Abstract
Fish Bulletin No. 59 of the California Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Game, Bureau of Marine Fisheries (1944), by the staff of the Bureau, contains detailed records of fish delivered by commercial fishing boats to Californian ports. In addition, shipments of fresh fish by truck, rail or cargo vessel to Californian factories from outside the State are included. There is much information in this report. The value of all landings is tabulated, the 1942 values reflecting the higher war prices and price-ceilings fixed by the Federal Government. Although the value is much increased, the weight in pounds is less. The decrease in volume of the 1942 catch was due to reduced numbers of the better class of fishing boats and of experienced fishermen, as well as to the restrictions placed upon the free movement of fishing vessels necessitated by Army and Navy coastal defence plans. The sardine Sardinopsis cœrulea, heads the list both in weight and value; the Pacific mackerel, Pneumatophorus diego, and the yellow tuna, Neothunnus macropterus, coming next. Various shell-fish occur in much smaller numbers. It is interesting to note that crabs (Cancer magister) average 2 lb. each and abalones (Haliotis spp.) 50 lb. per dozen. A useful list of common and specific names of fishes, crustaceans and molluscs is given.
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Commercial Fish Catch of California for 1941 and 1942. Nature 155, 140 (1945). https://doi.org/10.1038/155140a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/155140a0