CALIFORNIA FIRII AND GAME 



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winter. They are hungry and enter the traps freely. In years when 

 the river is low and elear in the spring, the eatfish do not seem to move 

 mucli. The poor spring fishing of some seasons has been attributed to 

 h)w water by the fishermen. 



Second only to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River district in the 

 production of freshwater fish is Clear Lake. This beautifully situated 

 body of fresh water is technically part of the Sacramento Eiver drain- 

 age system in that its surplus waters flow into that stream. However, 

 (luring the present series of dry winters there has been practically no 

 run-off to the river. Clear Lake contains the same native species of 

 commercial and game fishes found in the Sacramento. The square- 

 tail and fork-tail catfishes, the carp and various game fishes have been 

 introduced into the lake with success. 



The catch in Clear Lake varies greatly from year to year due to 

 fishing conditions and economic factors. The trend was upward from 

 1916 to 1925, in which year 360,000 pounds were taken. (See Fig. 142.) 



Fig. 146 Seining for "rough fish" in Clear Lake. Preparing to lay out the 

 1200-foot seine from the apron of the barge. Photograph by H. B. Nidever, 

 January 7, 1932. 



During the years from 1926 to 1931, the catch decreased considerably. 

 Until 1931 the greater part of the catch consisted of catfish, principally 

 the square-tail species. From time to time quantities of rough fish, 

 mostly carp, were caught in the lake but the take of these fish never 

 approached that of the catfish. In 1931 the State Legislature passed a 

 law prohibiting the shipment of catfish out of the district in winch 

 Clear Lake is located, and as a result it has ceased to be an important 

 factor in the lake fishery. On the other hand, in 1932 the Division of 

 Pish and Game issued a permit to a group of fishermen allowing them 

 to seine coarse fish from the lake. It is due to the operations of these 

 men that the Clear Lake catch showed a large increase in 1932. (See 

 Fig. 142.) Practically all of the 1932 and 1933 catch in the lake con- 

 sisted of rough fish, mostly hardhead. 



