<P> The 1911 statute stated: </P> <P> The bear flag is hereby selected and adopted as the state flag of California...The said bear flag shall consist of a flag of a length equal to one and one - half the width thereof; the upper five - sixths of the width thereof to be a white field, and the lower sixth of the width thereof to be a red stripe; there shall appear in the white field in the upper left - hand corner a single red star, and at the bottom of the white field the words' California Republic,' and in the center of the white field a California grizzly bear upon a grass plat, in the position of walking toward the left of the said field; said bear shall be dark brown in color and in length, equal to one - third of the length of said flag . </P> <P> In 1953, the design and specifications for the state flag were standardized in a bill signed by Governor Earl Warren . The California state flag is often called the "Bear Flag" and in fact, the present statute adopting the flag, California Government Code Section 420, states: "The Bear Flag is the State Flag of California ." </P> <P> Under California Government Code Section 439, the regulations and protocols for the proper display of the flag of California is controlled by the California Adjutant General: </P>

What does the bear in california flag represent