56 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



It must be remembered that putting these systems into actual 

 practice is no mean achievement. Adequate statistics of this sort 

 have been so rarely attempted that the principles and organization 

 necessary have had to be discovered by experience, as will be particu- 

 larly shown in the forthcoming report upon the sardine. 



We are sure, as a result of this M-ork, that the administration of our 

 fisheries in California is upon the best and most modern basis possible. 

 And although the results of this may not at their inception be spec- 

 tacular, they will and are proving themselves the indispensable, solid 

 basis which is at present so entirely lacking for European fisheries. 



The collection of biological statistics (the second type) is a function 

 of the State Fisheries Laboratory. A report on its work in connection 

 with these and upon biological questions follows, dealing, however, 

 wiily with the accomplishment of the first stage in the digestion and 

 analysis of the accumulated data. The collection of these statistics as a 

 whole must proceed as routine duties. They have been regularly 

 performed, and results will follow from them in due time. 



Respectfully submitted. 



N. B. SCOFIELD, 



In charge Commercial Fisheries. 



REPORT OF THE STATE FISHERIES LABORATORY. 



PERSONNEL. 



Since the submission of the last report very great changes in the per- 

 sonnel of the laboratory have occurred. The consideration of these 

 changes will indicate certain alterations which necessarily have to be 

 made in program and in organization in order that the work will con- 

 tinue and be fruitful ; and it will explain certain limitations which 

 have been put upon the work. 



Upon the employment of Mr. W. F. Thompson to direct the scientific 

 work in southern California, it was necessary to obtain and train 

 assistants, since none already trained were obtainable. Mr. Elmer 

 Higgins, Mr. W. L. Scofield, Mr. 0. E. Sette, Mr. Harlan B. Holmes, 

 Miss Frances N. Clark, and Dr. Tage Skogsberg, comprised the staff 

 of the State Fisheries Lal)oratory at the time of the last biennial report. 

 All of these had received their training in fisheries and statistical work 

 in the State Fisheries Laboratory, and they had at that time reached 

 a, stage ill their training whicb ])romised M-ell for the future. All of 

 these assistants, with tiie exeeption of Mr. W. L. Scofield, have, however, 

 now left the Commission, either for the service of the Federal Bureau 

 of Fisheries or for work at universities. It has become very apparent 

 that the retention of these assistants when fully trained will require a 

 higher standard of salary and greater provision for permanency of 

 employment than at present offers, since there is veiy o])viously a 

 shortage of such men in the United States. 



It has ])een realized tluit the training of these men has been an 

 accomplishment whi(;h can not fail to be of importMuce to the progress 



