74 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



past two years a careful search has revealed only a few harmless 

 gastropods. 



In September, 1931, the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, at our 

 request, detailed Mr. McMillin to California to put in full time on 

 oyster work under cooperative agreement whereby the Division of Fish 

 and Game was to pay Mr. McMillin 's field expenses and furnish a 

 trained biologist as an assistant. Mr. Bonnot, who had been acting in 

 this capacity, was detailed as assistant. Since that time these men 

 have put in full time on the oyster work. A preliminary survey was 

 made of all the bays and inlets of the coast to determine which were 

 suitable for the several species of oysters being grown, as well as to 

 determine which were unsuitable for any of the species. This work 

 consisted of collecting topographical data, salinity and temperature 

 records and examination - of the molluscan fauna. They were then in' 

 position to help the established oyster men and the beginners. Pre- 

 liminary experiments were started in all of the bays of California 

 which were considered suitable for oyster culture. 



Humboldt Bay was believed to have the best possibilities for the 

 cultivation of native oysters. It has beds of wild native oysters and 

 most of the bottom is suitable for diking, a method not as yet tried in 

 California. The eastern half of the bay has been condemned by the 

 State Board of Health because of sewage from the towns of Areata 

 and Eureka. The western half, however, is clear and sanitary. The 

 beds of wild native oysters are most of them in polluted areas but the 

 seed can be collected and transplanted to the unpolluted areas. It is 

 hoped that cities will in time dispose of their sewage other than by 

 letting it flow, untreated, into our bays and streams. 



The native oyster grows best and the best set of seed is obtained by 

 using the diking system, so, under the supervision of the oyster investi- 

 gation, a newly formed oyster company, which has filed on much of the 

 tideland of north Humboldt Bay, has built several experimental dikes, 

 both for the collection of seed and for growing the oysters which have 

 been moved to unpolluted areas. One of these dikes is 120 by 240 feet, 

 is in unpolluted water, and is being used as a base for the diking of a 

 much larger area. One smaller dike was built this spring for the col- 

 lection of seed. In June the oysters were spawning and in early July 

 shell collectors in this dike showed a heavy set of seed. 



Attempts to plant other than the native species in Humboldt Bay 

 have been discouraged, as it is believed that the native species will 

 stand the natural environmental changes better ; that the bay can more 

 easily be kept free from pests and that the native oyster will be more 

 profitable in the long run. 



SPINY LOBSTERS 



The amount of spiny lobsters landed each year in southern Cali- 

 fornia ports has remained fairly constant for the past fourteen years, 

 since the present closed seasons and size limits were adopted. The 

 amount landed each year fluctuates between 1,000,000 and 1,400,000 

 pounds. The present laws, adopted in 1917 for the protection of this 

 important crustacean, seem to be adequate. The closed season, which 

 begins on March 1st, is for the purpose of protecting the lobsters while 

 they are shedding their shells and while the females are carrying the 



