FORTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 



27 



associations are now exerting considerable pressure upon Central Amer- 

 ican governments to relax or restrict the fishing regulations in their favor. 



Reflecting the competition between boats, and the increasing diffi- 

 culty of securing full fares, a few vessels are now carrying scout planes. 

 This is still in an experimental phase, and the results are somewhat con- 

 flicting. Although the planes have definitely increased the scouting range 

 of the individual vessels, and have materially aided in locating bait, at 

 least two boats have tried and abandoned the carrying of a plane. At 

 least one boat has continued to operate its plane over a number of trips, 

 and is thoroughly satisfied with the results. Others are noncommittal. 

 In all probability, the planes will come into limited use. 



During this period of expansion, the landings of yellowfin tuna 

 broke all records with receipts of 150,000,000 pounds in 1947 (see Fig- 

 ure 10, and Table 5). Skipjack catches were well above average, but 

 still slightly below the peak reached in 1940. The bluefin fishery, con- 

 ducted in local and northern Mexican waters, continued at a level slightly 



Figure 10. California landings of yellowfin, skipjack, albacore, and bluefin tuna, 1938- 

 1947. Catches made by California boats and shipments from Oregon, Washington, and 

 Latin America are included. Shipments from Japan are excluded. The tuna fishery has 

 recovered from the slump caused by wartime restrictions and diversion of vessels to 

 military service. The yellowfin tuna is now the most valuable species taken by the 



California fishing industry 



above average. During 1946 and 1947 albacore slumped somewhat below 

 the preceding three seasons. The fifth species of tuna-like fish, bonito, 



