REPORT OP THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 73 



different from tliose at IMontercy. At Monterey sardines are found in 

 great numbers most of the season and are usually eaught close to the 

 canneries and within a comparatively small area. The boats most of 

 the time are able to get their allotted limits and there is little incentive 

 to make an over-eatch with the expectation that other boats will not get 

 their limit and on that account they will be able to sell the excess 

 amount. Further than that, the boats are usually near enough together 

 so that each knows what the catch of the other boats is. In southern 

 California the boats fish mostly far from the canneries and scattered 

 over a wide area so that they are not able to regulate the total catch. To 

 insure the canneries running at capacity it is necessary that the limits 

 which the canneries place on their boats be slightly in excess of the 

 capacity of the cannery. AVe have found by experience that the excess 

 allowed must, on account of the difference in fishing conditions, be 

 greater in southern California than at Monterey. The percentage of 

 leeway which is allowed therefore, is greater in southern California than 

 at ]\Ionterey. The canners, almost without exception, are cooperating 

 with us and are willingly permitting us to inspect their plants and the 

 records of their pack. 



The regulation of the use of lisli in reduction plants we believe is 

 working out quite satisfactorily and in accordance with the wishes of 

 the legislature. Some of the canners without reduction plants and 

 some of the plants not connected with canneries have not been wholly 

 satisfied. But, from force of circumstances they are at a slight dis- 

 advantage and it is not natural that they should be entirely satisfied. 

 On "the other baud, some of the canners with reduction plants feel that 

 we have been too severe with our regulations. The direct fishing for 

 reduction purposes which caused the passage of the law has been en- 

 tirely stopped and over-catches and waste has been reduced to a low 

 percentage. 



PURSE SEINE FISHING. 

 About the most important development in the fisheries during the 

 past biennial period is the introduction of purse seine fishing in south- 

 ern California and the capture by this means of large cpiantities of 

 blue-fin tuna. The luua canning industry has been supported by the 

 fish known as the long-finiicd Inna. or albaeore which is eaught only 

 with hook and line. As already stated in discussing the tuna investi- 

 gations, the catch of this species of fish until this year had been de- 

 creasing due, most likely, to a natural fluctuation in abundance and not 

 to over-fishing. A few purse seines introduced in 1918, demonstrated 

 that the other varieties of tuna may be caught with nets. In 1919 the 

 number of purse seine boats increased, in the San Pedro district where 



