THIRTY-FIFTH BIENNIAL REPORT 63 



the State without the expenditure of more funds than are available. 

 For that reason the research program of the laboratory gives first 

 consideration to our four major fisheries : 



1. Sardine 



2. Mackerel 



3. Tuna 



4. Flatfishes 



In addition to these four major problems, preliminary work is 

 being conducted in several of our less prominent fisheries, for example : 



1. Oyster culture 



2. Striped bass 



3. Salmon 



4. Marine sport catch 



Secondary consideration is given to a variety of special studies 

 which usually are completed in a short time interval. These include the 

 gathering of information about our lesser fisheries and general data 

 desired by administrative officers and legislative committees. The diver- 

 sity of such studies is illustrated b,y the titles of reports and articles 

 published by the laboratory. 



Sardine 



Since the sardine fisherj^ has been the major concern of our research 

 program for years past, much of the preliminary work is already 

 accomplished and is not being continued. Most of the work now being 

 conducted is for the purpose of measuring changing abundance of age 

 classes as well as variation in abundance of the whole sardine popu- 

 lation. The sardine studies now being pursued ma.y be briefly outlined 

 as follows: 



Supply 



Egg and larvae studies 



Distribution and concentration 

 Yearly measures of abundance 



Immature fish 

 Distribution 

 Nursery grounds 

 Strength of each age class 

 Character and volume of the bait fishery 



Adolescent and adult fish 



Analysis of proportion of size classes 

 Boat catch analysis and scouting time 

 Yield from different fishing areas 

 Intensity of fishing measured by tag returns 



Life-history of the species 



Racial studies, especially vertebral counts on young fish 



5—65726 



