378 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



During the war, the increased demand for fish maintained the 

 catch at a fairly high level, but the post-war depression affected the 

 river fisheries and the catch decreased markedly. From 1922 to 1929 

 the total catch of freshwater fish in the valley-delta area increased 

 considerably. (See Fig. 142.) The larger catches were probably not 

 the result of greater availability of the fish but of the increased demand 

 and correspondingly greater effort on the part of the fishermen. The 

 number of fishermen has not increased in proportion to the rise of 

 the catch, but each fisherman now uses many more nets than he did 

 ten years ago. The recent depression has resulted in a curtailment of 

 fishing effort since 1930 and the catch has slumped to a marked extent. 



Fig. 143. The Sacramento River near Courtland, typical catfish 

 water. Photograph by R. S. Croker, April, 1931, 



The greater part of the catch of freshwater fish in the river dis- 

 trict is composed of catfish. The delicate flavor of this fish is known 

 and appreciated, resulting in a relatively good sale. The towns of the 

 Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco region are 

 the best markets, but quantities are shipped to Los Angeles. Occasional 

 shipments are still made to the Rocky Mountain States, especially to 

 the cities of Denver, Butte and Salt Lake. Californians prefer the 

 white meat of the fork-tail, whereas the people of the Mountain States 

 prefer the reddish flesh of the square-tail species. The Chinese like 

 the large fish, those over 12 inches long, and prefer to get them alive. 

 The smaller ones, 9 to 12 inches long (7 to 10 inches, dressed) find 

 favor with other consumers who usually buy in small amounts yet 

 wanting several individual fish. 



The fishermen deliver catfish to the markets dressed, that is, with 

 the heads, skins and viscera removed. 



