The collection consists of one and one half cubic feet of records collected and generated by Julian G. Burnette, Chair of the Marine Research Committee, documenting the history and work of the committee. The committee was appointed by California Governor Earl Warren in 1948 to investigate the causes of the depletion of the sardine in California waters. The records include minutes of meetings, correspondence, reports and other committee files dated 1935-1977. The bulk of the collection consists of material dated 1947-1964. The collection includes correspondence exchanged by Burnette and other committee members with scientists and fisheries industry experts including Wilbert MacLeod Chapman, Oscar E. Sette, and Harald Ulrik Sverdrup.

The sudden depletion of sardines (Sardinops sagax) from California waters in 1946-1947 alarmed the California fishing industry. The California Legislature approved a special tax on commercial sardine landings at the request of fishing industry leaders and scientists to fund scientific research into the problem. The tax funds were administered by a committee called the Marine Research Committee. It was composed of nine members appointed by California Governor Earl Warren, five representing the industry, one representing the public, one from California Fish and Game Commission, and two from California Division of Fish and Game. Fishing industry expert Julian G. Burnette chaired the Marine Research Committee from its establishment in 1948 until February 28, 1967. Administrators from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, notably Harald Ulrik Sverdrup and Roger Revelle, participated in the early discussions that led to the formation of the Marine Research Committee and subsequently played an important role in the scientific program.

1.5 cubic feet

Publication Rights Copyright is held by the State of California. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Access Collection is open for research.