FORTY-FIFTH BIENNIAL REPORT 



71 



fleet consisted of 98 large boats (over 60 feet) and 

 62 small. In 1957-58, the fleet was further reduced to 

 132 boats, 76 large and 56 small. 



Since its inception, the live bait sampling program 

 has been used as a means of evaluating the relative 

 strength of incoming year classes of sardines. Until 

 1957, the largest percentage of "firecracker" fish of 

 the year recorded in the live bait catch was 0.3 percent 

 of the total "scoops" taken. In 1957, a tremendous 

 influx of young fish was observed. Based on prelim- 

 inary figures, it seems likely that the 1957 year class 

 of sardines contributed as much as 6 percent to the 

 total live bait catch. Biological and oceanographic 

 data obtained by member agencies of the California 

 Co-operative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations substan- 

 tiate these findings and indicate that 1957 contributed 

 a strong year class of sardines. 



MACKEREL 



Commercial landings of Pacific mackerel during the 

 1956-57 season were 28,000 tons, a 100 percent in- 

 crease over the previous season, while jack mackerel 

 landings totaled 48,000 tons, an increase of 30 percent. 

 During the 1957-58 season, landings of Pacifies were 

 28,000 tons, the same as the previous year, while jacks 

 declined 62.5 percent to 18,000 tons. 



In 1956-57 about one-third of the season's catch was 

 landed in October and November while in 1957-58 

 about one-half of the entire catch was landed during 

 the same two months. 



Of those vessels fishing mackerel in 1956-57, 160 

 boats used roundhaul nets and 50 were scoop boats. In 

 1957-58, there were 147 boats using roundhaul nets 

 and 132 using scoop nets. Because of poor sardine fish- 

 ing, larger boats are becoming fewer while smaller 

 boats, which are cheaper to operate and require less 

 division of profits are increasing in number. 



The 1955 year class of Pacific mackerel comprised 

 60 percent of the 1956-57 catch with 1953 and 1954 

 contributing about equal amounts to the remainder. 

 These three year classes dominate the 1957-58 catch 

 also, with the 1955 class again contributing the largest 

 amount. Neither the 1956 nor 1957 year class has con- 

 tributed enough to the catch to be considered sig- 

 nificant. 



Prices during the 1956-57 season were $45 per ton 

 for Pacifies and 142.50 for jacks, until January 4, 1957, 

 when 142.50 was paid for both. In 1957-58 the price 

 for species varied from $40 per ton to $55 per ton. 



landed in the Los Angeles area. During the good year 

 of 1953, 75 percent of the fish taken was credited to 

 central California ports. 



The 1957 Legislature did not renew the quota, and 

 by late spring of that year market demands were good, 

 approximately 12,500 tons being landed during the first 

 six months. This figure was almost 2,000 tons more 

 than that recorded during the same period in 1956. 

 However, due to an almost total failure in the central 

 California area, the 1957 season ended with a total 

 catch which was the smallest in six years— 20,259 tons, 

 95 percent of w hich was credited to the Los Angeles 

 area. 



Sampling of the catch from the two major fishing 

 areas. Central and Southern California, indicated that 

 two-year-old fish contributed well over half the num- 

 bers of fish caught. Of the incoming year classes, the 

 1956 group did not appear to be outstanding in either 

 area, but the 1955 appeared to be strong in Southern 

 California. Information obtained through live bait 

 sampling, aerial scouting, and commercial fishing 

 records indicates that the 1957 and 1958 year classes 

 are good. Data from the above sources show that 

 heavy concentrations of "pinhead" fish-of-the-year 

 and one-year-olds are present along most of the coast, 

 particularly in the Central California region. 



Analysis of plankton samples taken in May, 1958, 

 by the California Co-operative Oceanic Fisheries In- 

 vestigations shows that heavy anchov\' spawning took 

 place between Point Conception and Monterey. Larvae 

 were widely distributed between Point Conception 

 and Dana Point, some being taken as far as 200 miles 

 ofi'shore. Larvae were abundant throughout an area 

 where bait and commercial fishermen have had no 

 success in obtaining adult anchovies. Perhaps these 

 larger adults have been unavailable because of an off- 

 shore movement into deeper, colder water. This theory 

 was substantiated earlier in the year when purse seine- 

 caught bluefin tuna taken between San Clemente Is- 

 land and Santa Catalina Island were found to be 

 gorged with five- and six-inch anchovies. Samples from 

 the live bait catch show that two-vear-old and older 

 anchovies were plentiful during 1956 and 1957, but are 

 rare in the 1958 catch. Fish-of-the-year did not appear 



Deep-bodied anchovy. 



— Photo by AI Johns, San Pedro 



ANCHOVIES 



Commercial landings of anchovies for the year 1956 

 were 28,390 tons. Although the 35,000-ton quota then 

 in effect was not reached, this tonnage was the largest 

 landed by California boats since 1953 when 42,252 tons 

 were taken. Eighty-one percent of the 1956 catch was 



