t^ORTV-FIKST IUi:.\MAl. KKlMtKT ;);» 



1945-46 season. This lias been the result of iiu-n'asinir the total li^hiu^' 

 effort in the Eureka re<iion where prior tn l!>44 the resource had not been 

 fully harvested. During the same period more intense fishiii-: has ^'rad- 

 ually increased the seasonal landin<rs at Saii Fraiieiseo to about five and 

 one-half million ])()ini(ls which is about •_*.()()().()()() pounds above the pre- 

 war level. 



Crab traps of stainless steel wire wo\cn about cireular Ifames have 

 become the principal fishing gear. However, there are still many snudh'r 

 boats in both the San Francisco ami Kureka regions contributing to tlie 

 total landings through the ns(> of the hoop nets which once were the 

 mainstay of the fishery. 



Since there must exist a limit to the amcMint of exploitation of the 

 resource in relation to the natural iiroduction of the species, it became 

 advisable in 1948 to begin a biological investigation of the ci-al) to ilctei-- 

 mine if this resource can withstand the increased fishim: jtressure. 



The existing protection of females and the minimum size limit restrict 

 fishing to a definite group of older male i-rabs. When these are taken 

 crabbing must cease — but only until aftei- the ensuing nioltin^r season 

 which brings in a new group of legal-size crabs. I'reliminary studies of 

 the present biological investigation are yielding information on the rat«' 

 of growth and size at first maturity of the crab, in California waters. 

 Crabs about to shed their shells are held in fresh circulatin;r sea water 

 at the Steinhart Aquarium, San Francisco. The growth of these crabs 

 after molting gives increments of the various sizes. The sea.sons of molt- 

 ing for different size groups are being ascertained and considered with 

 periodic growth increases to give tlata for construction of the dcsii-ed 

 growth curve. Determination of the size and age at first sexual maturity 

 will allows an estimation of the possibility of the intensive fishin'/ oi)er- 

 ations resulting in irreparable dama<i-e to the resource. There is indii-a- 

 tion that legal-size crabs have passed thi-oiigli two mating seasons. Thus, 

 it seems, since natural production has op|)ortunity for succis-s, that 

 only a catastrophe foi- the females or the yoiini.'- stages could hariu the 

 fishery for an extendiMl period. 



PISMO CLAM 



After Sei)tember, 11)47. there was no legal conuuen-ial e.xploitat ion 

 of California Pisnio clams but limited (piantiti<'s have be«'ii imported into 

 the State from Mexican waters to meet the eonsiim.-r demantl. Dnriim 

 1948 there were no records of shipments into California from south of the 

 International Boundary. In l!)4!i. however, the imports amounted to 

 about 645,000 pounds live weight. Reduced canning is the major faetor 

 responsible for the drop in importations fr-.m a hi-h of over 5;{.(KM).0((0 

 pounds in 1945. 



Tn October. 1!»4!», Fish and (iame District l-.\ the Le(;raiide .sanc- 

 tuary just south of Pismo lieach ) was oi)en to the sportsmen of the State 

 for the first time in 20 vears. Duiin- a two ami one-half month period 

 followiuf^ this opening' an estimate.l 4.()(>().()l)n p..unds were removed 

 from thil beach. .\t the same time that District 1>.\ was opened two 

 other areas (one at Pisiiio Beach and one at .Morn. Bay) were clewed 

 to clam digging. It is anticipated that designated areas wdl be set up h.h 

 clam sanctuaries and alternately opened and closed approxnnately every 



