68 



DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 





Year 



1953... 



1954... 



1955... 



1956... 



Landings 



Marine biologist Walter Dahlstrom inspects seed oysters in Japan. 



pound quota for this area was reached. During 1957, 

 t\\o areas v ere closed under the quota system. Area 

 B-2 (Bodega Bay) was closed in July, 1957, when its 

 quota of 400,000 pounds was reached. This area's early 

 closure prompted the fleet to work in Area B-1 (Fort 

 Bragg)— the first time commercial interests had at- 

 tempted shrimping in this ai-ea. Its quota of 200,000 

 pounds was then reached by late September. 



OYSTERS 



California oyster production skyrocketed during 

 1956-57 and continued to hold strong in 1958. Oyster 

 culture on allotted state lands and priv^ate beds yielded 

 over 1 1 million pounds of Pacific oysters. Oyster allot- 

 ments comprising 3,290 acres have been issued by the 

 commission since 1955. There are now 12,700 acres 

 designated shellfish culture areas. 



A Highly Developed Fishery 



0\ster culture represents one of the most highly 

 developed marine fisheries. California oystering may 

 be called "aquaculture," paralleling agriculture in that 

 seed is planted, a growing crop is cultivated, protected 

 from pests, and fattened for harvesting. Aquaculture 

 of oysters is dependent upon a successful spawning 

 resulting in an abundance of free swimming larvae. 

 Then actual culturing can begin. 



Unfortunately, California waters do not become 

 warm enough for the length of time required for the 

 development of Pacific oyster larvae. Therefore, seed 

 production, the first step in oyster culture, is accom- 

 plished in Japan where the Pacific oyster is native. 

 Strings of oyster shells are put in Japanese bays and 

 larvae attach themselves to surfaces of the shells at 

 termination of their free swimming stage. These 

 young oysters on shells are imported as "seed" for the 

 industry. Fortunately, the oysters transplanted to Cali- 

 fornia waters enjoy an environment and an abundance 

 of food ver\' favorable for growtli and production of 

 full-bodied meats. Within 14 to 20 months after plant- 

 ing, oysters are ready for harvesting. 



Pounds 



161,520 



458,493 



..- -. 1,635,067 



6,101,220 



1957 11,071,422 



This phenomenal growth of the industry on marine 

 water bottoms will soon be slowed. Though California 

 has vast areas where oysters could be produced, the 

 Department of Public Health cannot certify many 

 more acres as safe from contamination. Californians 

 have relegated large portions of Humboldt, San Fran- 

 cisco, San Pablo, and San Diego bays to sewage dis- 

 posal and until these areas are cleaned up, further 

 growth of this industry will be hampered. 



Multiple Use of Bays Sought 



The department's shellfish program fosters full use 

 of resources of all California bays. Surveys of many 

 bays along the coast are being conducted to evaluate 

 areas in terms of natural production along with other 

 uses in the public interest. Oyster production is boom- 

 ing and the Fish and Game Commission is anxious to 

 keep it booming, but has decreed this "gold rush" must 

 be compatible with the production of other forms of 

 wealth and recreation harvestable from the public 

 domains. With the ever-increasing sport activities re- 

 sulting from growth in human population it is neces- 

 sary to reserve particular areas of bays for public use. 



Commercial tuna fishing. 



