38 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



former since about 1915, the latter since about 1925. During the past 

 15 years there has been an unfortunate but increasing feeling of bitter- 

 ness between the two groups with many in either faction refusing to see 

 the merit or necessity of the other. 



The Bureau of Marine Fisheries believes that this schism is neither 

 desirable nor necessary, but that in fact the entire fishery is one and the 

 same and there is room for all. In the commercial fisheries thousands of 

 persons make their living in providing necessary food and other marine 

 products for all the people. In the sport fishery hundreds of persons 

 make their living as boat operators, and hundreds of thousands of people 

 obtain the recreation which is so vital in these days when the pace of 

 living literally kills. 



Hence it is with a sense of gratification that we can report that in 

 1946 members of the so-called conflicting interests were brought together 

 and were able to compromise many of their differences. Under the 

 guidance of their present capable leaders, the organized sportsmen and 

 the commercial fishing industry should enjoy more harmonious rela- 

 tions, to the benefit of the entire fishery. 



Fisheries Statistics : Good catch records are the basis of all fish- 

 eries research and are a necessary part of any management program. 

 California was a pioneer in establishing a comprehensive system for the 

 collection and analysis of fisheries statistics. During the past few years 

 every effort has been made to keep the system functioning in spite of 

 the loss of clerical and field personnel. Although it was necessary to 

 drop certain special reports, the basic material was collected and future 

 analyses will be possible as we are able to obtain personnel. The com- 

 mercial catch records suffered somewhat from a curtailment of field 

 supervision but the loss of basic material is negligible ; the ocean sport 

 catch survey suffered somewhat more. 



Experience has shown that fisheries statistics do not compile them- 

 selves automatically. Constant pressure must be brought to bear on the 

 dealers who are required to make the original reports and who often 

 prefer to neglect them. Only experienced clerical personnel can build 

 the raw records into finished reports, and such help has been heart- 

 breakingly scarce. In spite of difficulties, the biennium ended with our 

 catch reports in good shape ; the research and administrative staffs can 

 refer to them with confidence. 



