56 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MARINE FISHERIES 



By N. B. ScoFiELD, Chief 



During the two past calendar years of 1936 and 1937 the com- 

 mercial fisheries of California continued to lead all other States both 

 in total production and in the value of its fishery products. The total 

 landings of fish and shellfish by California fishermen amounted to 

 1,247,987,000 pounds in 1936 and 1,169,570,000 pounds in 1937, thus 

 completing the fourth successive year in which the landings have 

 exceeded the billion pound mark. 



The combined total landings for the two years 1936 and 1937 

 amounted to 2,417,557,000 pounds, as compared with 2,339,959,000 

 pounds for the preceding two year period of 1934 and 1935, which in 

 turn exceeded the two year period 1932 and 1933 by 105 per cent. 

 The great expansion of the industry is therefore, at the present time, 

 in its fifth year. 



The value of the fishery products in either of the past two years 

 exceeded $50,000,000. The fish packing and by-products plants, exclud- 

 ing the plants handling fresh fish and shellfish, have an investment 

 value exceeding $10,000,000 and employ 10,000 persons. The number 

 of commercial fishermen's licenses issued in the license year 1936-1937 

 (April 1 to March 31) was 6,986, while for the license year 1937-1938, 

 7,771 licenses were issued. 



The value of commercial fishing boats is conservatively estimated 

 at $33,000,000. 



The details of the fish catch and fish pack for the calendar years 

 of 1936 and 1937, and the special sardine report for the seasons 

 1936-1937 and 1937-1938 may be found in the appendix to this report 

 or in Statistical Circular Nos. 11 and 12. 



SARDINES 



The sardine fishery of California within the last few years has 

 developed into one of the ma.ior fisheries of the world. It is by far 

 the largest fishery ever developed in North America. Its size as com- 

 pared with the other fisheries of this State is sh()^\ai in Figure 1 

 while its actual w^eight in pounds and its expansion during the past 

 twelve seasons can be seen in the following table : 



Sardine Catch Delivered to California Shore Plants and to Floating Plants 

 Operating Off the California Coast in Tons 



Season Shore plants 



1927-28 181,176 



1928-29 2r)2.433 



1929-30 322.600 



1930-31 172,001 



1931-32 131,320 



1932-33 190,166 



