76 



DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



STATISTICAL UNIT 



Installations and procedures of the Marine Fisheries 

 statistical unit \\ere modified during the biennium to 

 complete more efficiently the task of gathering, compi- 

 lation and publication of California fishery statistics. 



Among the modifications have been remodeling the 

 building at Terminal Island, departmentalizing the or- 

 ganization, basic reports revised to increase their util- 

 it^•, license and application forms redesigned, trawl sta- 

 tistics for war >ears compiled and made available, ma- 

 rine sports catch records retabulated, and the striped 

 bass catch logs have been tabulated. 



The staff issued five publications during the bien- 

 nium. Of these, two are statistical circulars and three 

 are catch bulletins. Statistical Circulars Nos. 27 and 28 

 present the annual statistics of fresh and canned fishery 

 products for the years 1952 and 1953 respectively. Cir- 

 cular 28 contains revised tables of sardine landings and 

 production and a table showing the annual case pack 

 of anchovy. These tables reflect the decline in impor- 

 tance of the sardine and the steadily increasing an- 

 chovy fishery which has risen from twenty-second 



position among the more important commercial species 

 in 1945 to third position in 1953. Fish Bulletins Nos. 

 86, 89 and 95 present the complete commercial fish 

 catch for the years 1950, 1951 and 1952 respectively. 

 In addition, Bulletin No. 86 contains a historical record 

 and a complete description of current methods used in 

 collecting and compiling fisheries statistics. 



MARINE RESEARCH COMMIHEE 



Investigative work of the Marine Research Commit- 

 tee continued throughout the biennium, although ham- 

 pered by lack of funds as a result of failure of the sar- 

 dine industry. The committee, consisting of nine mem- 

 bers representing the fishing industry. Department of 

 Fish and Game, and representative of the public, ad- 

 ministers funds from a special tax on processed sardine, 

 mackerel, anchovy, herring and squid. It coordinates 

 the work of five agencies, including the California 

 Academy of Sciences, California Department of Fish 

 and Game, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Hop- 

 kins A4arine Station, and U. S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service. 



Need lor access (o oceon fishing along the shoreline is demonsfraled by this crowded pub/ic pier in southern Caliiornia. Public access for rock and 



surf fishing is one of the major points of the department's ten-year program. 



