72 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



The season of 1930 was characterized by unprecedented catches of 

 bluefin and yellowfin tuna. The bluefin catch exceeded 22,000,000 

 pounds, while the yellowfin catch slightly exceeded 56,600,000 pounds. 

 The largest bluefin catch previous to this was in 1919 when 15.000,000 

 pounds were taken. The largest previous yellowfin catch was in 1929 

 when about 37,000,000 pounds were taken. A fairly large pack of 

 striped tuna and bonito was also made. The result was a tuna pack 

 which, under the existing conditions, was at least double what it should 

 have been. 



To avert disaster, the tuna packers agreed with the fishermen to 

 maintain the existing prices which were being paid under a previous 

 agreement, provided the fishermen would tie up their boats and take 

 a holiday. All tuna fishing ceased on December 1, 1930. The market 

 becoming stronger, fishing was resumed on February 1, 1931. A further 

 lay-off of fishermen was agreed upon and fishing again ceased on May 

 1, 1931. This lay-off continued for some of the boats until July 1st, 

 and for the balance until July 15th. 



The essence of the agreement between the packers and fishermen 

 was the maintenance of the prices being paid the fishermen for the 

 different varieties of tuna. With a large carry-over of canned tuna 

 from the previous season, this was necessary if the packers were to get 

 their money back on the old pack. A number of the packers suspected 

 that some of the other packers were secretly getting their tuna for 

 less than the agreed price. It was claimed that in some cases the 

 higher priced yellowfin tuna were received and paid for as the cheaper 

 striped tuna. The packers thereupon held back one-third of the money 

 due the fishermen until it could be determined if the price agreement 

 had been kept. Fishermen have brought suit for the amount held 

 back and the matter is still in the courts. 



During the year 1931, the catch of all varieties of tuna was greatly 

 reduced and, by the end of the year, the tuna pack had mostly been 

 disposed of. The beginning of 1932 found the fishermen refusing to 

 fish until they got their back pav and the packers offering less money 

 for their tuna. After considerable lost time, new reduced prices were 

 agreed upon and fishing was resumed. The fishermen failed to find 

 the bluefin tuna in June of this year, as they usually do, and the 

 catches of the other varieties have been small. The fishermen, especially 

 bluefin fishermen, are in financial distress. The packers are in much 

 better shape. 



OYSTERS 



In our last report we told of the reviving interest in oyster culture 

 in California and of how oyster experts, in a cursory survey of some 

 of the State waters, had found that the native oyster, as well as the 

 larger Japanese oyster, grows with extreme rapidity here as compared 

 with the states to the north. It was also pointed out that, contrary 

 to general opinion, there are a great many acres of tideland in the 

 State suitable for the growing of oysters, and all that is needed to 

 build up an oyster industry in the State is the employment of scien- 

 tific methods which have been worked out by the U. S. Bureau of 

 Fisheries and by some of the other states. Above all was needed the 

 supervision and advice of a scientifically trained oyster expert. 



