FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



57 



There has been little ('han<i'e in the species composition of the marine 

 sportcatch. The important ones are barracuda, the popular kelp and 

 sand bass (frequently called calico bass), the many species of rockfish, 

 halibut, white sea bass and yellowtail. Perhaps the backbone of the 

 Southern California sportfishery is the kelp and sand bass. TTntil the 

 spring' of 1950, very little research work on these fishes had been done. 

 At the present time an experimental tagging program is in effect and 

 a total of more than 1,200 fish have been tagged. This venture is a cooper- 

 ative one between several groups: the Bureau of Marine Fisheries, sport- 

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

 facturer, the Southern Council of Conservation Clubs, and the Sporting 

 Goods Dealers Association of the Los Angeles area. Only because of the 

 friendly efforts of all of these groups, and many individuals as well, has 

 it been possible to put on this tagging )irogram to the extent necessary. 



Figure 13. Tagging rock bass 



It is far too early to explain any definite results, although information is 

 coming in at an unusual rate. 



In keeping with a policy .set up in the summer of 1948, the bureau 

 has maintained monthly news releases summarizing- the marine sport- 

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

 fold, but most important it does much to convince boat operators that 

 they personally profit by keeping and sending in catch records that will 

 be used as public information. 



