FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



99 



Steps to correct this situation by introducing golden shiners and other 

 forage fishes were being taken at the end of the biennium. Other work 

 in connection with the warm-water fisheries is described elsewhere in 

 this report. 



Figure 19. Fish tagging at Millerton Lake, Fresno and Madera Counties. A num- 

 bered metal strap tag is being attached to the upper jaw of a largemouth blaclt bass. 

 Tags are used when information regarding individual flsh is needed. Photograph by 



C. K. Fisher. 



STRIPED BASS 



The catch record system for this important fishery was coordinated 

 and placed on a firm foundation. A large volume of party boat records 

 which had accumulated since 1938 was analyzed and interpreted. The 

 handling of records of this type was put on a routine maintenance basis. 

 Together with the statewide postal card estimates they now provide a 

 continuous, up-to-date inventory of the fishery. 



A fairly ambitious tagging program aimed at evaluating the rate of 

 harvesting by anglers was begun early in 1950. It was made possible by 

 the acquisition of the 28-foot boat ''Striper." A total of 1,899 striped 

 bass was tagged late in the biennium. Special studies were also made to 

 test the resistance to corrosion of various metals used with disk tags. 

 Such corrosion has proved to be a serious problem. 



Surveys of the abundance of fingerling striped bass on the nursery 

 grounds in June and July revealed the presence of large numbers in 

 1948, 1949, and 1950. There have not been enough of these surveys to 

 establish a norm, but there is every indication that spawning and survival 



