40 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



catch of trout by all anglers was between 15 and 16 million as compared 

 to an estimated catch of between 12 and 13 million prior to the war. 

 Although the total production of hatchery reared trout was increased 

 from 133,948 pounds in 1940 to 351,461 pounds in 1945 the increase was 

 not equal to the increased drain upon the trout supply. 



It was evident from the rapid increase in angling license sales during 

 the fall months of 1945 that the number of anglers in the field during 

 1946 might be as great as 700,000 and this has been verified by the pre- 

 liminary figures as to license sales in 1946. 



With these facts in mind the bureau recommended to the commis- 

 sion at the first regulatory meeting in January, 1946, that the bag limit 

 on trout be reduced to 15 fish or 10 pounds and one fish. This recommen- 

 dation was supported by most of the sportsmen 's organizations through- 

 out the State except for its application to the bag limits for north coast 

 steelhead streams. 



The commission authorized the regulation, making it state-wide, and 

 it became effective with the opening of the trout season May 1, 1946. 



FISH HATCHERIES AND FISH PLANTING 



The following hatcheries were operated during the period covered 

 by this report : 



Hatchery County 



Basin Creek Tuolumne 



Brookdale Santa Cruz 



Burney Shasta 



Coy Flat (seasonal) Tulare 



Fall Creek Siskiyou 



Feather River Plumas 



Fillmore Ventura 



Hot Creek Mono 



Huntington Lake (seasonal) Fresno 



Kaweah Tulare 



Kern River , Kern 



Kings River Fresno 



Lake Almanor Plumas 



Mt. Shasta Siskiyou 



Mt. Whitney and Black Rock ponds Inyo 



Mt. Tallac , El Dorado 



Prairie Creek Humboldt 



Sequoia Tulare 



Tahoe Placer 



Yosemite Mariposa 



Yuba River Sierra 



Central Valleys (warm water fishes) . Sacramento 



Operation of the Alpine and Madera seasonal hatcheries located in 

 the counties of the same name was discontinued early in the war and they 

 continued inoperative during the biennium in order to conserve man- 

 power and because they were the least essential. 



A few temporary ponds using well water were put into operation at 

 the San Gabriel site near Whittier, Los Angeles County, in 1944. They 

 were operated on an experimental basis to determine if the site was suit- 

 able for a permanent installation. It was found that with aeration the 

 water was satisfactory and, the temperature being approximately 60 

 degrees, the growth of the fish was rapid. 



