20 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF 

 MARINE FISHERIES 



The responsibility for the conservation aiid administration of the 

 ocean fisheries of Califoniia is in the liands of the Bureau of Marine 

 P^islieries. Tlie bureau conducts biological and statistical studies of the 

 marine sport and commercial fisheries; and with the information thus 

 grathered and analyzed, is able to make recommendations to the Fish and 

 Game Commission and the Leirislature for wise conservation measures. 



In order to maintain an ever-expanding' fisliery which is exploiting 

 an ever-shrinking resource, the bureau's research efforts have been 

 redoubled, and our staff is constantly seeking the answers to the perplex- 

 ing problems of changing abundance. With the return of many staff 

 members, and the research vessel from war service, and with the addition 

 of new research men, we are now able to carry on our program on some- 

 thing like the scale that the demands of the fishery require. 



Califoi-iiia's ocean commercial and sport fisheries still lead those of 

 all the otiier states. While the sport fisliery increased by leaps and bounds 

 following wartime curtailment, the commercial fishery declined consid- 

 erably in volume during the biennium. However, the value in dollars 

 continued to rise. 



IJ^IJ^J.- Value and poundage of California commercial fish catch, 1939-1947. Value 

 represents amount paid to the fi.shermen at time of delivery. Note how values have con- 

 tinued to increase while catches have dropped 



