106 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



REPORT OF SARDINE CANNING AND REDUCTION PLANTS, 



SEASON, 1938-1939 



Sardine fishing started in the Monterey District on August 2d and 

 in the San Francisco District on August 9th, although deliveries were 

 light in the Monterey District until the 15th, and during the entire 

 month in the San Francisco District. The moon was full on the 11th 

 of August. However, a few fish were brought into Monterey through 

 the light of the moon period. In the San Pedro District fishing started 

 on November 3d and deliveries were steady throughout the month with 

 the exception of a few days during the full moon period which occurred 

 on November 7th. 



Sardines are used for two main purposes, canning and reduction. 

 If the fish are to be packed or canned, the packer is not required to 

 have a permit; but the law requires that a permit must be obtained 

 from the commission if sardines are to be received for reduction pur- 

 poses. 



Sardines may be received for canning purposes during the season, 

 without limit on the quantity, provided that not more than 32^ per 

 cent of the amount of sardines received may be used in a reduction 

 plant. The law provides that in determining percentage of sardines 

 used for reduction purposes, it shall be deemed that a ton of sardines 

 will produce 960 one-pound oval cans, or the equivalent, if other size 

 cans are used. Nine hundred and sixty one-pound oval cans equals 20 

 cases, 48 cans to the case, and deducting the 32-| per cent which may 

 be used for reduction purposes leaves a net requirement of not less 

 than 13^ cases of one-pound oval cans, or the equivalent if other size 

 cans are used, from each ton of sardines received for canning purposes. 



During past seasons rather small quantities of sardines were 

 received for canning purposes during the first month of the open season, 

 particularly in the San Francisco and Monterey districts. However, 

 this season showed a greater canning activity than usual, the fish 

 apparently being in better condition for canning, although there was 

 some complaint about the fish being of small size. The small fish were 

 in evidence throughout the season, and had a tendency to curtail the 

 pack to some extent. For canning, during the season, 16,552 tons were 

 taken in the San Francisco District, 78,711 tons in the Monterey Dis- 

 trict and 92,594 tons in the San Pedro District, making a total of 

 187,857 tons received for canning purposes. 



Permits to receive and use sardines by a reduction process for the 

 manufacture of oil and meal were issued to all plants and were divided 

 into three classifications as follows : Plants with an hourly rated press 

 capacity of twenty tons or less were designated as Class I plants and for 

 the season the total permit tonnage granted Class I plants was 7,000 

 tons made in three grants, starting with 5,000 tons, and two additional 

 grants of 1,000 tons each were made. Plants with rated hourly press 

 capacity of twenty-one to forty tons, designated as Class II, were 

 grants of 1,000 tons each were made. Plants with rated hourly press 

 additional grants of 1,000 tons each. 



