CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 297 



In addition to the large table showing the complete landing, there 

 is a table showing the fish imported into the State by region of landing, 

 with a third table showing the importations by point of origin. 



This change of form has been adopted after careful consideration 

 and trial over a three-year period since the installation of tabulating 

 machines for compiling the commercial catch statistics. — .¥. B. Sco field, 

 Mmj 28, 1934. 



GIANT SQUID TAKEN AT LAGUNA BEACH 



On April 14, 1934, Captain 0. B. Ayres brought to the California 

 State Fisheries Laboratory a giant squid, Moroteuthis rohusta, that 

 liad been captured alive that morning in the surf at Laguna Beach, 

 California. This squid was over nine feet long, which great size, how- 

 ever, is not unusual for this species. Moroteuthis is very rare in Cali- 

 fornia, being a more northern form. The present specimen is probably 

 the first record for southern California. 



The total length of the squid was 112| inches, including the ten- 

 tacles, which measured 65^ inches. The distance from the tip of the 

 fin to the front of the eye was 47 inches. The eight sessile arms meas- 

 ured 30 inches. A description of this species is given in volume 19 

 (1933) of California Fish and Game (J. B. Phillips, "Description of a 

 giant squid taken at Monterey, with notes on other squid taken oft the 

 California coast," pp. 128-136). — B. S. Croker, California State Fish- 

 cries Laboratory, April 16, 1934. 



ADEQUATE FRESH FISH INSPECTION AND GRADING 



The per capita consumption of fishery products in this country is 

 lower than in any important country of the world. 



The failure on the part of the fishing industry to recognize and 

 enforce among themselves the standards of quality has prejudiced the 

 consuming public against this valuable foodstuff and is the principal 

 cause for their inability to increase the per capita consumption. 



The Federal and State agencies for meat inspection have proven 

 very effective in eliminating undesirable practices. They also have 

 established adequate standards of quality and have functioned as 

 guarantors of the public health by establishing and enforcing minimum 

 hygienic and sanitary standards. The inspection and grading of fish 

 would be no more difficult than the grading of agricultural products, 

 which has been carried on by the Division of Markets of the State 

 Agricultural Department with the cooperation of the producers, for 

 many years. A similar service to include fish and shellfish would do 

 much to make these valuable foods more important elements in human 

 diet than they have been in the past. 



Article VIII, Title B, Section F of the National Fishery Code, 

 provides : " To encourage the distribution of strictly high quality prod- 

 ucts of the industry and otherwise to protect the consumer against 

 inferior merchandise." Under this section the producers of fresh fish 

 should sponsor legislation to extend the same privileges and advantages 

 of State inspection and grading as are now given to other producers 

 of food commodities. 



