FORTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 45 



lions, and 3,050 California sea lions. These figures are somewhat below 

 the 1946 counts, but a little above the previous average. 



The 1948 count was incomplete because of adverse, foggy weather, 

 and unavailability of equipment. Where the animals were counted, they 

 were slightly less numerous than in 1947, but any differences noted were 

 inconclusive. 



In 1947, as in the previous year, some of the rookeries were counted 

 from Navy blimps, through the courtesy of the Navy. The remainder of 

 the counting, that year, and all the work in 1948 was done in cooperation 

 with the Bureau of Patrol, using their planes and boats. The use of aerial 

 photographs has increased the accuracy of these surveys. 



The conclusion to be drawn from the counts is that the sea lion popu- 

 lation appears to be in reasonable balance, and is neither becoming so high 

 as to be dangerous to the fisheries, nor on the way to extinction. An epi- 

 demic caused numerous deaths among the California sea lions during the 

 past winter, but no losses occurred among the Stellers. Several permits 

 were issued for the commercial capture of sea lions to check possible exces- 

 sive expansion of the population, but pursuit of the animals proved to be 

 economically infeasible and only a few hundred were taken. 



RESEARCH VESSELS 



Our seagoing research program was not resumed until late in the 

 biennium for the lack of a vessel. The division's research vessel "N. B. 

 Scofield" served throughout the war in the Army. At the conclusion of 

 hostilities, negotiations for her return were initiated. These dragged on 

 for month after month with the State exerting every possible effort to 

 unravel military red tape. Finally, in June, 1947, the Army made a cash 

 settlement of $65,000 for damage incurred, and returned the vessel. She 

 was in deplorable condition, and it took the entire sum and months of work 

 to put her in shape. The shakedown cruise was made in February, 1948. 



The first postwar research voyage was made by the M. V. "N. B. Sco- 

 field" in March and April, 1948, as reported in the section on sardines. 

 Before the biennium closed, the vessel had made some short trips offshore 

 in tuna exploratory work, and to test gill net fishing for tuna. 



Following the collapse of the sardine fishery, the fishing industry 

 became aware of the need for additional research to solve the problems 

 of fluctuating fish populations. It was realized that all available research 

 agencies must work together and put the largest possible research fleet 

 into operation. We felt that in order to take part in the expanded sardine 

 research program, and at the same time do justice to the equally pressing 

 problems facing the tuna, mackerel, and trawl fisheries, we would need 

 at least one additional research vessel. For many months we sought a 

 suitable craft, and finally located a surplus Army freighter that could 

 be converted into a good research vessel. This ship, renamed "Yellowfin" 

 for our most important species of tuna, was purchased on May 26, 1948. 

 As the biennium ended, she was awaiting reconversion. 



