14 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



there was an increase in the number of those employed in the fisheries. 

 A compilation showing the nativity of fishermen shows 1032 as citizens 

 out of a total of 4128, with 106 unreported as to nativity. There was 

 a decrease in the take of both albacore and salmon in 1923 over that 

 in 1921. On the other hand, the take of barracuda, shad and mackerel 

 was increased and sardines showed a gain of 170 per cent. 



The most important problem confronting the Commercial Fisheries 

 Department has been the regulation of the amount of sardines used 

 by the reduction plants. The Fish Conservation Act has been found 

 difficult to enforce and should be amended. The determination of 

 "unavoidable" waste is exceedingly difficult. The amount of food fiish 

 to be utilized in making fish oil and fertilizer should be definitely stated 

 in the law, a violation should be a high misdemeanor and the goods 

 manufactured in violation of the law should be subject to seizure by 

 the state. 



Sentiment against the purse seine fishery appears to be based on the 

 ancient objection that a new method or appliance upsets the old order 

 of things. Investigation has shown that, properly regulated, this 

 fishery is a worthwhile development and does not necessarily endanger 

 the supply of food fishes concerned. 



Striped bass and shad now have sufficient protection in that these 

 species are given a closed season of two and one-half months. This 

 law makes the season for striped bass the same as that for shad. 



The salmon has had insufficient protection. A flaw in the law passed 

 by the last legislature made it impossible to eliminate ocean trolling 

 during the months when many immature fish are caught. Investi- 

 gations have shown that ocean trolling for salmon causes the 

 destruction of many immature fish and has shown exactly the season 

 when mature fish are to be taken by this method. This fishery has 

 constituted an added drain on the salmon supply and should be 

 definitely restricted to a short season. Washington and Oregon have 

 stopped both trolling and purse seine fisliing for salmon and they 

 urge this state to do likewise. ' 



There is great need for an additional patrol boat for the northern 

 section of the state. Although the south is cared for, no seagoing 

 vessel is at present available in the northern part of the state for the 

 enforcement of salmon and crab laws. 



As a result of the salmon investigation it has been possible to fix 

 accurately the times of year which should be closed to salmon fishing 

 in the sea in order to prevent the destruction of immature fish. 

 Extensive marking experiments have shown the range at sea of salmon 

 and furnished knowledge of the age and rate of growth. Progress is 

 reported on l)otli the albacore and sardine investigations. 



STATE FISHERIES LABORATORY. 



Although hcindicapped by a loss of members of the staff, the State 

 Fisheries Laboratory has been able to bring to completion the first 

 part of the sardine investigation and to add valuable data in connection 

 with the jilhacore investigation. Several members of the staff, being 

 offered l)etter i)ositions, left the service. Their places have now been 

 filled and, in addition, two assistants have been appointed under a 



