so K'i;i'()in' oi' 'rill': I'isii and (;amk commission. 



REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 



The Honorable Board of FisJi and (tame Commissioners. 



GrENTLEMEN : Tlio receiit rapid growth of our fisheries has made it 

 necessary to obtain more detailed and accurate knowledge of our fishery 

 resources than has yet been attempted, if they are to be intelligently 

 conserved. The development of the tuna, sardine and kelp industries 

 has done nnicli to awaken public interest, and there is a demand that 

 some study be made of the albacore (tuna) and that the effect of 

 cutting the kelp for potash be investigated. In order to more efficiently 

 handle the problems arising and to meet the necessity of obtaining a 

 better knowledge of our fisheries, the Department of Commercial Fish- 

 eries was formed early in the year 1915. 



Before this department M'as permanently formed the fishing methods 

 emploj'ed in the different fisheries and the methods of canning and 

 curing were studied. The more important fisheries were rather hur- 

 riedly investigated during the year preceding the last legislative session 

 that the commission might be better able to aid in the enactment of 

 laws governing the fisheries. Some very good and important legislation 

 was the direct result of this study, chief of which was : a redivision of 

 the state into fish and game districts to fit the need of the commercial 

 fisheries; a closed season and regulations for salmon and steelhead 

 fishing on Eel River that would do much to conserve both the salmon 

 and steelhead and at the same time fairly well satisfy the two opposing 

 factions, the sportsmen and commercial fishermen ; a better season foi' 

 Mad and Smith rivers ; a closing of the Sacramento River to nets above 

 Vina and the protection of the summer run and part of the spring run 

 of salmon in the district from Colusa to Vina ; the closure of many 

 streams and sloughs that were not capable of sustaining net fishing ; the 

 abolition of the paranzella net in southern California, a net which 

 nearly ruined the southern halibut supply; the reestablishment of the 

 trammel net in southern California that it might take the place of the 

 paranzella net without destroying the young fish as did the paranzella ; 

 the establishment of a uniform and just minimum mesh for salmon 

 and striped bass on San Francisco Bay and the rivers ; a uniform catfish 

 law for the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers; and a law requiring 

 fish handlers and dealers to report the quantities and kinds of fish 

 handled each month. 



Since the formation of this department we have considered it of first 

 importance to gather accurate and detailed information concerning the 

 present commercial fisheries of the state, with the ultimate object of 

 building up these industries and at the same time conserving the marine 

 species upon which these industries depend, and to investigate and aid 

 in the development of our latent and undeveloped fishery resources. 



