fishery, a burgeoning new shrimp fishery, and estab- 

 lishment of a sport fishery in the Saiton Sea were high- 

 lights of the period. 



On the other hand, there were some very gloomy 

 reports. Continual reproductive failures put the future 

 of the Pismo Clam in question. The sardine catch was 

 slightly higher in the biennium than in the preceding 

 two years, but there is no indication the local fish will 

 return in any numbers like those of the period be- 

 tween 1925 and 1945. Sardines which moved north 

 out of Mexican waters represented the increase in the 

 catch. 



Tentative conclusions from pollution studies indi- 

 cate that various sewer outfalls and industrial waste 

 discharges have caused harm to ocean fishlife. 



RECORD SALMON HAUL 



Increased hauls of king salmon contributed to a 

 commercial catch of 8,600,000 pounds in 1954, a rec- 

 ord that was topped in 1955 with a catch of 9,700,000 

 pounds. While the commercial catch of kings sky- 

 rocketed, the silver salmon haul went into a slow 

 decline. 



For the first time since 1952, when netting restric- 

 tions were placed in effect, river commercial fisher- 

 men in 1955 landed in excess of 1,000,000 pounds of 

 salmon. A change in commercial river gillnet gear 

 in the Sacramento River accounted for their increase. 

 During the biennium Marine Fisheries personnel were 

 concluding studies to determine the importance of 

 Sacramento River kings to the coastwise salmon indus- 

 try. The\" found that a change in the producing poten- 

 tial of one state affects the salmon fisheries of other 

 states, and is a factor to be considered in conservation 

 programs of the entire Pacific coastal region. 



A species of salmon new to California, the Pink, 

 appeared for the first time off the California coast in 

 1953, and was taken in substantial commercial numbers 

 for the first time in 1955 when 2,000 were landed from 

 Monterey to Crescent City. The Pinks were observed 

 spawning in the American River in 1955. 



The return of the oyster to a place of importance 

 in the commercial catch of the State reflects credit 

 upon \\ise conservation practices recommended by the 

 department and enforced by the Legislature, upon 

 modern farming methods instituted by oyster cultur- 

 ists, and upon physical conditions highly conducive to 

 successful oystering. 



Unfortunately, the areas in which oysters may be 

 planted successfully is limited to those presently in 

 production. Many thousands of acres of the State's 

 bays would be suitable for oyster culture, but are now 

 polluted by waste disposal. 



CHANGE IN CRAB LAWS 



Steady decline in the catch of market crabs from a 

 high of 12,941,418 pounds in 1952 resulted in a change 

 in crab laws in 1955 and a request by the Legislature 



Limits of ducks taken at Imperial Waterfowl Management Area are dis- 

 played by Robert Redline of Et Monte (left) and Tom Souders of South 

 Son Gabriel. 



(Fish and Game Photo) 



for additional information to improve the fishery. A 

 shortening of the crab season and the establishment 

 of a fixed opening in crab pots to give the smaller 

 crabs a chance to escape were placed in effect in 1955 

 by the Legislature. While it is too soon to assess the 

 effect that these conservation measures have had upon 

 the fishery, there were signs that 1956 would be a 

 record year for the commercial crab men. 



Landings in the Eureka-Crescent City area in 1956 

 were nearly five times the 1,500,000 pounds recorded 

 in 1955, and may push the state-wide catch close to 

 the record of 13,000,000 pounds established in 1952. 



NEW SHRIMP FISHERY 



A direct result of work of the Alarine Fisheries 

 Branch has been the establishment of a new industry 

 which shows every sign of a healthy, vigorous future. 

 Continuing research and exploration by the depart- 

 ment uncovered the possibility of a shrimp fishery in 

 California waters. In 1952 commercial fishermen were 

 interested enough to net 206,000 pounds. In t\vo years 

 this figure grew to 300,000 and in 1955 to 855,000 

 pounds. Through June 30, 1956, a total haul of 419,000 

 pounds, an increase of more than 20 percent over a 

 similar period in 1955, was recorded. The Crescent 

 City shrimp fleet contributed 308,000 pounds to the 

 total, followed by the Bodega Bay fleet with 111,000 



