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FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF 

 MARINE FISHERIES 



The responsibility for the conservation and administration of the 

 ocean fisheries of California is in the hands of the Bureau of Marine 

 Fisheries. The bureau conducts biological and statistical studies of the 

 marine sport and commercial fisheries ; and with the information thus 

 gathered and analyzed, is able to make recommendations to the Fish and 

 Game Connnission and the Legislature for wise conservation measures. 



In order to maintain an ever-expanding fishery which is exploiting 

 an ever-shrinking resource, the bureau's research efforts have been 

 redoubled, and our staff is constantly seeking the answers to the perplex- 

 ing problems of changing abundance. AVith the return of many staff 

 members, and the research vessel from war service, and with the addition 

 of new research men, we are now able to carry on our program on some- 

 thing like the scale that the demands of the fishery require. 



California's ocean commercial and sport fisheries still lead those of 

 all the other states. While the sport fishery increased by leaps and bounds 

 following wartime curtailment, the commercial fisliery declined consid- 

 erably in volume during the bieuuium. However, the value in dollars 

 continued to rise. 



Figure 5. Value and pounrtagp of California comnii r( i:il lish catch, 1939-1947. Value 



rfprt-Sfnts fnTinnnt r'aid to the fishermen at time of delivi-r.v. Note how vnlne.s have con- 



linui (1 to increase while catches have dropped 



