Salmon and Steelhead 



This ]3'/2-pound steelhead wos taken in Battle Creek, Shasta County, by Mrs. Lewis Phillips of Claremont, Calif. 



— Fish and Game Photo 



Activities aimed toward maintaining salmon and 

 steelhead consisted of surveys and investigations in 

 connection with water developments, inventories of 

 spawning runs, artificial propagation, construction of 

 fish screens and ladders, removal of barriers to mi- 

 grating fish, salvage of fish from drying streams and 

 research into the factors affecting these important 

 fishes. 



Salmon continued to increase in popularity during 

 the biennium both as a commercial food fish and as a 

 sport fish. New boat liveries were built along the 

 California coast where skiffs could be rented for ocean 

 salmon sport fishing; the number of private skiffs used 

 for salmon fishing also increased. 



At the same time, the commercial ocean troll fleet 

 grew in numbers. More and more boats now have 

 fathometers aboard that aid fishermen in locating a 

 particular spot known to produce fish. Many boats 

 have automatic pilots that permit a fisherman to spend 

 more time tending his gear than was formerly possible. 



Some owners of large "trip boats" who customarily 



"ice down" their catch and remain on fishing grounds 

 for days, installed brine tanks for storage of their fish. 

 Refrigeration units keep brine at correct temperature, 

 and pumps circulate it through the tanks. This method, 

 pioneered in the north, produces a superior product 

 compared to that resulting from the old icing method. 

 In addition, from a fisherman's point of view, the 

 brine tank method is more efficient than ice. 



Total ocean landings rose to an all-time high of 

 over one million fish in 1956. However, catch per 

 unit-of-effort dropped slightly, indicating that such a 

 record yield was produced primarily by increased 

 fishing effort rather than increased abundance or 

 availability of fish. 



SPAWNER SHORTAGE 



Dramatic support of this premise came to light 

 during the winter of 1956 when it became evident that 

 a drastic reduction had occurred in the number of 

 salmon spawners using Central Valley streams. 



57. 



