66 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



The total amount of fish and shellfish caught in the State and brought 

 into the State during 1931 was 429,927,091 pounds. 



The fish and shellfish caught and landed in the State from the 

 above sources during the two years represent a decrease of 21 per cent 

 over the preceding two-year period. 



The sardine fishery, which is by far the largest and most important 

 in the State, shows a decline in catch of 26 per cent for the same 

 periods. The sardine catch for the years 1928 and 1929 was 1,072,041,- 

 569 pounds, which was an increase of 70 per cent over the two pre- 

 ceding years. The catch of sardines for the years 1930 and 1931 was 

 795,301,274 pounds, a decrease of 26 per cent. 



The Bureau of Commercial fisheries has continued to publish 

 quarterly in California Fish and Game the amount of each kind of 

 fish landed in the State. Statistical circulars are issued shortly after 

 the close of each year, giving the fresh, canned and other fishery 

 products of the year. At a later date we issue a fish catch bulletin 

 which gives the catch in each district by months, and contains special 

 articles giving the important developments and the trend of the dif- 

 ferent fisheries. These are shown in graphic form and are of special 

 interest to members of the industry and to laymen interested in con- 

 servation. 



Statistical Circular No. 5, for the year 1930, shows the amount of 

 each variety landed during the year at the different fishing centers. 

 It shows also the number and location of the fish packing plants, num- 

 ber of employees and the value of the pack. It contains also, for the 

 benefit of sardine canners, a separate report of the sardine fishery for 

 the season 1930-1931. 



In the year 1930 the fish packing plants of the State, exclusive 

 of fresh fish plants, were valued at $10,012,863 ; the number of people 

 employed in these plants was 7619 ; there were produced 5,159,239 

 cases of canned fish, 35,639 tons of fish meal, 5,842,763 gallons of fish 

 oil, and other miscellaneous fisheries products, totaling $26,282,218 in 

 value. There should be added to this the value of the fish and shellfish 

 handled fresh by the markets, estimated at $4,000,000. 



According to figures compiled by the State Fish Exchange, there 

 are 1542 persons employed in the marketing of fresh fish, as follows : 

 90 wholesalers employing 832 people, 226 retailers employing 342, and 

 365 fish peddlers. 



Statistical Circular No. 6 for the year 1931 covers the same activ- 

 ities as previous circulars. The value of fish packing plants is given 

 as $9,474,104; there were employed in these plants 6779 persons; there 

 were produced 3,158,465 cases of canned fish, 22,440 tons of fish meal 

 and 3,924,692 gallons of fish oil, with a total value of $13,795,186. 

 There should be added to this the value of the fish and shellfish handled 

 fresh by the markets, estimated at $3,000,000. 



The number of commercial fishing licenses sold in 1930 was 6179, 

 an increase of 165 over the previous year. The number of licenses sold 

 in 1931 was 5651, a decrease of 528 as compared with 1930. 



sardines 



The sardine fishery, although more seriously affected by the finan 

 cial depression than any other of the State's fisheries, continued through 



