FORTY-FIRST BIKNNIAL KKPORT 



57 



There has been little chanfre in the speeies eoniposition of the marine 

 sportcateh. The important ones are barracnda, the popnlar kelp and 

 saud bass (frequently called calico bass), the many speeies of roektish. 

 halibut, -white sea bass and yellowtaih Perhaps tiie backbone of the 

 Southern California sportfishery is the kelji and sand bass. I'ntil tlie 

 spring of 1950, very little research work on these tisbes liad Ix't-n <lone. 

 At the present time an experimental taprjrin;r jn-o^n-am is in etVect and 

 a total of more than 1.200 fisli liave been tairjred. This veiitnn' is a cooper- 

 ative one between several groujis : the Bureau of Mariin* Fisheries, sport- 

 boat owners, boat landing operators, live bait dealers, a tackle mann- 

 facturer, the Southern Council of Conservation (luhs, and the Sporting 

 Goods Dealers Association of the T.,os Angeles area. ()nly becanse of the 

 friendh' efforts of all of these groups, and many indivi(hials as well, has 

 it been possible to put on this tairtrinir iifo-jr-ain to tlie extent necessary. 



Figure 13. Tagging rock ba.n.M 



It is far too early to explain any definite results, altlmu-li infonnation is 

 coming in at an unusual rate. 



In keeping with a policy set up in the summer of 1!H>. the bureau 

 has maintained monthlv news releases sunnnari/.nig the marine spnrt- 

 catch all along the California coast. The value of such a policy is mani- 

 fold, but most important it does much to convin.-e boat operators that 

 they personally profit by keeping ami sendiuL- n. .•afch re.-or.is that will 

 be used, as public information. 



