82f FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



by US for the recognized spokesman for the fishermen assured us tliey 

 would cooperate with us and would see to it that these nets would not 

 l)e used within the three mile limit. This promise has not been kept. 

 On the other hand the number of these nets has been on the increase 

 and most of the fishermen using them have become experts in avoiding 

 being caught with sufficient evidence against them to cause their 

 conviction. We therefore expect to ask the legislature to prohibit the 

 possession of these nets in any of the southern California districts. 



EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORY OF THE U. S. BUREAU OF 

 FISHERIES AT SAN PEDRO. 



In May, 1919, the United States Bureau of Fisheries established a 

 laboratory at San Pedro for the purpose of aiding the fishing industries 

 of the coast by an experimental study of the methods of canning and 

 preserving fish. The bureau proposed to carry on experiments for 

 the development of new methods for canning heretofore unutilized 

 fishes, to improve on the methods already in use, and to experiment on 

 new methods for species already being used in the California canneries. 



The first line of experiments constituted the major part of the work 

 of the laboratory during its first year. To quote from the Com- 

 missioner's report for the fiscal .year, 1920: "It (the bureau) has 

 devoted its attention particularly to little used fishery products for 

 Avhich satisfactory canning methods have been lacking and to the 

 establishment of standard methods which will yield standard packs. 

 The mackerel ( Scomber japonicus), an abundant fish but little esteemed 

 on the California coast, has received more consideration than other 

 species. Over 80 different packs of this fish have been put up and 

 subjected to careful examination, Avith the result that a number of 

 promising methods have been developed, several of which have been 

 released for the use of the trade. Other species experimented with 

 are bonito, barracuda, pilchard, sea bass, smelt, tunas, and yellowtail, 

 several hundred packs of the various species having been put up and 

 held in storage for examination periodically. A number of special 

 problems have been encountered in the course of this work which 

 may recjuire rather extended study before a solution is found, as, for 

 example, the luipleasant odor and taste in canned bonito and the 

 detinning of cans in packs of such fish as barracuda. A vital desidera- 

 tum of the bureau, if it is to fulfill its functions and render the largest 

 measure of service to the fisheries, is adequate provision in the matter 

 of personnel and funds to enable it to render the canning industry of 

 all sections aid in the preservation of crabs, shrimps, turtles, and 

 certain fishes, and determining more definitely the possibility of apply- 

 ing newer methods in the case of staple canned fishery products. The 

 need for accurate data in these fields is well shown by the large number 

 of requests that the bureau receives." 



The bureau expended on the laboratory during the fiscal year about 

 $20,000. This included equipment, nuiterials, remodeling and rent of 

 quarters in oiu' of tlie nHniicij)al dock buildings and the salaries of 

 the director, Mr. L. F. Lingle, a chemist, a technologist and a stenog- 

 rapher-assistant. By the begiiuiing of the fiscal year 1920-1921 

 the spirt of economy had taken hold of Congress with the result that 



