REPORT OP THE PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. Ill 



by such leaps and hounds that today she is no more than al)reast of the 

 demands made upon lin- and within anothci' hicnnial period, wiicn 

 swift refrigeratintif carrici-s arc operating' hctwccn tlic h)i'al distrihutin<? 

 l)oints and the soni'cr nf |)rohahlc FiitniT fresh lish sufiply in \'i\v south- 

 ern waters, ohviously sonicthiug mure will be essentia L In scawcji'thi- 

 ness, (omfort. eiononiy. cudnraiicc, the " Albacorc" has done all that 

 was expected of her, and couhl not be duplicated t(Klay at her original 

 cost. 



Numerous complications arc injected into the regulation of California 

 fisheries by the lu'oxiinity of the vii'tualiy virgin west Mexican banks 

 off the coast of Lowei* California. Political uncertainties Ijelow the 

 line have rendered the (isliing business in south( fii waters a species of 

 "get there fii-st" game, rather preventing the effective and intelligent 

 exploitation of these ciiot'iniuis, perhaps inexhaustibh^ fishery resources, 

 which so well might be eui[)h)yed to allow certain of tlie lo. 'alls' dci)leted 

 species to recuperate. Until something definite evolves out of the south- 

 ern situation, Mexican fish will merely continue to be an indefinite, 

 nns( tiling factoi- in the fresh fish business, occasionally glutting the 

 uuirket, again falling into monopolistic control, yielding but a small part 

 of their potential possibilities. Comi)etent observers consider the south- 

 I'ln supply of fish as far in excess of what California's colder waters 

 ever could show and general ob.servations by the state's research experts 

 go far to confirm that ccnjecture. Eventually this supply will certainly 

 become available to California under modern and efficient refrigeration. 



No section of the state has been so clamorous and exacting in its 

 demands upon our fishcultural facilities as southern California. With 

 her populatii n n:ounting by unprecedented figures, it seems as if an 

 abnormal proportion of the increase were anglers. While in measure 

 such a conditicn might Ije construed as a testimonial to the efficacy of 

 the h'ish an.l Game Commission's consistent campaigns in advertising 

 the south "s sporting attractions, which find a ready ear with th(^ large 

 ItMsure class attracted here by climatic opportunities for yv'ar-round 

 ( n.joynient of outdoor sports. Certainly the fact remains tliat fishing 

 nevei- was more popular anywhere than here. 



ANGLING CONDITIONS. 

 Favored none too bountifully by Nature in the way of natural waters, 

 the very scarcity of streams and lakts has brought by artificial means 

 its own remrd.v. Orowth of i)opulation and cultivation has enforced 

 the (onservation of water and its devclo[)ment wherever possible. The 

 situation was api)reciatcd in advance by tho.se whose thoughts are 

 shaped along the line of providing the people w ith healthful sport afield. 

 From I he \-cry Hi'st. lish wei'e idanteil in the reservoir lak'cs generally 



8—7857 



