tion agencies and other interested parties. Simply 

 stated, the policy is to maintain the herds at their 

 range-carrying capacity by harvesting surplus deer of 

 either sex. 



The first antlerless hunt, which was to set the pat- 

 tern for subsequent hunts, had been held in the winter 

 of 1949-50. Others followed as the recognition of deer 

 problems became more general. Since the first hunt 

 there have been 37 special hunts, 20 of which occurred 

 in the last two years. These hunts led to the establish- 

 ment by the commission in May, 1956, of the first 

 general antlerless seasons in 34 counties, scheduled in 

 the fall of 1956. 



Guide for Future 



When regulations for the first either sex hunting 

 season were under consideration, the Fish and Game 

 Commission pointed out that experience gained from 

 the 1956 season would serve as a guide for future 

 hunts. 



Experience would determine whether future hunts 

 Mould be longer or shorter, whether either sex hunt- 

 ing would extend throughout the season or be more 

 limited, whether future hunts would be on a quota 

 system in various sections of the State to control the 

 kill of deer, and whether it would be necessary to 

 ask the Legislature for power to control hunter con- 

 centrations in specific areas. 



POLLUTION 



During the biennium there was a considerable shift 

 in the department's pollution problems— from fresh 

 water to salt water. 



Preliminary evidence indicated that pollution of 

 ocean and bay waters by sewage and industrial wastes 

 is having a widespread, harmful effect on fish life, al- 

 though extensive studies are still needed to evaluate 

 this problem and determine what corrective measures 

 need be taken. There seems little doubt that the sew- 

 age flow from increasing growth, particularly in 

 Southern California, has reached the point where 

 there is no longer adequate dilution in the coastal 

 waters and additional treatment facilities are needed, 

 particularly in the San Diego and Los Angeles areas. 



The point has been reached where it has become 

 both feasible and necessary to highly treat and re-use 

 much of the waste waters in Southern California. This 

 will help to solve the serious water supply problem 

 and will also provide needed protection for fish and 

 aquatic resources of the area. 



Beaches in Danger 



The beaches and coastal waters of Southern Cali- 

 fornia are an invaluable part of Southern California's 

 way of life, and courageous steps must be taken with- 

 out delay to prevent extensive damage to sport and 

 commercial fisheries, as well as to the recreational 

 potential of the beaches. 



Warden Bd Johnson checks ihe license of Angler Bill frvnell of Sacro- 

 menfo while on roufine patrol in El Dorado Counfy, 



(Fish and Game Photo) 



There has been an increasing emphasis during the 

 biennium on the biological phases of California's water 

 pollution program. In two cases, new industries 

 moving into the State, have retained consulting biolo- 

 gists to make complete evaluations of conditions in 

 nearby receiving waters before building new plants. 



In the case of the City of Los Angeles and the 

 Santa Monica Bay sewage discharge, the State Water 

 Pollution Control Board ordered a policing program 

 to actually test the toxicity of the discharge. This will 

 make possible an evaluation of the effects of the dis- 

 charge and will provide the advance warning needed 

 in order that further corrective measures c^an be taken 

 long before conditions in the receiving waters become 

 critical. 



DEPARTMENTAL 



Establishment of an in-service training program de- 

 signed to improve the quality of departmental services 

 by increasing the effectiveness of employees high- 

 lighted departmental organizational activities during 

 the biennium. 



The first scheduled training under the new program 

 was a two-day course for regional managers and staff 

 officers held in Sacramento in early 1955. At this time 

 final plans were also made for inaugurating depart- 

 ment-wide training for all employees. 



The in-service program, developed within the 

 framework of the state training policy, consisted of 

 orientation training for new employees and continuing 

 refresher training for all employees. 



Operational Manual 



Work was started in February, 1955 on a manual 

 detailing uniform operational and administrative pro- 

 cedures for statewide use by department employees. 



