56 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



five years, thus allowing a given population of elanis limited iJi-otection 

 for short periods. 



Pismo elam investigations, re-established in 1946, indicate that there 

 have been no exceptionally successful sets at Pismo Beach since 1946. 

 A review of available information about the Pismo clam was prepared 

 for publication in Califoniia Fish cuid Game, July, 1950, and a more 

 technical report on populations, maturity and local growth rates is being 

 prepared in conjunction with Dr. Wesley K. Coe of Seripps Institution 

 of Oceanography. 



ABALONE 



The production of abalones has increased slightly over that of the 

 last biennium. Because of the great increase of abalone divers after the 

 war. the drain on District 18 was excessive and practically all of the 

 legal-sized abalones were removed. Most of the abalones now come from 

 the Channel Islands. The present diving crews are the old timers who 

 have followed the fishery for years. Only a few of the postwar semi- 

 profcssionals have stayed in business. A new species (Haliotis sorensenii) 

 described from a few specimens taken near San Simeon has been dis- 

 covered in connnercial quantities around San Clemente Island. The 

 center of tiie industry is at present at Santa Barbara where a large 

 modern ])lant ])i-ocesses the abalones as they ai'e landed from the islands. 

 Morro liay has two processing plants whieh produce a small steady 

 supply. 



OCEAN SPORT FISHING 



Ocean sport fishing has shown a continual I'ise in numbers of boats 

 and fishei'men since the end of the war. The increase in numbers of boats 

 and fishermen between 1947 and 1948 was 21 and 22 percent, respec- 

 tively, but the increase in total number of fish caught was only 8 per- 

 cent. If the stock of fish was sufficient, the total ocean sport catch could 

 be expected to increase in ])ropoi'tioii to the number of fishermen. 



Spot checks of sport ho;it hindinns, made continuously since 1947, 

 have revealed that the average catch of the marine angler is about five 

 fish of all species. The number of anglei's catching 10 or more fish during 

 any one day of angling avei'aged less than 10 ])ei'cent of the total anglers 

 thronghont the season. Se\-enty-tive percent of the anglers caught five or 

 less fish (lining an average fishing day. In fact, over half of the 234 boats 

 checked dnring 1948 and 1949 repoi'ted an average catch of three fish 

 or less pel- fishei'man. 



iJcfore 1949, holders of sport lishiuL; licenses wei-e permitted to take 

 15 fish in the aggregate of certnin species. Beginning in 1949, the regu- 

 lation was clian^('(l to a hag limit of 10 fish of cei'tain species, and several 

 additional species were phieed on n limit of 1.") lisli. This new regulation 

 was intendeil to pei-form two fnin-tions: to help eliminate some of the 

 wjiste of (ish t lint often occurs w hen an anglei- returns with a heavy catch 

 and has diflicnity in (lis|)osing of it, and also to distribute the available 

 fish more evi'uly among the anglei's. This would be accomplished by 

 causing the higldy successful angler to give his overlimit fish to those 

 anglers that were less successful. Preferably, of course, it is better that 

 an angler cease fishing if he i-eaches his limit, or releases alive over- 

 limit fish. 



