FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



41 



SARDINE 



The present bieiiiiiuiii saw an improvenieiit in the sardiiif tishery 

 and a steady increase in tonnage landed. From the low of 121.000 tons 

 in 1947-48 the catch went to 184.000 in 1948-4f) and .33fi.O()() in l!)49-r)0.* 

 As a result the industry is in a much healthier condition than in tlu^ 

 previous biennium. Although more sardines were available on the San 

 Francisco and Monterey fishing grounds there w(M'(> not enough fish to 

 meet the needs of the processors in these two ports. As a result the truck- 

 ing of sardines from Southern California, started in l!)4()-47. was con- 

 tinued through 1949-50. To meet this demand uidoading facilities were 

 improved at the ports of Santa Barbara and Ilueneme. ^lost of the 

 sardines trucked to Monterey and San Francisco were caught around the 

 northern Channel Islands and off the mainland noi'tli of Santa Monica 

 Bay. 



Figure 6. Sardine landings at California ports during llic past Id seasons 



During 1948-49 about 80 percent of the sardines landed were used 

 for canning but in 1949-50 the proportion canned (lfo|)|)c(| to a third of 

 the total received. Tliis was due to a strengthening in the ])rice of meal 

 and oil and a major drop in the price of canned sardines. 



As an experiment in regulation of the surdine lisliei-y the S.irdine 

 Industry Advisory Committee set uj) a teniporary program of control 

 for the 1948-49 season which was carried out by the Division of Kisli and 

 Game. Since this did not meet the expectations of the indnstiy ami 

 proved very difficult 1o administer, the regtdations wei-.' dropped at the 



* These totals Include poundages used for bait and oonsuniptlon in a fresh state. 

 They represent the final records for 1947-48 and l!i48-4t» and the most accurate tigure.s 

 available at this time for 19 49-50. 



