44 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



An attempt has been made to accompany each of the twenty-odd bait 

 boats on at least one fishing trip during the calendar year. Essential 

 information is gathered at this time. Boats are checked for the weights of 

 the scoops, and this figure, multiplied by the total number of scoops, gives 

 the total number of pounds taken as bait. A careful record is made of the 

 gear in use, the proportion of species taken, and notes kept on innovations 

 in the fishery. 



Samples of anchovies and sardines are taken from every bait boat 

 visited, and the age and length composition is determined. In 1946 and 

 1947, of the six species of fish commonly found in the bait catch, anchovy 

 comprised 75 percent of the total, and sardines 20 percent, with the 

 remaining 5 percent being composed of queenfish, kingfish, smelt, and 

 pompano. 



During this biennium many boats have installed submarine sounding 

 devices to enable operators to detect subsurface schools of fish. One self- 

 propelled bait receiver is in use, and a successful experiment has been 

 made, utilizing cement bait receivers that are capable of floating without 

 additional support. Extremely light aggregates are used in the cement. 

 Bait boats in the Los Angeles Harbor area are now successfully fishing at 

 night using floating lights which serve to attract and hold scattered fish. 



UNDERSEA OIL EXPLORATION 



Exploration for undersea deposits of oil expanded rapidly during the 

 biennium ; and by 1948, 20 oil companies had applied to the Fish and Game 

 Commission for permits to carry on such investigations. The oil-bearing 

 strata are located by firing explosive charges in the overlying land or 

 water surface. The bureau continued its regulation of this exploratory 

 work through its permit system, and made additional investigations on 

 the destruction of marine life which may result. A summary of these 

 findings was published in California Fish and Game, April, 1948. An 

 observer worked at sea at all times with the exploratory crews. Cost of 

 tbis supervision is borne by the oil operators. 



Because of the large number of applications for permits, the Bureau 

 of Marine Fisheries in May, 1948, met with the oil companies, and through 

 their aid set up preliminary arrangements for joint operations of all oil 

 companies in future exploration. This will do away with repetition of 

 activities in each area by additional oil companies. Thus, fish life will be 

 saved, and tlie oil operators will carry out their research more economi- 

 cally. The waters of the State have been divided into 15 areas, and the 

 dates desigiuited when explorations will be permitted in each area. These 

 dates are based on the seasons of the year when the fish population is 

 knoA\ n to be at a ininininin in an area. 



SEA LIONS 



In order to assess the extravagant claims made by fishermen that 

 sea lions have increased to the point where they menace the fish supply, 

 and the e(|ually wild assertions of some naturalists that these animals are 

 becoming extinct, the bureau keeps track' of ilieir numbers by means of 

 periodic counts on the rookeries. 



The count made in June, 1946, indicated that sea lions had increased 

 somewhat. The 1947 census disclosed a population of 5,666 Steller see 



