Tagging halibut. 



— Fish and Game Photo 



in any quantity during 1956 but were plentiful during 

 the latter part of 1957 and have been abundant in 

 1958. 



New' aerial survey techniques were developed dur- 

 ing the biennium and the program was intensified. A 

 method for determining the aerial magnitude of 

 pelagic fish schools was worked out, photographic ex- 

 periments were attempted and an effort was made to 

 use surface vessels in conjunction with the airplane. 

 Flights during 1956 revealed only moderate concen- 

 trations of anchovy schools most of which were ob- 

 served in Southern California and Baja California. Re- 

 sults of 1957 flights showed an increase of school 

 groups in Central California late in the year, while 

 Southern California and Baja California remained 

 about the same as 1956. Counts of anchovy schools 

 resulting from aerial surveys during the first half of 

 1958 indicate that a very large population is present 

 off Central California. Many thousands of schools 

 were obser\'ed from San Francisco to, and into, Mon- 

 terey Bay. Localities south of this area also contained 

 fair to good concentrations of fish. 



Even though anchovies appear to be abundant, the 

 1958 commercial season through June was not good. 

 The prospect for coming \ears is good as long as this 

 large population of young fish survives and becomes 

 available to the fishermen. 



BOTTOM FISHERIES 



California's otter trawl fleet continued to produce 

 more than 30 million pounds per >'ear of assorted 

 fishes for use by local markets in a fresh and fresh 

 frozen state. Foreign imports increased and became a 

 deterrent to continued high production. "Tight" mar- 

 kets characterized the latter months of the biennium. 

 Most markets placed strict limits on species and pound- 

 ages delivered by their vessels. 



Dover sole continued to be the leading species taken 

 by the trawl fleet with over seven million pounds per 

 year landed in 1956 and 1957. Bocaccio landings in- 

 creased again and may exceed those of dover sole in 

 the near future. 



The animal food industry expanded with an addi- 

 tion of one plant. This industry now utilizes about 

 3 million pounds of whole fish that in former years 

 were considered unsalable and discarded at sea. Market 

 leftovers of fish frames and viscera are the major 

 source of raw material for these plants. About 8 mil- 

 lion pounds of frames are used annually. 



Sampling of trawl catches, both at sea and in 

 markets, was carried out at Eureka, Fort Bragg, and 

 Morro Bay. In the northern part of the state fishing 

 emphasis is on flat fishes; southern ports land more 

 rockfishes. A program of sampling animal food land- 

 ings for species and size composition was initiated this 

 biennium. A continuing long-term analysis of trawl 

 vessel log books enables the department to keep abreast 

 of new developments within the fishery. 



Catch of rockfish, mainly bocaccio and ch/Z/pepper, about to spill on 



the deck of the otter trawler "Franklin." A pull on a slip-knot in a 



purse line opens the end of the net. This catch was made at a depth of 



7 70 fathoms about five miles off San Simeon. 



— Fish and Game Photo by J. B. Phillips 



