84 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



upon, will be a most valuable eoutributiou to our knowledge of the 

 quinnat salmou. 



DEVELOPMENT OF CALIFORNIA FISHERIES. 



lu the following we give the important developments in our fisheries : 



The Long-finned Tuna or Albacore. 



Since our report on this industry in the last biennial report of the 

 Fish and Game Commission the fishery has continued to grow until it 

 now more than doubles in value and importance either the salmon or 

 sardine industry. 



In 1914 the tuna pack was 325,000 eases of one-pound and half-pound 

 cans. The pack for 1915 was 360,286 cases, of which there were 136,046 

 cases of one-pound cans, 172,263 cases of half-pound cans, and 51,977 

 cases of ciuarter-pound cans, with 48 cans to the case. For this pack 

 there was required 23,500,000 pounds of round fish, and the wholesale 

 value of the pack w^as $2,300,000. Besides the tuna that were canned 

 more than two million pounds were dried, smoked, salted and used fresh. 



During 1915 twelve tuna canneries were in operation in southern 

 California and in 1916 the number has been increased to sixteen, w^hich 

 during the season give employment to 1800 people. The amount 

 invested in buildings and eciuipment is $910,000. About 400 fishing 

 boats valued at $1,000,000 are employed, and the number of tuna fisher- 

 men is 1200. 



The remarkable feature of the season of 1915 was the large take of 

 tuna in November. The demand for canned tuna is now so great that it 

 exceeds the supply and the prices obtained are high. Most of the can- 

 neries have been enlarged in anticipation of a larger catch, but unless 

 a good catch is made late in the year, as happened last season, the pack 

 is likely to be less for 1916. The tuna packers are anxious to have the 

 migration and life history of the albacore investigated. They would like 

 to know how much fishing the albacore will stand and what measures, 

 if any, will be needed to conserve the industry. We have no conserva- 

 tion measures to propose, for the albacore that appear in our waters 

 are mostly mature and are here in search of food. Any important con- 

 servation measures that may be needed would have to be applied in 

 Mexican waters, for it is there they spawm and it is there the young are 

 found. The industry in this state will adjust itself to the number of 

 fish that come this far north, but the tuna packers would naturally like 

 to know beforehand how much the fish will stand, that they may 

 regulate their industry accordingly. So far no serious attempt has been 

 made to can the albacore in Lower California. It is believed that alba- 

 core may be taken throughout the year near Cape San Lucas, Lower 

 California. If this is true and a large canning industry should be built 



