THIRTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT 41 



dredging channels through the bay indicate that it may be difficult to 



continue to maintain these beds unless these plans are held within the 



bounds of reason. 



ABALONES 



Early in the biennium most of the abalone divers had moved from 



Monterey to Southern California, south of Point Conception, where 



they worked on the collection of agar weed, or Gelidium. After this 



southern coast was opened to abalone diving by the 1943 Legislature, they 



fished for green abalones. The small size of this species and increasing 



difficulties in gathering Gelidium made the venture unprofitable. By 



the end of the biennium most of the divers had moved back to Morro Bay. 



The two years' rest given to the abalone beds in District 18 while the 



divers were in Southern California has resulted in a plentiful supply of 



large abalones. 



STATISTICS 



Continued shortage of personnel has required a modification of oper- 

 ations in the statistical system. Insofar as possible, the collection of 

 basic material lias been continued, although difficulty has been experi- 

 enced in obtaining an adequate field check to maintain the accuracy of 

 the records. The inadequate clerical help has made it necessary to drop 

 most of the special analyses that were heretofore published annually. 

 The basic records, however, have for the most part been obtained ; and 

 these analyses can be brought up to date as soon as the employment 

 situation recovers. 



