42 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



In 1946-47 4,400 strings (equivalent to 1,500 eases) of seed were 

 trncked in from Pnget Sound, and 750 eases were shipped in from Japan. 



In 1947-48 850 cases from Japan were planted in California. 



All shipments from outside the State were inspected to ensure that 

 no harmful pests were present. Observations of local spawning were 

 made in an effort to determine what factors are responsible for the occa- 

 sional success. Progress of the imported seed was observed, and we made 

 one abortive attempt to introduce a Japanese hybrid variety which is 

 reported to be very desirable. 



PISMO CLAM 



In September, 1947, due to legislation enacted in an effort to con- 

 serve our rapidly decreasing stock, the Pismo clam of California was 

 taken from the list of commercial species. In 1946 the local commercial 

 take was 69,000 pounds and through September, 1947, the local take 

 amounted to 58,000 pounds. 



During 1946 approximately 11,408,000 pounds of Pismo clams were 

 shipped into California from Mexico; in 1947 this figure was approxi- 

 mately 1,807,000. The drop from over 53,000,000 pounds in 1945 resulted 

 because of a decrease in canning. Most of the present importations from 

 Mexico are going into the fresh fish markets to meet a demand formerly 

 supplied by local clams. 



Pismo clam investigations were re-established in 1946, and the reg- 

 ular annual census at Pismo Beach resumed. No good sets on this beach 

 occurred in either 1946 or 1947. In addition, a special study of the differ- 

 ential growth rate on various beaches of southern and central California 

 is being made. 



OCEAN SPORT FISHING 



This investigation is based on a record of the total annual marine 

 catch taken by sport fishermen, and is obtained from data supplied by 

 sport boat operators. The Bureau of Marine Fisheries, early in 1946, 

 was able to resume the sport fishing program launched in 1936. A system, 

 making it possible to check individual boat catch figures on any chosen 

 day, was inaugurated. During 1947 a total of 87 sports boats were spot 

 checked at their landings for the accuracy of their records. Within the 

 first six months of 1948 approximately 100 boats were also tested for 

 accurate reports. 



The growth of the sport fishing fleet in the years 1946 and 1947 is 

 reflected in the following table : ^^^^^ ^p,^ 



Number of boats 150 378 



Number of fishermen 206,979 439,270 



Number of fish caught 1,227,818 2,392,016 



Although 1948 promises to be a greater year than 1947, it is not 

 expected that the increase will be so outstanding. Monthly summaries of 

 the 1948 sport fishing season have been prepared and presented to various 

 news services. These summaries have appeared regularly in several news- 

 papers. Personal interview questionnaires have been used to some extent 



