54 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



FiGURK 12. FishiriK for sableflsh. Hauling in a long- line from a depth of 400 fathoms, 

 with the aid of a liiir puller. PhotO(jraph by J. B. PhiUips. Monterey, California, 



March 1. ltir,(). 



Work i.s al.so bcin^' tloiie to detenniiie the rate of orowtli, weight- 

 lengtli i-elationshii), size at maturity, and spawning season. 



The California landings of sablefisli in no way reflect the abundance 

 of the species. As a rule small individuals (under five pounds) are not 

 wanted by the markets, but during Worhl AVar II the markets were able 

 to sell sucli fish and the drag net boats brought in great quantities. The 

 postwar drop represents a return to normal marketing conditions. 



.Sablefisli are marketed fresh, filleted and frozen, smoked, and salted, 

 and some recent canning of fillets has proved successful. The flesh is 

 oily and of ])leasiiig texture. This species is found from Southern Cali- 

 fornia to Alaska. It is caught on baited long lines and is also caught by 

 use of drag nets. It has been taken commercially in water as deep as 

 400 fathoms and in shallow water, close to shore. In the winter, there 

 a|)pears to be a greater concentration of larger individuals in deeper 

 watei', wiiile in the spring and sunnncr llicre is a shifting into somewhat 

 f>li;ill(i\vci' water, willi the smallest fisli in t lie sliallowest water. Spawning 

 occnrs niainl\- durin'j the winter iiioiitlis. 



CRABS 



The cral) fishery, altliouiili producing a lu.xnry food, underwent a 

 treniendous expansion dui-ini:' the last few years. Shortly after re-estab- 

 lishiiient of the industi-y after the war, the total seasonal landings rose 

 to more than double those of i)re\var years. San Francisco has been sur- 

 passed by Eureka in total poundage of crabs landed beginning with the 



