60 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



remote wliarf. For similar reasons changes were necessary in nearly 

 every form that was in use. 



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

 fying code ill tlie 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 exposed to the salt water. In 1949, therefore, the boat 

 plates in the series from 1 through 7000 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 plates 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 we get from tlie 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 waters before. Among these were 

 100 additional sport fishing boats; there was a high percentage of larger 

 vessels (164 over 100 ft. long) and more than the usual number {VJ.A) 

 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 records of individual vessels were getting more compli- 

 cated. 



Fish Bulletin No. 74, eleventh in a series of catch bulletins fostered 

 by the statistical unit, was published in 1949. This bulletin presented the 

 detailed catch statistics for the year 1947 which was routine, and in 

 addition a review of statistics for the period 1916-1947. This gathered 

 into one convenient place comparable records gleaned from many former 

 publications. Members of the research staff analyzed the graphs and 

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

 story of each fishery. Because of the scope of this bulletin it has many 

 uses, one of which is as a source of ready reference for information con- 

 cerning the less important species which receive little attention elsewhere. 



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

 of Marine Fisheries receives monthly reports from the processors of 

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

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

 the data from these reports had been compiled into monthly summaries 

 by the San Francisco office and released to interested persons. During 

 1949 the handling of these reports was transferred to the Terminal Island 

 laboratory and changes were made in the monthly summaries issued. 

 These changes were based on suggestions received from members of the 

 industry. 



Circular 23, compiled from the processors' reports for 1948 sepa- 

 rated the record of the packs of jack and Pacific mackerels and gave more 



