114 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



to provent radical changes. Another cause of this delay was the diffi- 

 culty of unloading large boats b.y the inclined cable method there used. 

 Two purse seine boats had operated for several seasons for the K. 

 Ilovden plant at i\Ionterey. These boats were enabled to unload their 

 catch by the utilization of a suction tube running out to a crib anchored 

 beyond the rocks and into which the boats could unload their catch 

 without danger. 



The growing scarcitj^ of sardines in the local waters, especially 

 during certain months, led canners to break away from the domination 



Fig. 46. Purse seine boats moored at Fish Harbor, San Pedro. Photo by 

 G. R. Chute, February 1, 1927. 



of the lampara fishermen and to bring in purse seine boats. "With the 

 1929-30 season 22 large purse seine boats were added to the Monterey 

 fleet, and proved very efficient. During the times when sardines were 

 scarce these larger boats were able to extend the fishing area to the 

 north 80 to 100 miles, where they found the fish much more abundant. 

 The lampara fishermen, in self defense, adopted the ring net, while 

 some of them bought purse seiners. 



The fishing effort has been growing at Monterey. More efficient 

 methods, more boats, larger lighters and larger limits. Increased effort 

 here, as in southern California, has not increased the catch in local 

 waters. The increase has been brought about bj' the fishermen going 

 farther for their fish. Along with this has been the lengthening of the 

 periods when they could get no sardines in local waters. All of which 

 indicates depletion. 



MACKEREL 



In 1928 the mackerel jumped from tenth place in importance among 

 our fisheries to a place second only to sardines. Prior to 1928 very few 

 mackerel were canned in the state, the catch going almost entirely to 

 the fresh fish markets. In 1927 the total catch for the state was less 

 than 5,000,000 pounds. In 1928 the catch jumped to over 35,000,000 

 pounds. In 1929 the catch was increased to almost 58,000,000 pounds. 



