REPORT OF TIIK FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 100 



Oils fiU'tor ill tlu' iiatui'iil iMiuatioii. Nature strikes her l)alances inex- 

 orably, hut hy reduction of animal enemies more remains for the 

 hunter. 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 



Development of thf ("oinnicrcial Fisheries of southern California has 

 enforeed paying of part inilai- attention to problems of the industry 

 in this end of the state, the Fish and (lame Commission being forced to 

 establish two branch offices in the great centers of the fishing and pack- 

 ing business at San Pedro and San Diego. ]\Iean\vhile, a steadily wid- 

 ening scale of scientific investigation has been carried on, financed by 

 collections of class-taxes levied upon various ])hases of the fisheries. 

 While always the major part of the revenue will come from licensing 

 of niarket-lishennen at ^10 each, the pi'ivilege and i)ouiidage taxes upon 

 preserving of fish atld considerably; and the extensive patrol activities 

 of the state's patrol launch suffice in considerable degree to finance 

 themselves through fines collected. The inclusion of Santa Catalina 

 Island in two districts one of which is rather narrowly limited to cer- 

 tain classes of net fishing, and the other and nearer entirely closed to 

 commercial exploitation, has of course proved a most fruitful field 

 for the state's patrol activities at sea. Unavoidably, during the busy 

 summer canning season, when high prices for tuna and albacore place 

 every possible premium upon getting the fish wherever they are to be 

 found, the covirts have been kept congested with the over-ambitious 

 netmen. Encouraging prices have stinuilated a large migration of 

 purse seiners from the virtually depleted waters of the northern salmon 

 ranges to southern California ; and a long association with the uncer- 

 tainties of the International Boundary in the Straits of Juan de Fuca 

 ai)peared to have inspired a considerable percentage of these new- 

 comers with a general contempt for all fish and game law. 



Due to the carefiill\' lu-ogramined methods devised t'oi- li.imlliiiu- the 

 always serious i)roIilem of i e<_;ulat ing alien lisliernieu upon the sea, 

 it ha.s been i)ossible durinu- the lat summer to im-iilcate a ilue and 

 proper resi)ect for the written law anions these visitants, and whether 

 they remain or return, the conservation authorities feel that there will 

 be very much less trouble with them in the future. AVhile some stiff 

 fines were imposed, and a few verbal clashes were unavoidable, the 

 ends of justice have been served without any violence upon either 

 side. A polic,y of dignified firmness was outlined by the Commissioners 

 in the attempt to do no one any injustice. On the one hand were the 

 large packing interests clamoring for fish and ever more fish to pack 

 who are backed by the enormously increased fleet of largest sized fish- 

 ing boats equipped with the most extensive gear known. On the other 



