CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



The current under the Mission Beach bridge is so swift and tricky 

 as to be dangerous for row boats that venture near the breakers when 

 the tide is ebbing. 



CONSERVATION OP WILD LIFE 



The most important item in the protection of all forms of wild 

 life in this region is to leave the marshes and mud flats in their present 

 natural state. 



Game Fish 



The species of game fish which are at present in the bay will 

 probably need no additional protection for many years, provided there 

 is no reduction in their food supply. 



Bait Animals 



By far the largest part of the bait animals taken from the bay are : 

 jack-knife clams, burrowing shrimps (known locally as crawfish), top 

 minnows, and gobies (small fish known as mud suckers). These animals 

 form a very valuable food supply of the birds and game fishes. Since 

 there are noticeable signs of depletion, these forms should be given 

 added protection. Commercial bait men could obtain their stock from 

 San Diego Bay, which is close by and is reputed to have more than 

 ample supplies of bait. 



Birds 



Mission B'ay is closed to hunting — as it should be. At present, 

 there seems to be no need for any sort of predator control, though the 

 problem may arise in the future. 



Seals 



There is said to be a small herd of seals resident in Mission Bay. 

 These are probably harbor seals {Phoca vitidina) . They were not seen 

 by us. Fishermen comi)lain that the seals not only destroy game fish 

 but also drive them out of the bay. We are not prepared to say to what 

 extent this is true. However, the seals are an attraction of the park. 

 Many people who do not care to fish do enjoy watching the antics of a 

 herd of seals. Therefore, the seals of Mission Bay should not be 

 destroyed. If their numbers become too large, in the judgment of the 

 California Division of Fish and Game, that body can be empowered to 

 kill a few males. This can be done without in any way endangering the 

 existence of the herd. 



Control of Sting Bays 



A reduction in the number of sting rays in Mission Bay would be 

 highly desirable. These species form serious competition for game 

 fishes, and the round sting ray is a great menace to bathers. There is 

 no way to eliminate sting rays entirely, but their numbers can be 

 reduced by interesting anglers in taking them. Sportsmen's clubs in 

 the San Francisco Bay region do this by having contests and awarding 

 prizes for the largest rays caught. Once or twice a year great numbers 



