THIRTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 69 



seasons ending in 1930 average over 250,000 tons each and caused 

 overproduction. The great increase in the amount of sardines caught 

 was the result of fishing in waters more distant from the canneries and 

 by a greatly increased fishing effort. More and larger boats and larger 

 and more efficient nets were used. The increase in fishing effort was 

 greater than the increase in the catch. This increased fishing effort 

 could not increase the catch in nearby waters, and there was every 

 indication that the sardine supply was being overtaxed. 



At the 1931 session of the Legislature the Division again spon- 

 sored a bill which would reduce to the minimum the amount of sar- 

 dines which could be used b.y canners for reduction. The bill would 

 also eliminate the provision in the law which allowed the Division 

 of Fish and Game to grant permits to plants to take sardines for the 

 purpose of manufacturing edible products from the oil extracted. The 

 canners could not agree, at first, on what they wanted other than that 

 they preferred to do away with the incentive to overproduce canned 

 sardines for the purj^ose of making the quicker profit on the fish meal 

 and oil of their by-products plants, by a law which would give to each 

 canner a certain amount of sardines for a season to use for reduction 

 when and as he pleased; the amount actually used in canning not to 

 be charged against his allotment. 



It later developed that it was the sentiment of the legislative fish 

 and game committees that the Division of Fish and Game should fix 

 the maximum amount of sardines which it is safe to take in any one 

 season, and that the Division be given power to allot this amount to the 

 sardine plants. The Division and canners decided that 200,000 tons 

 would be a fair amount for the maximum tonnage which could be 

 safely taken without depleting the supply of sardines. The canners, 

 however, could not agree on how the amount should be divided among 

 the sardine canning plants. The opposition of those who would take 

 sardines for edible oil or for straight reduction succeeded in defeating 

 the bill. Since that time it is believed that the majority of the inter- 

 ested parties are in favor of fixing the maximum amount which can be 

 taken at 200,000 tons, or give the Division power to fix the amount 

 and then let the fish be used for any purpose desired. 



FLOATING REDUCTION PLANTS 



In November, 1930, the Lake Miraflores, a motorship of 4500 tons, 

 belonging to the Santa Cruz Oil Co., began operating as a reduction 

 plant off the coast of San Mateo County but outside the State's juris- 

 diction, the object being to take sardines for reduction purposes with- 

 out paying State taxes and without being subject to the restrictions 

 imposed by the State's fish reduction act. At the same time this ship 

 took advantage of the State's harbors for protection and for landing 

 its products. It employed fishermen who had formerly had the privi- 

 lege of fishing in State waters and who continued to use the State's 

 harbors, and who expect to continue fishing in State waters after 

 their present contract with the Lake Miraflores is ended. This plant, 

 after a great many difficulties, ceased to operate early in March, 1931. 

 At the opening of the sardine season in northern California on August 

 1, 1931, the Lake Mirafl^ores began operating again off the San Mateo 



