THIRTY-FOURTH BIENNIAL REPORT 43 



taken per square mile of area suitable for sardines in the two countries 

 we find that the catch in California is much greater than that of Japan. 

 If a like comparison is made with the great herring fisheries of the 

 North Sea or with the menhaden or mackerel fisheries of the Atlantic 

 coast of the United States, it is found that the California sardine is 

 being fished far more intensively. 



Many fisheries have been depleted by far less intensive fishing 

 than we are giving the California sardine and we are justified in stating 

 that the situation is critical and that the sardine resource of California 

 is in grave danger from an industry which is still expanding at a ter- 

 rific rate and over which the Division of Fish and Game has not been 

 given adequate control. 



Floating Reduction Plants 



During the sardine season of 1934-1935 three floating reduction 

 ships operated on the California coast just outside the jurisdiction of 

 the state. These ships were supplied with sardines mostly by California 

 fishermen who used the state harbors, and the ships delivered their 

 products to California ports. From the products landed an estimate, 

 wliicli is quite accurate, has been made of the amount of sardines 

 delivered to each plant. During tlie season the TmI-c Mirnflores received 

 approximately 56,646 tons of sardines and produced 9441 tons of meal 

 and 1,936,533 gallons of oil. The Landng received about 62,862 tons 

 of sardines and produced 30.477 tons of meal and 2,201,333 gallons of 

 oil. The Sania Inez received approximately 8682 tons of sardines and 

 produced 988 tons of meal and 226.667 gallons of oil. The three plants 

 took for the season a total of approximately 128,190 tons of sardines. 



During the sardine season of 1935-1936, in addition to the three 

 plants mentioned, a fourth plant, the BrooJcdale, operated. During this 

 season the Lal'e Miraflorcs took approximately 55,638 tons of sardines 

 and produced 9273 tons of meal and 2,253.018 gallons of oil. The 

 Lansing received about 72,714 tons of sardines and produced 12,119 

 tons of meal and 2.665,664 gallons of oil. The Santa Inez received 

 about 22,926 tons of sardines and produced 3820 tons of meal and 

 992,798 gallons of oil. The BrooMale received about 7476 tons of sar- 

 dines and produced 1246 tons of meal and 185,066 gallons of oil. The 

 four plants took during the season approximately 158,754 tons of sar- 

 dines. 



Conservation of Sardines 



Although the take of sardines by floating reduction plants is as yet 

 considerably less than that of the shore plants, their operation is a 

 distinct menace to the entire industry. 



Almost 20 years ago when the sardine industry was just getting 

 started, it was recognized by the State and by sardine canners that the 

 sardine supply had a limit and should be guarded against exploitation 

 for reduction purposes and conserved for the higher use as human food. 

 Laws were passed to carry out this policy' and many decisions in our 

 state courts recognize the justice and wisdom of curtailing the use of 

 these fish in reduction plants. 



There has been a 20-year fight in our legislature to prevent the 

 reductionists from destroying this supply of food fish for a few years 

 of quick profit. Then about six years ago was developed the floating 



