CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 155 



mackerel (Pneumatophorus diego) delivered to San Pedro canneries 

 is about 14 inches and their average weight is a trifle over 1 pound. 

 Previous record breakers were no more than 18 inches in length and 

 2^ pounds in weight. This remarkably large fish was caught in a ring 

 net haul off Huntington Beach in company with 1600 pounds of aver- 

 age sized fish. 



The other record to be established was of an entirely different 

 nature. During 1933, California fish canneries packed more mackerel 

 than in any previous year. They produced about 740,000 standard cases ; 

 over 8 times the 1932 pack and 145,000 cases more than in 1929, which 

 showed the best previous pack. Although the bulk of the output was 

 produced at San Pedro, the canneries at San Diego and Monterey also 

 put up heavier packs than ever before. The large production resulted 

 from the increased prices of competitive grades of salmon and a grow- 

 ing consumer demand. Most of the canned mackerel was sold in the 

 United States although considerable quantities are still exported, prin- 

 cipally to the Philippine Islands and Italy. 



Canners are planning a large pack for 1934 and are making ready 

 for the coming season which will swing into full stride during the 

 early summer. In the meantime they are taking what quantities they 

 can get although mackerel are scarce at present as is usual during the 

 period from February through April. — Richard 8. Croher, California 

 State Fisheries Laboratory, February 15, 1934. 



AN UNUSUAL SARDINE 



One of the largest sardines ever taken in the San Pedro fishing 

 region was brought to the California State Fisheries Laboratory by 

 Mr. H. J. Langdon, Cannery Inspector, Division of Fish and Game, 

 on February 22, 1934. The fish, taken in local waters the previous 

 night, was 14 inches total length, 300 mm. body length, and weighed 

 14 ounces. Age determination indicated that it was nine or ten years 

 old. This sardine was exceptionally fat, and anatomical examination 

 sliowed an entire absence of sex organs. This lack of sex organs prob- 

 ably caused the unusual size and fatness of the fish, since the energy 

 normally expended to mature sex products was devoted to growth in 

 length and weight. — Frances N. Clark, California State Fisheries 

 Labo^'atory, February 23, 1-934. 



GROUND FISH 



In September, 1933, additional work was started on the fishes taken 

 by the paranzella trawlers which operate principally out of San Fran- 

 cisco. This is the largest fresh fish fishery of northern and central 

 California, producing and marketing 12 to 13 million pounds of fish 

 a year. Of this total about 11 million pounds consists of the various 

 species of soles and sand dabs. The rest of the catch is made up of 

 rockfishes, cultus cod, sablefisli, hake, rays and sharks. Large numbers 

 of people are dependent upon this supply as a source for their fish 

 needs and it is important that the Division have a more intimate knowl- 

 edge of the fishery. As a consequence, work was instigated to gather 

 more information on these fish and on the fishery, and the work will 

 continue until the major problems are solved. 



