REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



"Conservation Is the Triim/ph of Cormnon Sense Over Ignorance and Greed'" 



—California Junior Chamber of Commerce 



Believing that an informed public is the best guarantee of wise use of California's wildlife resources, 

 and fully able to judge the effectiveness of conservation programs to tiiat end, the department con- 

 solidated and materially strengthened its program of conservation education during the past two years 

 in an effort to keep abreast of the ever-increasing population pressures and the record numbers of 

 anglers and hunters afield in California. 



At the same time the task of maintaining, protecting 

 and increasing, where possible, fish and wildlife re- 

 sources, consolidating gains effected by reorganization 

 on a decentralized plan passed by the Legislature in 

 1951 and making long-range plans for the future, 

 were major goals of everv department emplo\'ce. 



Indications are that the complexity of these tasks 

 will increase rather than decrease or reach a plateau 

 in the years to come. During the past two years the 

 numbers of anglers and hunters increased at a rate 

 even faster than the tremendous population gains 

 which show no signs of slackening. 



In 1952 the number of license holders was 1,600,000. 

 As of the close of the biennium there were 1,871,000 

 or a gain of one-fifth in only two years. This in- 

 creased army of hunters and fishermen made their 

 presence known with continuing requests for more 

 fish in the streams and lakes, more game birds and 

 mammals, and more places to hunt and fish. 



As cities grew larger and more and more lands 

 were developed for intensive agriculture and industry, 

 resulting in material loss of wildlife habitat, need and 

 demand grew for assured public access to hunting and 

 fishing areas heretofore unreachable. 



Other lovers of the out-of-doors who do not 

 hunt, but enjoy and make use of California's wild- 

 life resources in other ways are also concerned with 

 expanded access. 



Recreational Attractions 



Ironically, one of the main factors in bringing to 

 California this tremendous migration has been this 

 State's great and unparalleled year-long recreational 

 attractions, including its opportunities for hunting 

 and fishing. Thus the numbers of outdoorsmen who 

 become new residents of California add to the pres- 

 sure on wildlife in greater proportion than normallv- 



In spite of these conditions the Department of Fish 

 and Game was able to show substantial progress in 

 many wildlife management fields. Its hatchery and 

 trout planting program, expansion of waterfowl 

 management areas where the public can hunt, more 

 cooperative pheasant hunting areas, big game man- 

 agement, stream improvement, upland game habitat 



improvements, and- efforts to make available closed 

 areas have made substantial contributions to the over- 

 all wildlife picture. 



The darkest picture, and one of constant concern 

 to the department, is the condition of the ocean fish- 

 eries. During the biennium the State's commercial 

 ocean catch dropped to a 20-year low. Sardines as a 

 commercial catch have virtually disappeared from 

 offshore waters. Alarming danger signals are being 

 observed in the anchovv and Pacific mackerel fishery. 

 Warnings of this condition have been made repeatedly 

 by department scientists. On the other hand ocean 

 sportsfishing has increased materiallv in recent years, 

 and shows signs of matching inland angling in popu- 

 larity with Californians. 



The responsibilit\' of the California Department 

 of Fish and Game in these significant times is clear. 

 Its primary duty, in conjunction with its policy- 

 making body, the Fish and Game Commission, is to 

 perpetuate, manage, and, a\ here possible to increase 

 the wildlife resources of the State, consistent with 

 their wise use and habitat needs. 



Appreciation for Outdoors 



These responsibilities become greater and more 

 difficult to effect, not only because of the increased 

 numbers of hunters and fishermen, but through pres- 

 sures of advancing civilization and growth. It has 

 become a matter of integrating a sound wildlife 

 management program with a burgeoning industrial 

 and agricultural growth, so that the California citizen 

 of today and tomorrow can continue to develop an 

 appreciation for outdoor living and the character 

 building values derived therefrom. 



Encouraging signs have been developing in the 

 philosophy of forward thinking Californians along 

 these lines during the past two years. Planners are 

 beginning to find a place for outdoor life and 

 recreational possibilities in their schemes of future 

 development. The Department of Fish and Game has 

 and will continue to encourage this important trend 

 of thinking. 



Important as long-range planning is to our wild- 

 life resource, the problem of meeting angling and 



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