110 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSIOlSr. 



side stood the law bitterly attacked by able counsel as essentially "class 

 legislation" in favor of wealthy sportsmen. With these differences of 

 opinion, the conservation authorities steadfastly refused to have any- 

 thing to do. Once a tish and game law is enacted in California, that 

 removes the Fish and Game Commission from any duty or responsi- 

 l)ility other than its enforcement. Bitterly criticised by both parties 

 to this conflict piscatorial, blamed by the fishermen for its zeal, criticised 

 by anglers for its alleged apathy, the fact remains that persistent prose- 

 cutions have been met l\v suspended sentences of late in the very 

 .strongholds of this latter criticism so the only logical conclusion 

 must be that on the whole the situation has been fairly well met. 

 Today, with the constitutionality of the disputed law upheld, its 

 enforcement must rest with those justices whose sworn duty it is to 

 properly penalize violators whom the state's patrolmen bring before 



them. 



* 



It has required no small amount of consideration to enable the conser- 

 vation authorities to keep in touch with so rapidly changing a situation 

 as the regulation of fisheries on the southern California coast alone dur- 

 ing the past biennial period. Without discretionary power there has 

 been no adequate manner of meeting emergencies of supply and demand, 

 so the only possible course has been a policy of enforcement until neces- 

 sary alterations in the laws could be made by the forthcoming legisla- 

 ture. Many measures initiated two years ago have completely vindi- 

 cated themselves, others in the nature of things have unavoidably 

 proved inadequate. So long as no arrangement exists to adjust regula- 

 tion to immediate requirements, even in matters so transient and ever- 

 changing as fish and game conditions, the conservation authorities will 

 be compelled to attempt to fortell the developments of many months 

 ahead. 



This uncertainty has encouraged the Fish and Game Commission to 

 enter upon what probably is the most extensive program of scientific 

 research along fishery lines evci' undertaken by any of the states. 

 While the need is state-wide and the work has not been limited settion- 

 ally the phenomenal growth of the fish-packing industry has naturally 

 focussed attention first upon southern problems, although these in a 

 great measure have a relation and bearing upon the situation elsewhere. 



The time already has arrived when the one boat charged with patrol 

 and scientific research is hopelessly inadequate, there being enough 

 demand in either line to occupy her entire available time. It is probable 

 that eventually the excellent and seaworthy patrol-cruiser "Albacore" 

 will he detailed to scientific work, and replaced with a faster, bigger 

 craft for the regulation of fishermen. When built, the "Albacore" 

 was superior to any. l)ut the growth of the fisheries industry has been 



