FORTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 47 



FISHERIES STATISTICS 



Due to the shortage of clerical help and lack of field work during 

 the war years, it was with difficulty that California maintained the leader- 

 ship it had held for 30 years in its system of fisheries statistics. But during 

 the past biennium the back log of basic work was mastered with the aid 

 of additional tabulating equipment and a normal clerical staff. Unfor- 

 tunately, the field work is still lagging. The system has become compli- 

 cated ; and the danger of inaccuracies has mounted due to special 

 concessions made to accommodate the industry, because of changes in 

 delivery and marketing procedure, and through the use of the record 

 for purposes other than the study of abundance. 



In the spring of 1948 a conference was called to review the present 

 laws and policies governing the collection and compilation of the 

 statistical records. Plans were made for improvements which must be 

 introduced gradually, but which will make the system function with 

 greater efficiency and meet the needs of changing conditions. 



With the return of the research men from war activities, resumption 

 of the studies of specific species was of prime importance. Of these 

 statistical studies, the sardine project was the only one which was carried 

 on unabated during the war years. Despite the reduction in catch, the 

 sardine still held first place in poundage in 1947 (255,500,000 pounds, 

 $5,800,000 value). The combined poundage of the five tunas for 1947 

 threatened this lead, with the value six times greater than that of 

 sardines (250,000,000 pounds, $39,000,000 value). It was therefore 

 fitting that the tunas be given first attention in the postwar program. 

 A statistical study of the yellowfin and skipjack was undertaken. 

 Tabulations began with 1934 where the work had been dropped, and 

 continued through 1947. 



Jack mackerel had reached fourth place in poundage in 1947, and 

 had usurped the place of Pacific mackerel in importance among the 

 species. The Pacific mackerel study was resumed with tabulations for 

 the year 1939, where it had been interrupted ; and the Jack mackerel 

 records were begun for this same year, to be carried through the current 

 season. Salmon and bottom fish work started with tabulations for 1946, 

 the intervening years' work to be completed when time permitted. 



The marine sport catch record was nonexistent for several years 

 because national safety restrictions curtailed the sport fishery, and no 

 attempt was made to collect a record. In 1946 normal activities resumed, 

 and by 1947 the volume of the record was enormous. During 1947 the 

 volume of punch cards required for the 8,000,000-pound marine sport 

 catch exceeded the volume of cards used for the 800,000,000-pound 

 commercial catch. This volume was caused by the great number of 

 sportsmen recording small and varied catches to make up the final total. 



It is with satisfaction that we review the accomplishment of the 

 past two years, for it brought out the fact that the statistical record of 

 our fish catch had not lost value or continuity despite curtailment during 

 the war years. 



