FORTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 39 



The dogfish is taken by trawl nets in the northern part of the State, 

 principally during December and January. As these fish are of the same 

 group that range the coasts of Washington and Oregon, and as Northern 

 California is about the southern limit of their commercial distribution, 

 the effects of the increased otter trawl fishery have not been noticeable 

 on this species. 



Bottom fish investigations dealing with over 20 commercially impor- 

 tant species were reinaugurated during this biennium. Personnel was 

 assigned to this work, and some start made toward solving the problems 

 necessary for adequate management of this industry. Log book records 

 which, due to personnel shortage had suffered seriously during the war, 

 were obtained ; and the collection of these statistics in the future was out- 

 lined in conjunction with the objectives desired in this fishery. The 

 reopening of the Eureka laboratory at the close of the bienniam, and 

 the assigning of part-time personnel to the collection of biological data 

 will enhance the current analysis of the many species that are included 

 in the scope of these investigations. Graduate students at Stanford Uni- 

 versity, working in cooperation with the bureau, have made valuable 

 contributions to the life-history studies of the sand dab and starry 

 flounder. 



CRAB 



The crab fishery of Central and Northern California has undergone 

 tremendous expansion since prewar days. This luxury item is now caught 

 and marketed in mass production quantities. Ten years ago the catch 

 was controlled by a tight organization that kept quantity low and price 

 high. When the Eureka fishery developed to threaten the San Francisco 

 monopoly, and when the more efficient trap or "pot" replaced the old 



Figure 17. California crab landings, 1937-38 through 1946-47. Before the war, crab 

 catches were restricted by a monopoly ; during the war operations of the crab fleet were 

 curtailed by security measures. The fishery is now undergoing the expansion usual to 



many of our fisheries 



