europe as was intended, 

 was held bv .jobbers and others in this country for specidative purposes. 

 With the fall of prices in 1920 and the collapse of foreign exchange 

 our canned fish, instead of reaching foreign markets as was intend(Hl. 

 was left in this country. Onr sardine packers were especially hard hit 

 for the reason that this country is as yet a rather poor market for sar- 

 dines. Our packers of tuna suffered in the same way and all lost 

 heavily as they were compelled to sell the large stocks they had ou 

 hand for less than the cost of packing. 



The past biennial period has been one of read.justment with our 

 fishing industries. It was dangerous to put up large packs during a 

 period of falling prices. It was necessary to dispose of the goods on 

 hand and to wait until the stocks hoarded by speculators had been largely 

 consumed. 



Some of our canners have failed financially while most of them have 

 had a desperate struggle to weather the storm. The output of the 

 fisheries has naturally been much reduced. This was expected. The 

 present year of 1922 has been one of rather rapid recovery and it now 

 seems quite certain that much of the ground gained during the period 

 of expansion is going to be held, and that the industry will continue 

 on a much higher level of production than existed at the beginning of 

 the war. Until rates of exchange will permit them to again sell in 

 foreign countries our canners have turned their attention, with con- 

 siderable success, to enlarging the market of tuna and sardines in this 

 country. The demand for California canned tuna was the first to 

 revive and canners are endeavoring to pack all of these fish they can 



