52 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



Investigation of the soupfin shark fishery was undertaken by this 

 Bureau in November 1941. In March, 1942, a contract was entered 

 into with Stanford University to provide for an investigation of the 

 vitamin A potenc}^ of shark liver oiL 



FLATFISHES 



In the fall of 1940 experimental fishing from the research vessel 

 ''N. B. Scofield" was carried on along the coast of California to check 

 the distribution of the various species of flatfish according to size and age. 

 At the same time, approximately 4,500 flatfish were tagged. The collec- 

 tion and analysis of detailed fishing and catch data have continued and 

 have indicated a slight decrease in the catch per unit of effort during 

 this biennial period. The significance of this decrease can not be deter- 

 mined from the material now aA^ailable. 



The diffienlty of obtaining crews for the boats, as well as the loss 

 of several of the drag boats to the Government as a result of the war, 

 have made necessar}^ a change from the old paranzella type of 

 fishing to the more modern otter-board type. Most of the companies 

 have now placed their crews on a share basis so that their earnings are 

 determined by the amount of fish caught. The use of the otter trawls is 

 still too new to judge their efficiency as compared with the paranzella. 

 This is made even more difficult by port restrictions which have cur- 

 tailed the boats' movements considerably, affecting principally the 

 length of fishing time each day. 



With the advent of the otter trawl operated by individual fishermen 

 or by fishermen using company boats on a share basis, it is desirable that 

 legislation be enacted which will give a force of law to the minimum size. 

 of mesh that can be used on drag nets or can be possessed in the State. 

 Pre'^'ious voluntary arrangements for this minimum-sized mesh was 

 enforced through the various companies which both owned and operated 

 the paranzella equipment. 



AGAR 



Declaration of war completely cut off the supply of agar formerly 

 obtained from Japan. A yearly average of 500,000 pounds is con- 

 sumed in the United States for bacterioligical work, in dental and surgi- 

 cal material, and as stabilizers of various food products. Loss of the 

 Japanese source of agar has resulted in attempts to build up the local 

 production of algae from which the agar is manufactured. The Bureau 

 of ]\Iarine Fisheries made a survey of the agar beds in November, 1941, 

 and has been cooperating with the "War Production Board in stimulating 

 the production of ' ' agar weed. ' ' 



CRABS 



The crab fishery was gi^-en an impetus in this biennial period by 

 the change in the law during the 1941 Session of the Legislature, pro- 

 ^^ding that crabs taken in northern California districts might be shipped 

 out of those districts. Present information indicates that the crab stocks 

 are in good condition and well able to support the heavier fishing. 



OYSTERS 



The California native oj^ ster industry has progressed satisfactorily. 

 One company is now operating in Humboldt Bay and has expanded and 



