60 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



leniutr whai-J'. For similar reasons changes were necessary in nearly 

 every form that was in use. 



The serial number on the Fish and Game boat plate acts as an identi- 

 fying code in the statistical system. The first boat plates were issued 

 in 1931 and many of these were lost or painted over so that the serial 

 number could not be read. During the war it had been impossible to get 

 rust proof metals and the plates made during that time had quickly 

 deteriorated when ex))osed to the salt water. In 1949, therefore, the boat 

 plates in the series from 1 through 7UD0 were replaced without cost to 

 the boat owner provided the vessel was properly registered for com- 

 mercial fishing or had a party permit for sport fishing. 



Renewing the boat plates came at an opportune time to stress the 

 importance of the boat identification on the fish receipts and the need 

 for proper registration of the vessels. Dealers had become careless about 

 identifying the vessels by Fish and Game number on the fish receipts; 

 owners had neglected to register their vessels each year. Replacing the 

 boat ])lates has produced most beneficial results to the statistical system. 

 By stressing the identification of the boat by number on the fish receipts 

 it has improved the records w^e get from the fish dealers and therefore 

 reduced the clerical work ; it has stimulated interest in the boat registra- 

 tions and the necessity for boat plates. 



In 1949-1950 there were 1,000 more vessels in the active fishing fleet 

 than had ever fished in California w-aters before. Among these were 

 100 additional spoi-t fishing boats; there was a high percentage of larger 

 vessels (1G4 over 100 ft. long) and more than the usual number (424) 

 had come from Alaska, Washington and Oregon to join the local fleet. 

 There was also a more noticeable movement of the vessels up and down 

 the coast and the i-ccords of iii(li\i(lu;d vessels were getting more compli- 

 cated. 



Fish Bulletiii .Vo. 74, clcxciitli iu a series of catch bulletins fostered 

 by the statistical unit, was published in ]94f). This bulletin presented the 

 detailed catch statistics foi- the A'ear 1947 which was routine, and in 

 addition a review of statistics for the period 191(j-1947. This gathered 

 into one convenient place comparable records gleaned from many former 

 ])ublications. Meml)ers of 1hc research staff analj^zed the graphs and 

 tables presented for both minor and major species and told the historical 

 story of each fishery. Ijccausc of tlic scope of this bulletin it has many 

 uses, one of A\liicli is as a source of ready reference for information con- 

 cerning the less important species wliidi i-cceive little attention elsewhere. 



In addition to the record of first sale of fish to a dealer, the Bureau 

 of .Marine l-'isheries I'eceives monthly repoi-ts from the processors of 

 the State. These show details of kinds of lisli handled and the amounts of 

 cainied fish, fish meal and oil and other products produced. Formerly 

 the data from these repoiis hail been com|)iled into inonthly suiinnai'ies 

 hy the San h'ranciscn dlTicc and released to interested j)ersons. Dui'ing 

 1949 the handlinii of I ln'se imports was transferi'ed to the Terminal Island 

 lal)oratoi-y and cluuiges were made in the monthly sunnnaries issued. 

 'I'liese changes were based on suggestions i'ecei\-ed I'rom members of the 

 industi-y. 



Circular '2'.'>. compiled li-dni the pi-ocessors' reports for 1948 sepa- 

 rated the record of the packs of .jack an<l Pacific mackerels and gave more 



