REPORT OK Till-; I'ISII AND (iAME COMMISSION. 109 



Oils fcK'tor in the natur<il tM|i];itioii. Xjitiirc sti-ikes lier l)ahin('Ps inex- 

 oi'alily, hut l>y i-cdiid ion of ;iiiiiii;il ciiciiiios more remains for the 

 luinter. 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 



Development of the Commercial Fisheries of suutheni ('alifdniia has 

 eiif()i'('(Ml payino- of i)ai'ti('iilar attention to prohh^ns (\\' lhc itidnstry 

 in tliis end ot" the state, the i^'ish and (iame Conunission hciii^- ToM-cd to 

 estahlish two branch ol'lices in the .ur'cat centers of the fishing' and paek- 

 \ng hiisiness at San Pedro and San Dieu'o. ^Feanw liile, a steadily wid- 

 eniny soale of seientilic i n vest ijjat ion has l)een eari'ied on, financed by 

 collections of elass-taxes h'vied u])on various phases of the fisheries. 

 While al\va\s the major |)aft of the revenue will come from licensing 

 of market-tishermen at $1U each, the |)rivileg'e and i)oiindap:e taxes upon 

 pi-esei'vin,ir of fish add considerably; and the extensive patrol activities 

 of till' state's patrol launch suffice in eonsidertihle degree to finance 

 thein.selves through fines collected. The inclusion of Santa Catalina 

 Island in two districts one of which is rather narrowly limited to cer- 

 tain classes of net fishing, and tlu' other and nearer entirely closed to 

 ecnuiiercial exploitation, has of coui'se proved a most fruitful field 

 for the state's patrol activities at sea. Unavoidal)l> . during the busy 

 sinnmer canning season, when high prices foi- tuna and albacoi-e place 

 every possihle premium upon getting the fish wherever they are to be 

 found, the courts have been kept congested with the over-ambitious 

 netmen. p]ncouraging prices have stinuilated a large migration of 

 l)urse seiners from the virtually depleted waters of the northern salmon 

 ranges to southern California; and a long association with the uncer- 

 tainties of the International Uonndaiy in the Straits of Juan de Fiica 

 appeared to have ins[)ifed a considerable percentage of these new- 

 comers with a general contempt for all lisli and ^auie law. 



Due to the carefidl\ progi-ammed methotis devised for liandlinL;- the 

 always serious problem of leuulating alien fishermen upon the sea. 

 it has been possil)le dni'lni; the la t summer to inculcate a due and 

 l)roper respect for the written Jaw among these visitants, and whetluM- 

 they remain or return, the conservation authoi-ities feel that there will 

 be very nnich less trouble with tlicm in the futui'e. While some stiff 

 fines wer(> imposed, and a few verbal clashes were unavoidalile, th(> 

 ends of justice have been served without any violence upon either 

 side. .\ pidicy of dignified firmness was outlined by tlie ( 'onninssioners 

 in the attempt to do no one any inju.stice. ()n the one hand wei'e the 

 large packiii'^' interests clamoi'ini;- foi- fish and ever mofe fish to pack 

 who are backed by the enoiinously increased tii'ct of lai'gest sizetl tisli- 

 iiig I)oats equipped with the most extensive gear known. On the other 



