Bringing on eight-foot beam trawl aboard the deporfmen/'s research 



vessel Nautilus. This gear plays a ma/or role in sampling the juvenile 



crab population. 



(Fish and Game Photo by W. A. Dahlstrom) 



not present, or if the population can be built up in 

 places where they are relatively uncommon. Results 

 of the transplants were not determined at the end 

 of the biennium. 



MARKET CRAB 



Many years ago the research on crabs led to sound 

 conservation regulations. As a result a valuable re- 

 source thrived during years of intensive harvesting. 



However, conditions in the crab fishery changed 

 during the last few years and it was necessary that 

 the fishery be re-evaluated. The results of studies, 

 coupled with the cooperation of the crab industry, 

 brought about changes in the crab laws in 1955 in 

 w hich the season was shortened and provision was 

 made for openings in crab traps through which many 

 undersized crabs could escape. 



The 1955 Legislature requested additional investiga- 

 tion to further improve conservation and management 

 of this fishery. 



The research is determining the effects of intensive 

 fishing on the resource. Observations are being made 

 of commercial fishing operations and the catch at 

 Eureka and San Francisco. Records are made of the 

 sizes and sexes of crabs taken and released aboard the 

 fishing vessels as well as those kept for marketing. 

 Study of juvenile crabs is being conducted to deter- 

 mine the factors causing strong and weak years of 

 survival which result in years of relatively high and 

 low harvest. 



Escape Openings 



Studies conducted aboard department research ves- 

 sels and from commercial vessels revealed the value 

 of escape openings for small crabs. Approximately 20 

 times as many crabs (mostl\' females and small males) 

 are held in traps with no escape openings as are held 

 in traps with four-inch circular openings providing 

 an exit for the smaller crabs. 



The natural movement of market crabs is being 

 investigated by department scientists through tagging 

 studies initiated in the San Francisco-Bodega region 

 during October and November, 1955. Recoveries 

 made during the 1955-1956 season showed movements 

 of onh- a few miles from points of release with a 



general seasonal migration toward deeper water as 

 the season progressed. Similar tagging work was 

 being followed in the Eureka-Crescent City area 

 prior to and during the 1956-57 season. 



Record Seen Possible 



Landings of market crabs leveled off at 7,000,000 to 

 8,000,000 pounds for the three years following the 

 high of 13,000,000 pounds in 1952. However, the 

 1955-56 season landings indicate that the total land- 

 ings for 1956 may approach the high level of 1952. 



In the San Francisco area the market crab catch 

 has remained relatively stable with annual landings of 

 from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 pounds for the past eight 

 years. The drop from 1952 to 1955, was due to a 

 decrease in north coast landings which hit a low of 

 about a million and a half pounds in 1955. This year 

 (1956), the landings in the Eureka-Crescent City 

 area have sk\rocketed upward to almost five times 

 that recorded in 1955. 



OYSTERS 



During 1955 the oyster fishery saw the greatest 

 activity since 1942, and 1956 figures may be even 

 higher. Landings of Pacific oysters in 1955 very 

 closeh- approached the all-time high of 1.7 million 

 pounds of 1941. Oyster culture allotments for over 

 5.000 acres have been issued by the department since 

 1954, bringing the total area under oyster cultivation 

 to nearl\- 14,000 acres. 



The 1955 Legislature adopted extensive changes in 

 laws governing shellfish culture. Fish and Game Code 

 sections w ere updated to include license fees, privilege 

 taxes and rental fees to be paid by shellfish cultivators. 

 Support of the oyster industry and organized sports- 

 men helped to bring these changes about. 



Regulations were amended by the Fish and Game 

 Commission. These regulations now prescribe mini- 

 mum use of state water bottoms allotted for oyster 

 culture and provide for expedient inspections of shell- 

 fish shipments destined for planting in California 

 waters. 



Cases of seed oysters on pieces of shell are Imported ham Japan. The 



ship is hurriedly unloaded so that the valuable seed can be planted in 



California bays. 



(Fish and Game Photo by H. G. Orcutt) 



