132 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



LIBRARY 



An essential of effective research is a fairly complete reference 

 library, and we are fortunate in having selected reference "worlcs with 

 such care that we now have a very usable and complete library of 

 comparatively small bulk. The library now contains some 3600 vol- 

 umes and pamphlets. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 



The preparation and publication of a bibliography by a trained 

 research worker familiar with the problems and the literature is of 

 great use to all our present and future research staff. In addition, the 

 distribution of a carefully prepared list of references is greatly appre- 

 ciated by everyone directly connected with fisheries investigations or 

 interested in the findings of such work. During the last biennium we 

 have published a bibliography of the tunas which has met with most 

 flattering praise from institutions and libraries throughout America 

 and Europe. Similar bibliographies are now in course of preparation 

 for sardines and mackerel. 



STATISTICAL DATA 



Exact and dependable knowledge rather than assumption is an essen- 

 tial in effectively administering our resources. The Bureau of Com- 

 mercial Fisheries collects an unusually large amount of direct records 

 of the conduct and developments in the fishing industry. ]\Iost of these 

 data are summarized and printed in the biennial reports, California 

 Fish and Game, fish bulletins, or as separate pamphlets of the Division 

 of Fish and Game. The greatest bulk of such fisheries data is contained 

 in the records of fish landings at the ports throughout the state. Tn 

 the twenty-ninth biennial report there was mention of a plan to repre- 

 sent statistical information to the people of the state in a more readable 

 form and to make the salient features more readily grasped by using 

 charts and diagrams. In 1928 this plan was carried out and Fish Bul- 

 letin No. 15 was issued. In the following year Fish Bulletin No. 20 

 carried on the idea, and the third bulletin of this series is now being 

 prepared for the printer. These bulletins present the landings of all 

 species of fish in the various districts, show changes from year to year, 

 and picture seasonal runs by means of graphs of the monthly catches. 

 The third bulletin is presenting additional data covering the number 

 and sizes of boats engaged in the industry, and we hope to enlarge 

 future bulletins to include additional data such as number of fishermen 

 engaged in each fisher}', amounts and kinds of gear, investments in 

 equipment and developments in this great industry. 



COMMON NAMES OF FISHES 



In past years much confusion has resulted from the lack of uniform- 

 ity in the use of common names for our fishes. As provided by law 

 we have adopted an official common name for each of our commercially 

 important fish&s. In order that fishermen, dealers, cannery men and 

 other interested citizens might identify the fishes and know to which 

 species the adopted name properly applies, we have prepared for publi- 

 cation a list of the common names, one name to a page, accompanied by 

 a photograph of the fish in question, a brief description in popular 



