sty tytyte
Cut inaty a ne
nner)
Hae hy a
Subse?
Wane
A\Fadain
nlatio ing
ay
fyedatitasy
moti ey ey
Abe ked
TEA Hae
yas
Sree CCRT Ee
Bosaen
Pray waded
WHATS
BARAT Eth
fata,
PAA etary
Miah Alan he
Hin)
SAT
Ago enieat in
Obra
ay
Suir phe oesuth
apes eam Ardeatdatne
iat
Piya dE
ne gI MONE Aza got
aReTe
ee
wit
MyFataf ney
tela
tind
*
ene aidaceenn’
eed
hate rvenags
“nla Sigg
A Masiearroaea tga
ashe ke
Peake
Ht sncneTeal
iyi
Grau
Fah asietealeturean tin
Hh
Aas
itAties
ie
miaiiitged Pivntets
eae AES
MAG h heieontan
AMEN
Uae
Meg ret
easter!
if 4
My Pee twang
Neri
Ala Nfarns
wal
erie azy
invert
Nt fate yer) és
Tikenstey
Nae haae
Swi yao
Ci aera
ie
Reinet
si hnckdl iN
Ages eats
OUTER Fat
neste lene
PEG eed grasa
eaten st
UG urate
future ye VET eats ag
Tebeateiteet ese:
%
is
peas fatten t.
a
NE
satiate
LIAR NER
ARC YAC AMS th te
RA
LEP e tte a a
eatreatreHTe
Wee epee
Deron
Misty dae ety
nas te yee
4
TE
HRP NP gy
Py ee!
TSS OM rt ataidy
Lag
Cay
petty
ered"
Ae
net
aliddere iat
resastetal
Bara tot
Walang
evigentds
Re
ea
eye oatas HYRULE lei
Me
Teeth yy taee dey yaee aed
Ue CST aaa RI be
et Sta:
eatelptel
hetaceaete
coy Sean)
SPR HAS brg le peu ceas
SA AU n tay Lod pa
uvwtas wives shea au et
ee ms
yin
con
pea ae
eee
Becineeacen peasy
Fea tebe cs evees
Syiybas
Sere
ale nents
\ Noa
GE
NVINOSHLIWS
~~
INIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI
S31u¥vug!i1 LIBRARIES
Stas”
SMITHSONIAN _ INSTITUTION _ Nt
LIB
is
fe)
G
NOI
LIE
LIB
NOl
|
INSTITUTION NOI!
INN
is ON y
\ 4
12 \
Y \S
S Sss!iuvyug
NVINOSHLIW
S3IYVuUaIT LIB
% :
INSTITUTION NOI
S3iu¥vyudii
INSTITUTION
INSTITUTION
en
S\
ae
saiuvygi
INS SAlYvVuaIT_LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S31uvugit LI
NVINOSHLIWS
SMITHSONIAN
NVINOSHLIWS
ww
SMITHSONIAN
NVINOSHLIWS
\y
SMITHSONIAN
NIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI_ NVINOSHLIWS LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Né
LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN
Zz io iz = ” = 7)
y, uw Bes ww wi
Ly, = a a 4 = Win S =
ae : a \ : E 2 = |
7 oO EATS
. = m = SS 4 cay = a)
z ay Zz He = ay 2 a
INS S3IYVYS!IT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3INVUSIT L
z & z J z OF j z Um
2 o S a) = a ~< °& o
. ke 0] = 0] e xo N ey ke a /
Siti > eZ, > = = \ Se > |
= es) 4 — ee) = 3)
. Ee rox = WG, —_ e ae = =
2 ; 2 eS z : ee i
. — w _— — on e =,
NIAN _p NOILALILSNI_ NVINOSHLINS, S31HVYEIT_LIBRARIES, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION N
z = < Si ee Spas
5 q s \ s
S = 5 3 PY SW Z BW 7.
? 8 S64 2 g D NN w
E Z = a a Z E s 2
ae 5 Ae ais a 2
Ww : .
INS SaluVudit SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILOLILSNI NVINOSHLINS Satyvugi7 LI
rt Z tu 2 C SO Li) oe S
ee q : a = @ WW = @
« = [oc = oc = AK S a = |
Ss x 2 <% = <x a RW SS <x a (
. & S : é a WS z
. — [o) = oO _ fe) — (eo)
Seay z pay z 4 Zz Shp it) rs
NIAN_ INSTITUTION | NOLLALILSNI— >Sa!NVUdIT_ LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Nt
2 Fr (oe) = fo) a oS ISP we e
Lf ies] _— Les) = o — Vp o —
py, 2 = 2 5 cs 5 Gy, 2 5
he > Ye 4 '
ae: E - : = © OE e
m 2 m cz m Oo aga earn 2
wn = n Wee = n = on =
IWS S3IMYVYUGIT_LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS Ul
22) 3 aS n is ” = n cs
= Ws < = < = or, < = <
= Yt, FS = z 5 4; iz = =
Ey aul = g E 8G fer = = =
Z, a = Se 2, =
INIAN INSTITUTION NOILMLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S3!YVYEI7 LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION N¢
G3 E = Wwe 5 te AS a
y pgs S Sis WY & S 7S =
= faa) = mS faa] = m S isa)
2 = z we EF 2 ts 2 a
INS SAIYVNGIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVUSIT LI
z - z Cant z - ‘ aa Fax
fo) = e) sis fe) = OO. ° =
: iE 2 5 x = s NSS. E 2D
ce > Zi > 2 a \E >
See 2 atk 2 = 2 WO = 2
Ne B Z ie z ra ee f
\NIAN” INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI SA1YVUAIT LIBRARIES. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION N
ee a ee ow SEAN IS URN Se \ =z ee a) Sern ates 7)
WWINOSHLIWIS
a
SMITHSONIAN
=
(o}
Ww
a5
E
=
wo
: ul S ts a
ce = & yal
SS z < a2
WY : 5 :
fee a z = Zz
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILMLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS Sa1uvugiy
za i= 2 ia
fae fe) = Se (s)
2 5 ZINN =
z = z =
q m 2S m hes 2
NVINOSHLINS SAtUVYaIT LIBRARI ES SMITHSONIAN _ INSTITUTION
= = NS = < .
2 gl Ly NXE 5 2
= La, 9 RK, Ss. x 9
BGI ANS 3 2
sg 2 SN : :
= (22) * =a wo oh,
INSTITUTION NOILOLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S31¥V4a11
a Ww Zz SY.
: : eRe =
= 4 SS
— [aa) = . mM
Qo _ fo) =
=z a 2 Salaend
SaINVUGIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
z c aves
A = ow = ty ow
Na 5 2 5 £4
SSN E = WL Je
AS = a 4f ZF 2
— wn =
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI
mo 2) ee g
2\o i @&2 5
Tae SY, wo WI fy a wo
rT WAN 6 YA = =
S n 4 lof! ¢
= eS = a Z
S3INVYAIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
ie) = w Ss
} ul a tu &
a = x Saal
. \\; < a < ti
YY 2 = fa. a
aN — je} — (o}
=] ee HY) a3
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILMLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S31uyVuatT
me ze ie f z
20 2 o NS iS)
1G fog pe 0] = za WS =
VfL Ba bE >. WN =
Gy ra ie ce fe
ans 2 rm oe
= (22) ‘ =
NVINOSHLINS, S31UWYEITOLIBRARIES, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Dee =) eS UR EB eer,
L
SatuvusiT_ LIBRARIES
INSTITUTION A
Sdiuvydii
INSTITUTION NOILNIILSNI
SS F
AN
NVINOSHLIWS
INSTITUTION N
SMITHSONIAN
LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN
SMITHSONIAN” INSTITUTION
SalNVUGITL
NVINOSHLINS S31yvugit
NVINOSHLIWS
INSTITUTION
SMITHSONIAN
N
L
NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS $2 1yYvudg
z Frnt ase. S
9° w \ =
= a WA 5
: = we =
- 22 SNS
LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTI
; = < XY
, = =
\
NA 3 5 \y
AX’ z = KG
~ = =
NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IUVYE
” > * 7p)
= v =
(ox — oc
S a Mes ¥ =
xo 2 SN
{ze} = ry oa
~ fs) a» =
LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUT!
Liss B =
wo = DM? he 42a
2 Lo 3
z2 — Gy =
x ENG ge
NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S31YVUuE
w rah on
= << Suan
=| z 3 vt £
ae fF
Zz eS Zz Uy
> = >
2 a z
INSTITUT
a oe ee
& ee ae
= fae tp ; ‘s fay
al ie PUp =e
= & “ey a
3 a Wf 5
2 =) =
NOILALILSNI_NVINOSHLINS SAlYVUYs
z Gays S
2) wo °
= = Ne =
= Sa NY 5 OE
: = As
9p) oS
z a) a :
LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUT
z “e n ra)
< = eS
z= ar z
ro) \ =
8 NW 2 2
E Wer 2 i
S ~S > S
” CO ae wn
NOILALILSNI NVINOSHLINS
” Ss o
us wi Ww
oe G a
= ra
fza) = SS \S faa]
ay 7 in: a
LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUT
i S um
oO — a@Q
a ay tf PES 0)
> fe Lf >
a , Gy =
(op) Ss
NOILALILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVY
i¢2) =z n
= as =
AHSON;
wy,
4
2446 3X Foview
7s hee
VOL. 33, NO. 1 JANUARY 1971
US.
PARTMENT
OF
OMMERCE
National
\ceanic and
tmospheric :
ninistration
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service %%
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Maurice H. Stans, Secretary
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Robert M. White, Acting Administrator
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Philip M. Roedel, Director
COVER: Alaskan woman has elemental tie to other natives.
(S. Hadwen)
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
A comprehensive view of United States and foreign
fishing industries--including catch, processing, market-
ing, research, and legislation--prepared by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (formerly Bureau of Commer -
cial Fisheries).
‘POWN To THe sea
FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL --GLOUCESTER, MASS.
II
Managing Editor: Edward Edelsberg
Production: Jean Zalevsky
Alma Greene
Throughout this book, the initials NMFS stand for the
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, part of
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Address correspondence and requests to: Commercial Fisheries Review, 1801 North
Moore Street, Room 200, Arlington, Va. 22209. Telephone: Area Code 703 - 557-4246.
Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement. The
Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions of these sources.
Although the contents have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference
to source is appreciated.
Use of funds for printing this publication was approved by the Director, Bureau of the
Budget, April 18, 1968.
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402.
Price 60 cents (single copy). Subscription Price: $7.00 a year; $2 additional for foreign mailing.
III
CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
EVentsranGyerendSs. tec sn; Suchncueited cue einen shes 1
ARTICLES
In the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico ——__
Harvesting Coastal Pelagic Fishes With Artificial
Light & Purse Seine, by Donald A. Wickham... . 30
Evidence indicates that ——_
A Premix of FPC & Wheat Flour Can Be Made &
Transported, by Virginia D. Sidwell, Bruce R.
StullinioshrecnGeorcerNl Knob dites veneers jieeel ceca. 39
DINER FSR INAS @ INGA iiek valet race var fox opuattiches aie oni cad emia ielgeuee Samihaen 42
ENSTa Ne eemraiDAL Celt sitet eee oente Ree Rive, ws fon elcsioel evel tener nae tccnee 47
EC UNG O D.C mertaeee cuca piien cigsbacitel ovte cit isic'ay fe. eh @ieises leimeae teats 52
IGaAtineAiierie aah lees tiles tee iloepat ay echo. cle celieee doublons 55
IV
A RARE MEETING OF 9 NOAA SHIPS AT PACIFIC MARINE CENTER, SEATTLE, WASH.
Seven serve the National Ocean Survey; two, the National Marine Fisheries Service: Miller
Freeman (1), George B. Kelez (2). (Photo: Larry Dion, Seattle Times)
U.S. & USSR HOLD SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE
ON NORTHEAST PACIFIC FISHERY PROBLEMS
U.S. and Soviet delegates met in Moscow,
Dec. 3-9, 1970, to exchange data on the biol-
ogy and status of Pacific hake and rockfish
(including Pacific ocean perch). They sought
to coordinate objectives and organize joint
research on hake androckfish in 1971. They
discussed ways to improve the methods of
estimating the abundance of Pacific hake and
rockfish. They discussed, too, the effect of
the Pacific hake fishery on other fish caught
incidentally.
Pacific Hake
Both sides agreed that commercial-size
stocks continue todecline due to gradual elim -
ination of abundant 1960-61 year-classes and
replacement by less-abundant 1962-65 year-
classes.
Soviet data appear toindicate that 1966-67
year -classes are stronger than 1962-65 class-
es. The entry of 1966-67 classes into com-
mercial fishery in 1971-72 willimprove com-
mercial hake stocks--compared with 1969.
U.S. age frequency data collected off Wash-
ington and Oregon do not corroborate Soviet
view. However, both sides agreed that 1966-
67 year -classes are not as abundant as 1960-
61; that smaller 1962-65 year-class sizes re-
sulted from natural causes, not from effects
of commercial fishery.
Pacific Ocean Perch
Both sides agreed that stocks in Oregon-
Vancouver Island area continue to need pro-
tection. Preliminary Soviet data from early
1970 hydroacoustic surveys indicate increase
in1970 standing stock off Washington-south-
ern Vancouver Island. The figure is about
40,000 metric tons, compared with 33,000
tons in 1969. Also, concentrations of young
fish suggest beginning of rehabilitation. The
data, however, need to be refined. No im-
provement was seen in stock condition off
Oregon.
Other Rockfish
Soviet hydroacoustic and trawl surveys in
Jan.-March 1970 estimated standing stocks
of all species off north California, Oregon,
Washington, and southern Vancouver Island
at about 350,000 metric tons. About 75% are
distributed off Washington and southern Van-
couver Isl.; 20% off Oregon; 5% off California.
'Sebastodes flavidus' accounts for 65%--
half of this off Washington, This indicates
no substantial change from 1969 assessment
and species distribution. S. flavidus stocks
also show no adverse effects from recent
commercial fishing. Stocks of other rockfish
species (S. proriger, S. diploproa, S. crameri)
are considered by both sides to be at very
low level andtorequire protective measures.
Shrimp
Both countries recommended joint investi-
gations, These will include changes in con-
dition of different populations under fishery
pressure, Seasonal migration, and distribu-
tion on Continental Shelf in Gulf of Alaska in
IG al
The Soviets willassign'R/V Kril' in Jan.-
Mar. 1971 on high seas from Sanak Island to
North Portlock Bank. (Contiguous fishery
zone will be included if U.S. permits.) The
U.S. will assign 'R/V Oregon', Apr.-Sept.,
and 'R/V Resolution', Apr.~May, to operate
off Kodiak Island. Scientists will be ex-
changed.
Joint Research
(a) Ichthyoplankton studies; Hake fecun-
dity data will be collected by U.S. in main
spawning area from Dec, 1970-Feb. 1971;
then jointly by U.S. and Soviets in Dec. 1971-
Feb, 1972, Data will be processed by the
U.S.
(b) Hydroacoustic studies: The U.S. will
determine statistical variance of hydro-
acoustic surveys. The Soviets will develop
computer techniques for processing the data,
and determine best times and areas to
survey feeding hake and rockfish, Research
programs will be exchanged 3 months after
the meeting.
(c) Hake and Rockfish Surveys:
A Soviet research vessel will assess
abundance of feeding hake and Shelf rockfish
species in July-Aug. 1971 along U.S. coasts
between 37° and 52° north latitude; in
Aug.-Sept. 1971, it will study biology and
estimate relative abundance of hake between
20° and 40° north latitude.
A U.S. vessel will conduct an ichthy oplank -
ton survey in winter 1971-72 to determine
spawning hake abundance.
A Soviet research vessel will study in win-
ter 1971-72, between 23° and 40° north lati-
tude, the distribution and formation of hake
concentrations during wintering and spawning
periods; it will assess spawning stocks by
hydroacoustic methods.
The research will be carried out by both
sides for years.
(d) Blackcod (sablefish) Studies:
A program to be approved by March 1971
will determine blackcod studies in northeast
Pacific--distribution, migration, behavior.
The program will be begun in 1971.
Salmon
The Soviets denied taking any salmon in
incidentalcatches. They will make available
"detailed" catch data--but no vessel logs.
Hake Catch Rates
Preliminary Soviet 1970 data indicate catch
per commercial tow from Oregon to Van-
couver Island at 1969 level: 4.5-5.5 tons for
BMRTs, 4-4.5 tons for SRTMs. By Dec. 1,
1970, the total Soviet hake catch was about
170,700 tons.
The U.S. team was led by D. L. Alverson,
Associate Regional Director, NMFS, Seattle.
It included Federal and State officials from
Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
The Soviet team, led by P. A. Moiseev,
Deputy Director, Soviet Federal Fisheries
and Oceanography Research Institute
(VNIRO), included representatives of VNIRO
and Pacific Fisheries and Oceanography Re-
search Institute (TINRO).
U.S. AND JAPAN CONCLUDE FISHERY AGREEMENTS
Effective Jan. 1, 1971, two-year agree-
ments between the U.S. and Japan extend and
modify fishery arrangements between the two
for the past several years.
One agreement involves king and tanner
crab fishing in Bering Sea, the other fishing
off Alaska and the U.S. Pacific Coast.
Crab Fishing
The new agreement on crab fishing reduces
Japan's quota of king crabfor each of the next
2 years by 56%, from 85,000 cases to 37,500.
The change was based on agreement by sci-
entists that previous regulatory measures
were inadequate for conservation.
During 1970, Japanese fishermen har-
vested 18.2 million tanner crabs; this has
been lowered to 14.6 million, plus allowance
of 10%. The lower limit reflects concern over
effect of rapidly expanding fishery on tanner
crab stocks.
These measures, new gear in crab fish-
eries, and continuation of crab pot sanctuary
in whichno tangle-net fishing will be allowed,
should improve conservation and facilitate
crab fishing by U.S. fishermen,
Principal changes inthe second agreement
include:
Closed Areas Off Kodiak
Japanagreed to a 70-day extension of the
period during which six areas off Kodiak are
closed to Japanese trawling and longlining.
The closure willbe in effect August 20 through
April 30, Under the previous arrangement,
Japanagreedto refrain from fishing in these
six areas from September 1 through February.
Special Halibut Areas
The closed halibut area in Seward Gully
area was divided intwo; one will extend north-
ward from present location, The Chirikof
area was changed slightly and extended north-
ward.
Davidson Bank Area
Japanese dragnet and longlining will not be
permitted between September 15 and Febru-
ary 15 in Davidson Bank area, an important
king-crabfishing ground. This change gives
Japan an additional month of fishing time,
conforming to change in U.S, king-crab sea-
son.
Eastern Bering Sea Halibut Grounds
Under former arrangement, Japan agreed
to refrain from trawling at night only ina
large elongated area during first 12 conse-
cutive days of halibut season. This proved
unsatisfactory to U.S. fishermen. So three
new separate areas (Polaris, Misty Moon, and
Corridor Grounds) were established. Japan
agreed to refrain from trawling, both night
and day, for first six consecutive days of hali-
but season in each of these three areas,
Contiguous Fishery Zone, Aleutian Islands
Japan agreed torefrain from trawling and
longlining in 3-12 mile zone over much of
king-crabfishing area during U.S. crab sea-
son.
Fishing Off St. Paul Island
Japanese vessels previously fishedin 3-12
mile zone off St. Paul Island, the largest and
by far the most important fur seal rookery in
Pribilof Islands. However, detection of oil
spillages, and reports of fur seals with dis-
carded fishing materials, such as pieces of
webbing, entwined around their necks, led to
agreement that Japanese will refrain from
fishing in 3-12 mile zone off St. Paul Island
throughout the year in order to protect seals
and their environment.
Loading Zones Provided by U.S.
In return for Japanese concessions, the
U.S. added three new loading zones to the five
granted under former agreement. The new
zones are located near SemidiIsland(Gulf of
Alaska), St. Matthew Islands (Bering Sea), and
in a corridor near Makushin Bay, Unalaska
Island.
Japanese fishing vessels willbe permitted
to enter and anchor within 3-12 mile zone to
gain protection from the elements and to
transfer cargo.
OL
GI Lequiacaq ‘eyseTy HO euo0z Azeysty snonst
eyseTy ‘nesune
AITALAS S@TIOYST{ sUTLeY TEUOTIEN
0461 1aqueceq patedaig
Stl
VaVNVO
2OPl 2Svl
Mof9L
<<
pues] 1a]Ss01104
pueys] xeues
spue[s] Itprues
puers] yeusoyy
puers] yeAey
auoz snon8tiUOD UTYIIM
Butpeoy, paqituued uedey
Buoy uaamjoq ydadxo ___
auoz snon3tqUOD UTYIIM
Burpeym poqatused urder
pues] eyseteuj) j30
guoz snondtqUOD UTYIIM
Butpeo, peiqtuuad ueder
“Buoy pue MoOSL
tg A@y maya | Joquasaq
guoz snon8tqUuo0D UTI IM
Butpeoyt pue Butut{auoy
“Surpaes2 paiatused ueder
uoseas inqtrey
aya fo Skep SL
St Areniqa4 niin
ysity Buting
S| taquaidas
og Ttady mya oz asn8my “1
:S$9UuoZ asayq UT
$192BM [PUOIQBUaIUT ayy UT BuTUTTBUOT
pue But[Mel} wos
VASVIV
uTeijal [TIM ueder mod ley
S
JUD “S°N ey} SulussoUu0D SswUseMIE.IsSy Solseysty ueder-"s°n
pl toquaqdas riya 9, Areniqod
punot-41e9,
Lg Joyors9 mip ptady
punoi-1094
:guoz snondtquod utyatm Bulpeo, pue
SururpBuoy ‘Burpaery paratusod uede;
uoseas inqiyey
aya jo skep g ysity Butinp souoz
asay2 U1 S10jRM [BUOTIEULOIUT Ul
Burpmes. wory utesjor [TIM uedey
pues] 81021) “1g }4O ou0=
snon3tquod utyiim 8ulpeot
pue ‘8urqqei> ‘durut[dsuoy
*Surpaet] paqatuuod ueder
pues]
"4S 4jO auoz snon31quod
uryata Butpeoy peqatuued uedey:
y VANCOUVER “A %,
e "AAD,
oS
“7. ISLAND
Cape Flattery ©
Umatilla Reef o( °
JAPAN PERMITTED LOADING :
OPERATIONS WITHIN CONTIG~- ————>[_ \.
UOUS ZONE OFF DESTRUCTION
ISLAND Point
Grenville
JAPAN WILL REFRAIN FROM TRAWLING
AND LONGLINING IN THIS ZONE IN
INTERNATIONAL WATERS LANDWARD OF
THE ISOBATH OF 110 METERS (60
FATHOMS)
Tillamook Head
Garibaldi
Cape Lookout »\: Tillamook
; “al Willamette River
Yaquina Bay
yur
TTePmaao0%S
p Alsoa Bay
SB
vay
or
0°?
OREGON
CALIFORNIA
Le 128° Piece 262 lbs 12d raha Mdp UN at e2e
U.S.-Japan Fisheries Agreement on the U.S. Contiguous Fisheries Zone Off
the Pacific Northwest, December 1970.
There were extensive discussions on the
condition of bottom fish, especially Pacific
Ocean perchand black cod. Itwas agreed that
prudence is required to insure conservation
of Pacific Ocean perch. Both countries, acting
primarily through International North Pacific
Fisheries Commission, will intensify re-
search to achieve more adequate evaluation
of this resource. The special arrangement
regarding Japanese fishing, and its effect on
ocean perch off Washington and Oregon, will
continue.
Both nations agreed to seek maximum en-
forcement of agreements and to prevent pol-
lution by their fishing operations.
The Representatives
The changes were worked out by represen-
tatives of the two governments in Tokyo during
Tanner Crab
(Chionoecetes tanneri)
King Crab
November 1970. The U.S. delegation was
headed by Ambassador Donald L. McKernan,
Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for
Fisheries and Wildlife. NMFS representa-
tives included Donald R. Johnson, Regional
Director, Pacific Northwest region, and
Harry L. Rietze, Regional Director for Alas-
ka, other technical experts, representatives
of State Governments, industry spokesmen
from Alaska, Washington, and California, and
a consultant from the International Pacific
Halibut Commission.
The Japanese delegation was led by Yoshio
Okawara, Acting Director-General of Ameri-
can Affairs Bureau of Japanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
Halibut
FISHERY PRODUCTS SITUATION
Donald R. Whitaker
NMFS Current Economic Analysis Division
Demand for fishery products was strong
in 1970 as evidenced by rising consumption
and rising prices. Per-capita consumption
rose 2%--from 11.1 pounds in 1969 to 11.3
pounds in1970. Per-capita consumption rose
for the third consecutive year to the highest
levelsince 1983. Prices of fishery products
averaged about 10% higher in 1970--nearly
double the increase in overall food prices.
Per-capita consumption rose 0.1 pound for
fresh and frozenfish and 0.1 pound for canned
fishery products. The fresh and frozen trade
was marked by strong advances in total con-
sumption of such products as shrimp, salmon,
fish sticks, fish portions, and groundfish fil-
lets. Demand for groundfish fillets, particu-
larly cod fillets, was very strong in 1970.
Consumption of cod was sparked by the grad-
ual growth in cod fillets marketed through
grocery stores and in restaurants--and the
fast-growing fish-and-chips franchise chains,
Increased consumption of canned fish was
associated with sharply higher production of
canned shrimp and canned salmon than in
1969. Production of canned tuna continued its
long-run growth pattern.
As 1971 Began
At the beginning of 1971, supplies of most
fishery products appeared ample for trade
needs prior to the Lenten season, On Janu-
ary 1, 1971, inventories of frozen fishery
products were 11% above previous carryover.
Inventories of frozen fillets on January 1
were 17% above a year earlier. Flounder,
ocean perch, and whiting fillets were more
plentiful; stocks of cod and haddock were be-
low year-earlier levels, Headed-and-gutted
whiting willalso be plentiful during the early
months of 1971. About 24 times more frozen
salmon were in storage than last year. In-
ventories of frozen fresh-water fish were
about the same as a year ago.
Shrimp are expected tobe plentifulin early
1971--based on 14% higher stocks in cold
storage on January 1. Stocks of crabs and
scallops were about the same, while lobster
tails were below early-1970 levels.
Fish Sticks, Portions, Blocks
Inventories of fish sticks and fish portions
at the start of 1971 were 11% below a year
earlier. Stocks of sticks and portions likely
will continue below year-earlier levels in the
coming months, Inventories of fish blocks,
the raw materialfor sticks and portions, were
29% below 1970.
The present supply situation indicates
some tempering of the rapid increase in fish
prices that prevailed throughout 1970. Al-
though fish prices will average higher than a
year ago, they probably will not match the 10%
jump of 1970, especially in the first half of
HOT
1970 ALBACORE LANDINGS TOP 1969's
Preliminary U. 8. west coast landings for
1970 albacore season are 55 million pounds
(27,500 tons). The 1969 total was 50.5 mil-
lion pounds (25,250 tons); the 1960-1969 av-
erage 45.7 million pounds (22,850 tons). This
was reported from NMFS La Jolla, Calif., by
R. Michael Laurs, leader, Fishery-Oceano-
graphy Group.
At the end of Nov. 1970, a few jig boats
were still fishing, weather permitting, off
central California, mainly between Monterey
and MorroBay. However, additional catches
were not expected to boost significantly the
1970 total.
The higher 1970 landings probably reflect
increased fishing effort. The Western Fish
Boat Owners Association said more boats
fished albacore in 1970 than in 1969,
Preliminary 1970 California albacore
landings were 28.1 million pounds, up about
91% from1969, The aggregate Oregon, Wash-
ington, and British Columbia landings | ere
26.9 million pounds, down about 28% from
1969,
Preliminary landings in millions of pounds
by states:
1970 1969
California 28.1 14.7
Oregon 22.5 29.8
Washington 2.9 3.5
British Columbia 1.5 2.5
Highlights of 1970 Albacore Season
The first reported catches of albacore
tunain1970 were made by NMFS 'David Starr
Jordan' on a preseason scouting cruise off
California and Oregon, June 22-July 2. Three
albacore were taken near San Juan Seamount;
about 100 were taken between Point Sur and
Point Arena, about 300 miles offshore.
The albacore price settlement of $550 per
ton delivered to canneries was reached on
July 15. The season started fast, with good
fishing in Eureka-Crescent City area. Smaller
catches were made off central Oregon.
However, good fishing off northern California
lasted only a few days as high winds and
seas developed. By July 20, the fishery had
moved north,
Off Oregon
The best fishing since 1967 was reported
off Oregon during last week of July. Landings
in Astoria were atrecordrate. Although1970
season Started 15 days later than 1969, July
landings were well over double those in July
1969. However, after almost-record landings
of nearly 4,000tonsfor July, the albacore jig
fishery off Oregon collapsed duringfirst week
of August. It wasunexpectedand abrupt. The
fishery did not revive.
Despite large-scale scouting during first
week of August, fishermen failed to get back
on the fish in offshore area from southern
Oregon to Vancouver Island. However, on
August 5, indications of good fishing and fair
weather were found off northern California.
Unfortunately, the traditional windy weather
there resumed and caused most of the fleet
to returnto Eureka by August 9. High winds
and sloppy seas seriously hampered fishing.
By August 11, part of the fleet returned to
sea off northern California and reported
good fishing in rough weather.
Southern California
While albacore fishing off Oregon ebbed
during first-half August, it increased off
southern California to best level in about 3
years. A small fleet began fishing near the
213 fathom spot off San Diego during first
week of August. It averaged about 100 fish
(mostly 20-25 pound) per day; some single
day scores were as high as 250 fish. Fish-
ing continued at this level, mostly by small
bait boats, for about a month. Landings in
San Diego were highest in several years.
Excellent jig fishing was reported on Au-
gust 18 inareanear compass rose outside San
Juan Seamount: some 1,000 fish scores and
many 600 fish scores, A large fleet of jig
boats quickly gathered from Rodriquez Dome
toSan Juan Seamount toabout 80 miles south-
west of Point Arguello. Good fishing on 11-15-
pound albacore continued for about a week.
Catches averaged 250-300 fish per day. But
by August 25, because of poor fishing and high
winds, most of fleet moved northwardto Point
Arena and San Francisco,
Off Oregon & Washington
By mid-August, most larger California bait
boats were fishing off Oregon and Washington.
The best catches were made during Septem-
ber: some days several boats reported 20-25
tons per day. However, for the most part,
bait-boat fishing in northwest was only fair;
catches ranged from 2-10 tons per day.
Rough weather along central and northern
California prevented jig fishing in any one
area for more than a few days during first-
half September. A few larger jig boats were
able to fish during rough weather. But most
boats were locked into ports from Eureka to
Morro Bay during greater part of this period.
Off Central California
Excellent jig fishing developed in a large
area off central California during third week
inSeptember. The mainactivity was centered
near and outside Monterey Seavalley. Good
catches also were reported about 30 miles
southwest of Point Sur and outside Davidson
Seamount. High winds and rough seas slowed
fishing for a few days during third week of
September. Most boats were forced into cen-
tral California ports. As winds abated, the
large fleet quickly got back on fish. By Sept.
26, excellent fishing, associated with fair
weather, was reported from Morro Bay to
Point Arena. Fair weather during third week
of September also allowed very good fishing
in a large area about 80 miles offshore be-
tween Cape Mendocino and Eureka. However,
by September 22, most boats had left northern
California waters because of high winds and
lack of fish.
During first 2 weeks of October, the catches
off northern and southern California declined.
Fishing effort was narrowedtocentral Cali-
fornia region (off San Francisco, Monterey,
and Morro Bay). Most bait boats fishing off
Oregon and Washington moved to California
waters to end their season, The season was
essentially over by second week of November,
but afew boats still were catching small num-
bers of fish, mainly between Monterey and
Morro Bay, at end of November.
Jordan's Cruise
The David Starr Jordan conducted an 18-
day albacore -oceanography cruise in October.
The purpose was to investigate migration
route followed by albacore leaving American
west coast near end of fishing season, Data
were collected to determine if albacore mi-
grate out of Americanfishery along boundary
of transition zone between north Pacific and
central Pacific waters.
The cruise hadtwoparts. In Part I, Jordan
made a rapid north-southoceanographic
transect between latitudes 35-439 N, along
longitude 140° W.; the resulting data were
analyzed aboard. In Part II, standard tech-
niques were used to make detailed fisheries
investigations in north Pacific, central Pa-
cific, and transition zone indicated by envi-
ronmental conditons during Part I, Part II
included trolling 12 jig lines during daylight
and observing the life history of albacore tuna
by study of gonads, stomach contents, liver,
and other vital statistics, Oceanographic ob-
servations were made during night hours to
measure distribution of environmental char-
acteristics associated with migration of alba-
core and season's end off American west
coast,
Findings
Sea-surface temperatures measured were
very near or above upper limit of optimal
temperature range for albacore in all waters,
except subarctic waters. Albacore were
caught only in subarctic waters (six landed
and five lost); small numbers of dolphinfish,
Coryphaena, were caught in transition zone
and north Pacific central waters. Albacore
were migrating along a route associated with
their optimal temperature range, rather than
along a boundary between water masses.
Fishing effort was limited (8-12 lines fished
13-24 hoursineach water mass) due to rough
weather and other reasons, and catches of
albacore weresmall. Sothe results were in-
conclusive.
ak
10
'KELEZ’ CONDUCTS SALMON
RESEARCH FISHING CRUISE
The 'George B. Kelez' of the National Ma-
rine Fisheries Service (NMFS) left Seattle,
Wash., January 12 for a 7-week winter salm-
onresearch cruise inthe North Pacific Ocean.
The expedition members willfishfrom 49° N,
t053°N, along 160° W. and 165° W. and from
166° W.to176° W. between 50° N, and 51° N.
They are using monofilament and multifila-
ment nylon gill nets of various mesh sizes.
About 3.3km of gear are being fished nightly.
Oceanographic observations include daily
bathythermograph and continuous surface
salinity readings.
Cruise Purpose
The cruise is part of continuing research
on the ocean distribution of salmon. It is
being carried out for the International North
Pacific Fisheries Commission, Purpose of
the fishing is to obtain an index of abundance
of maturing Bristol Bay sockeye salmon in
the northeastern Pacific. When this is com-
pared with indices obtained during past win-
ter cruises, it will aid in forecasting the
1971 salmon run to Bristol Bay.
Bristol Bay Sockeye
Bristol Bay sockeye salmon are one of
the most important U.S. salmon resources.
In 1970, the run (catch and escapement) was
close to 46 million fish; of the total, about
22 million were caught commercially. The
commercial catch was worth about $26 mil-
lion to fishermen.
This species is distributed widely andpart
of the runis caught eachyear by the Japanese
mothership salmon fishing fleet.
Westward to Mid-Aleutians
Besides the research in the northeastern
Pacific, operations will extend westward as
far as Adak in the mid-Aleutians. The dis-
tribution of maturing Bristol Bay sockeye
salmon will be investigated near the Tripar-
tite Convention(Canada, Japan, U.S.) absten-
tion line at 175° W.--before Japanese fishing
begins in the spring.
Data collected by NMFS biologists will
identify catch by species for each mesh size,
and for length and weight of the salmon.
Scale samples will be collected, Pituitary
and blood samples will be used for racial and
maturation studies. Frozen whole salmon
will be returned to the NMFS Seattle labora-
tory for additional studies.
--Robert R. French
NMFS Biological Laboratory
Seattle, Washington
1970 OREGON COHO CATCH
WAS WEIGHT RECORD
In 1970, Oregon troll salmon fishermen
landed almost one million coho weighing 8.7
million pounds, a single-season record, re-
ports Oregon Fish Commission, Although
more fish were caught in 1967, their total
weight was below 1970 catch,
Trollers also had a better-than-average
chinook catch of 1.9 million pounds worth
$5.9 million.
Over 50% of Hatchery Origin
Fish Commission studies in 1969 showed
that over 50% of coho caught in Oregon troll
fishery were of hatchery origin. About 90%
of these hatchery fish came from Oregon,
Washington, and Federal hatcheries on
Columbia River; the remainder came mostly
from Oregon's coastal river hatcheries.
The high percentage of hatchery-reared
coho caught by Oregon trollers in 1970 re-
flects increasing success of hatchery pro-
grams, the Fish Commission states, The
1970 returns of jack coho salmon to Colum-
bia River hatcheries indicate 1971 coho
season will be another good one.
A
ANCHOVY FISHERY PASSES
MIDPOINT TOWARD QUOTA
About 15,000 tons of anchovy were deliv-
ered to Terminal Island reduction plants
during Dec. 1970 by the southern California
anchovy mackerel fleet. Fishing was mostly
good, but much fishing effort was lost because
of storms off Californiaand the holiday sea-
son.
Landings through Dec. 1970 were 58,884
tons--about 54% of 110,000-ton quota for sea-
son ending May 15, 1971.
MERCURY RESIDUES SHARPLY
AFFECT U.S. IMPORTS FROM JAPAN
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's
findings of high mercury residues in seafoods
have seriously affected U.S.imports from Ja-
pan and other suppliers, reports NMFS Ter-
minal Island, Calif.
When FDA acted to remove all contami-
nated canned tuna from market, U.S. West
Coast and Puerto Ricantuna packers stopped
importingit. This virtually endedfrozen-tuna
purchases from Japan, South Korea, and Tai-
wan.
The Federation of Japan Tuna Fisheries
Cooperative Associations began to buy and
store tuna catches (at first, albacore) re-
turned to Japan until mercury problem is
solved.
Swordfish Steaks Recalled
FDA then began large-scale recall of
swordfish steaks. This just about shut door
to shipments from Japan, a major supplier.
11
DDT LEVEL INCREASES
IN LANTERNFISH
Lanternfish, or myctophids, are perhaps
the most widely distributed fish throughout the
oceans of the world. They are the principal
forage fish of other species. Since CalCOFI
cruises began in 1949, they have been caught
often in night plankton tows and by dip-netting.
In recent months, NMFS has run a few of
them through the gas chromatograph for DDT
analysis. Biologists say these fish go through
digestion, separation, and clean-up proce-
dures a little better than other elements of
plankton; also, they tend to have higher values
of DDT if the pesticide is present.
Gas chromatograph identifies and estimates trace quantities of
pesticides--as small as parts per trillion.
Results of Analysis
The results show that lanternfish taken in
1970 from about same area off southern Cali-
fornia have high values; the values for these
fish taken in 1950 were zero.
Available also for comparison with rest of
plankton samples are lanternfish taken from
frozen plankton samples.
ooono00000
12
ALASKA
1971 DROP IN
ALASKAN SALMON PREDICTED
Alaska's 1971 salmon harvest will drop to
about 41.5 million fish--20% below the 1960-
69 annual average of 51 million fish and about
the same as 1950-59 average of 41 million.
This was predicted by the Alaska Department
of Fish and Game.
By statistical region, biologists are pre-
dicting a catch of 7.85 million salmon in south-
east Alaska, 21.69 million in central Alaska,
and 11.92 million in western Alaska, which
includes Bristol Bay.
Biologists Optimistic
However, biologists remain optimistic
about the future of Alaska's salmon fisheries.
They cite rapid recovery of important salm-
on-producing areas in Prince William Sound
hit hard by 1964 earthquake, and increasing
trends in recent odd-year pink salmon runs
in southeastern and Kodiak fisheries. Another
major factor is good escapements in Kvichak
River in 1969 and 1970. This reflects Fish
and Game's management strategy to return
major Bristol Bay sockeye fishery to pattern
of two or three good years in every five-year
cycle, rather than a single good year per cycle.
g
INDUSTRY SUGGESTS SHRIMP
QUOTA FOR KODIAK
Processors and fishermen believe that
Kodiak-area production of pink shrimp may
exceed 100 millionpoundsin 1971, especially
if plans to increase processing capability at
Kodiak are carried out. This was reported by
NMFS Juneau. Besides the four plants now
processing shrimp, four others are tooling up.
Around 20 peeling machines are expected tobe
added to the present 18.
Quota Recommended
The Kodiak Advisory Committee, con-
cerned about overfishing, has recommended
that the Alaska Department of FishandGame
establish a quota of 50 to 60 million pounds
for shrimp trawledfrom the three major Ko-
diak fishing areas. The committee hopes this
would encourage fishing on grounds not now
fished much.
LIVE ALASKA CRABS FLOW STEADILY
TO HAWAII
Shipments of live Dungeness crabs from
Homer, Alaska, have steadied at about 4,000
pounds aweek. About halfis shipped to Hono-
lulu, the remainder to Portland, Oregon, A
test shipment of live crabs from Anchorage
to Honolulu via Los Angeles soon will be made
to meet request of Hawaiian brokerage firm.
Its purpose is to see if shipments can arrive
mid-week in Honolulu.
SALMON ROE MARKET
IS EXPANDING
Japanese demand is stimulating production
of cured Alaska salmon roe. In 1967, Alaska
produced 3,000tons. Preliminary 1970 esti-
mates indicate production between 5,700 and
5,800 tons, almost double 1967 figure.
The increase has been accompanied by
greater Japanese acceptance. Roe produced
during past season was considered by Japa-
nese comparable in quality to that produced
on Japanese motherships.
Salmon roe being processed at an Anchorage, Alaska, cannery.
(BCF-Alaska photo: J. M. Olson)
PACIFIC WHALE WATCHERS ARE AT THEIR POSTS
The annual migration of the gray whales
is under full steam. The 6,000-mile trip
reaches from the Arctic Ocean and Bering
Seatothe warm lagoons along the Baja Cali-
fornia coast of Mexico. There, the whales
mate and calve.
In December, January, and February, the
movement of whales southward along the
California coast attracts many watchers,
The whales! closest approach to shore is off
the headland at San Diego's Point Loma--and
a little past the kelp beds at nearby La Jolla,
Fig. 1 - Spouting whales.
And, each year, about 350,000 persons
watchthe spouting and cavorting whales from
a reviewing station of the National Park Serv-
ice at Point Loma's Cabrillo Monument.
Thousands of other whale watchers follow the
migrations in excursion and private boats.
Going & Returning Whales Meet
The procession of whales will continue
until late February or early March. At that
time, whales that started their trips late--
many of them mothers with recently weaned
calves--will encounter the first returnees
from sheltered inlets on Mexico's coast.
13
Whales usually spend 2 months at their
mating andcalving grounds. The 12,000-mile
roundtrip takes 5-6 months. Average speed
of a whale is 4 knots; a day's travel covers
about 40 miles.
Recover from Near-Extinction
The gray whale was almost extinct before
a 1937 international convention outlawed
killing it. The herd increased steadily from
that time until the present 8,000-10,000 head,
This is estimated tobe about 20% of the num-
Fig. 2 - Spectators at whale watching station at NPS Point Loma's
Cabrillo Monument. (Photos: National Park Service)
ber that existed 100 years ago--when Cali-
fornia's great whale slaughter began,
Marine biologists believe the gray whales
have become more wary. They stay farther
from shore to avoid humans, When they be-
gin to return in late February, they will in-
crease their distance from shore to protect
their young.
Move Farther South
For years, the main destination of the
whales has beenScammons lagoon, 325 miles
south of San Diego on the Pacific coast of
Baja California, In the last few years, how-
ever, aS more people have moved into this
area, the whales have moved farther south,
WATER POLLUTION KILLED
4] MILLION FISH IN 1969
Water pollution killed an estimated 41
million fish in 45 States in 1969, announced
William D. Ruckelshaus, Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
in releasing the 10th annual fish-kill report
in January.
The report was prepared by EPA's Water
Quality Office (formerly Federal Water Qual-
ity Administration) in cooperation with the
reporting States.
The 1969 fatalities were an increase of
170% over about 15 million fish that died in
42 States during 1968.
Ruckelshaus said; ''These figures point
out quite strongly the need for stricter safe-
guardstokeep dangerous and hazardous ma-
terials out of the Nation's rivers, lakes, and
streams,"
at 3 : . mt aoe
eee
= ¥
Fig. 1 - Pensacola, Florida:
VEE eee
State Marine Patrol boat cruising through millions of dead menhaden in early Sept. 1970, after one of
Fish-kill census-taking began in June
1960. Since then, 144.6 million fish have
beenreported killedinmore than 4,200 sepa-
rate incidents. The record increase re-
ported in 1969 can be connected partly to
greater State cooperation, ''to improved re-
porting practices, to greater public attention
tofish kills, and to an unusually large single
kill,
Industry Most Responsible
The largest single pollution-caused fish
kill reported was 26.5 million fish in Lake
Thonotosassa at Plant City, Florida. For 15
years before the kill, effluent from indus-
trial and municipal sewage treatment had
entered the lake untreated. Nutrients in the
wastes reduced oxygen in January 1969 to
level that resulted in death.
>a
Sey aj SE,
=e es AL OS
2 ee
= <
the Escambia Bay's biggest fishkills. It was 31st major fishkill reported in the Bay in 1970 (21 kills in 1969). The officer described
scene as looking "like snow." The kill was caused by deoxygenation of the water; its victims were mostly 6-inch menhaden.
14
(Photo: Mike Albertson, Pensacola (Fla.) Journal)
15
Fig. 2 - The bank of an Illinois stream carpeted with victims of a large fishkill in August 1967. Carp and other "rough" species were
among victims. (Water Quality Office, EPA)
In 1969, industrial operations produced
the highest number of incidents and fish
mortalities: 199 cases of industrial pollution
resulting in 28.9 million dead fish, Municipal
pollution, which had killed most of the fish in
1968, 7 million, killed the fewest in 1969--
1.2 million.
Only two States--Nevada and North Da-
kota--reported no fish kills. There were no
reports from Maryland and Mississippi.
Preparing the Reports
The annual fish-kill reports are received
from cooperating State fish and game and
pollution-control agencies. The reports are
prepared in cooperation with Interior De-
partment's Bureau of Sport Fisheries and
Wildlife.
Copies of '1969 Fish Kills'' may be pur-
chased for 20 cents each from Superintendent
of Documents, Washington, D, C. 20402.
WATER-QUALITY DROP IN UPPER GREAT LAKES
THREATENS NATIVE FISH
The continuing deterioration of water qual-
ity in the upper Great Lakes is the greatest
threat to replenishment of sturgeon, white-
fish, lake herring, and other native fish, Stan-
ford H. Smith reportedtothe American Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science in
Chicago on Dec. 28, 1970.
Smith is associated with the Great Lakes
Fishery Laboratory, Bureau of Sport Fisher -
ies and Wildlife, and with the University of
Michigan.
If thermal and chemical pollution cannot
be halted, he said, ''the massive undertaking
torestore the fishery productivity of the upper
Great Lakes may, in the end, prove futile."
Already, water contamination has reduced or
eliminated native species in Lakes Erie and
Ontario, Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Supe-
rior "could follow successively during the
next few decades if appropriate corrective
measures are not implemented expedi-
tiously.”'
Reasons for Decline
Water contamination by the logging indus-
try and intensive fishing during the late 1800s
contributed tothe steady decline in native fish
populations in the upper Great Lakes. More
recently, Smith added, the increase of ale-
wives, a Species incompatible with the native
fish, has led to''fluctuating fishery productiv-
ity.
Smith explained: ''The alewife is wide-
ranging, dense-schooling and active-feed-
ing--attributes that are essential for its
survival in the ocean. In the confines of a
large lake, however, it ranges widely and
competes strongly for space and food with
virtually all other species at various times
of the year."
GREAT LAKES
DOTTED LINE SHOWS
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY
WISCONSIN
MICHIGAN
PENNSYLVANIA
'
ILLINOIS '
Fish & Fishermen Decline
Reduced fish productivity led to a 95% de-
crease in the number of commercial fisher-
men in the upper three lakes between 1885
and 1965.
The U.S. catch there declined less, from
44 to 40 million pounds. But the species
caught in 1965 were mostly nonnative, low-
value fish, suchas alewives, carp, and smelt.
Cool, Clear Water Needed
Smith noted that native species in the upper
lakes "thrive only in cool, clear water."
Thermal and chemical wastes ''can only make
the lakes less favorable for them." Also sig-
nificant isthe fact that species that prefer the
coldest temperature were the first to decline,
"This relation may mean that factors con-
tributing directly or indirectly totemperature
increases are, in essence, pushing the lakes
climatically southward. If not abated, such
changes may push the lakes beyond the ecol-
ogical zone in which the native species capable
of maintaining stability and high productivity
could thrive.’
16
LUMMI INDIANS’ AQUACULTURE PROJECT
NEARS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION
YS SS SS ee ee Se Se eee eee eee See
Seattle
. 1
No s ¢ Bellingham i
.
x Lei iy i
+See, o, Victoria ® " @ Anacortes :
'e
ER WASHINGTON 1
= f
Port Angeles "Port Townsend. ;
Everett F
f
|
@ 1
Spokane 0
|
a
The Lummi Indians, who live near Belling- First Oyster Hatchery
ham, Washington, are progressing toward In a separate area, the Lummis built the
commercial aquaculture. During the past first oyster hatchery inthe Pacific Northwest.
year, in the first phase of their project, they They overcame substantial technical prob-
built four acres of research ponds to prove lems in raising oyster larvae that commer-
the project's feasibility. Now they are be- cial growers import annuallyfrom Japan and
ginning the second phase--commercial pro- Korea.
duction in a complex of ponds that will total Much Interest & Support
750 acres. On a long tidal flat, where two
miles are exposed at low tide, they have be- Mavis exten ety ebb scte\ es] ley 10s Wei te So
gun to dike and flood the tidelands --and let the VES Wa WMS) EMSRS oC) Nyphelo: AM SEA SENS ctsteh oS
port. About $500,000 in Federal, state, and
private financing went into the first phase.
high tide change the water behind the dikes.
' :
BO VONS scletln cantina The Economic Development Administration
In March 1970, the Lummis introduced into of the Commerce Department has granted $1.5
the first ponds oyster seed attached to sus- million toward construction of the second
pended shells. Fed on plankton that multiplied phase. Also, the Oceanic Foundation of Ha-
quickly inthe sun-warmed waters behind the waii,a nonprofit research organization, pro-
dikes, the oysters grew rapidly. Byfall, some vided $100,000.
of the crop was ready for market, far ahead The Lummi Council estimates that aqua-
GH QOLNIELEMC TENE) (EOI Ch AS culture could create 500 new jobs within the
Sharing the ponds with the oysters were next decade. Beyond this, the lessons learned
4,000 of the famed super rainbow trout bred will have wide application--in the U.S. and
by Dr. Lauren Donaldson of the University of elsewhere. The Councilfeels that production
Washington. Trout that weighed only 10 toa of food from the sea will increase with the
pound when planted reached 5 pounds each by application of new knowledge of feeding,
fall. Also, baitworms were harvested from breeding and, possibly in time, the applica-
the pond bottoms. tion of waste heatfrom thermal power plants.
17
COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE
IN NEW ENGLAND IS YEARS OFF
There is little chance that commercial
aquaculture willbecome a Significant part of
the New England economy in the next 10 years,
But
investment capital might be tempted if science
especially not in the northern section.
and technology were applied to the culture of
‘luxury seafood'--shrimp, lobster, oyster,
salmon, and trout.
This was the consensus of the 80 persons
representing industry, government, and uni-
versities who, in Oct. 1970, looked critically
at present and potential aquaculture in New
England. The 3-day meeting, held atthe Uni-
versity of New Hampshire, was sponsored by
the Research Institute of the Gulf of Maine
(TRIGOM), a groupof Maine universities, and
funded by New England Regional Commission.
The meeting was reported by the New England
Marine Resources Program in Dec. 1970.
What They Discussed
The participants acknowledged rapid de-
They
noted that supplies of luxury stocks from
velopments in aquafarming methods.
natural sources have been erratic. Major
firms working to achieve commercial aqua-
farming include: Armour, Corn Products,
Co., Ralston Purina, Monsanto, United Fruit,
Inmont, International Paper, and Minnesota
Mining and Manufacturing. The work is not
going on in New England.
How Nova Scotian Firm Operates
P. E. Cavanagh, the engineer-head of Sea
Pool Fisheries, Lake Charlotte, Nova Scotia,
said that already he is looking forward to an-
18
nual sales of 40 to 50 million pounds of fresh
salmon and trout grown in controlled aqua-
culture. His sales profits run 30%. A Mon-
treal hotel has a standing weekly order for
5,000 pounds of fresh salmon and trout.
Sea Pooluses "'closed-cycle, temperature -
controlled rearing systems for culture of all
the life stages of trout and salmon. Facilities
include pools that can be filled with sea-water,
surface fresh water, spring water, or any
combination of the three."
Air-lift
pumps recirculate it through limestone
Water is aerated continuously.
filters. When necessary, heatis added to the
water from waste heat of an oil-fired power
plant.
"The rearing pools allow for conservation
of water, removal of organic wastes (particu-
larly the nitrogenous ones), lower heating
costs, and make possible more efficient gen-
eral control of the environment."
Cavanagh said operations on land elimi-
nate many socio-legal problems because the
facilities ''don't get in the way of other people."
He had considered an aquacultural enter-
prise along U.S.east coast. But a review of
water data, especially temperatures, ended
the idea.
Species Evaluated for Culture
Thomas A. Gaucher, a natural resources
consultant, chaired the conference's panel on
technology. His group evaluated some species
as possibilities for culture in New England.
The species were grouped according to pres-
ent technical capability:
e Catfish, oysters, and salmonids (trout
and salmon): Thereis advanced or adequate
technology to culture all life stages. Com-
mercial operations exist.
Channel (Blue) Catfish
e Scallop, mussel, prawn, and shrimp:
There is advanced or adequate technological
development, but species depend on nature
for some life stages. Some commercial
activity exists.
e Pompano, spiny lobster, American lob-
ster, abalone, plaice, sole, and turbot: These
require advanced technological development
and some basic biological development.
e Barnacle, sea urchin, bait worm, sea-
weed, crab, conch, and tuna: Require tech-
nical development from a more basic stand-
9
point. Also, basic biological work needed
before decisions can be made on Suitability for
commercial production.
The most promising candidates for New
England cultivation include: salmonid, bay
scallop, mussel, oyster, quahog, and fresh-
water prawns.
Dr. Gaucher said aquafarming can be
classified as ‘extensive! and 'intensive!:
e ''Extensive cultivation normally involves
large areas, low management, low capital
cost, low operating cost, and low yield ona
unit area basis.'' Examples would include
coastal embayments, sluggish ponds, and
open sea culture.
e ‘Intensive cultivation generally utilizes
small production units, intensive manage-
ment, dense stocking, force feeding, and stock
selection and manipulation.'’ This involves a
"high capital cost, high operating cost, and
produces a high yield per unit area." Ex-
amples include "raceway culture, lentic
ponds, power plant effluents, rivers, some
intertidal sea locks, zones of upwelling, and
coastal embayments with high tidal exchange."
Intensive Approach More Promising
The intensive approach likely would yield
best results in early aquaculture progress in
New England, Dr. Gaucher said. This is be-
cause method can minimize dependence on
nature. So uncertainties and risks would be
reduced--and correspondingly, system's
"reliability, output, and profit potential"
would be increased.
GLOUCESTER FISHERMEN AIDED BY WOMEN’S GROUP
The women of Gloucester, Mass., one of
America's oldest ports, have organized to
More than 150
wives, widows, and daughters founded the
help their fishermen kin.
United Fishermen's Wives Organization of
Gloucester (UF WG) over a year ago to speak
for fishermen. UFWG then formed a fishing
cooperative designed to set fair prices for
fish from member boats, reports 'New Eng-
land Marine Resources Information',.
The group has incorporated as Gloucester
Fresh Fish, Inc., and is trying to raise
$300,000 to do its job.
Industry Decline
UFWG secretary, Mrs. Grace Parsons,
saysthere are never fewer than 1,200 unem-
ployedin Gloucester, population 27,000. She
claims unemployment is tied to decline of
fishing industry.
She explains why her group is working for
the rebirth of the industry: ''In 1966, the in-
dustry was stillthe third largest employer in
the city, paidthe third highest wages, offered
tourist appeal, and calculations showed that
every two jobs in fishing created one job in
other activities."
Mrs. Josephine DiLiberti, new group presi-
dent, emphasizes the human and moral ele-
ments motivating their work--''the indissol-
uble ties of fishing with roots and tradition of
Gloucester, whose natural harbor attracted
the English, Portuguese and Italians from
continental shores."
She adds: "It's disheartening, discour-
aging and dislocatingtosee the fishermen put
20
inlong hours andhard work for pay that can't
Mrs, DiLi-
berti cites haddock selling at $1.39 per pound
support them or their families."
retail, while the fishermen get only 25 cents.
"We'll be the fish dealer now under the new
cooperative and pay the fishermen a higher,
fairer wage."
Seeks to Increase Fleet
A main objective of the coop is to enable
fishermento buy new vessels or enlarge fleet
through coop loans.
The coop hopes to cut sharply the fisher -
men's insurance fees, which now are 25% of
a year's expenses. It will regulate its own
members and solessen disputes that now exist
between fishermen and insurance agency. The
former complain of "blackballing"; the latter
of "faulty claims",
1971 Building Plans
Construction of the coop will beginin spring
A 40 by 60 foot,
prefabricated steel structure will be built at
1971, says Mrs. Parsons.
the end of a filled wharf inthe downtown area.
The space was made available through urban
renewal. More than 20 boats can be docked
at the wharf.
for $180 per month, 'Wwith option to buy".
The coop will lease the wharf
Processing Unit Later
At first, the coop will be fish dealer only.
Then a processing unit will be put in. Even-
tually, buying, selling, and distributing will be
handled completely by coop.
OCEANOGRAPHY
‘GLOMAR CHALLENGER’ REPLACES
DRILL BIT 3 MILES DOWN
The drilling research vessel 'Glomar
Challenger', operating in water 13,000 feet
deep inthe Caribbean Sea's Venezuelan Basin,
recently replaced a worn drill bit. The ex-
peditionmembers achieved this after drilling
2,300 feet, reentering the same 5-inch bore
hole at the sea bottom with a more than 3-
mile drill string. They then drilled 200 feet
more to recover chert, hard limestone, and
crystalline rocks for the first time.
The re-entry technique of National Science
Foundation-sponsored Deep Sea Drilling Proj-
ectis usedtorecover ancient deep-sea sedi-
ment. The success was announced by scien-
tists and engineers of Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, University of California, San
Diego.
This wasthe second re-entry achieved by
the Deep Sea Drilling Project. The first was
off the U. S. East Coast on June 14, 1970, in
10,000 feet of water.
The Second Re-Entry
The Project scientists have recognized
that many scientific objectives lay beyond the
reach of the drill string because even the
sturdiest bits would wear out in resistant
areas, But with the first re-entry achieved,
they chose a site near whichprevious drilling
had to be aborted: in the Caribbean Sea, at
15°07! North Latitude and 69°23' West Long-
itude, about half way between Venezuela and
Puerto Rico.
There, a beacon was dropped to the ocean
floor as a reference point for maintaining
position while drilling. Then 160 feet of 132-
inch diameter casing were attached toa 600
cone 16 feet in diameter at top, 13 feet high,
and with 3 acoustic reflectors spaced equi-
distantly arounditstop. The cone and casing
were attached, in turn, to the drill pipe with
the core bit; the entire assembly was lowered
toseafloor, Thecasing was pressed into the
sediment leaving the cone at sea floor. Then
the drill pipe was released mechanically from
the cone and casing assembly. A normal
21
drilling-and-coring operation was conducted
through soft sediments to 1,300 feet below
the seafloor, where harder rocks, 45 nillion
year old, were encountered.
After more drilling, the tungsten carbide
bit was spent. It was withdrawn from.the
limestone and chert at 2,300 feet, and pulled
back to derrick floor. A new core bit was
installed onthe drill pipe at derrick floor and
lowered to within 30 feet of ocean floor. A
transducer, whichemits and receives a high-
frequency sound, was lowered on conductor
cable through the 5-inch-diameter drill pipe
to extend 6 inchesbelowcorebit. The trans-
ducer scanned the ocean floor with 360° ro-
tation and emitted a high-frequency sonic
beam, which the cone reflected back. The
cone was first located 300 feet from the drill
pipe. As the scanner sent out sound pulses
and listened for echoes, the engineers on
ship's bridge directed the hunt on an illumi-
nated screen, like that used with a radar set.
The 10,500-ton vessel was moved toward a
series of reflectors that characterized the
cone, a very precise maneuver,
Drill Pipe Lowered
When the Glomar Challenger was centered
over the cone, the drill pipe was lowered. At
first the expedition members thought it had
re-entered the old hole. However, after
drilling 300 feet, they concludedit had missed
the re-entry cone, A new hole was drilled,
A 30-foot core confirmed their conclusion.
The core bit and drill pipe again were
positioned 20 feet above sea floor and sonic
transducer loweredinto place, The re-entry
cone was located about 90 feet from drill
string, and the vessel again was maneuvered
directly above cone, This time the drill
string was lowered to make a successful re-
entry. As the core barrels were opened on
ship to expose their long columns of undis-
turbed rocks, they were examined immedi-
ately by scientists. The tiny fossils were
examinedunder microscopes to answer im-
mediately the all-important question of age.
22
Value of Achievement
Dr. N. T. Edgar of Scripps and J. B.
Saunders of Texaco Trinidad, co-chief scien-
tists, said: ''The whole column of rocks dis-
covered is of prime interest, but the pres-
ence of basalt at the bottom of the hole can
be considered especially so. The existence
of such relatively young rock of this type
formed by melting may cause geologists to
revise their theories as to the age of the
Caribbean Sea."
The Project scientists believe that re-
entry is now a workable tool. It will be of
great value to the Deep Sea Drilling Project
and for the economic exploration of the deep
oceanfloor. With improved drilling bits and
capability to change them, there is a much
better chance of drilling deep holes where
the need for information is greatest--in the
ocean basins,
x
vk
i. i,
15 U.S. SHIPS STUDY DEEP OCEAN
& COASTAL WATERS
About 880 scientists, technicians, and
crewmen aboard 15 Commerce Department
ships have begun a nearly year-long study of
the waters that splash the U.S, shores.
They will sail from Alaska to Hawaii
and the South Seas, traverse the Atlantic to
Africa, to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico,
and up and down the Atlantic andPacific
ClOjaSitiSy.
"They willprobe the oceans, including the
land beneath and the air above, the coastal
waters and estuaries of the United States, the
submerged continental shelves, the wrecks
that dot America's shores and the treacher-
ous currents that endanger seamen and their
eratter.
Their Missions
The scientists will study the mysterious
internal wave undulating below the sea's sur-
face. They will probe, too, the mountains,
ranges, canyons, and massive fractures in the
earth atthe sea bottom, and the unseen ocean
'rivers!, They will seek new evidence of the
movement of continents and the spreading of
the sea floor.
While the larger vessels are conducting
these activities, the smaller ones will con-
duct ''marine charting surveys, measuring
the currents along the coasts andinestuaries,
bays, and harbors and scouring the coastal
sea lanes for submerged wrecks, pilings,
abandoned oil derricks, and other dangers to
sea commerce and recreational boating."
PLAN CONTINENTAL-SHELF LAB
OFF TEXAS
A13-member committee is planning a con-
tinental-shelf laboratory off Texas.
The committee, led by Dr. W. H. Clayton,
Texas A&M, is sponsored jointly by Texas
A&M and the University of Texas Medical
Branch at Galveston. Dr. Clayton said its
primary concern will be to determine the
benefits tothe state fromthe laboratory com-
plex. ''Development of a continental shelf
laboratory has beena goal of Texas A&M since
the publication of the President's Commission
on Marine Resources and Engineering De-
velopment report in 1969. The Galveston
Chamber of Commerce has stimulated recent
activity through its long-range planning for
development of the State's marine potential
and through its plans for a 'Texas Tektite!
program, '
Many Groups Involved
The lab would support a broad program,
Most of the research would center on ocean
and environmental science, including pollu-
tion and water-quality studies.
About 30 percent of the program would deal
with man-in-the-sea and biomedical re-
search. Texas educational and research in-
stitutions, supported by industry and govern-
ment, would cooperate in the lab's efforts.
Feasibility Study
Texas A&M recently published a prelimi-
nary feasibility study of a possible site for an
offshore lab through its NOAA-sponsored Sea
Grant Program. Apermanent labin the Flow-
er Gardens coral reef area, 110 miles off
Galveston, was called technically feasible.
The report stated that a permanent lab would
offer unique research opportunities for a
short time; however, it questioned whether
scientific results can justify high costs of a
permanent lab on one site. Initial costs would
be $3-4 million.
Dr. Clayton explained: ''One of the tasks
of the study committee will be to explore the
possibilities of using platforms, submersi-
bles, habitats, and such facilities as a floating
semi-submerged instrument platform pat-
terned after the Navy's FLIP ship. It is
technically possible to construct a facility in
the Flower Gardens area. We simply must
ask ourselves what kind of facility we need and
what we hope to accomplish through the use
of it." .
see
SS
SURVEYING THE WORLD’S
CORAL REEFS
"Nowhere in the ocean are divers pro-
vided a greater panorama of underwater life
than around the world's coral reefs,'' states
'Sea Grant 70's', published by Texas A & M
University. Divers from the University of
Hawaii and Texas A & M are conducting Sea
Grant studies in these coral communities.
Seven Sea Grant researchers are diving in
the Kaneohe Bay Reef area off Oahu to learn
more about the dynamics of reef growth. The
researchers include oceanographers, zoolo-
gists, geologists, and botanists. The results
will help in management and stimulation of
reefs affected by man's activities or natural
disasters.
What Researchers Are Doing
The diver-scientists are transplanting
corals and other reef organisms to deter-
mine which are most adaptable to unfavorable
conditions, suchas major sewer outfalls that
occur at the reef's southern end. They will
try to regenerate large reef areas killed by
pollutants, fresh water, and other causes in
Hawaii and the trust territories.
In Gulf of Mexico
At Texas A&M, Sea Grant supports re-
search in Gulf of Mexico's Flower Gardens
reef area, about 125 miles off Texas. Diver-
scientists are conducting biological, acous-
tical, engineering, and geological research.
23
A feasibility study is underway to deter-
mine whether a permanent underwater re-
search laboratory should be established in
the area. The researchers are studying eco-
nomic potential of sediment beds around the
reef, which caps a large salt dome; testing
durability of various substances; and sampling
soil.
Twelve graduate students in biological and
geological oceanography made an underwater
fieldtripto coral reefs off Mexico's Yucatan
Peninsula.
CS =
< fas
RECOVERING UNDERSEA
TREASURES
Until the last few years, underwater sal-
vage techniques remained much the same as
those usedin1939toraise the U.S. submarine
'Squalus' from 240 feet, reports 'Sea Grant
TOUS:
Conventional methods have used dewater-
ing by pumps, dewatering by air, and lifting
devices. Polystyrene and polyurethane foams
to obtain the desired buoyancy have become
increasingly popular because these are rela-
tively low-cost materials and can be easily
transported by air.
Problems of Salvaging
Still, problems of salvaging need further
investigation--such as breakout, which is
freeing objects from ocean bottom. To this
must be added expected hazards of ocean;
weather deterioration during a dive; currents
providing unfavorable drift rates; unstable
bottom sediments, and many more.
Treasure lostin 1553 when a Spanish fleet
carrying gold and silver sank off Padre Island
near Texas coast was the object of search by
three Texas A & M divers.
The divers used magnetometer readings to
indicate metallic or rock interruptions on Gulf
bottom. These were investigated. When
wreckage was found, shore crews took com-
pass readings to record exact location, All
artifacts were turned over to the state com-
mittee. The project's primary function was
to mark the wreckage to prevent plundering
and illegal recovery.
8 UNIVERSITIES BUY THEIR OCEAN LAB SITE
ON L.I.’s EASTERN TIP
The New York Ocean Science Laboratory--
an 8-school consortium--has bought a 36-
acre tractin Montauk, on Long Island's east-
ern tip, for a waterfront campus and center.
The lab had leased part of the property since
June 1969.
The lab is operated by colleges and uni-
versities inthe N.Y. metropolitan area. It is
conducting 7 research projects on the marine
environment.
The schools are: Adelphi University,
Fordham University, Hofsta University, Long
Island University, the New York Institute of
Technology, New York University, St. John's
University, and the State University of New
York.
Step Up Program
Dr. John C. Baiardi, the lab director, said
the acquisition of property will "enable the
laboratory to step upits renovation and expan-
sion program."
"We can now intensify our program to re-
cruit qualified professionals so we can better
address ourselves to the problems of Long
Island waters and to the preservation of our
overall marine environment."
To Make Huge Model
One of the lab's major undertakings, to be-
gin this year, is construction of a $4-million
hydraulic model of Long Island andits waters.
The model willbe builtinstages. Thefirst
will be the Great South Bay. Each will be
functional whencompleted. The model willbe
housed in a former hangar 600 by 200 feet.
24
/ —p®D MONTAUK PT.
‘ :
NEW YORK CITY}
NGS eee
\ 2c
NEW JERSEY.”
/ es)
Almost any condition of currents, tides,
storms, erosion, and water pollution could
be produced in the model, according to Dr.
Baiardi. The model of the whole island is
scheduled to be completed by 1975.
Finfish & Invertebrate Lab
Dr. Baiardi said that the lab's scientific
and technical staff would quadruple in 1971
to about 50.
The first project willbe to convert one of
the 10 buildings to a finfish and invertebrate
lab. Until now, the labhas worked with mov-
able equipment on 30,000 square feet of office
space.
With the other buildings, the lab will have
300,000 square feet of space available. There
are 5 railroad sidings anda 400-foot dock with
The lab
moors there the 'R.V. Kyma', a chartered
a 40-foot water depth at low tide.
research vessel.
VIMS DEVELOPS COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL
& ENGINEERING DATA CENTER
Scientists at the Virginia Institute of Ma-
rine Science (VIMS), Gloucester Point, are
developing a comprehensive data system to
provide industry and government with the
most up-to-date information on oceanography
of Chesapeake Bay and Virginia coastal wa-
ters. This was announced by Dr. William J.
Hargis Jr., director.
Dr. Hargis explained: ''The data system,
called Marine Environment and Resources
Research and Management System
(MERRMS), will be a depository whereby all
available information about hydrography,
chemistry, geology, and biology of the Chesa-
peake Bay area can be stored, retrieved and
utilized by planners, engineers and manage-
ment agencies."’ A unique feature will be the
visual presentation of information to enable
viewers to assess quickly "many relevant
factors operating on a given environment."
MERRMS will provide management advice
on''estuarine and coastal problems involving
wetland use, shoreline and beach erosion,
sedimentation, pollution, dredging, and fish-
eries to state and federal agencies having
responsibilities in these areas."
Remote Sensing Unit
Integrated with MERRMS willbe a Remote
Sensing Unit to provide monitoring of the nat-
ural or original position (‘in situ'). VIMS
will continue to use traditional aerial sur-
veillance and photography. It will use, too,
newer techniques of aerial sensing developed
by NASA and the Department of Defense.
Satellite sensing also will be evaluated and
used "where applicable."
Remote sensingfrom airplanes and satel-
lites records much detail from over a large
land or water surface at relatively low cost.
The usefulness of the data recorded, however,
depends on trained personnel to recognize
specific areas or conditions recorded as
photographs, or in other ways, as the areas
or conditions they have seen close up. 'In
situ' remote sensing often is necessary to
25
evaluate aerial and satellite observations,
provide "ground truth", and to understand in
detail the condition of the environments and
resources involved.
Data Needed
Hargis emphasized that all those respon-
sible for cleaning up pollution and protecting
coastal zones from degradation must have
muchinformation available. 'Neither indus-
trial engineers nor governmental manage-
ment agencies can regulate resource use
without a fund of scientific and engineering
knowledge to draw on, and the pressures of
the times demand that this knowledge be avail-
able tothem in detail as well as in context of
comprehensive overview."
Hargis believes MERRMS will become
prototype for attacking problems of coastal
environments and resources--in Chesapeake,
mid-Atlantic, or along coasts:
"Inthe United States, concern is so strong
for protecting resources of the ocean coast,
bays and estuaries that a National Coastal
Zone Program is developing at the federal
level. The over 30 maritime states, Common-
wealths and Territories are making strong
efforts to improve management of and re-
search on coastal resources,
"From Maine to Florida on the Atlantic,
from Floridato Texas on the Gulf, from Cal-
ifornia to Washington and Alaska on the Pa-
acific, and Hawaii in mid-Pacific--all these
states are vigorously planning and conducting
research looking to better utilization and con-
servation of coastal fisheries, wetlands,
shorelines, bottoms and water. It is hoped
that establishment of our data storage, re-
trieval and analysis system, MERRMS, will
be Virginia's significant contribution to this
effort.’
Dr. Hargis believes the general public,
fishermen, and those in seafood industries
will benefit. ''The Institute's own research
programs will be improved,"
NAVY SUCCEEDS IN GETTING OCEAN DATA
VIA BUOY-SATELLITE HOOKUP
A free-floating, specially instrumented
buoy, drifting off Virginia, recently dispatch-
ed dataneeded tounderstand surface current
patternsto a solar-orbiting satellite. It was
achieved on the first try by the U.S. Naval
Oceanographic Office (NOO).
The satellite-acquired data were sent to
scientists studying current patterns at NOO
via NASA's Fairbanks, Alaska, command con-
trol station and the Goddard Space Flight Cen-
ter in Greenbelt, Md. The data consisted of
wind and temperature measurements, togeth-
er with exact positions.
NOO's success has ledits officials to think
of launching two such buoys in Gulf Stream
in 1972.
The Buoy
The 42-foot-long, 1,700-pound buoy is in-
strumented with wind and temperature sen-
sors, data-recording electronics, and a so-
phisticated satellite communications system.
It was set adrift in 50 minutes in relatively
calm seas about 200 miles northeast of Cape
Charles, Va., and 75 miles northwest of Gulf
Stream by scientists aboard USNS 'Lynch', a
small oceanographic research ship.
Coast Guardsmen aboardthe USCG 'Ever-
green! retrieved buoy 21 days later about 90
miles southwest of its launching site. This
southwesterly drift ''was more or less ex-
pected," accordingtoAltonCrumpler, ocean-
ographer. ‘All our historical data,"' he said,
"pointed tothis general flow, but the current
carrying the buoy and its exact course were
unknown. It may be part of a large gyre (a
circular-moving current), which may, at
some later point, merge with the northeast-
ward-flowing Gulf Stream."
Study's Goal
The oceanographers are studying surface
current patterns to understand ocean circu-
lation worldwide. This could lead to mass
water movement predictions that would faci-
litate ship routing for the Navy, U.S. Merchant
Marine, and allied shipping interests.
26
Also, the predictions could help determine
the movement of sea ice, icebergs, and oil
spills--and helpinrescue and salvage opera-
tions.
BUOY DRIFTS ON CURRENT--Scientist aboard USNS 'Lynch!
watches specially instrumented buoy begin its drift off Virginia
(above). Chart below shows how it moved in relation to coast
and Gulf Stream. (U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office)
76
75
ty
co
wo
~
Se ae | ee yee ey
w
a
74
NAVY DEVELOPS DEEP-DIVING SYSTEM
The U.S. Navy has developed a deep-sub-
mergence system that will enable its divers
to conduct rescue and salvage operations at
850 to 1,000 feet.
after nearly 8 years of trouble-plagued ef-
The achievement comes
forts.
In the past, Navy divers were limited to
about 300 feet for short periods by severe
chilling and fatigue.
The new system, called Mark I, is mark-
edly superior tothe 'Maninthe Sea! projects,
the Navy says. The first MarkI will be based
at Norfolk, Va.
The Mark I
Now, alternating 2-man teams of Navy
divers canstay at 850 feet or below for up to
29 days. The new system opens Continental
Shelf areas the world over to rescue and re-
covery operations,
The Mark I is designed to support 4 men:
two2-man teams each working 4-hour peri-
ods. This anddecompressiontime after satu-
rated dive total up to 29 days.
The heated divers! suits of Mark I and its
undersea "landing capsule'’ use techniques
borrowed from manned Apollo program.
Mark I operates from a mother ship that
houses a 2-chamber decompression unit,
mission control, communications, and the
main life-support system.
Locked to top of large decompression
chamber is a bulbous personnel transfer
capsule, orelevator, It canhandle 2 or 3men,
27
The capsule is detached from chamber--as
lunar landing module is separated from Apollo
command module--and lowered by winch and
cable to desired depth.
The entire Mark I system can be trans-
ported anywhere aboard two C-141 cargo
planes. Itcanbe deployed quickly aboard any
ship.
Decompression Chamber
The decompression chamber can accom-
modate4men. It contains food, water, beds,
bath and toilet, and monitoring communica-
tions.
While one team works, the other--already
conditioned to 850-foot depths--waits in
chamber, When the first returns aboard
transfer capsule, the second takes over.
Transfer Capsule
When transfer capsule with 2-3 divers
reaches desired depth, divers don aquanaut
suits. They leave through pressurized lock.
This is a100-foot umbilical cord linking them
tocapsule and providing life support and com-
munications.
One diver, in his shirtsleeves, remains in
capsule to monitor work and communicate
with mother ship,
A constant check on divers! condition and
progress is maintained by physicians and oth-
ers on surface using space-type monitoring,
including TV and telemetry.
DEAD MANGROVE LEAVES SUPPORT AQUATIC LIFE
Red mangroves--tropicaltrees that fringe
South Florida's bays--have ''immense value,"
reports the University of Miami's School of
Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. ('South
Florida's Mangrove-bordered Estuaries,
Their Role in Sport and Commercial Fish
Production'.) Much of the information in the
28-page bulletin is based on work of two
graduates, Dr, Eric J. Heald and Dr. William
E. Odum,
"Many persons consider estuaries and
coastal marshes to be useless in their nat-
ural state,''noted Dr. Richard G. Bader, As-
sociate Dean, ''They donot realize that these
areas are important as havens and nurseries
for over half of the harvest of fish and shell-
fishinthe United States. In southern Florida,
for example, the 700 square miles of man-
groves bordering the shallows are inhabited
by thirty or more popular species of com-
mercial and sport fishes, the pink shrimp,
and the blue crab."
Mangroves Linked to Valuable Catch
Dr. Bader added: ''Decomposition of dead
mangrove leaves that have fallen into the wa-
ter results in a high-protein food for small
marine animals, which are eaten by larger
ones. In 1968, commercial landings of spe-
cies linked to the mangrove food web yielded
over 32 million pounds of shrimp worth $15.7
million; 3.7 million pounds of spotted sea-
trout worth $1 million; and 15 million pounds
of blue crabs worth $1.2 million. Considera-
tion should be given to the fact that nature's
production of these resources is greatly de-
creased in an area where clearing, filling,
or bulkheading destroys the mangroves."
Mangrove Study
Dr. Heald and Dr. Odum studied the red
mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, and its role
in food web of North River estuary of Ever-
glades National Park. They found that only
5% of area's annual production of red man-
grove leaves is consumed by land animals--
while about 95% enters aquatic system.
Their work showed that decomposed man-
grove leaf particles, detritus, transport
energy in the food web. When dead leaves
fall into water, they become hosts for cer-
28
tain bacteria and fungi. These microorgan-
isms use the plant material as a place to
live and to get nutrients; they have ability to
absorb resistant plant substances, such as
cellulose, and to decompose leaves.
Food Web
Also, one-celled animals (protozoans)
feed on the bacteria. This creates a rich
food complex of fungi, bacteria, protozoa,
and detritus. Tiny crabs and amphipods
ingest this complex, digest microorganisms
off detritus particles, and release the indi-
gestible plant cell walls into water as fecal
material. Then, the detritus particles are
recolonized by microorganisms and"re-
peat their role as carriers of nutrients."
Mangrove-leaf fall produces more than 3
tons (dry weight) of detritus per acre a year.
When leaves are alive on trees, they contain
about 6% protein, but this value increases up
to 22% after detritus has been in the water a
year. This does not mean, the researchers
say, that the protein content of detritus itself
has increased; it means that there is rela-
tively more protein present on particle be-
cause it is being colonized by microorgan-
isms richin vitamins and protein, ''A detri-
tus-consumer will obtain more nutritive
value, therefore, by eating ‘aged! detritus
particles because they are more heavily
coated with microorganisms,"
Detritus Important
Analyses of stomachcontents of thousands
of marine animals in North River estuary
revealed they consume little phytoplankton
and bottom-growing algae. Eighty to 90% of
the diet of many crabs, worms, insect larvae,
shrimp, and small forage fishes consists of
mangrove detritus. Then these detritus con-
sumers fall prey to more than 60 species of
juvenile fishes, including tarpon, snook, gray
snapper, sheepshead, red drum, spotted sea-
trout, crevalle jack, catfish, jewfish, men-
haden, and striped mullet. Many of these
fishes spend long periods in the estuary;
others in surrounding coastal waters into
which about 50% of yearly tonnage of detri-
tus istransported. Here, as in estuary, it is
eaten by lower animals in food web.
Pollutants in Estuaries
So many species depend on mangrove de-
tritus as a source of nutritionthat scientists
are concerned about possible pollutants in
estuaries. Pesticide residues can become
adsorbed onto surface of detritus, or may be
concentrated by bacteria, fungi, and proto-
zoans living on particles. If crude oil is in-
troduced into the water, it may form around
particles and prevent microorganisms from
colonizing them. Certain chemical pollut-
ants couldkillthe microorganisms. Thermal
pollution could produce undesirably low levels
of dissolved oxygen in areas where water
exchange is poor.
NOAA AWARDS SEA GRANT TO STUDY
SPONGES’ ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCES
NOAA has awarded a SeaGrant to extract
and test antibacterial agents from sponges.
The $209,000, 3-year grant was awarded to
New York Zoological Society's Osborn Lab-
oratories of Marine Sciences,
Osborn scientists will attempt to isolate
substances found in sponges that may have
therapeutic value as antibiotics, antifungal
agents, and metabolic inhibitors, Then the
researchers will seek to determine chemical
composition of these substances and to inves-
tigate their potential as therapeutic agents.
Scientific Studies Are Recent
Known and used by man for centuries, it is
only recently that the sponges! biochemistry
has been investigated. Mostly fresh-water
forms easily maintained under laboratory
conditions were studied.
The Osborn Laboratories of Marine Sci-
ences are equipped with piped-in sea water.
Its scientists have investigated systematical-
ly the extracts of many sponges from Jamaica
and British VirginIslands, Antibacterial sub-
stances were present in extracts from 23 of
the 125 Jamaican species--and seem to indi-
cate they are commonly found.
29
Sea Grant Program
The Sea Grant Program enables the Uni-
versity of Miami to disseminate scientific
datato the public and to government officials
responsible for decisions on environmental
changes. Increasing population in south
Florida makes certain changes inevitable.
But if people become more concerned about
the principles involved, the researchers hope,
perhaps the modifications can be reduced.
Sea Grant information Bulletin #4, at $1,
may be obtained from: Sea Grant Advisory
Services, 10 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami,
Florida 33149.
A Tunisian sponge trimmer.
In the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico ——__—
HARVESTING COASTAL PELAGIC FISHES
WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHT & PURSE SEINE
Donald A. Wickham
Coastal pelagic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico rep-
resent a latent resource estimated at 4 million tons,
a potential 8 times the present 500,000 tons (Bullis &
Carpenter, 1968). These could be harvested economi-
cally with purse seines if supplemental methods, such
as light attraction, were developed to create commer-
cial aggregations in areas with fishable bottom. Ex-
perimental night-light purse seining revealed that fish
could be attracted throughout the night, but that average
catches were larger during the new moon,
Three species contributed 50% or more of total
catch weight in71% of experimental sets. Their poten-
tial was estimated the greatest among latent coastal
pelagics. These were Spanish sardine, Sardinella an-
chovia; Atlantic thread herring, Opisthonema oglinum;
and scaled sardine, Harengula pensacolae.
Nightly total catches from a light source, a single
1,000-watt underwater mercury vapor lamp, ranged
from 500 pounds to over 6,000 pounds. The nightly
average was 2,500 pounds,
It indicates that artificial
light can be developed for harvesting coastal pelagics.
Present production of coastal pelagics is
based primarily on purse seining for men-
haden, Brevoortia spp., for reduction to in-
dustrial products. There are indications the
catch of B. patronus has reached or perhaps
surpassed level of sustainable yield. At best,
this species is only the third, and perhaps only
fifth, most abundant coastal clupeid in Gulf.
Stocks of thread herring, Opisthonema ogli-
num, alone have been estimated at about one
million tons (Bullis and Thompson, 1967).
Butler reported in 1961 that the behavior
of the herringlike coastal pelagics makes
them difficult to capture with standard purse
seines, Attimes, large schools divide rapidly
into smaller groups that are extremely fast
and difficult to encircle with a purse Seine.
Fuss andhis colleagues reported in 1969 that
the thread-herring fishery has been confined
toasmallarea off Ft. Myers, Florida, in less
than 10 fathoms. This is because of rough
bottom conditions to north and south, and depth
limitations of tom-weight purse seines pre-
vents successful fishing, The feasibility of
harvesting this resource economically with
present methods has yet to be demonstrated.
Facilitating Economical Exploitation
Economical exploitation of coastal pelagic
resource could be facilitated in twoways: by
development of new fishing gear, or by in-
troducing to purse~-seine fishery supplemen-
talmethods capable of forming commercial-
sized aggregations in areas with fishable
bottom, In1960, von Brandt reviewed methods
Donald A. Wickham, Fishery Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service, Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base, P. O. Box
1207, Pascagoula, Mississippi 39567.
Contribution No. 221.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 900
30°00’
45
LEGEND;
@ — < 1,000 Lbs.
® — 1,000 to 2,000 Lbs.
A— > 2,000 Lbs.
¢ UG
29 40L, : oes
40 35 85 30
Fig. 1 - Location of night-lighting stations sampled by purse seine during Aug.
station, Legend is key to catch size.
-Sept. 1969.
Sample numbers are beside each
31
32
of harvesting sardines and related species
throughout the world. His findings revealed
many types of nets used to catch fishes that
have aggregated around artificial lights at
night. Successful experiments using purse
seines tocapture herringlike fishes attracted
to artificial lights have been reported by
Gauthier (1969) in Canada and Strom (1969) in
the Philippines.
On collectingtrips in northeastern Gulf of
Mexico, we used artificial lights and a 5-
meter diameter lift net. We observed large
concentrations of coastal pelagic fishes ex-
tending well beyond capture zone of this net.
Although live samples were obtained for lab-
oratory studies and qualitative identification,
the lift net proved unsuitable for quantitative
estimates of fish aggregations attracted to
lights.
Purse-seine sets reported in this paper
were made during August and September 1969
off Port St. Joe, Florida. They provided quan-
titative data for preliminary evaluation of
feasibility of using artificial light to attract
coastal pelagic fishes.
This preliminary study provided: (1) be-
ginning of inventory of species that form com-
mercial aggregations around artificial lights,
and (2) initial step in quantitative evaluation
of artificial light to aggregate commercial
quantities of coastal pelagic fishes for har-
vesting in preselected areas. The fishing
periods were also scheduled to provide data
on(3) the effect of moon phase on size of ag-
gregations formed by artificial light, and (4)
the times for sets were preselected to pro-
vide data on intranight variability of effec-
tiveness of artificial lights.
A.-Experimental Fishing Methods
1, Objectives & Organization of Fishing Peri-
ods & Experimental Sets
Three periods during new and full moon
were scheduled to provide preliminary indi-
cations of effects of lunar phase on aggrega-
tion effectiveness of artificial lights. Sets
were made at about 3-hour intervals following
sunset to assess intranight variability of at-
tracting-characteristics of artificial lights.
rypierionh ac sph caeece
Fig. 2 - The chartered 49-foot, single-boat rig, bait purse seiner, 'Gulf Ranger', The net skiff is tied along side seiner.
2. Selection of Fishing Stations
The fishing area selected was along 30 -foot
contour across entrance to St. Joseph Bay.
Stations were occupied whenever weather
permitted. Considerable inclement weather
was experienced during charter periods. Be-
cause light skiff was an open 16-foot outboard,
most locations shownin Figure 1 were deter-
mined by wind direction and sea conditions.
3, Fishing & Experimental Equipment
The 'Gulf Ranger', a 49-foot, single-boat
rig, bait purse seiner, was chartered (Figure
2). Its purse seine was a ''tom-weight" type,
Fig. 3 - The 16-foot outboard used as a light skiff during study.
The portable echo sounder is mounted across boat behind bench
seat. The underwater light and echo-sounder transducer are
mounted on wooden depressor lying in right hand comer of stern.
The portable generator, not shown, was positioned in bow ahead
of steering console.
33
1,545 feet long and 71 feet deep, with 14-inch
stretched mesh webbing. A 16-foot outboard
served as skiff; attracting lamp (1,000-watt
underwater mercury vapor) was deployed
from it (Figure 3). Fish aggregations below
light were monitored by echo sounder, The
underwater lamp and echo-sounder trans-
ducer were mounted on a wooden depressor
suspended beneath skiff during fishing. Power
for lamp and echo sounder were supplied by
a portable, gasoline-powered, 2.5 kilowatt,
115 volt A.C., generator mounted in skiff,
Communications between skiff and purse
seiner were maintained by portable FM ra-
dios.
4, Experimental Fishing & Sampling Proce-
dure
The manned light skiff was anchored on
station at night with light turned on (Figure 4).
The seiner anchored nearby with its lights
off, The seiner turned its lights on only
after the net was pursed, When seiner began
making a set, the light skiff anchor was pulled
up. During pursing, the skiff would drift to
corkline opposite net opening and remain in-
side net with light on until pursing was com-
pleted. The skiff would then move across
corkline and resume fishing with light after
anchoring clear of seiner and net.
The total catch weight was estimated by
vessel captain after net bunt was dried up.
A sample was brailed into a large plastic
container to be weighed, sorted, and identi-
fied while fishermen handled catch and re-
stacked the net. This general procedure was
followed during each set.
Fig. 4 - The light skiff anchored on station with 1,000-watt mercury -vapor underwater attracting-light turned on. A large school of
fish has accumulated around light, considerably reducing size of light field.
34
B. Catch Results
1. Attraction of Fish by Artificial Light
The operation of passive fishing gear
(traps, bait, and artificial light) requires that
fish pass withinits effective zone of attraction
before they can be subject to capture. So the
catch of a passive gear depends on size of its
zone of attraction and fish density therein.
The characteristics of capture zone is not
consistent because variables--turbidity, am-
bient light, biological rhythms, and many
others--influence effectiveness of gear and/
or susceptibility of animal to capture; this
variability is reflected in catches.
Catches from individual sets around the
light showed considerable intranight and in-
ternight variability.
a. Intranight variability
Catch data averaged by set time for new
and full moon periods, disregarding location
and other variables, indicates that artificial
light was effective inattracting fish through-
out the night (Figure 5). There was consis-
tency inaverage catches for the three nightly
sets, during both new and full-moon periods
(Figure 5). This suggests that intranight catch
variability for individual sets probably re-
sulted from different fish densities in enve-
lope of water within which light was effective.
This conjecture was supported by visual ob-
servations and echo-sounder tapes made from
the light skiff. These indicated that schooling
species, the bulk of larger catches, usually
arrivedin the light field in large numbers at
infrequent intervals; the remaining species
appearedtoaccumulate gradually. These re-
sults contrasted with lift-net sampling that
indicated early evening and predawn peaks for
light-attraction effectiveness, In view of
purse-seine catch, peak periods for lift-net
catches may be indicative of changes in dis-
persion distance around artificial light. This
arises, possibly, from rhythmic physiological
changes in fishes' sensitivity to light.
b. Internight variability
Internight variability intotal catch resulted
primarily from environmental factors --loca-
tion, water turbidity, thunderstorms, and
others--which could affect catch and light's
attraction characteristics. Some effects of
location oncatch are shownin Figurel. How-
ever, the present data are not sufficient to
permit analysis of effects of environmental
factors on light-attracted catches.
c. Lunar pattern
The effects of moonphase on attraction by
artificial light are noticeable in comparison
of average catches per set by moon phase.
Figure 5 shows average catch per set was
considerably larger during new moon than
during full moon, Present data only permit
speculation oncauses of different catch rates
for these two lunar periods. However, it is
probably that bright ambient light during full
moon reduces contrast between artificial light
and background, thereby reducing appreciably
the extent of effective attraction zone. Also,
physiological changes related to lunar cycle
could render fish less susceptible to attrac-
tractionby artificial light. Interms of poten-
tial fishing applications of artificial light, fish
were attracted successfully during both new
and full moon. The full importance of moon
phase to commercial application of light at-
traction requires accumulation of consider-
ably more comparative catch data than pro-
vided here.
2. Species Composition
Over 50 species of fishes were identified
incatches from purse -seine sets made around
artificial light. Menhaden are not commonly
fished in the study area; none was caught.
Spanish sardine, Atlantic thread herring, and
scaled sardine, usually bulk of larger catches,
were estimated as having greatest commer-
cial potential among latent coastal pelagic re-
sources in the Gulf. Their combined contri-
bution was 50% or more by weight in 71% of
catches (Figure 6).
3. Comparison With Conventional Purse-
Seine Catches
Nightly catch totals are not allbased on full
night's fishing of 3 sets. Nevertheless, they
stillaverage slightly better than 2,500 pounds
per night for entire study. Catches made dur-
ing new moon periods alone averaged better
than 3,000 pounds per night, although only 2
of the 7 nights fished consisted of a full 3 sets.
35
*papreBaistp d19M S2TQeWeA 1ey,O pUe SUOT}EOT “spotted rayeYS MOOUr [INF pue Mau OF Burt} 30S Aq paberoar vyep yd1eD - ¢ *61y
NOOW 714
z
m
P)
b>
@
m
>
S|
(2)
=
~
”
m
=
=~
so
°
e
Ss
a
&
36
*atqnon 1ea6 Jo asneoaq soy spunod Qo0 ‘r 9% 000
autas-asind buryybrpYybra yore OF YOIeO [10] 0} SUTpILS payeos pue
YSEWNN
6 payeurtyse Jog JUNODDe 0} papuayxe usaq sey Tz eTdureg ‘aTdures
‘Sursey peamp onuepy ‘outpaes ystueds yo ‘y6ram Aq ‘uornqryW0D peutqutoD - 9 *614
JIDNVS
6961‘ “1daS — NOOW MAN | 696!‘ 1SNONV — NOON 71N4 | 6961 ‘isNONy — NOOW M3N
|
_v2 ¢2 ee Ie O02 6! Sil 9gi_ Si vi
JK]
COLL LL
Clerc) SOG See EOS See Vee
HOLVD WLOL
~~
a)
°
€
=]
a.
7)
~~
S3NIGUVS Q3'1W9S~_
ONINYSH CE
S3NIGUVS HSINVS
$31I93dS YSHLO T1V
Compared with conventional daytime purse-
seine fishing in general study area, our nightly
total catch average was lower than average of
4,000 pounds per set reported by captain of
our chartered bait seiner.
C. Summary and Conclusions
This study indicates that artificial light can
be used to aggregate coastal pelagic fishes, the
greatest latent commercial potential in Gulf
of Mexico, These species can be attracted
throughout night, although moon phase, prob-
ably because of ambient light levels, appears
to affect size of aggregations.
The pattern of fish aggregation indicates
that effectiveness of artificial light depends
onfish density, as would be expected for any
passive attracting gear, For maximum effec-
tiveness, light attraction should be used in
high-fish-density areas. Lights inhigh-densi-
ty areas would need tobe set on more frequent-
ly during night than lights in lowdensity areas.
The formation of large fish concentrations
early in evening would block light and reduce
its continued efficiency, therefore restricting
its potential total night's production. Con-
versely, lights in low-density areas would
need to be set on only once each night just
prior to morning twilight.
We showed that a purse seinecould be set
around an artificial light. Our experience
indicates that fish attracted to light are not
greatly disturbed by encircling net. There-
fore, purse-seine sets can be made slowly
around alight allowing for maximum gear de-
ployment. These sets alsowouldrequire less
skill than for successful conventional sets
because fish remained undisturbed within
light field. Sounsuccessfulsets could almost
be eliminated by using artificial light. An
additional advantage would be financial sav-
ings realized by locating light-fishing sites in
37
knownareas. This would reduce search time,
a high cost in purse seining.
Nightly totalcatches from our single light
source ranged from 500 to 6,300 pounds, and
averaged about 2,500 pounds throughout 3
fishing periods. Despite advantages, use of
light as accessory technique to purse seining
is not likely to be accepted by fishing indus-
try until catches can be increased,
Preliminary observations indicate that
fish follow a slow-moving light for short dis-
tances. This suggests that fish aggregations
from several lights possibly could be led to
single area for more efficient harvesting.
Considerably more study is required before
feasibility of leading fish can be determined
and useful techniques developed for incorpo-
ration into a fishery.
This study strengthened our contention that
artificial light can be developed as a supple-
ment to conventional purse seining for more
efficient harvesting of latent coastal pelagic
resource of Gulf of Mexico. It provides en-
couraging indications that artificial light can
be incorporated into proposed National Ma-
rine Fisheries Service netless harvesting
system (Klima, 1970), The studies required
for both immediate and long-term applica-
tions of light attraction are now in progress
at the National Marine Fisheries Service,
Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base,
Pascagoula, Mississippi.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Bennie A, Rohr, National Marine Fisheries
Service, Pascagoula, Mississippi, provided
species identifications and assisted in field
work. John R. Watson Jr., cooperative stu-
dent, University of West Florida, manned light
skiff.
LITERATURE
von BRANDT, A.
1960. Fishing methods in world sardine fisheries. In Proceed-
ings of World Scientific Meeting on the Biology of
Sardines and Related Species, Ed. Rosa, H. Jr. and G.
Murphy, Rome, 1959, vol. Il, Subject Synposis No.
3.: 563-623.
BULLIS, HARVEY Rey Jr. and JAMES S, CARPENTER
1968, Latent fishery resources of the central west Atlantic
region, In Fishery Resources of the World, Uni. of
Wash., Publications in Fisheries (New Series), vol.
IV: 61-64,
and JOHN Re THOMPSON
1967. Progress in exploratory fishing and gear research in
Region 2, fiscal year 1966. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv.,
Circ. 265, 14 pp.
BUTLER, JOHNNY A.
1961. Developmentof a thread-herring fishery in the Gulf of
Mexico. Commer. Fish. Rev. 23(9): 12-17. (Also
Reprint No. 628.)
FUSS, CHARLES M., Jr.
1968. The new thread herring fishery in eastern Gulf of
Mexico, Commer. Fish. Rev. 30(6): 36-41. (Also
Reprint No. 816.)
38
LITERATURE (Contd. }
FUSS, CHARLES M., Jr., JOHN A. KELLY, Jr., and
KENNETH W, PREST, Jr.
1969. Gulf thread herring: Aspects of the developing fishery
and biological research. Proc. Gulf Carib. Fish-
Inst., 21st Ann. Sess., Fla., Nov. 1969: 111-125.
GAUTHER, M.
1969. PecheravecLampes immergees Comme pratiquer dans
le GolfSaint-Laurent. (Fishing with submerged lamps
as practiced in the Gulf of St. Laurent}. In Pro-
ceedings of the FAO Conference on Fish Behaviour in
Relation to Fishing Techniques and Tactices, Ed.
Ben-Tuvia, A. and W. Dickson, Bergen, Norway,
19-27 October 1967, FAO Fish Rep. No. 62, vol. 3
551-556 (with English Abstract}.
KLIMA, EDWARD F,
1970. Theautomated fishing platform. Presented FAO Tech-
nical Conference on Fish Finding, Purse Seining and
Aimed Trawling, Reykjavik, Iceland, 24-30 May
1970, F11: ££/70/3, 9 pp.
STROM, P.
1969. Philippine purse seining with light attraction. In_
Proceedings of the FAO Conference on Fish Behaviour
in Relation to Fishing Techniques and Tactics, Ed.
Ben-Tuvia, A and W. Dickson, Bergen, Norway, 19-
27 October 1969, FAO Fish Rep. No. 62, vol. 3:
681-685.
WICKHAM, DONALD A,
1970. Collecting coastal pelagic fishes with artificial light
and a 5-meterliftnet. Commer, Fish. Rev. 32(12):
52-57. (Also Reprint No. 898.}
Evidence indicates that —~—
A PREMIX OF FPC & WHEAT FLOUR
CAN BE MADE & TRANSPORTED
Virginia D, Sidwell, Bruce R. Stillings,
& George M. Knobl Jr.
The authors conducted a study to determine if
mixtures of wheat flour and fish protein concentrate
(FPC) would tend to separate during the agitation
of amechanical shaker. Mixtures of 90% wheat flour
and 10% FPC were placed on a shaker for 168 hours,
Despite differences in particle size between the
wheat flour andthe FPCs, there was no evidence of
separation.
FPC is intendedtobe used as a protein in-
gredientin foods, It has been used success-
fully in a variety of baked products (Sidwell,
etal., 1970). Whenused in products based on
wheat flour, FPC either could be added di-
rectly to the other ingredients--or an FPC-
wheat flour premix could be prepared and used
later in the products, The premix would
be advantageous because it could be prepared
easily in bulk at large industrial centers. It
could then be shipped and distributed to food-
processing plants inthis country or in foreign
countries.
Wheat flour and FPC particles, however,
may differ in size and other characteristics,
Because of these differences, separation
might occur during shipment and result ina
non-uniform premix, The purpose of our ex-
periment, therefore, was todetermine if mix-
tures of wheat flour and FPC separated when
subjected to continuous agitation,
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The wheat flour used was a patent, bro-
mated, enriched bread flour obtained from the
Pillsbury Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The FPC was prepared by isopropyl alco-
hol extraction of red hake (Urophycis chuss)
(Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, 1966).
Two FPC samples were used that had been
ground indifferent mills to produce material
with different particle sizes. One sample was
milledin a Rietz disintegrator!/ and was rel-
atively coarse; the second sample was milled
in a fluidenergy mill and was relatively fine.
The wheat flour and the two FPC samples
were analyzed for crude protein by the method
described in Section 2,044 of the AOAC Meth-
ods of Analysis (1965). The moisture content
was analyzed by drying the samples ina
forced-air oven for 16 hours at 100° C, Ash
was determined by burning the samples ina
muffle furnace for 16 hours at 550° C,
The particle size distribution of the sam-
ples was determined with a Ro-Top Testing
Sieve Shaker. This consisted of a series of
four U.S. Bureau of Standard Sieves, which
had the following pore sizes: 149, 105, 44,
and 37 microns. One hundred-g samples were
placed onthe top sieve andthe shaker was run
continuously for 30 minutes, The material
remaining on each sieve was then weighed
separately.
Dr. Sidwell is Supervisory Food Technologist, Dr. Stillings, Supervisory Research Chemist, & Dr. Knobl, Research Director,
National Center for Fish Protein Concentrate, National Marine Fisheries Service, College Park, Maryland 20740.
1/Trade names are used merely to facilitate descriptions; no endorsement is implied.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 901
40
The bulk density of the wheat flour and FPC
samples was determined also. Each sample
was carefully poured into a 25-ml graduated
cylinder withan opening of 1 cm, The sample
was removed and weighed. The bulk density
was calculated by dividing the 25-ml volumes
into the weight of the sample.
Two wheat flour-FPC mixtures were pre-
pared: one contained the coarsely ground
FPC, the other the finely ground FPC, Each
mixture weighed 2 kg, andeach contained 90%
wheat flour and 10% FPC. Two wide-mouth,
1-gallon glass bottles were lined with poly -
ethylene bags. The wheat flour-FPC mixtures
were transferred loosely to the bags, which
werethentied. There wasasmall head space
at the top of the containers. The tops were
placed onthe glass jars and they were placed
onan Eberbach mechanical shaker operating
at 60 oscillations per minute. The samples
were allowedtoshake back and forth continu-
ously for 168 hours.
At the end of this period the mixtures had
settled andthere was approximately a 2-inch
head spaceinthe jars. The jars were scored
with a glass cutter and carefully cracked open,
soas not todisturbtheir contents. The poly-
ethylene bags were cut lengthwise. Two ran-
dom samples were takenfrom each of the top,
middle, and bottom portions of the mixtures.
Todetermine if separationhad occurred dur-
ing shaking, these samples were analyzed for
protein, moisture, and ash by the methods
previously described.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the particle size distribu-
tioninthe twosamplés of FPC and the sample
of wheat flour. The Rietz-milled FPC and the
wheat flour were somewhat similar in particle
size distribution. The fluid energy-milled
FPC, however, was considerably finer than
the other two samples. This FPC was not
gritty in texture, whereas the Rietz-milled
FPC had a definite gritty texture.
Table 2 shows the protein and ash contents
and the bulk densities of the wheat flour and
FPC samples, It is evident that there was a
considerable differential between the wheat
flour and the FPCs in their contents of pro-
tein and ash. Also, the bulk density of the
wheat flour was slightly higher than that of
the FPCs.
Table 1 - Particle size distribution of wheat flour and FPC
(fish protein concentrate) sam ples*
Percent by weight of samples held by each screen
FPC
Sieve Sieve Fluid-energy
Opening No. Wheat flour Rietz-milled milled
yp % % %
149 100 0.0 0.5 0.0
105 140 12.3 14.3 0.5
44 325 68.3 44.8 0.6
37 400 16.8 9.0 30.2
<37 - 2.8 30.6 68.2
4 Values are expressed as percent of the sample retained on in-
dicated screen. Values for<37 m are percentages of sam-
ples that passed through screen with openings 37 m in size.
Indicates approximate number of openings per lineal inch for
U. S. Bureau of Standards Standard Screen Series.
eee
Table 2 - Protein and ash contents and bulk densities of wheat
flour and of FPC (fish protein concentrate} samples |
Composition of samples
Samples analyzed Crude protein? Ash Bulk density
% %
Wheat flour 11.8 0.47 0.535
FEC:
Rietz-milled 87.7 13.1 0.488
Fluid energy-milled 87.6 11.5 0.450
4 Values are expressed on a moisture -free basis.
b
Nitrogen x 6.25.
Table 3 shows the protein and ash com-
position of the mixtures of wheat flour and
FPC before and after shaking. After 168
hours of continuous shaking, the protein and
ash contents of the mixtures at the three lo-
cations were nearly identical. These values
were also nearly identical to those for the
whole mixtures before shaking. These results
show that no significant separation occurred
in the mixtures during shaking.
The results from this study indicate that
mixtures of wheat flour and FPC do not tend
to separate during agitation. Although con-
firmation of these results under practical
conditions is needed, they indicate that a pre-
mix of wheat flour and FPC could be prepared
and transported without separation occurring.
41
Table 3 - Protein and ash contents of wheat flour and FPC (fish protein concentrate)
mixtures before and after shaking for 168 hours*
Composition of mixtures
Wheat flour Wheat flour
10% Rietz-milled FPC 10% fluid energy-milled FPC
Time and location of sampling Crude protein Ash Crude protein Ash
% % % %
Before shaking:
Whole mixture . 0. 036. 3 3 sw 20.0 1.84 20.1 1.58
After shaking:
Top of mixture ..0.+.+4-.+e0- 5 20.3 1.79 20.5 iL BY/
Middle of mixture). .j5 03. 2 3s 6 = 20.0 1.79 20.4 1.57
Bottom)of mixture .......+.-«-. 20 aL Aes 20.4 1.57
4 Values are expressed on a moisture-free basis. Each value is an average of duplicate analyses on each of two samples
taken from each location.
b Nitrogen x 6.25.
LITERATURE CITED
ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS SIDWELL, Ve. Dey Be Re STILLINGS, and
1965. Official Methods of Analysis. Association of Official G. M. KNOBL, Jr.
Agricultural Chemists, Washington, D.C. 1970. Fish Protein Concentrate Story. 10. U. S. Bureau of
Commercial Fisheries FPC's: Nutritional Quality and
BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES Use in Foods. Food Technol. 24, p. 876-882.
1966. Marine Protein Concentrate. Fishery Leaflet 584,
U. S. Department of the Interior,
apc
SOVIET SCIENTIST ASSESSES FUTURE
OF WORLD FISHERIES
The Deputy Director of the Soviet Federal
Fisheries and Oceanography Research Insti-
tute, Prof. Peter Moiseev, painted this picture
of the future of world fisheries in 'Vodnyi
Transport! in mid-1970;
The Ocean's Productivity: Bioproductiv-
ity is adequate in only 33% of the total ocean
area--mostly in waters of the Continental
Shelf and Slope, where over 70% of the oceans'
phytoplankton is concentrated, Hnough zoo-
plankton is produced to support 300 million
metric tons of fish and large invertebrates
(squid, crab, and shrimp).
Commercially Exploitable Marine
Grounds: Since most organic productivity
occurs in water layers penetrated by sunlight,
only depths to 600-800 meters can be fished
commercially. The Continental Shelf and
Slope yield 95% of world catch. Only 11% of
ocean is less than 1,000 meters deep. The
biological equilibrium between marine gen-
era, families, and species canbe disrupted by
large-scale commercial fisheries that reduce
abundance of stocks.
Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY): Of
ocean's productivity potential of 300 million
tons, only 90-100 million tons can be har-
vested--provided commercial fisheries are
regulated, which is imperative. In one hour
of trawling, a large stern trawler takes an
annual''crop" of 10 square kilometers of the
Shelf; one purse-seine haul takes the "crop"
of 100-500 square kilometers.
Intensive combined fishing by several na-
tions in relatively small areas has depleted
42
Moiseev cited halibut off U.S.
Pacific coast, flounder off Australia and in
resources,
European waters, Pacific and Atlantic salmon,
and Atlantic Ocean perch,
Expanded World Catch: If commercial
fisheries are regulated effectively, total catch
canbe substantially increased--by expanding
saury, horse mackerel, mackerel, anchovy,
and squid fisheries. The largest concentra-
tions of these occur 100-500 and more kilo-
meters from shore,
Harvesting New Species: Moiseev recom-
mended maxiumum commercial exploitation
of small crustaceans that feed directly on
plankton, especially Antarctic krill. He es-
timated resource at ''many hundred millions
of tons,'' and its MSY greater than today's
world fisheries catch.
Fisheries Management and Fish Farming:
To increase catches, expanded management,
improved fishing techniques and gear, and
organized large-scale fish farms are re-
quired, Moiseev suggested introduction of
marine farms to breed fish, invertebrates,
and algae useful to man.
He proposed that countries with major ma-
rine and distant-water fisheries combine to
"organize a scientifically supported commer-
cial fishery.'' He alsofavored an internation-
ally agreed-upon period to study the oceans!
biological resources, and the conditions,
methods, and techniques for rational
utilization and multiplication of marine
fauna,
STOP MARINE POLLUTION AT SOURCES,
FAO CONFERENCE RECOMMENDS
The only effective way to control pollution
of the environmentistostrike at the sources,
agreed scientists at an FAO conference in
Rome in Dec. 1970. The 415 environmen-
talists recommended ways to maintain the
world''in a state inwhich man can thrive and
evolve."
The conference recognized ‘the urgent
need for a coordinated approach to marine
pollution control'' because this pollution was
caused by agents from the atmosphere and
the land, through river discharges, and by
dumping and other direct contamination of
oceans.
Local Action
Pollution can be countered at the source
inmost cases by applying restraint, by local
action under national jurisdiction, so as to
restrict releases to levels and methods ac-
cepted as potentially harmless."
The possibility of recycling wastes insome
instances was seen as a Solution, The con-
ference recommended that ''research on
waste -recycling techniques inindustry should
be encouraged as widely as possible."
Global Monitoring Needed
A global system for marine pollution mon-
itoring received major attention. The first
objective, the conference agreed, must be to
provide data and information on the state and
trends of ocean pollution. The purpose is to
facilitate management measures and their
enforcement,
As a first step, existing national monitor -
ing programs, particularly in areas witha
risk of heavy pollution, should be encouraged
to cooperate in pilot regional monitoring ex-
ercises, These should be similar to those
now being organized by International Council
for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for North
and Baltic Seas,
A conference resolution stated: ''Such
regional projects will provide the world with
experience both in necessary techniques and
in management of monitoring. They will at
the same time facilitate contacts between the
relevant laboratories regarding the essential
43
basic research, the substances to be moni-
tored, the sampling procedures andthe analy -
ses of pollutants.’
Exploratory Survey Urged
To facilitate establishment of a global
monitoring program, the conference urged a
prompt preliminary exploratory survey by
international cooperation to evaluate ocean
pollution.
The survey's aim would be to "establish
the levels of various substances--natural and
artificially intr oduced--in the water column,
together with their accumulationin the plank-
ton, the benthos (plants and animals at the
bottom of the sea), the fish andthe sediments."
The coastal zone should receive special at-
tention,
The survey should relate to existing and
proposed systems for monitoring terrestrial
environment and the atmosphere.
"Cooperation among the international
agencies responsible for monitoring all three
of these components of the biosphere is es-
sential,'' the conference said. ''Their moni-
toring systems must be developed in close
coordination so as to provide the maximum
information and understanding through col-
laboration,."
Off-Shore Dumping
Deliberate off-shore dumping in the high
seas poses problems: It pollutes. It may
produce physical (handling) problems and
even dangers to fishermen. It may create
international problems if done ''extra-terri-
torially."'
The conference urged that deliberate
dumping of toxic wastes on recognized fish-
ing and other shallow grounds be prohibited."
It noted the accumulation of mercury by
aquatic organisms ''and the tragic conse-
quences of mercury pollutionto human health,
particularly as exemplified by the so-called
'Minimate disease! in Japan, Moreover, be-
cause of the hazards of mercury poisoning
and the banning of contaminated fish, the
fishing industry in many parts of the world
has suffered severe economic losses."
44
The conference said technology now is
available tovirtually eliminate losses caused
by mercury. It recommended that govern-
ments act to "require advanced techniques
for mercury recovery in all factories pro-
ducing mercurial products or using mercury
or its compounds as catalysts, cathodes or
for other purposes in production,"' It also
recommended that ''seed-dressings, slimi-
cides and other mercurial compounds be re-
placed at the earliest possible time by other
non-mercurial subsitutes."
HALT DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS,
SCIENTISTS URGE
Scientists at the FAO Marine Pollution
Conference in Rome, Dec. 1970, urged action
tohalt destruction by pollution of coral reefs.
Reefs were described as "the most biologi-
cally productive of all natural communities,
marine or terrestrial, for which measure-
ments are available,"
Dr. R. E. Johannes, Department of Zool-
ogy, University of Georgia, declared: 'Un-
doubtedly only a smallfraction of the damage
man has done to coral reefs has been recog-
nized and an even smaller fraction has been
brought tothe attention of those who could do
something about it."
Toanticipate man's impact on coral reefs,
Dr. Johannes said, much more study of the
environmental tolerances of the organisms
comprising coralreef communities is needed.
Investigations of corals have shown that these
animals are very important. When they are
killed, other reef fauna soon migrate or die.
This dooms the reef,
Urges Surveys
He urged surveys of reef resources, par-
ticularly near populated areas, "just as we
do with terrestrial communities." He said
economists, biologists, and geologists should
be involved in the surveys--because ''the
courtrooms of societies that respect money
cannot be counted on to be responsive to
aesthetic arguments in pollution cases."
Dr, Johannes noted the State of Hawaii
survey of pollution effects on coral reefs in
Kaneohe Bay. The survey included detailed
evaluation of the monetary value. It "thus
provides at least a partial measurement of
the threat posed by pollution in terms the
voter, the politician and the businessman
understand,"
Extent of Coral Reefs
Lagoons formed by coral reefs are scat-
tered over 190,000,000 square kilometers.
They supply high-quality protein food-fish to
people living near the sea in the tropics,
whereterrestrial sources of protein often are
inadequate. Also, the reefs are buffers
against the ocean. They permit continued
existence of about 400 atolls and many other
low tropical islands. They preserve thous-
ands of miles of continental coastlines.
"The uniquely peaceful and beautiful vistas
that reefs present to the human visitor is a
psychological resource to which any coral
reef diver will bear witness,'' Dr. Johannes
said. Hecitedmany examples of destruction,
or threats of destruction, to coral reefs.
These ranged from Great Barrier Reef off
Australiatothose off Virgin Islands, Jamaica,
and Bermuda,
WORLD FISHERIES CATCH
DROPPED IN 1969
For the first time since 1948, the world's
fisheries catch declined in 1969, The FAO
Yearbook of Fishery Statistics for 1969 (pub-
lished recently) gives 1969 world catchas 63.1
million metric tons; it was 64.3 million tons
in 1968.
The strongest decline was in marine-fish
catch: from 50 million tons in 1968 to 48.6
million in 1969. Actual landings, however,
declined less: from 47.9 million tons to 47.2
million, The mainreason appears tobe lower
productionin some major industrial fisheries
caused by adecrease of about 1.6 million tons
in anchoveta catch, and about 1 million tons
in Atlantic herring catch.
The Leaders
Of the 3 nations with catches above 5 mil-
liontons, only the Soviet catch increased (6.1
to6.5 milliontons); Peru's declined from 10.5
to 9.2 million; Japan's from 8.7 to 8.6 million.
U.S. catch increased from 2.4 to 2.5 mil-
lion tons; U.S. won 5th place from Norway
(down from 2.8 to 2.5 million tons).
1-Million-Ton Club
Among the ''one-million-ton fishing coun-
tries", South Africa dropped from 2.2 to 2.13
milliontons; Indiarose from 1.53 to1.61 mil-
liontons; Canada fell from 1.5 to 1.41 million
tons; Denmark slippedfrom1.47to 1.28 mil-
liontons; Thailand movedup from 1.09 to 1.27
million tons, Indonesia increased from 1.16
to 1.21 million tons; U.K. went up from 1.04
to1.08 million tons; and Chile declined from
1.38 to 1.08 million tons,
The ''one-million-ton fishing countries"
account for about 60% of world catch: 37.7
million tons. ('Fishing News', Dec. 18/24,
1970.)
45
MEETINGS
OCEANEXPO 71 IN FRANCE
MARCH 9-14
Aninternational exhibition on the exploita-
tion of the oceans will be held in Bordeaux,
southern France, March 9-14. A helicopter
shuttle will transport visitors from airport
to exhibit center.
The program includes these subjects:
Exploitation of Ocean Resources
Industrial Development of the Continental
Shelf
Exploration of the Marine Environment
Possiblities of Exploiting Ocean Depths
Industrial Development of the Seacoast
Marketing Marine Products and Develop-
ing Marine Cultivation
Analyzing and Forecasting Environmental
Conditions
WORLD FISHING EXHIBITION
IN DUBLIN MARCH 24-30
Dublin, Ireland, is hosting the 5th biennial
World Fishing Exhibition, formerly held in
London, during March 24-30. The sponsors
say 15 or 16 countries will be represented.
Concurrent with the exhibit of many engines
will be a display of fish and fish products at
new British rail terminal at Dun Laoghaire,
not far from main exhibition.
FISHERIES TRADE FAIR
IN DENMARK MAY 14-23
The 7th International Fisheries Trade Fair
will be heldin Frederikshavn, Denmark, May
14-23,1971. An exhibition area and mooring
accommodations are available.
The fair will include "fishing vessels of
all constructions,'’ marine engines, deck
machines, nets and ropes, navigation and life -
saving equipment, and electronic gear.
There are daily sailings between Fred-
erikshavn and Norway and Sweden.
46
. Davies)
mmunal fish pond.
D.G.O
et fish in co
(FAO photo:
s
Indonesia,
2
Villagers in Java
ASIA
JAPAN
EXPAND SKIPJACK-TUNA SURVEYS IN
SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC
The Japanese Fisheries Agency and priv-
ate firms are continuing to expand their skip-
jack-tuna surveys in southwestern Pacific.
Back in 1968, the Agency's 'Toshitaka
Maru! (186 gross tons) traveled to Papua and
New Guinea on 3-month survey to help es-
tablish Japanese-Australian ventures there.
Since then, the vessel has conducted three 2-
3 month surveys.
1969 & 1970 Surveys
In 1969, the Shizuoka Prefectural Fish-
eries Experimental Station sent 'Fuji Maru'
(332 gross tons) and 'Suruga Maru! (186
gross tons) to southwestern Pacific. The
latter is still investigating there.
In 1969 and 1970, the Fisheries Associa-
tion of Japan conducted a government-sub-
sidized survey of land facilities in New Guinea
area to determine feasibility of establishing
foreign-affiliated ventures.
Firms Interested
Based onthe Agency's survey data, Japa-
nese firms are keenly interested in develop-
ing skipjack resource. Kyokuyo Hogei joined
Australianinterests to form Gollin Kyokuyo,
now shrimp fishing in Gulf of Carpentaria,
Hogei has been conducting exploratory pole-
and-line skipjack fishing off New Ireland Is-
land since March 1970 with 1,000-gross-ton
mothership 'Akitsu Maru No. 5! and three
39-gross-ton Okinawan vessels.
Full-Scale Fishing
Catches have been good--4-5 metric tons
per vessel per day of fishing--and the joint
company will begin full-scale commercial
fishing thisyear. It will build a cold storage
in Kavieng, New Ireland.
Other Exploratory Fishing
Two other firms, Hokoku Suisan and Nihon
Suisan, are scheduled to start exploratory
skipjack fishing from Manus Island off north-
ern New Guinea.
47
The Japanese Overseas Fishery Company
at Penang, Malaysia, will fish in that region
from its base at Rabaul, New Britain Island
(Bismarck Archipelago). ('Katsuo-maguro
Tsushin', Nov. 2; 'Suisan Tsushin', Oct. 31,
1970.)
Ok Ok
SEINER TO FISH TUNA IN
E, TROPICAL PACIFIC & ATLANTIC
The 500-gross-ton Japanese purse seiner
'Hakuryu Maru No, 55', owned by Kawajiri
Fisheries Co,, left Japan Nov. 16, 1970, for
easterntropical Pacific yellowfin tuna regu-
latory area.
The vessel was scheduled to fish yellow-
fin tuna from early December 1970 until
April 1971, and then proceed via Panama
Canal to eastern Atlantic. There, it will
fish off Ghana from July to Nov. 1971.
Failed in 1969
In 1969, vessel failed dismally in eastern
Pacific yellowfin fishery. Her crew is de-
termined to improve. ('Suisan Keizai Shim-
bun', Nov. 17, 1970.)
KK OK
VESSEL EXPLORES FOR TUNA
IN SOUTHEAST PACIFIC
The Government-chartered, Taiyo-owned
314-gross-ton longliner 'Azuma Maru No. 38',
built in 1970, is exploring the tuna resource
of southeast Pacific. US$178,000 was bud-
geted for fiscal year 1970 (Apr. 1970-Mar.
OTL) 's
Not Much Success
She began exploring southeastern Pacific
on Aug. 3, 1970, without much success. In
Sept., she caught 55 tons of fish, which in-
cluded 61% albacore and 35% big-eyed. Her
catch in Oct. 1970 totaled only 28 tons (78%
big-eyed tuna mixed with albacore, yellowfin,
and swordfish). In early Nov. 1970, she ex-
plored near 25° S, latitude and 87° W. longi-
tude (off northern Chile).
survey south of 40°S.
Return to Japan is
('Katsuo-maguro
The vessel will
latitude for bluefin tuna.
scheduled for Mar. 1971.
Tsushin', Nov. 12, 1970.)
pO ca,
se kiosk
48
JAPAN (Contd.):
FISH ILLEGALLY FOR KING CRAB
OFF WESTERN KAMCHATKA
The Japanese fear that a king-crab poach-
ing incident may affect Soviet-Japanese 1971
crab negotiations, In late Oct. 1970, the
Japanese Maritime Safety Agency (MSA)
raided 3 fishing vessels and a warehouse in
Miyagi Prefecture and confiscated 25,000
cases (15 kg. each) of king crab.
MSA is pressing charges against 2 Yasu-
kata-based companies for illegally fishing
king crab in restricted areas of Okhotsk Sea
off western Kamchatka between August and
mid-Oct. 1970.
1969 Incident Too
In 1969, another firm was involved in an
identical situation, Its vessel had illegally
caught king crab in area of Okhotsk Sea
where fishing had not been authorized by
Japan-USSR Fisheries Agreement. At that
time, the Japanese confiscated 2,000 cases
and suspended one vessel for a month,
(‘Japan Times', Oct. 31, 1970.)
25,000 Cases Confiscated
MSA believes 1970's poaching was in part
an attempt by firm to compensate for losses
resulting from 1969 poaching,
The 25,000 cases confiscatedin 1970 were
worth US$280,000--about 14% of Japanese
king crab quota off western Kamchatka under
USSR-Japan King Crab Agreement,
Ok OK
LAUNCH STERN TRAWLER & REFRIGER-
ATED TRANSPORTS FOR S, KOREA
A 3,000-gross-ton stern trawler ('Kaey-
ang') and a 1,650-ton refrigerated transport
'Chilbosan No. 3' ordered by Koryo Fishing
Co. of S. Korea were launched at Hayaskikane
Shipyard in Nagasaki,
Another 1,650-toncarrier, 'Chilbosan No.
5', is being built at a Korean shipyard in
Pusan,
The 3,000-ton 'Takyang' was launched at
Hayashikane Shipyard in Shimonoseki for
Koryo,
To Fish Alaska Pollock
Whencompleted end of 1970, the trawlers
willfish Alaska pollock in North Pacific. The
fishis popular in Korea, where it brings high
ae 80 yen a kilogram (US$202 a short
ton).
Koryo's Marketing Plan
Koryoplansto market fish from distribu-
tion point at Pusan. It is building a cold-
storage plant there. Before, Koryohad con-
centrated ontuna fishing for export. Nowitis
expanding fishing operations to supply Korea.
Koryo's Fleets
Including vessels now under construction,
Koryo will have 37 tuna vessels (ten 230-ton
longliners, seventeen 350-ton and ten 530-
ton vessels, a total of 13,550 gross tons); 2
stern trawlers (total 6,000 gross tons); and
four refrigerated transports (total 5,300
gross tons). Combined total: 24,850 gross
tons. ('Suisancho Nippo!', Nov. 26, 1970.)
OK OK
STUDY SHRIMP STOCKS
IN BAY OF BENGAL
Ky okuy 0 Hogeiis exploring shrimp grounds
in northern part of Bay of Bengal. In Sept.
1970, the company began to use a 100-GRT
shrimp trawler based at Khulna (Fast Pakis-
tan). If the 1-year project is successful,
Hogei will establish a joint venture with a
local cold-storage company.
First Joint Venture
The plan was attractive to the Japanese
fishing industry because there had been no
Japanese-Pakistani fishing ventures. For-
eignfishing had been restricted by Pakistani
claims to a 12-mile territorial sea anda
112-mile conservation zone.
In the past, other Japanese firms at-
tempted to work out a similar plan. They
were unsuccessful because the fishing area in
northern part of Bay of Bengal is narrow,
and shrimp season is closed for 6 months.
The peak season is during the winter rains.
("Shin Suisan Sokuho!)
kK OK
JAPAN (Contd.):
SHRIMP TEAM VISITS THAILAND & INDIA
An 8-man Japanese “shrimp mission"
visited Thailand and India for 2 weeks in
Nov. 1970. Itwas sent by the Japanese Fish-
ery Products Importers Assoc.
The team conferred with government and
industry leader on: (1) possibilities of de-
veloping new shrimp grounds; (2) use of small
shrimp and crayfish; (3) more Japanese help
in improving quality; (4) establishing export
inspection system; (5) measures to reduce
Japanese import costs (such as ocean
freight); and (6) more cooperation by Thai-
land and India.
Earlier Mission
Earlier in 1970, Japan had agreed to sell
20 refrigerated trucks, worth about
US$278,000, to Thailandtohelp solve the land
transportation problem. In 1969, Japanese
technicians were sent to Thailand and India
on a 3-month training program to help im-
prove shrimp quality.
Japan Seeks Larger Supply
The Japanese hope that new shrimp grounds
canbe developed in India and other southeast
Asian countries. These would supply Japan
with shrimp she will need in the future.
(‘Nihon Suisan Shimbun', Nov. 6, 1970.)
KOK
JAPANESE ATE LESS FISHERY
PRODUCTS IN 1969
Annual per-capita consumption of fish and
shellfishin Japan in 1969 was 30.7 kilograms
(67.5 pounds), down 5% from the 32.4 kilo-
grams (71.3 pounds) in 1968, This was re-
ported by the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry.
First Drop in Decade
From 1960-1968, per capita consumption
increased steadily. The 1969 decline was the
first in 10 years. ('Suisan Tsushin', Nov.
10, 1970.)
49
MECHANICAL TUNA GEAR
PERFECTED FOR COMMERCIAL USE
The mechanical skipjack-tuna poles, de-
veloped by Suzuki Ironworks, have been es-
tablished as practical labor-saving devices.
On Nov. 28, 1970, 10 units were installed
aboard skipjack vessels and 40 more will be
installed. The Fisheries Agency supports the
new gear.
Commercial Use
The manufacturer has named the device
"Roback K-70", Itisthe only one ready to be
usedcommercially. Several similar devices
are beingdevelopedin Japan, The gear's ef-
fectiveness in southern waters willbe watched
closely. (Suisan Keizai Shimbun’, Dec. 7, 1970)
Prototype Modified
The major problem encountered with the
first gear was that the tensile strength of the
bamboo poles proved uneven. This caused
fishtofall off hook. Suzuki will manufacture
an improved gear. It will also study use of
glass rods to obtain uniform strength.
OK OK
JAPAN PROTESTS U.S. BAN ON
IMPORTING WHALE PRODUCTS
The U.S. placement of eight species of
whales on the endangered species list--thus
barring imports of their products--has stun-
ned the Japanese whaling industry.
In 1969, Japan exported to the U.S. $2.4
million worth of whale meat and oil. This in-
cluded 8,700tons of sperm-whale oil, 87% of
Japan's exports of that product. The U.S.
action will put sperm-whale oil in short supply
inthe U.S. and create a surplus in Japan de-
spite growing domestic demand for it.
Japan Protests
In late Nov. 1970, Japan reportedly pro-
tested to U.S. State Department. She claimed
U.S. action was unjust and urged removal from
endangered list of species whose inclusion
would hurt Japanese industry. ('Suisan Tsu-
shin', Dec. 4; 'Suisan Keizai Shimbun', Nov.
27, 1970.)
50
JAPAN (Contd.):
JAPANESE-PHILIPPINE SHRIMP VENTURE
To increase shrimp purchases from the
Philippines, the Nichiro Fishing Co. recently
established South Sea Fisheries Research Inc.
inpartnership with Ramos Co., alocal Philip-
pine firm. Ramos contributed 70% and Nichiro
30% of the $33,000. Asmallcold-storage plant
was leased at Bacolod, Negros Island, and
began operations Dec. 1, 1970.
Japanese Purchases Rise
Though shrimp is abundant off the Philip-
pines, much is consumed locally and little is
left for exporttoJapan, In Feb. 1970, to stim-
ulate exports and earn hard currency, the
Philippines lowered the exchange rate from
3.9 pesos to6 pesos per US$1. This benefited
Japanese firms, which began to buy more
shrimp.
In1969, Japanhad imported from the Phil-
ippines around 100 metric tons of frozen
shrimp; by the end of October 1970, imports
hadincreasedto230tons. Nichiro purchased
only about 30 tons, but the joint venture is
paving the way toward larger purchases.
('‘Suisan Keizai Shimbun!', Dec. 4, 1970.)
NMFS Comment
Comment by NMFS Division of Foreign
Fisheries:
The Japanese began to show an interest in
Philippine shrimp in late 1968 when it became
obvious that domestic demand would exceed
supplies in the coming years. In Oct. 1968,
the Government subsidized 75% of 1-month
trip of 8-man ''shrimp survey team,'' organ-
ized by Japanese Association of Importers of
Marine Products, through Southeast Asia; the
Philippines wasincluded, Findings were pub-
lished in Dec. 1968: Japanese traders were
warned that quality of shrimp imports from
Philippines might be below standard. Shrimp
dealers are concentrated in Manila--but
shrimp are landed in other ports and transfer -
red to Manila with considerable delay. Sup-
plies were limited and high priced.
In 1969, the Philippines caught about 53,100
metric tons of shrimp (29,600 tons were fresh-
water species). This was only 10% above 1968,
when 49,000 tons of marine and fresh-water
shrimp were landed.
ok OE
PLANS JOINT FISHING VENTURE
IN GAMBIA
The fishing firm, Nichiro, and trading firm,
Marubeni lida, have agreed with Gambian
Government and local firms to form a joint
fishing and processing venture in Gambia in
Jan, 1971. Capitalization is US$240,000:
Marubeni Iida, 37%; Nichiro 35%; Gambia 10%;
and local private interests 18%.
The Plans
The company willfishfor tuna and shrimp,
and process and freeze fish. The Japanese
partners were requested to construct a 500-
ton cold storage plant by May 1971 and to
provide trawlers.
Crayfish will be harvested with canoes
and nets, processed, and exported mainly to
France --but alsoto other European countries.
(‘Suisan Tsushin', Dec. 8, 1970.)
KOK OK
SURVEY COSTA RICAN &
NICARAGUAN FISHERIES
Two experts of the Japanese Fisheries
Agency surveyed Costa Rican and Nicaraguan
fisheries throughout Nov. 1970. Costa Rica
and Nicaragua had requested the surveys to
promote their fisheries.
Interested In Skipjack
The team studied the fisheries, including
only skipjack among the tunas. It will deter-
mine the feasibility of Japanese fishery co-
operation, The agency is especially inter-
ested in skipjack resource; Costa Rica and
Nicaragua want todevelop it because U.S. tuna
packers import much raw skipjack. ('Katsuo-
maguro Tsushin', Nov. 13, 1970.)
OK OK
SOUTH KOREA
PLANS TO QUADRUPLE
OYSTER PRODUCTION
The Republic of Korea (ROK) Fisheries
Office will spend about 2.6 billion won (US$9.4
million) in a 6-year periodto quadruple oys-
ter production. Oyster culture off southern
coast will be improved with funds from ROK,
local governments, and private interests.
Annual Allocations
Annualallocations: 1970: 300 million won
($1.1 million); 1971: 488 million won ($1.8
million); 1972: 488 million won($1.8 million);
1973: 300 million won ($1.1 million), 1974:
677 million won($2.5 million); 1975: 300 mil-
lion won($1.1 million). Total: 2,553 million
won ($9.4 million).
35% Rise Yearly Needed
The Director General of Korean Fisheries
Agency emphasized need to increase oyster
51
culture at rate of 35% a year to meet growing
demand at home and abroad.
Toincrease production, 10,000 cho (1 cho
equals 2.45 acres) will be developed off south-
ern coast during 6-year period.
1970 Construction
A freezing plant of 600-ton capacity and
a cold storage of 150-ton capacity were
scheduled to be built in 1970 for 50 million
won ($187,000).
1976 Oyster Output
ROK's oyster production in 1976 would
total 24,000 metric tons, of which 14,000 met-
ric tons would be exported: 10,000 tons fresh,
2,000 tons frozen, and 2,000 tons canned.
(‘Suisan Tsushin')
Sanyung Frozen Sea Food Co. in Pusan, $. Korea. FAO reports that fishing industry provides about 85% of annual protein needs of
people--and is a major source of foreign exchange.
(FAO photo)
EUROPE
NORWAY
FIRST FACTORY SHIP ON FISHING
EXPEDITION OFF AFRICA
The Norwegian factory ship 'Norglobal',
with 12 purse seiners, is fishing east of Ca-
nary Islands. The vessels plan to return to
Norway in summer 1971.
The Norglobal has a 24-hour maximum
production capacity of 3,000 tons of raw ma-
terial. Raw material storage capacity equals
40 hours of continuous operation. The pellet
storage facilities canhold about 10,000 met-
ric tons; fish-oil storage capacity is about
2,400 tons.
Independent of Ports
The vesselcanload and unload supplies in
the open sea and so is independent of ports.
The crew numbers 60.
Operating conditions and availability of
fish will be decisive factor indetermining how
long to fish.
The vessel is seeking horse-mackerel.
Its Owners,
The Norglobal, 26,500 deadweight tons, is
owned by Sigurd Herlofsen and Co., Oslo, and
7 fishing-boat owners from North Norway.
('Fiskaren', Nov. 19, 1970.)
ral
DENMARK
FAROE ISLAND FISHERY EXPORTS
INCREASED 53% DURING 1970
Final figures on 1970 Faroese fishery ex-
ports were expected to set a record. During
the first 9 months, the value of exports was
$22.8 million--more than 53% above $14.8
million during 1969 period. Over 95% of these
exports were products bought mostly by Italy
(saltfish) and the U.S. (frozen fish).
U.S. Agents
To increase exports to North American
market, the Faroese Fish Export Central in
Thorshayn, ''Féroya Fiskaséla,'' is coopera-
52
ting with large Icelandic sales firm in U.S.,
the Coldwater Seafood Corporation, which
will represent Faroese producers.
Coldwater's shareholders are all Icelandic
producers who belong to Icelandic Freezing
Plants Corp. in Reykjavik; the latter has 60-70
fish filleting factories as members in Iceland.
Corporation exports of frozen fishery prod-
ucts are being handled by Coldwater, which
has established a strong sales organization
during the last 70 years. Exports to the U.S.
during 1970 were expected to reach US$50
million.
To Meet U.S. Demands
Up to now, Faroese producers have only
exported filleted cod and haddock in blocks to
U.S., but they will begin to ship individual
consumer packs invarious sizes to meet de-
mand of U.S. housewife at supermarkets.
('Politiken', Dec. 15, 1970.)
i}
UNITED KINGDOM
NEW FISH-LABELING REGULATIONS
SCHEDULED FOR 1973
Fish-labeling regulations originally slated
for the U.K. in 1970 will not be put into effect
until 1973.
Requirements for salmon and tuna are of
specific interest to U.S. exporters. The fish
must be appropriately designated''according
tospecies. Only Thunnus and Neothunnus will
qualify for labeling as tuna, Other species
will have to be named specifically: albacore
tuna, skipjack tuna, and bonito tuna.
Labeling Salmon
Similarly, only Salmo. salar will qualify
for straight salmon labeling. Other species
will have to be designated as cherry salmon,
pink salmon, chinook salmon, sockeye salmon,
or as otherwise specified.
The U.S. Embassy in London is looking
into the labeling provisions under the Fish
and Meat Spreadable Products Regulations
1968 to see howthese will affect U.S. exports
of flaked andchopped salmon and tuna. (U.S.
Embassy, London, Dec. 21, 1970.)
WEST GERMANY
WEST GERMANS DEBATE IMPORT OF
HERRING FROM EAST EUROPE
Herring imports from eastern Europe are
dividing the W. German fishing industry.
Processors want cheaper imports, but fisher -
men's associations complain about unfair
competition. The ''war' was being fought in
press releases, reported the fishing journal
‘Allgemeine Fischwirtschaftszeitung' on Oct.
9, 1970.
The Processors! Association claims it is
impossible to operate with herring prices up
asmuchas 15-20%, It criticizes protective
measures" that make it impossible to import
"good and cheap herring" from East Europe.
Only by ''mixed" prices--prices reflecting
cheap E. European herring and more expen-
sive domestic herring--will herring consump-
tion in W. Germany remain high.
Alarm About More Imports
The Fishermen's Association provides
about half the rawherring needed by German
processors each year. It complains about
"dumping prices" of Eastern imports. These
prevent normal planning. Increases in im-
ports at much low prices might even endanger
industry's profitability.
The journal noted that herring imports
from East Europe were substandard quality by
West German standards. It warned against
excessive reliance on ''East Bloc'' imports
that were sensitive to political developments.
This referred to Soviet pressure on Iceland
in early 1950s, when former refused to buy
herring because Iceland had joined NATO;
this almost collapsed the entire Icelandic in-
dustry.
The W. Germanindustry obtains about 30%
of its annualherring catchfrom Georges Bank
(in 1969, 72,000 metric tons of 253,000 tons
caught inICNAF area), If E. Europeanimports
depress herring price, it may become pro-
hibitive for W. Germany to fish so far away.
Its attention might turn then to North Sea
grounds, especially if resources there im-
prove.
53
USSR
FISHERMEN CLAIM SOVIET-BUILT STERN
FACTORY TRAWLERS ARE DEFECTIVE
A new series of trawlers specially de-
signed and built in the Soviet Union for tropical
and Antarctic seasis totally inadequate to its
task, according toa recent article in 'Pravda',
The article was sparkedbyaletterfrom three
crew members of the new trawler 'Pioner
Latvii'. They complained that on a short trip
it was impossible to attain the planned catch
quota. They criticized the official who or-
dered mass productionof the series. The de-
sign did not correspond to modern require -
ments and the equipment was defective, they
charged.
The Charges
The design was presented by the Lenin-
grad firm, MORPROMSUD, which "tried to
stuff heavy, untested, and poorly assembled
equipment into the hullof an old design." The
vessel was put into mass production despite
considerable expense, bother, and disputes.
The cost overruns on the Pioner Latvii and
her successors, 'Volzhanin'and 'Sakelkhard!
ran to 50% of original estimates.
Defects
The automatic equipment does not corres-
pond to designers! concepts, fishermen's re-
quirements, nor to Soviet technical standards.
The designers under P. Tkachev created an
automated, self-refrigerating unit. No spe-
cialized enterprise was brought in when these
refrigeration units were designed. The Min-
istry of Shipbuilding entrusted job to Black
Sea shipbuilders. They installed units into 3
vessels without tests. ''The refrigerators do
not freeze the fish. . .they heat them," com-
plained Pravda.
04
(FAO)
Bags of fish meal stacked outside Peruvian factory.
LATIN AMERICA
PERU
FISHMEAL OUTPUT ROSE
Peru produced a record 2.3 million short
tons of fishmealinyear ending Sept. 30, 1970.
This wasincrease of 437,000 tons, 23%, over
same period 1968-69.
The increase reflected large improvement
in average meal extraction rate and expan-
sion of total catch by 6% to record 11.7 mil-
lion tons,
1969-70 Exports Down
Exports in 1969-70, just over 2 million
tons, were down 7%. The volume was equi-
valent to125 million bushels of soybean pro-
tein, 9 million fewer than in 1968-69. Most
of reduction was reflected in smaller move -
ment to U.S.
Fishmeal Production & Exports
Year
eginning Fish Extraction Fishmeal Fishmeal Residual
Oct. 1 Catch Rate Prod. Exports
Million
Short Tons Percent (Million Short Tons)
1964-65 8.3 18.6 159) il sbY/ -.02
1965-66 8.8 18.5 1.63 1.30 aroete)
1966-67 9.0 W/o) 159) 1.55 +.04
1967 -68 10.8 21.0 2.27 2.11 +.16
1968-69 11.0 17.1 1.88 2.28 -.30
1969-70 11.7 19.8 2.32 2.03 Pole)
1970-711/ 12.0 19.5 2.34 = :
1/Projected.
These data come from 'Foreign Agricul-
ture', published by U.S. Department of Agr-
culture, Dec. 21, 1970.
Magazine's Assessment of 1970-71 Outcome
Althoughitisearly to attempt assessment
of final 1970-71 outcome, the magazine cau-
tions, it makes these observations:
55
(1) Total tonnage of landed anchovy has
increased every year since 1962-63 by aver-
age volume of over 700,000 tons. Annual in-
creases ranged from 200,000 to 1,800,000
tons.
(2) The average meal extraction has been
erratic within a range of 17 to 21%. Toa
large extent, the extraction rate is subject
to seasonal variations in uncontrollable fish-
ing conditions,
(3) Upgrading of fish-processing equip-
ment to include evaporators for recovery of
fish solubles could, potentially, increase
overall extraction rate by at least
10%.
(4) In 1969, the Peruvian industry added
75 new catcher boats. An even larger num-
ber was being added in 1970.
(5) Assuming no substantial reduction in
1971 year-class of anchovies, it seems likely
that 1970-71 catch will increase somewhat.
The widely varying extraction rate may be
estimated at slightly above average rates of
last 3 years. So production might approxi-
mate last season's record volume.
(6) Available exports, including stocks,
will rise--perhaps near 2.7 million tons, or
270,000 above year earlier. Estimated in-
crease in supplies would be equivalent to
about 18 million bushels of soybean
protein,
Page
30.
39...
INDEX
UNITED STATES:
.. U.S. & USSR Hold Scientific Exchange On
Northeast Pacific Fishery Problems
U.S. and Japan Conclude Fishery Agreements
Fishery Products Situation, by Donald R.
Whitaker
1970 Albacore Landings Top 1969's
'Kelez' Conducts Salmon Research Fishing
Cruise, by Robert R. French
1970 Oregon Coho Catch Was Weight Record
Anchovy Fishery Passes Midpoint Toward
Quota
Mercury Residues Sharply Affect U.S. Im-
ports From Japan
DDT Level Increases in Lanternfish
Alaska:
od I971 Drop in Alaskan Salmon Predicted
Industry Suggests Shrimp Quota for Kodiak
Live Alaska Crabs Flow Steadily to Hawaii
Salmon Roe Market Is Expanding
Pacific Whale Watchers Are At Their Posts
Water Pollution Killed 41 Million Fish in 1969
Water-Quality Drop in Upper Great Lakes
Threatens Native Fish
. . Lummi Indians! Aquaculture Project Nears
Commercial Production
Commercial Aquaculture in New England Is
Years Off
Gloucester Fishermen Aided By Women's
Group
Oceanography:
TIomar Challenger’ Replaces Drill Bit 3
Miles Down
15 U.S. Ships Study Deep Ocean & Coastal
Waters
nie Plan Continental-Shelf Lab Off Texas
Surveying the World's Coral Reefs
Recovering Undersea Treasures
.. 8 Universities Buy Their Ocean Lab Site
On L.I.'s Eastern Tip
VIMS Develops Coastal Environmental &
Engineering Data Center
Navy Succeeds in Getting Ocean Data Via
Buoy-Satellite Hookup
.. Navy Develops Deep-Diving System
Dead Mangrove Leaves Support Aquatic
Life
.. NOAA Awards Sea Grant to Study Sponges!
Antibiotic Substances
ARTICLES:
. In the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico ——__
Harvesting Coastal Pelagic Fishes With
Artificial Light & Purse Seine, by Donald A.
Wickham
Evidence indicates that
A Premix of FPC & Wheat Flour Can Be
Made & Transported, by Virginia D. Sidwell,
Bruce R. Stillings, & George M. Knobl Jr.
56
Page
42..
43)...
44...
45...
ERS 0
45...
45...
GUS 6
ANlgems
CU D6
48...
48...
48. .
LQ) 30
One
49...
EY 305
50..
DON.
50..
Bik og
52...
52...
52...
53...
BS) 5/6
55...
56.
INTERNATIONAL:
Soviet Scientist Assesses Future of World
Fisheries
Stop Marine Pollution At Sources, FAO Con-
ference Recommends
Halt Destruction of Coral Reefs, Scientists
Urge
World Fisheries Catch Dropped in 1969
Meetings:
Oceanexpo 71 in France, March 9-14
World Fishing Exhibition in Dublin,
March 24-30
Fisheries Trade Fair in Denmark,
May 14-23
Asia:
Japan:
Expand Skipjack-Tuna Surveys in Southwest-
ern Pacific
Seiner to Fish Tuna in E. Tropical Pacific
& Atlantic
Vessel Explores for Tuna in Southeast Pa-
cific
Fish Illegally for King Crab Off Western
Kamchatka
Launch Stern Trawler & Refrigerated Trans-
ports for S. Korea
Study Shrimp Stocks in Bay of Bengal
Shrimp Team Visits Thailand & India
Japanese Ate Less Fishery Products in 1969
Mechanical Tuna Gear Perfected For Com-
mercial Use
Japan Protests U.S. Ban On Importing Whale
Products
Japanese-Philippine Shrimp Venture
Plans Joint Fishing Venture in Gambia
Survey Costa Rican& Nicaraguan Fisheries
South Korea:
Plans to Quadruple Oyster Production
Europe:
Norway:
First Factory Ship On Fishing Expedition
Off Africa
Denmark:
Faroe Island Fishery Exports Increased 53%
During 1970
United Kingdom:
New Fish-Labeling Regulations Scheduled
For 1973
West Germany:
West Germans Debate Import Of Herring
From East Europe
USSR:
Fishermen Claim Soviet-Built Stern Factory
Trawlers Are Defective
Latin America:
Peru:
Fishmeal Output Rose
. INDEX
w U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1971 435-339/7
BACK COVER: Thousands of miles from
Alaskan cover girl, these men are catch-
ing tuna.
SS Te
A UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE
PUBLICATION
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
GY
aes Revi
en ead eview
VOL. 33, NO. 2 ae FEBRUARY 1971
WESS
DEPARTMENT
OF
COMMERCE
National
Oceanic and
Atmospheric
Administration
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Maurice H. Stans, Secretary
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Robert M. White Howard W. Pollock John W. Townsend, Jr.
Administrator Deputy Administrator Associate Administrator
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Philip M. Roedel, Director
COVER: Unloading catch from a dugout canoe in Dahomey.
Until recently, lagoon fishing supported about 100,000 people. But
deterioration of this source has forced fishermen to go to sea. They
have been helped by FAO project involving use of outboard motors
ontheir canoes. These enable them to seek out previously inacces-
sible offshore grounds. (FAO: G. Tortoli)
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
A comprehensive view of United States and foreign
fishing industries--including catch, processing, market-
ing, research, and legislation--prepared by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (formerly Bureau of Commer -
cial Fisheries).
a) IN snips? =
- 1623 you
FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL--GLOUCESTER, MASS,
I
Managing Editor: Edward Edelsberg
Production: Jean Zalevsky
Alma Greene
Throughout this book, the initials NMFS stand for the
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, part of
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Address correspondence and requests to: Commercial Fisheries Review, 1801 North
Moore Street, Room 200, Arlington, Va. 22209. Telephone: Area Code 703 - 557-4246.
Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement. The
Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions of these sources.
Although the contents have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference
to source is appreciated.
Use of funds for printing this publication was approved by the Director, Bureau of the
Budget, April 18, 1968.
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402.
Price 60 cents (single copy). Subscription Price: $7.00 a year; $2 additional for foreign mailing.
CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
Bventshandelacends) 2) iustarc seceniee ss « sce 6 ceeee
ARTICLES
FPC: The NMFS Experiment & Demonstration
Plant Process, by Robert C. Ernst Jr. .....
Current Skipjack Oceanography Cruises in East-
ern Tropical Pacific Ocean, by F. Williams. .
Factors Affecting Exvessel Prices of Skipjack
Tuna in Hawaii, by Yung C. Shang ...... 0 6
A Buoyline Coiling Device, by Ian Ellis and
Gans me Overs C hyve wefich s) ee cicer (= lenox o'er (opie) eftel le! 6] <ee/6
Technical Note: Fish Proteins As Binders in
Processed.Fishery Products, by R. J. Learson,
B. L. Tinker, and’L. J. Ronsivalli........
Glucose Oxidase Reduces Oxidation in Frozen
Shrimp, by Carolyn Kelley ........6. oie
PAIS TOL US vey mene tewipien ghar icacaeeeicnigy alinlne GF §
EU UT OPS Lira. Samar eihen Siew enet eee lots a ce atte Mae Cmca
TINT) FOG oueneeMepe t sieaclianst stele ie toa. oo chis. cts) as as
Page
III
IV
B AREAS ALTERED BY DREDGING
ST. PETERSBURG
SITE OF PROPOSED FILL
( ZABEL- RUSSELL CASE)
LOCATION MAP
PROPOSED FILL —™
Prepared by NMFS St. Petersburg Beach Laboratory
SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ARMY ENGINEERS’ VETO
OF FLORIDA DREDGE PLAN
In a landmark decision that cheered con-
servationists, the U.S. Supreme Court, on Feb.
22, 1971, upheld the right of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to deny a permit for
dredging and fillingin navigable waters if the
work threatens toinjure fish and wildlife. The
court action climaxed nearly 12 years of liti-
gation on the Zabel-Russell project in Boca
Ciega Bay, near St. Petersburg, Florida. A
lawyer for the private interests said: 'This
is the end of the line. Thereisno more Zabel-
Russell fill proposal."
Background of Case
The controversy began in 1958 when D.H.
Russell and A.G. Zabel applied for dredge and
fill permit. They had developed the Cause-
way Village trailer park onlandthey owned on
Boca Ciega bayfrontinS, Pasadena, southwest
of St. Petersburg. They wanted to create an
113-acre island inthe bay west of their trailer
park. They planned to get the fill they needed
for the island by dredging the bay. Connected
by a bridge to the mainland, the island would
become an extension of the trailer park.
Conservationists Oppose Plan
Conservationists organized quickly to re-
sist the plan. For years they had criticized
the Corps of Engineers for damaging the en-
vironment with unneeded landfills, reclama-
tion of wetland, and alterations of stream
channels, 3
Local and national conservation groups
were backed by Interior Department's Bureau
of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, the Florida
Department of Natural Resources, some
Florida legislators, and the Pinellas County
Commission,
Playing important background roles were
biologists of the NMFS St. Petersburg Beach
ad
VAS
Laboratory under Jim Sykes, and Ed Arnold,
Chief of NMFS Southeast Region's Office of
Water Resource Studies. The biologists had
been studying Gulf Coast estuaries for years.
They concluded that landfills already caused
an annual loss of $1.4-millionin fishery prod-
ucts in Boca Ciega. When the Engineers asked
their opinion, they voted no.
In 1967, the Corps of Engineers, after ask-
ing and receiving the opinions of several gov-
ernment agencies, denied the permit. In that
year, U.S. District Judge Ben Krentzman of
Tampa reversed the denial.
On July 17, 1970, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court
of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana, over-
turned Judge Krentzman's decision.
The Appeals Court noted that the permit
application would have been granted several
years agowhen the Corps of Engineers dealt
only with navigation, But, the court empha-
sized, that was "before man's explosive in-
crease made all, including Congress, aware
of civilization's potential destruction from
breathing its ownpolluted air and drinking its
own infected water and the immeasurable loss
from a "Silent Spring'-like disturbance of
nature's economy."
Now the engineers are bound by the National
Environment Policy Act of 1969, the Court
held, eventhough the Act was not onthe statute
books whenthe Russell-Zabel case was first
heard.
On Feb, 22,1971, the U.S. Supreme Court
refusedtohear an appealfrom the decision of
the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals--thus
ending the long controversy.
A Commerce Department official called
the decision "one of the most significant
judicial decrees ever to affect conservation
of natural resources."
PHILADELPHIA
BALTIMORE
CHESAPEAKE
Lv
U.S: SOVIET FISHERIES AGREEMENT
effective Jan. !, 1971
PAS
1d
P= ae PT.
ICNAF CONVENTION AREA
SUB-AREA 5
EE Ses DS ee Se a92
Fishing prohibited with vessels over 110 feet
during Jan. 1 through April 15 (except shell-
fish).
No increase above 1967 level in catch of red
hake, silver hake, scup, flounders, or black
sea bass; no specialized fisheries for scup
and flounders (except vessels under 110 feet).
No fishing for menhaden Jan. 1 through
April 30. Soviet river herring catch limited
to 4,000 metric tons annually.
USSR permitted to load in U.S. fishing zone
Nov. 15 through May 15.
USSR permitted to fish in U.S. fishing zone
Jan. 1 through March 31.
USSR permitted to load in U.S. fishing zone
Sept. 15 through May 15.
Soviet fishing and support vessels permitted
limited number of calls into two ports.
U.S. & USSR SIGN MID-ATLANTIC FISHERIES AGREEMENT
On Dec. 11, 1970, the U.S. and the Soviet
Union signed an agreement in Washington on
fisheries off the U.S. Middle Atlantic coast.
It took effect Jan.1, 1971. An addition to the
agreement was signed Feb. 2,1971. The area
covered extends roughly from west of Block
Islandin northtoCape Fear (North Carolina)
in south.
The agreement extends and modifies U.S.-
USSR Mid-Atlantic agreements of 1967 and
1968.
The new agreement affords greater pro-
tectionfor 4 species important to U.S. sports
and commercial fishermen. It extends con-
servation measures to 3 more species.
Provisions of Agreement
In northern part of agreement area, pro-
tection was increased for red hake, silver
hake, scup, and flounders, species previously
covered under U.S.-USSR agreement, Pro-
tection was extended to black sea bass, im-
portant to U.S. sports fishermen.
A specified offshore area(see map), closed
tolarge vessels from Jan, through March un-
der 1968 agreement, willnow be closed Jan, 1
through April 15. The area is on high seas
well outside U.S. jurisdiction, The closure
protects vulnerable winter concentrations of
scup and flounders. It ensures access of red
and silver hake to spawning grounds, The
added two weeks! protection comes at a very
critical spawning period, say U.S. scientists
who participated in the negotiations. Itisa
significant limitation on Soviet fishery.
Significant Changes
In southern part of agreement area, said
Ambassador Donald L. McKernan, head of U.S.
delegation, two significant changes are valu-
able to U.S. fishing interests:
"First, the southern boundary. . .has been
extended approximately 75 miles from Cape
Hatteras almost to Cape Fear. Vulnerable
stocks of fishwhich are of great value to the
Americanfishermen in this area will now be
subject to conservation regulations. In the
absence of this Agreement, Soviet fishermen
would be free to fish for any species in any
quantity, for Soviet law permits controls over
their fishermen only pursuant to such inter-
national agreements."
Second, menhaden, the largest U.S. fishery
in Mid-Atlantic, is now covered. "Offshore
fishing for menhaden will be prohibited during
the months of January through April. During
these months the menhaden spawn offshore.
This limitation will ensure that the stock will
reproduce and return to the inshore area
where it is subject to the U.S. fishery during
other months of the year."
In the addition to the Agreement, Feb. 2,
1971, the Soviets agreed to limit their catch
of river herring to 4,000 metric tons a year.
Thetwodelegations alsoagreed that there
is anurgent needtoadopt conservation meas-
uresin the Mid-Atlantic for the depleted sea
herring.
Soviets Allowed Loading Areas
The Soviet fishing fleet will continue to be
allowedtouse for loading 2 small areas within
the U.S. 9-mile contiguous fishing zone off
New Jersey and Long Island, Also, the U.S.
willpermit the Sovietstofish in a small area
off Long Island during specified periods dur -
ing the winter. Ina‘ddition, inreturnfor Soviet
cooperation in conserving species of special
concern to U.S. fishermen, entry by Soviet
fishing vessels into certain U.S. ports was
made easier.
The new agreement is for 2 years. It can
.be amended any time, as contemplated for
river herring and sea herring, or even be
renegotiated.
The U.S. delegation included Federal,
state, and local experts. The Soviet was led
by First Deputy Fisheries Minister V.M.
Kamentsev. (U.S. State Dept., Dec. 11, 1970,
and Feb. 2, 1971.)
Far from stormy seas, 7 Soviet vessels--motherships to medium side trawlers--nest together to transfer fish and
cargo. Another side trawler approaches to make delivery. The vessels belong to Soviet herring fleet, which
was operating near St. Matthew Island in Bering Sea. Fleet was anchored 30 or more miles from ice. It is
common practice for ships to take shelter from seas and icing conditions by running inside the ice. All Soviet
vessels in this winter fishery are reinforced for travel in pack ice. (Photo: M. C. Zahn, Dec. 31, 1969.)
U.S. & USSR SIGN 3 AGREEMENTS
The U.S. and the Soviet Union signed 3
agreements on Feb. 12, 1971, relating to
northeastern Pacific fishery problems. The
agreements, which replace three previous
ones, became effective immediately and will
remainineffect for 1971 and1972, They were
signed by U.S. Ambassador Donald L, McKer-
nanand Vladimir M. Kamentsev, Soviet Dep-
uty Minister of Fisheries.
I, Eastern Bering Sea Crab Fisheries
It was agreed that the Soviet harvest of king
and tanner crabs be reduced to 23,000 cases
of canned crab (56% reduction in quota) and
35,000 cases of canned tanner crab (12.5%
reductionin quota). Also, the legal minimum
size of harvestable male king crabs was in-
creased from 52" to64''. However, the Soviet
representatives stated that they would take no
more than 12,800 cases of king crab of their
quota of 23,000 cases. It was agreed that, in
view of this catch level, the increased mini-
mum size limit would not apply to Soviet fish-
ermen in 1971 and 1972,
Also, the Soviet Union will reduce amount
of tangle net gear used to capture crabs in
1971 and 1972. She will emphasize develop-
ment and use of pot gear used by U.S. fisher-
men. The sanctuary where only crab pots may
be used will be retained. This area is closed
to trawling to prevent conflicts arising from
the use of stationary instead of mobile fishing
gear.
The two other new agreements provide im-
proved protectionfor stationary fishing gear
toconform toking crab and tanner crab fish-
ing season in areas westward along Aleutian
Islands andin Gulf of Alaska near Kodiak Is-
land, The period closed to mobile gear in 3
of the 6 areas off Kodiak was extended by 33
months.
To reduce conflicts between trawl fish-
ermen and halibut fishermen, special meas-
ures are provided for 3 main halibut fishing
grounds ineastern Bering Sea and 3 areas in
Gulf of Alaska--including a closure to mobile
gear during beginning of halibut fishing sea-
son,
II, Off Washington, Oregon, California
The existing 6 areas on high seas estab-
lished to protect Pacific Ocean perch and
other species of rockfishes were expanded
seaward from 450-meter depth to 600-meter
depth.
The period in which trawling will be pro-
hibited during winter months in these 6 areas
when perch and other shelf rockfishes con-
gregate also was increased by 15 days.
It was agreed that other measures--use of
trawl nets of certainmesh sizes, avoidance of
areas of rockfish concentration, catch limita-
tions--would be implemented to provide in-
creased protection for these resources.
III. 3-12-Mile Zone In Aleutians
In return for concessions on high seas
grantedtoU.S., the USSR will be permitted to
continue fishing for finfishes in 3- to 12-mile
zone in Aleutian Islands when U.S. crab fish-
ermen are not operating there. Also, the
Soviets will be able toload and transfer in U.S.
contiguous zone in3 new localities: Semidi Is-
lands in Gulf of Alaska, and St. Matthew Island
and Makushin Bayin Bering Sea. Soviet fish-
ing and support vessels will be permitted to
make upto 4callsper month at Pacific Coast
ports of Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Oregon.
The new agreements provide for coopera-
tioninfishery research onfish stocks of mu-
tual concern and exchange visits to fishing
vessels,
The U.S. delegation also included advisers
from state fishery agencies and commercial
and sports fisheries of Alaska, Washington,
Oregon, and California.
—>
‘TL6OT Atenagey ‘eyxsely JJO eu0Z Azxausty snonstyuod *S'f ey} sulure.U0D sjueWleaisy SeTeysty WSSn-'Ss'n
exXseTY ‘/neeunc
@OTAIAS SOTASYSTY suTIeW TPUCTIEN
TL6t Azenaqeg pezederzg
oct SCI 2OPL
Pl UAGWaALdaS NMHL 9T ANWNNEAA “PF
GNNON-YWGA E
TE YAGOLOO NHHL T TINdW 2
CNNOU-YWGA *T
?HNOZ SNONDILNOD NIHLIM. ONIGYOT
GNW ONIHSIA GILLIWYad SLAIAOS
ST AWWNNaGA NYHL ST AFaWaLdaS
NOSWHS LAGITIWH JO SAW ST
ZSuId uO ‘TZ AWW NYHL L AW
O€ TIl¥d¥ NYHL ST Lsnonaw
ST AMWANWE NYHL ST LSnony
7SHNOZ ASSHL NI SUaLYM
TIWNOILYNYALNI NI YVSD ATIGOW HLIM
ONIHSIG WOUd NIVYdTY TIIM SLAIAOS
L@ OMMHL @Z@ HOMWN °7
@@ NYHL LT HOUWW “*T
*NOSWdS
QAAITWH JO SAVd 9 LSHId YO SdolYad
ONIMOTIO’ SHL ONTIUNd SHaLaW 000'T ANY
002 NAEMLAA SHLdad LY SYALYM IWNOILYN
-UYgLNI NI SHNOZ ASAHL NIHLIM AWAD ATIGOW
HLIM ONIHSIA WOUd NIWHdge TTIM SLAIAOS
*aNOZ SNONSIL
-NOD NIHLIM GNNOY-uvaA ONIGVOT
GNW ODNIHSId GaLLIWwdad SLALAOS
GNWISI MWNSOdW
UNWISI YaLSaMod
GNWISI AVAWI
SGNWISI IdIWwas
GNWISI AWNWS
*ddO AJNOZ SNONSILNOD
NIHLIM SNOILWaYaddO ON
-qWOI daLLIWwadd SLAIAOS
L GNWISI MAHLLYW “LS
ANWISI WXSWIVNOA
GNWISI AWAINON
Ear: (0)
SNONDILNOD NIHLIM SNOILWaadO
ONIGWOI GaLLIwadd SLATAOS
VaVNVvo
\4BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Soviet Union will refrain ———»
from concentrating fishing
vessels in this area between
June 15-Sept. 15.
The Soviet Union will refrain
from fishing in this important
sport fishing area landward of
the 110 meter (60 fathom) i
isobath. aB:
Willapa Harbor
. WASHINGTON
The Soviet Union will refrain from
bottom trawling in these six zones
between the 200 and 600 meter
isobaths from:
x Dec. 15-April 30
In addition, the Soviet Union
will not conduct a specialized
fishery for rockfish throughout
the year south of 48°10'N.
This commitment extends to and
includes waters off California.
OREGON
eee eee ee 2 ee
CALIFORNIA
crescent City
128° 126° be
U.S.-USSR Contiguous Fishery Zone Agreement (Pacific NW Area) - February 1971.
YELLOW7AIL FLOUNDER IN
SERIOUS DECLINE
NMFS Woods Hole scientists estimate that
the yellowtail flounder populations off New
England could support a sustained yield of
21,000 to 34,000 metric tons (MT) per year.
In recent years, the catch has ranged from
43,000 to 58,000 MT. This increased catch
has resulted largely from increased fishing
pressure combined with some above-average
year-classes. The heavy fishing has re-
duced abundance of stocks and shifted popu-
lation from older, larger fish to fish just
entering catchable size range. Recent re-
searchcruises by NMFS 'Albatross IV' have
found no evidence of strong entering year-
classes--and a decrease in total stock,
Catch Must Be Reduced
The meaning of all this, says NMFS North-
east Region, isthat catch must be reduced to
buildup spawning stocks. The probability of
good year-classes is much higher when
spawning stockis large. A reduced spawning
stock lessens chance for recovery. To help
recovery, the International Commission for
the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF)
has adopted a 1971 quota of 29,000 MT. The
quota has to be ratified by the nations in-
volved.
Many Fish Discarded
Another factor inthis fishery is that many
fish are caught and then are discarded be-
cause they are below marketable size. In
recent years, about 10,000 MT of the catch
have been discards. The fish do not survive
in significant numbers after being discarded.
A larger mesh size for the nets would
permit these fishto escape being caught, and
allow them to grow to catchable size. A 5,1-
inch mesh size has been recommended by
NMFS scientists. This should result in an
eventual increase of the harvest by 10% over
current 4.15-inch mesh, The increase would
occur only after the population had a chance
to build up. An even larger mesh size would
have greater long-term gains but would re-
sult in higher immediate losses in catch.
Management Measures Necessary
If management measures are not taken,
NMFS Northeast cautions, the once-impor-
tant yellowtail flounder may decline to where
it may no longer be viable. Management
measures begun now could halt this decline
and permit the populationtosupport a sizable
sustained yield.
NEW ENGLAND LANDINGS &
VALUES ROSE IN 1970
Preliminary figures show that 1970 New
England landings increased 24% and values
13.5%, reports NMF'S Northeast Region.
The landings of 1.3 billion pounds made
1970 the best year since 1966; the $161 million
value was the second highest recorded.
An unexpected resurgence of the menhaden
fishery, up 280 million pounds, from
225,434,000 in 1969 to 505,182,000 in 1970,
was responsible for the increased landings.
The overall improvement in most fish
prices brought the valueupfrom $142 million
in 1969 to the 1970 level--$161 million.
Otter-Trawl Fishery No. 1
The otter-trawl fishery led in value with
$40 million. Lobsters were the most valuable
species at $31.7 million.
Surf, soft and hard clams, lobsters, and
shrimp hit record values. No finned fish
achieved this. Surf clams alone reached
record poundage. Haddock alone fell to all-
time low.
MONITOR SPAWNING HADDOCK
Since 1968, the NMFS Woods Hole Lab-
oratory (Mass.) has been monitoring each
year the spawning condition of the haddock
stocks. The stocks are at a very low level.
The poor recruitment for the past several
years has led to a peculiar age structure:
Most of the mature fish belong to the last
good year-class and are now 8 years old. It
is not known what effect this may have on
spawning success.
14,000 Samples
Samples of fishfrom commercial and re-
search-vessel trips are examined regularly
as the spawning season advances and their
degree of maturation recorded. Since 1968,
over 14,000 haddock have been sampled.
Each year the date of peak spawning has
been earlier than the year before. One
hypothesis is that this results from the in-
creasing average age of the fish. Older had-
dock usually spawn before the younger ones.
Another possibility is that this is a response
to a slight warming trend in water tempera-
ture over the past few years.
NG OO} Ore eN eV Sliev:
1969 Year-Class Haddock
An interesting sidelight from the first
samples examinedthis year is the presence,
about 10% of total, of some haddock from the
1969 year-class. Very few of these fish will
spawn this year. They are so small, 34 to
47 cm, that they will contribute little to the
total production of eggs. However, their
presence may meanthat this year-class was
underestimated when sampled as young-of-
the -year.
NMFS STUDIES HERRING
OFF MAINE
Each year, NMFS biologists estimate the
winter mortality of larval herring in the
Sheepscot estuary (Maine). This is one of
the methods used to predict the abundance of
immature herring that will be available for
canning as sardines along the western coast
of the Gulf of Maine. The winter (1970-71)
mortality for this year was estimated as 37%
for 15 days from mid-December 1970 to mid-
January 1971. This was less than a year
ago and about average (35%) for the past 7
years. The catch of larvae was much lower
than a year ago and below average.
Frenchman Bay
Efforts toestimate the mortality of larvae
in Frenchman Bay inthe eastern sector of the
Maine coast were unsuccessful--by January,
no larvae were in the bay. A larvae scarcity
in this sector is not unusual in the winter,
states NMFS Northeast Region.
No Suitable Area
It appears that an area suitable for deter-
mining winter mortality does not exist from
Mt. Desert eastward. However, larvae usual-
ly are abundant in the eastern sector in the
spring; these larvae are thought to originate
in waters southwest of Nova Scotia. So, the
most appropriate area to determine winter
mortality for larvae in the eastern sector of
the coast may be St. Mary's Bay on Nova
Scotia's southwest coast.
——
10
E. COAST DEEP-WATER LOBSTERS
TRANSPLANTED IN PACIFIC NW
A feasibility study on transplanting East
Coast deep-water lobsters (homarus amer-
icanus) to Oregon waters was initiated in
December 1969 by University of Rhode Island
(URI), Oregon State University, and Oregon
Fish Commission, Capt, James McCauley
carried out URI's part by supplying more
than 500 lbs. of adult lobsters and air-ship-
ping them to Oregon, The lobsters were ob-
tained from the offshore population and con-
sisted of males and berried females. The
shipping mortality was less than one percent.
Most were judged extremely hardy on arrival
in Oregon.
Unfavorable Hydrographic Conditions
Prof. Jeff Gonor, Oregon State Marine
Science Center, Newport, Oregon, has in-
formed URI that hydrographic conditions at
100-fathom line do not permit adequate sur-
vival of larvae released by berried females.
Surface-water temperature off Oregon in
spring and summer usually averages around
12°C (about 54°F). which causes exceeding-
ly slow development of larvae. In turn, this
results in exposure of larvae to surface and
midwater predators for so long a period that
entire stock is eliminated.
Other Experiments Promising
However, other experiments with the lob-
sters have indicated ''potentially promising
developments" in another area. The seasonal
temperature fluctuations of the sea water
supply from the bay adjacent to Oregon's
Marine Science Center is adequate for adult
survival. Infact, summer refrigeration would
not be needed for any holding pounds between
northern California and Washington.
Thus, says URI, there appears to be merit
in considering commercial sales of lobster
from holding pounds on U.S. northwest coast.
The pounds could be stocked during peak land-
ings on east coast--and might stabilize price
to lobstermen at desirable level.
ef
4
RECORD SHRIMP CATCH SET
ON PACIFIC COAST IN 1970
The 1970 shrimp catch along the Pacific
coast hit a record 92.4 million pounds, heads
on, up 29.9 million pounds (48%) from 1969's
record 62.5 million pounds.
The fast-growing Alaskan shrimp fishery
soared torecord 74 million pounds, heads on,
a rise of 26.2 million pounds (55%) from 1969.
Also records were Oregon's 13.4 million
pounds and California's 4.038 million.
Kodiak Sets Pace
Kodiak's shrimp landings of 62.4 million
pounds were 84% of Alaska's total--and 68%
of entire Pacific Coast catch.
COMMERCIAL FISHING COURSE
AT BELLINGHAM, WASH.
The Bellingham Technical Schoolin Wash-
ington State is conducting a fishery training
course designed toprepare persons for work
on commercial fishing vessels. The grad-
uates will be able to serve on vessels used
for purse seining, otter trawling, gillnetting,
reef netting, trolling, and halibut fishing.
The Curriculum
The 10-week course, Feb. 22-April 30, has
daily classes--on commercial fishing, ori-
entation on vessel, basic Seamanship, navi-
gation techniques and rules, safety rules,
marine engines and power equipment, fishing
gear, assembling andrepairing fishing gear,
species of commercial fish andtheir care and
handling.
Sew
fi
Nf
STUDY EFFECTS OF STARVATION ON
SWIMMING OF YOUNG JACK MACKEREL
Drs. John Hunter and Reuben Lasker be-
gan an experiment in January 1971 to deter-
mine the effects of starvation on the extent
and distribution of fat and glycogen reserves,
and onswimming abilities, in juvenile young-
of-the-year jack mackerel. The work will
help determine the likelihood of survival of
young~-of-the -year juveniles during their first
winter--when effects of mortality on year-
class strength may be most significant.
The scientists are with NMFS Fishery,
Oceanography Center, La Jolla, Calif.
Fish were starved for 45 days and samples
taken for biochemical analysis at 5-day in-
tervals. Endurance swimming of the fish was
tested at beginning and at end of experiment.
Preliminary Findings
Preliminary analysis of the biochemical
data indicates that the fat concentration of the
viscera declined about 50% over the 45-day
starvation period, Fat concentration in the
red muscle, andthe total mass of that muscle,
declined about 50%. But the fat concentration
in the white muscle dropped about 90%, and
was nearly undetectable in some samples.
Glycogen concentrations of red and white
muscle dropped in first 15-20 days, but then
stabilized or decreased only slightly.
The ability of the fish to sustain speed
threshold was affected only-minimally by the
45-day starvation period, The 6-hour swim-
ming 50% fatigue threshold for starved fish
was within the interval 98-121 cm/sec,
whereas the controls fell within the interval
121-139 cm/sec.
Fish Adjusted
The juvenile jack mackerel adjusted toa
45-day starvation period by using the exten-
sive fat reserves of the viscera (about 60% its
dry weight was fat) andthe fat in white muscle
(about 11% dry weight of muscle), The ability
of the fish to withstand strenuous swimming
for extended periods was not greatly affected
because they maintained glycogen above crit-
ical levels in both white and red muscles.
a
11
GENERATIONS OF PLANKTON
REARED IN LAB
Dr. Michael R. Reeve has reared plank-
tonic chaetognath (Sagitta hispida) through
more than one generation in the laboratory,
reports the University of Miami's School of
Marine and Atmospheric Science.
The minute, transparent, sea animal was
"reared from egg to adult and the sécond-
generation egg stage in 3 to 4 weeks,"
Scientists believe chaetognaths are second
most important animal planktoninmany parts
of the oceans, They feed on copepods, the
primary animal plankton group that eats
plants. S. hispida is common in Florida
coastal waters.
Meaning of Achievement
The school believes that Dr. Reeve's suc-
cess brings closer the time when interactions
of microscopic marine animals and plants--
which form base of marine-food production
and distribution web--may be seen in minia-
ture laboratory communities.
3,325 WHALES PASS YANKEE POINT,
CALIF., IN 67-DAY CENSUS
The annual count of migrating gray whales
at Yankee Point, near Monterey, Calif., was
completed Feb. 13, 1971, reports NMFS Fish-
ery-Oceanography Center, La Jolla. Robert
Strawn and Stephen Treacy counted 3,325
whales moving south past the Point during
daylight.
The total gray -whale population—including
allowance for whales that passed at night and
those missed in periods of poor visibility --
was estimated at about 10,000-11,000. The
annual counts have remained about the same
for the past 4 years; the population size ap-
pears "essentially stable".
NMFS BEGINS COOPERATIVE FISHERY-ADVISORY
PROGRAM WITH TUNA FISHERMEN
A gray box is being added to the chart-
room equipment of San Diego-based tuna
purse seiners, which fish for yellowfin and
skipjack tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Installed by technicians of NMFS Fishery-
Oceanography Center, La Jolla, Calif., the
boxes are radio facsimile recording sets.
These are able to receive direct oceanogra-
phic and weather information on 12- by 19-
inch charts transmitted daily by Federally
licensed radiostation WWD at nearby Scripps
Institution of Oceanography.
Environmental Data From Vessels
Dr. Alan R. Longhurst, Director of the
Center, explains that this fishery advisory
service is being tried experimentally to ob-
tain environmental data from fishing vessels,
and to provide fishermen with information
that may help them make tactical fishing de-
cisions. He emphasizes that the environ-
mental data collected by fishermen are neces-
sary for use in the Center's development of
fishery -forecasting techniques and methods
for tropical tunas.
Each day, information on sea-state, in-
cluding direction and height of swells, and
height of wind-waves is plotted onto a chart
for transmission to fishermen on the fishing
grounds; weekly, an analysis of 7-day sea-
surface temperatures is plotted for trans-
mission.
Chart Information
A second daily chart provides information
on direction and speed of surface winds, loca-
tion and direction of movement of tropical
storms, and location of areas of squalls and
potentially threatening weather conditions.
In the near future, a weekly analysis of
mixed layer depths, the depth at which warm
surface waters meet cooler waters below, al-
so will be included in the charts.
Eventually, the location of small-scale
ocean-surface temperature features as indi-
cated by temperature measures made by or-
biting weather satellites and received at the
The
charts cover the American west coast to
140° W., between latitudes 30° N and 5°S,
According to Dr. M., Laurs, leader of Fishery-
Center also will be added to the charts.
Oceanography Program, who is directing the
work, the information on the charts is tai-
lored to needs of fishermen on tuna fishing
grounds in eastern tropical Pacific.
12
OREGON FISH COMMISSION SURVEYS ESTUARIES
The Fish Commission of Oregon began an
intensive study of the state's estuaries on
March 1. Purpose is to determine how many
people use the estuaries, the distribution of
these people, and how much of the harvest of
fish and shellfish is for personal use. Com-
mission biologists aided by State Game Com-
mission personnel will survey the state from
the Columbia River in the north to the Chetco
River on the south coast.
Importance of Estuaries
Marine biologists note the importance of
estuaries as a rich feeding ground for young
fish and shellfish, and as spawning grounds
for marine finfish. The biologists are in-
terested particularly inbay clams, an impor-
tant recreational and commercial shellfish
found only in the tidal areas of Oregon's es-
tuaries. Rich nutrients, sheltered waters,
and ideal spawning conditions make estuaries
unique and vital natural resources.
Oregon's estuaries are only 1/10 of 1% of
its geographical area, fewer than 56,000
acres in all. All could be placed easily into
Willapa Bay, Washington.
Estuaries are under critical pressure from
increasing filling, alterations, and develop-
ment of bay and tideland areas for housing,
industry, and highways. Preservation and
wise use depend on responsible planning and
management, the Commission states.
Public Can Help
Clam diggers and fishermenusing Oregon's
bays in 1971 have been asked to cooperate
with the biologists conducting the resource
survey. Their considered answers to ques-
tions would produce an accurate reflection of
the current use of these bay and river-mouth
areas.
Legislation passedin 1969 requires coun-
The
study will be an important guide to city and
ties tozone their lands by Dec, 31, 1971.
county planning for the coastal communities.
Results will be made available to all agencies
planning the protection and enhancement of
the state's valuable estuarine resources.
13
SHELLFISH SITUATION AND OUTLOOK
Richard W. Surdi & Donald R. Whitaker
NMFS Current Economic Analysis Division
Supplies of shrimp available for consump-
tion were arecord 541 million pounds, heads-
off weight, during 1970. Compared to 1969,
supplies of northern shrimp rose 26% to 65
million pounds, while supplies of southern
shrimp rose 13% to 476 million pounds,
U.S. landings of shrimp during 1970 were
arecord 224 million pounds, heads -off weight.
Increased landings in the Gulf and the West
Coast offset declinesinthe South Atlantic and
New England.
Imports of shrimp rose sharply to219 mil-
lion pounds, product weight, during 1970.
Each product category of imports rose above
the previous year. Imports were again at
about 53% of combined total of landings and
imports.
In addition to record supplies, consump-
tion was also a record. Increasing about 14%,
apparent consumption of shrimp in all forms
was 413.7 million pounds, heads-off weight.
Northern shrimp sales were 44 million pounds
during 1970; consumption of fresh and frozen
southern shrimp rose 12% to 339 million
pounds, or 95% of total freshand frozen con-
sumption,
The average price for shrimp landed in
U.S. fell to57.3 cents per pound on heads-off
basis. The average wholesale price for 26-30
count raw headless shrimp at Chicago dropped
about 4%to $1.26 per pound. The 41-city av-
erage retail price for breaded shrimp was
$1.63 per pound in 1970--7% above 1969.
About 67.7 million pounds of heads-off
shrimp (3.9 million standard cases) were
canned in 1970--43% above 1969. Exports of
domestic shrimp rose 11% to 40.8 million
pounds; exports of foreign-caught shrimp
were 14.8 million pounds.
Despite jump inprices during January and
February 1971, consumptionis expected to be
higher than 1970--at about 102 or 103 million
pounds for January-April. Canning in Gulf
States is expected to total about 800,000
pounds, heads off. Domestic exports of fresh
14
and frozen shrimp may increase slightly to
14 or 15 million pounds in January-April 1971.
January-April 1971 landings in South At-
lantic and Gulf are expected to be about equal
to 20.6 million pounds in 1970 period. New
England landings may decline, but West Coast
landings are expected to increase again in
1971.
Despite January decline, imports are ex-
pected to rise 2 or 3 million pounds above
January-April 1970to78 or 79 million pounds,
heads off,
The combination of 180 to 182 million
pounds of supplies and utilization of 121 to
124 million pounds would result in May 1
stocks of 58 to 60 million pounds--slightly
above 56 million pounds on hand May 1, 1970.
SCALLOPS
Supplies of seascallopsin 1970 were 26.1
millionpounds. U.S. sea scallop landings of
7.1 million pounds continued the declining
trend that began after peak catch in 1961. As
abundance has continued to decline, fishing
effort has fallen sharply.
U.S. imports of scallops were 16.8 million
pounds in 1970--up nearly 18% from 1969.
While imports of Canadian scallops declined
10%, substantial increases from other coun-
tries more than offset decline.
During 1970, consumption of sea scallops
totaled 24 millionpounds. Record high prices
and low supplies were major factors in this
decline. January-April1971 consumption is
expected to slip fractionally from 1970 toa
little over 6 million pounds.
January-April 1971 supplies of sea scal-
lops are expected toslip slightly from sanie
period 1970, Landings of sea scallops will
probably be lower again this year; the ma-
jority of decline is expectedin New England.
High prices on U.S. market again are likely
to spur imports in 1971. Imports during
January-April may increase to about 4.3 mil-
lion pounds,
Combining supplies of 7.8 million pounds
and consumption of 6.2 million pounds would
result in about 1.6 million pounds in inven-
tories on May 1.
Total landings of calico scallops were 2.1
million pounds during 1970--up sharply from
183,000 pounds landed during 1969. Most of
1970 catch was landed in North Carolina,
which reported 1.8 million pounds,
NORTHERN LOBSTERS
Supplies of northern lobsters during 1970
dropped about 4% from 1969 to 60.6 million
pounds, live weight. U.S. landings of north-
ern lobsters were estimated to be 30.4 mil-
lion pounds--alsodown 4% from 1969. All of
the decline in landings occurred in Maine,
which fell about 8% from 1969. A decline in
pot fishery was partially offset by increases
in the otter trawl and other fisheries.
At 19.5 million pounds (product weight),
imports of Canadian lobsters were 5% be-
low 1969 total. All three categories of live,
canned, and cooked meat were below previous
year.
Demand for northern lobsters continue
strong throughout 1970. With supplies slip-
ping somewhat, the high level of demand
caused prices to set records,
Supplies of northern lobsters in first 4
months of 1971 are expected to decline
slightly from 1970, Preliminary data in-
dicate that Maine landings in January were
running below 1970. Imports are also ex-
pected to decline.
Declining supplies and continued high de-
mand during January-April likely will result
in higher prices than in 1970,
SPINY LOBSTER TAILS
Supplies of spiny lobster tails of 40 million
pounds were 6% below record available in
1969, Record-high be ginning inventories were
more than offset by a 4.8-million-pound drop
in imports.
Imports of lobster tails fell 13% to 32.5
million pounds, The share of U.S. market
15
held by cold-water tails continuedto slip dur-
ing 1970; that of warm-water tails rose cor-
respondingly.
Inventories generally declined froma
record of 7.5 million pounds on Jan, 1, 1971.
Apparent consumption of spiny lobster
tails was a record 35.7 million pounds. This
increase was possible because of reductions
in inventories, As price rose above 1969's
during the last 4 months of 1970, sales dropped
off,
January 1970 wholesale prices for 6- to 8-
oz. cold-water lobster tails were 81 cents
below the previous year, That price rose to
a record in November of $4.00 per pound.
Conditions in January 1971 pointed to in-
crease inimports during first 4 months. The
level of pricesin January, however, appeared
prohibitive to greatly increased consumption,
Ifimports rise sharply, prices may dip some-
what from January level.
WEST COAST CRABS
Supplies of West Coast crabs (king, dunge-
ness, and snow) were about 138.5 million
pounds, live weight, in 1970. Lower inven-
tories of frozen crabs and imports offset an
increase in landings.
West Coast crab landings were 123.4 mil-
lion pounds, live weight, during 1970. Dun-
geness-crab landings increased for 6th con-
secutive year to record 57.2 million pounds.
The snow-crab fishery in Alaska rose to 15.2
million pounds, while Alaska king-crab land-
ings declined 12% to 51 million pounds.
During 1970, demand for king and dunge-
ness-crab products improved, but it weak-
ened for snow crabs. Prices for most crab
products were below 1969's,
King-crab landings in 1971 may drop below
1970, This would resulted in some crab
vessels switching to other fisheries, Al-
though prices of imported canned king crabs
are currently (mid-March) below domestic
price, some upward pressure may develop if
landings are again low in 1971. Dungeness-
crab landings may expand somewhat in 1971.
But heavy merchandising will be necessary
if snow-crab industry is to grow during the
year.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ROCK CRAB
Dr. Paul A. Haefner Jr. & Roy T. Terretta
Scientists in VIMS' Department of Crusta-
ceology are currently investigating certain
aspects of the biology of the rock crab, Can-
cer irroratus (Fig. 1), in light of its potential
for a Chesapeake Bay fishery.
Fig. 1 - The rock crab, Cancer irroratus.
The rock crab ranges from Nova Scotia to
the South Atlantic States.
"stone crab'', it should not be confused with
Known locally as
Menippe mercenaria, the true stone crab
(Fig. 2), which has a southern distribution.
Fig. 2 - The stone crab, Menippe mercenaria.
The rock crabis most abundant along the New
England coast where it is the main source of
edible crab meat. There is no large com-
mercial fishery in that area primarily be-
cause of competition from the lobster indus-
try, but there is no other reason why this crab
could not beutilizedas a food source. Large
crabs reach 6 inches in width and contain a
large quantity of meat, especially inthe claws.
The flavor equals that of the blue crab.
Chesapeake Is Southern Limit
Chesapeake Bay is within the southern lim-
it of the range of the rock crab, a fact obvious
from their presence inthe catch of the winter
dredge fishery for blue crabs. Here rock
crabs are now culled and discarded. Some
areas of the bay are avoided by dredgersbe-
cause of the preponderance of rock crabs over
blue crabs.
Rock crabs of the lower Chesapeake Bay
may be utilized four ways: 1) as picked crab
meat; 2) as whole, fresh, or steamedhard
crabs; 3) as peeler crabs to shed into soft
crabs during the winter months; and 4) as
peeler crabs for fishing bait.
Captains Aid VIMS
Virginia dredge-boat captains have been
especially helpful by taking VIMS scientists
with them during dredging for blue crabs,
which began November 30, 1970. First-hand
The authors are in Department of Crustaceology, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062.
information has been obtained on the distri-
bution and abundance of rock crabs compared
with blue crabs, on the ratio of male to fe-
male rock crabs, on their average size, and
whether they are hard, soft or papershells.
Where They Are
Most rock crabs caught in the dredge fish-
ery of Chesapeake Bay are males and may be
distinguished from the females by the shape
and size of the abdomen or "apron" (Fig. 3).
The crabs have been more abundant east of
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and are
usually found on hard bottom. Above the
bridge tunnel, they appearedto be more com-
mon on the eastern side of the bay.
Hard crabs have beenkept alive and healthy
for more than a month at the Institute in indoor
tanks supplied with running seawater. Soft
crabs have also been produced, particularly
17
Male Female
Fig. 3 - The shape of the abdomen or "apron"
of the male and female rock crabs.
during January, when a large percentage of
the rock crabs caught have been peelers.
Soft rock crabs are ''fatter" than soft blue
crabs--for any given width, rock crabs weigh
substantially more than blue crabs. Four-
and 5-inch-wide blue crabs may weigh 2 to 4
ounces, whereas the same size rock crabs
weigh 43 to10 ounces. If sold by weight, soft
rock crabs wouldbring a higher market price
than their blue crab counterparts.
AMERICAN SAMOA GETS FISHERY
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PROJECT
The Government of American Samoa has
established a project to collect and monitor
fishery statistics under the Federal Aid Pro-
gram administered by the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), reports Edward E.
Hueske, Chief, Division of Federal Aid. The
23-year project requires $21,000 in Federal
funds.
Dr. Stanley N. Swerdloff,
Marine Resources, Government of American
Supervisor of
Samoa, will supervise collection of catch and
effort data, and biological data on principal
species landed by longline fishery. Data will
also be collected on the small inshore sub-
sistence fishery.
Longline Fishery
The longline fishery based at American
Samoa, the most important private enterprise,
is conducted through the cooperation of U.S.
and foreign firms.
In 1968, the twocanneries processed 29,000
metric tons of tuna worth about $10.6 million
tothe fishermen. Nearly 1,000 American Sa-
moans are employed. Tuna canning fosters
other businesses, which contribute signifi-
cantly to the islands' economy.
Monitoring Fishery Revived
Until recently, the Hawaii Area Fishery
Research Center (HAFRC) of the National
18
Marine Fisheries Service maintained a field
station at American Samoa to monitor this
longline fishery. Its purpose was to assess
effect on the important tuna resource of the
South Pacific. Budgetary limitations forced
discontinuation of its operations at Pago Pago.
Under the new arrangement with the Govern-
ment of AmericanSamoa, HAFRC will be able
to continue its work.
Data Collecting Valuable
Despite the large tuna fishery based in Pago
Pago, fresh fish appear in the markets only
The ex-
tent of the subsistence fisheries inthe villages
sporadically andin small quantities.
of American Samoa is not known.
The Government of American Samoa, under
the Federal Aid Program, is endeavoring to
develop additional fisheries that can be oper-
ated wholly by Samoans. Thus, a data-col-
lecting system begun early in this program
should produce information vital to effective
management of the developing fishery.
Data on the longline fishery will be for-
warded to HAFRC for processing and analysis.
This will allow a continuing determination of
tuna-resource status in the South Pacific.
Data onthe subsistence fishery will be proc-
essed and analyzed by Dr. Swerdloff.
UNDERSEA RESEARCH VESSEL
COMMISSIONED FOR SMITHSONIAN
The Smithsonian Institution commissioned
near Ft. Pierce, Fla., in January a 5-man
submersible research vessel capable of ex-
ploring the ocean at depths of 1,000 feet or
more,
The Johnson-Sea-Link, asmall acrylic and
aluminum diver-carrying vehicle, is named
for designer and donors, Edward A, Link, and
industrialist J. Seward Johnson. The vessel
is capable of staying submerged up to 48 hours.
The Johnson-Sea-Link for exploring ocean depths.
Need for Ocean Study
Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillion Ripley
noted at the commissioning that the Johnson-
Sea-Link "holds vast potential for the envi-
ronmental research scientist... .
"We now recognize that the integrity of the
world's oceans is jeopardized by the same
man-created pollution that has so dismally
and dangerously affected other aspects of the
human environment including many of our in-
land lakes and waterways. Now more than
ever itis critical to study the oceans, so that
we may become wiser stewards of a medium
that coverstwo-thirds of the earth, is essen-
tial to all life, and holds so much promise in
so many ways,
"Our hope is that this technically advanced,
submersible link with man's origins will be-
come an invaluable tool in studying the seas
19
around us, adding tothe body of human knowl-
edge that serves the human family."
The Vessel
The Smithsonian believes the vessel prom -
ises tobe one of the most effective small sub-
mersible vehicles being built to penetrate the
shallow depths of the continental shelf.
It includes a 2-man transparent acrylic
sphere, 6 feetindiameter and 4 inches thick.
The sphere gives panoramic underwater visi-
bility toa pilot and a scientist-observer. Be-
hind sphere is a separate 3-man, 8-foot-long
compartment that will enable 3 scientists to
leave from its bottom and collect specimens
of flora and fauna.
The 23-foot-long, 18,000-lb. vessel has 6
electric motors that propelit upto four knots.
The pilot can scan in all directions through
acrylic sphere. This makes it easier for him
to hug the bottom and maneuver effectively.
Safety Emphasized
The engineering of the submersible em-
phasized safety. More than 100 innovations
were incorporated. Switches, connectors, and
all operating gear were specially designed.
Twodivers will operate as a team outside
the chamber and a third will remain inside
chamber as a Safety officer. Whenthe divers
are outside, they will be tethered for recov-
ery. Electronic devices will monitor and
transmit diver heartbeat and respiration
ratesto a surface support vessel, A trained
physician will always be on duty during dives.
Program for Vessel
At first, the vessel will be used off Florida
to study the kinds, populations, and distribu-
tions of organisms on the shallow sea floor.
Also, it will be used to study freshwater up-
welling from Atlantic's bottom. As research
program progresses, the craft may be used
to study sharks, porpoises, manatees, and the
biology of coral reefs.
OCEANOGRAPHY
NOAA ISSUES FIRST MAPS OF
FLORIDA’S SEAWARD BOUNDARIES
NOAA's National Ocean Survey has issued
5 maps ina 6-year program to establish Flor-
ida's seaward boundaries. Eventually, more
than 400 maps will be published covering
Florida's east and west seaward boundaries
and the Florida Keys.
The first maps cover a 25-square-mile
area at False Cape, immediately north of Cape
Kennedy, and the Cape Kennedy and Indian
River Inletareas. Seven more maps of these
areas willbe issued within the next 6 months.
The program specifies mapping the mean
low-water and the mean high-water lines
along Florida's tidal waters.
What's At Stake
At stake in the mapping operation is owner-
ship of coastal and offshore lands intermit-
tently covered by the tide. The problem in-
volves determination of U.S., state, and
private boundaries.
In coastal areas, the mean high-water line
generally marks the boundary between state
and private property. In determining limits
between U.S. and state ownership, the mean
low-water line is the base line, or starting
point. Florida claims ownership beginning
at mean high-water line and extending off-
shore 3 miles beyond mean low-water line
along Atlantic coast--and to state's historic
boundary not over 3 marine leagues along gulf
coast.
Where To Get Them
The maps are being published at a scale of
1:10,000 (one inch equals 833 feet). Copies
may be purchased for $2.50 eachfrom Nation-
al Ocean Survey, Distribution Division(C-44),
Washington, D.C. 20235.
MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
IS DEDICATED IN MIAMI
The $2.1-million Henry L. Doherty Marine
Science Center was dedicated on Feb. 26, 1971,
at the Virginia Key Campus of the University
of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and
Atmospheric Science.
"It will be the focal point of the ocean
science and industry complex in South Flor-
ida, which now constitutes one of the world's
major ocean-oriented communities," said Dr.
F.G. Walton Smith, Dean of the School. MSC
"will serve as a data center where laymen
can benefitfrom the work of the high-caliber
group of ocean scientists in the Virginia Key
oceanographic complex. Thenew Center will
also be focal point for group discussions
among these ocean experts--a place where
communication of ideas willstrike sparks in
the brains of scientists."
The Center
When furnished, the 3-story Center will
house the School's library and contain geo-
logical-biological data files and collections
for study by visiting scientists, students of
oceanography, and others. The building will
have a computer center, dining room, audi-
torium, and conference rooms. Residence
suites for visiting investigators willbe avail-
able. Also, there will be educational and
service facilities to provide oceanographic
information to the public. The building is
scheduled to be ready in April 1971.
20
KILLER WHALES SEEN PURSUING
STELLER SEA LIONS
On a recent Bering Sea patrol aboard the
USCG Cutter 'Storis', Jim Branson of NMFS
Alaska Office of Enforcement and Surveil-
lance, saw a pod of 7 killer whales pursue a
band of 20 to 25 Steller sea lions around a
Soviet SRTM trawler for over an hour.
Branson reported 9 trawlers operating
about 35 miles northwest of Unalaska Island.
Each vessel was accompanied by aband of sea
lions waiting to feed on fish lost from the
trawl as it was hauled.
Whales Pursue Lions
As the Storis came alongside the trawler
Iskra',a group of killer whales closed in on
the sea lions. The latter appeared to panic
As the
whales moved in, the sea lions dived under the
and clustered alongside the trawler.
trawler, or Swam around the bow or stern
seeking safety on the otherside. The whales
followed but did not attack as long as the sea
lions remained tightly grouped. After about
20 minutes, two whales leaped clear of the
A small
groupof sealions split from the main group,
water and charged the sea lions.
and one was taken. The whales approached
again and again to within a few feet of the
trawler and the cutter.
The Storis observed the SRTM's trawling
operation for anhour and then departed. The
killer whales were still harassing the sea
lions, which had become very tired.
21
DECADES-OLD OCEAN DATA MAY BE
A CLUE TO TODAY’S POLLUTION
Oceanographic data collected up to 20 years
ago from U.S., Canal Zone, and Puerto Rican
coastal waters as part of defense planning will
help provide scientists today ''with a base on
which to determine whether or not significant
' Rear
pollution has invaded these waters,’
Admiral W.W. Behrens Jr., Oceanographer
of the Navy, has disclosed.
The data, which depict the ecology of wa-
ters in 13 major harbors and their seaward
approaches, have been turned over to NOAA's
National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).
The Data
The data include analyses of the waters!
plankton content, temperature, current flow,
and salt, sediment and mineral content, and
topography.
The East Coast harbor areas covered
ranged from Penobscot Bay, Maine, through
Mayport, Fla., to the Atlantic side of the Pan-
ama Canal. The Pacific areas spanned the
West Coast from the Canal Zone to Puget
Sound,
The data included similar collections from
Navy-funded surveys by scientists of the Na-
tional Ocean Survey (formerly U.S. Coast and
Geodetic Survey), and by contract oceano-
graphers.
FPC: THE NMFS EXPERIMENT &
DEMONSTRATION PLANT PROCESS
Robert C. Ernst Jr.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has
constructed an experiment and demonstration plant at
Aberdeen, Washington,!/ as part of a research and de-
velopment program to demonstrate the feasibility of
producing and using fish protein concentrate (FPC). The
plant was constructed under Public Law 89-7012/ for
about $2 million.
This 'semi-works plant! (lessthancommercial size)
was built todemonstrate an isopropyl-alcohol extraction
process and to produce sufficient quantities of FPC for
utilization studies by U.S. industry and the Agency for
International Development.
The plant was designed, constructed, and is being
operated under contract by Ocean Harvesters, Inc., a joint
enterprise of SWECO, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., and Star-
Kist Foods, Inc., Terminal Island, Calif,
FISH PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
The basic concept of FPC derives techni-
cally and logically from a need to utilize our
fishery resources more economically and ef-
ficiently as a source of animal protein for
human nutrition, FPC is the term used for a
broad class of nutritious fish products that
canbe used inhuman foods.3/ These concen-
trates are primarily animal protein and are
characterized by high nutritional quality and
stability under a wide range of storage condi-
tions, Variations inprocessing methods may
result inproducts with many different organo
leptic (determined by subjective testing:
odor, flavor) and physical characteristics.
The concentrates, for example, may be liq-
uids, pastes, or powders, Also, they may be
completely odorless and tasteless--or be
highly flavorful with cheese or meatlike
flavors.
MANY FPC PROCESSES POSSIBLE
Many processing methods 4/ may be used to
produce FPCs: some are chemical or biolo-
gical hydrolysis; proteinisolation by extrac-
tion and precipitation; vacuum drying and ex-
traction; cooking, pressing, drying, and ex-
traction; and dehydration and extraction with
solvents. Whatever method is used, the ob-
ject is to obtain a concentrated, stabilized
form of high-quality animal protein either by
isolation of the protein or adequate removal
of water, lipids, and any other components
considered undesirable in the final product.
DEMONSTRATION PLANT & PROCESS
The process used in the demonstration
plant designis a multistage, continuous flow,
countercurrent extraction of fresh, ground,
whole fish with 91% by volume isopropyl al-
cohol. The design is based on research and
development by NMFS 3/ and by subcontrac-
torss,6/, Since the plant will be operated for
a very limited period, about two years, many
compromises were made to lower capital
costs at expense of operating costs. The plant
is designed to process up to 50 tons of whole
fish per day into73 tons of FPC that will meet
the standards approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug AdministrationZ/.
Mr. Ernst is Research Chemical Engineer, National Center for Fish Protein Concentrate, National Marine Fisheries Service, College
Park, Maryland 20740.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 902
23
Sees aS
Fig. 1 - Model of Experiment & Demonstration Plant shown in relation to Port of Grays Harbor dock(Washington State) and former Pa-
cific Protein facilities.
In the process, fresh fish are ground and
extracted with azeotropic isopropyl alcohol to
remove water and lipids. Extraction is per-
formedin a 4-stage countercurrent series of
mixing tanks and separating operations, using
screens and presses. The extracted solids
are desolventized, milled, and bagged, pro-
ducing FPC. Oil is separated from the ex-
tract, and solvent is recovered by distillation
for re-use. The following is a step-by-step
description of the processing operation.
Unloading
Fresh fish received by boat at the plant are
first inspectedto see that they meet food qual-
ity standards, Thenthe fishare unloaded by a
vacuum, fish-unloading system, which was
part of the former Pacific Protein Plant. The
system has a capacity of 75 tons of fish per
hour. The fishare drained, washed, and con-
veyed from the fish pump to a calibrated vol-
umetric fish meter, Then the fish are con-
veyed to the chilled brine-storage system.
Brine Storage of Fish
One hundred and fifty tons of fresh fish can
be stored at 32° Fin the chilled brine-storage
system. This will sustain continuous plant
operation up to 3 days. The storage tank is
Fig. 2 - Fish are unloaded from holds of boats by fish
pum p operating on vacuum principle.
24
Fig. 3 - Fish can be stored for several days in these red-
wood tanks.
constructed of redwood. It contains 12 sep-
arate, 750-cubic foot, galvanized, steel-lined
compartments, each with a capacity of 12.5
tons of fish. The refrigeration capacity is
approximately 100 tons. The storage tanks
are partly filled with prechilled brine before
being charged with fish to obtain more rapid
chilling andto reduce physical damage to the
fish. Fish are loaded into the storage tanks
by deflectionfrom abelt conveyor. The brine
is circulated continually from a settling tank
through the chiller and up through the fish.
Brine quality is checked pariodically by NMFS
Support Laboratory to maintain a low-solids
content and low-bacterial count. An automatic
brine make-up system supplies brine from
fresh potable water and salt. No bactericides
or inhibitors are used in the brine. When
plant demands fish, a compartment of fish is
drained of brine, and the fish discharged by
gravity into 260-gallon, galvanized steel,
drop-bottom, tote bins each holding about
2,000 pounds of fish. The bins of fish are
transported by fork-lift truck to processing
building, where the exact net weight of fish is
determined onaplatform scale. Thenthe fish
are unloaded onto a conveyor-elevator and
are washed with fresh water to remove any
adherent brine.
Comminution and Slurrying
Fish from the conveyor-elevator--a 24-
inch-wide, inclined, cleated rubber, belt con-
vey or--are fedtothe hopper of ascrew feeder
18 inches indiameter by 6 feet long. Commi-
nution (reduction to minute particles) is ac-
complishedin a 40-h.p. Reitz inclined disin-
tegrator using an 18-inch screen with 47-inch
openings. The screw feeder is controlled by
a current meter on the disintegrator. A re-
versible screw conveyor from the disintegra-
tor discharges to either of two 1,000-gallon
slurry mix tanks, where the ground fish is
mixed with a controlled amount of miscella
(M-2) from the second stage of extraction.
The mix tanks are equipped with 10 h.p., 125-
rpm turbine -type agitators, and each contains
‘4 removable baffles. Associated with each
tankis a 10-h.p. centrifugal pump for trans-
fer or recirculation of the slurry.
SR ak ae
t . ee Bes >. a
eS . of as
sake.’ pao 7
Fig. 4 - Several tons of fish per hour can be ground in this
large comminutor.
The fish can be deboned, if desired, by
processing through a Zebarth Beehive debon-
ing machine. In this case, fish are fed to
the deboner from the disintegator and then
pumped to the slurry mix tanks.
Batching of the feed slurry (comminuted
fish and miscella M-2) permits periodic shut-
down of the disintegrator for cleaning, re-
placing screen, or other servicing without
interrupting continuous flow of extraction
system. Over an hour of down time can be
available at design capacity (50 tons of fish
per day).
Extraction
Batches of fishandM-2 slurries dre pre-
pared and pumped intermittently to the 1,500-
gallon feed tank or first-stage mixing tank.
Flow of slurry from the tank is maintained
constant and marks beginning of continuous
extraction system. The first-stage mixing
tank contains a levelindicator and alarm, but
the level must be maintained manually. Sus-
pension of the slurryis maintained by a tur-
bine -type agitator driven by a 10-h.p. motor.
The mixing vessel is jacketed, and the tem-
perature of the slurry can be automatically
controlled up to 180° F, Present operating
conditions, however, specify no heat addition
beyond that introduced by the warm miscella
(M-2) for this first stage of extraction. Nor-
mal operating temperature should be appr oxi-
mately 120° F, The slurry is pumped from
the first-stage mixing tank to a SWECO Sep-
arator (60-inch diameter, 200-mesh vibra-
ting screen) for primary separation of solids
from miscella. Discharge rates from the
tank are maintained by manual control of a
2-h.p. variable-speed rotary pump and es-
tablish the feed rate to the extraction sys-
tem. Thedesign rate is about 30 gallons per
minute,
Fig. 5 - The comminuted (pulverized) fish is mixed with isopropyl
alcohol in large slurry tanks.
25
LY = Sa
Fig. 6 - The protein portion of fish slurry is separated from this
miscella in a series of shaker screens and pulp presses. The top
of pulp press has been removed for inspection.
The solids fromthe screen discharge toa
Brown International Pulp Press, which re-
duces further the liquid content of the solids.
Solids from the press discharge by gravity
to the next extraction vessel. Volatile con-
tent of the solids from this first-stage press
are approximately 60%. Lipids content of the
solids, whenusing a 2:1 overall alcohol to fish
ratio, are about 4% on a dry basis, The liquid
effluents from the press and screen are com-
bined and referred to as first-stage miscella
(M-1). This miscellais pumpedto a 300-gal-
lon vessel and processed further to recover
solvents and by-products. The feed tank,
pump, screen, and press constitute the first
stage of extraction,
Solids from the first stage of extraction
are mixed with miscella (M-3) from the third
stage of extraction in the second-stage, 800-
gallon, agitated, jacketed vessel. Tempera-
ture is maintained automatically at 165° F,
Slurry flow from this vessel is controlled
manually, but it is constant once the system
is operating under steady-state conditions.
The tank level is indicated and changes must
be compensated by manual control of the dis-
charge pump. The level in any of the extrac-
tors and the discharge flow rate establish an
average residence time or extraction time.
The extractiontime can be altered by chang-
ing the operating level. A 600-gallon level
26
resultsinanextractiontime of about 20 min-
utes for that stage.
At present, 4 stages of extraction are used
in the system. The equipment used in the 4
stagesare similar. A 1,500-gallonextraction
vessel and a 60-inch-diameter vibrating
screen areused in the first stage; 800-gallon
extraction vessels and 48-inch screens are
usedinthe 3 later stages. An extraction ves-
sel, a slurry pump, a Screen, and a press
constitute the basic equipment for an extrac-
tion stage.
Fresh solvent (new or reclaimed) is in-
troduced tothe fourth or last stage of extrac-
tionthrough a heat exchanger. Temperature
and flow rates are automatically controlled
topreset conditions. The solvent rate is com-
mensurate with the solvent ratio desired and
the fish feed rate to the first stage.
Desolventizing
Desolventization of the solvent wet solids
is accomplished by introducing steam coun-
tercurrently to the solids in a Strong-Scott
Solidaire Processor Model SJS 24-16, fol-
lowed by final redrying and conditioning of
the solids in additional units. Four units 16
feet long and 24 inches in diameter are used
in series. Final moisture is controlled below
9% and residual alcohol below 250 parts per
million. Uncondensed steam and volatilized
solvent are condensed and sent to solvent re-
Fig. 7 - The wet solids are desolventized in a series of 4 large
steam -heated drying units. The equipment is arranged compact-
ly in a steel framework designed to facilitate transport from its
tabrication point in Los Angeles, Calif.
covery. The desolventized solids are con-
veyed to the milling room in a 6-inch screw
converyor.
Milling and Bagging
The dry solids from desolventizing are
received in the hopper of a variable-speed
screw feeder to the mill. The millis a
Pulverizing Machinery Company Model 60
ACM mill driven by a 75-h.p. motor. The
solids are milled to pass 200 mesh, then re-
ceived in a Micro-Pulsaire bag collector;
they are bagged in 50-pound, polyethylene-
lined, multiwall paper bags. After check-
weighing and sealing, the bags are palletized
Fig. 8 - The solvent is recovered by distillation in 54-foot tower
that extends above roof line of plant.
Fig. 9 - Pulverized FPC is milled and bagged in a separate room.
27
‘aeibetp morj queyd uorzesuoutap pur yuauttradxg - oT “61g
SNITTIA SNIZILNIA10S30
LIL LEAT LL TTC 777
h
(2777)
—-—¢ ———
28
and stored for shipment. The milling and
bagging are performed in a room separate
from other process areas to maintain a high
degree of sanitation. All air is filtered and
sanitary.
Solvent Recovery
Miscella(M-1) discharged from the first-
stage screen and press flows by gravity toa
250-gallon vessel. Phosphoric acid is added
tothe incoming miscella stream by a meter-
ing pump to adjust the pH to 4.5. The acidi-
fied miscella is then pumped to a Westphalia
Model SOAH-5036-SLS centrifuge for clari-
ficationprior to distillation. A concentrated
oily proteinsludge is thus separated from the
miscella by the centrifuge and is discarded
soon after as a waste product.
The acidified and clarified miscella is
pumped through a preheater into a 4-foot-
diameter, 54-foot-high distillation column
containing 24 Koch, Type T trays. Heat is
supplied to the column by a forced-circula-
tion reboiler. In the column, the alcohol is
stripped from the miscella and concentrated
to the water azeotropic composition of 91%
alcohol by volume (87.7 weight %). The re-
claimed alcoholis sent tosolvent storage for
re-use in extraction. The bottoms product
is a mixture of water, oil and fish solubles.
The bottoms product from the still is, es-
sentially, an acidified fish water which, ina
commercial plant, would be further processed
toproduce fish oil and condensed fish solubles.
At present, no facilities have been incorpo-
rated in this plant to provide for by-product
recovery. Present still bottoms are disposed
of as waste.
SANITATION
Plant and process sanitary controls are
strictly maintained. The equipment can be
cleaned by a pressurized detergent method
called a clean-in-place system. All plant
equipment is constructed to food-grade
standards.
The raw material and final product are
inspected by a government inspector. Chemi-
cal and microbiological examinations of the
plant's equipment, its environs, andthe prod-
uct are conducted continuously.
SUMMARY
This experiment and demonstration plant
should demonstrate adequately a commer-
cially feasible process to produce a highly
nutritious fish proteinconcentrate. The plant
will produce a supply of commercially re-
producible product for utilization studies and
evaluation. This is a first-generation proc-
ess and plant design that should provide
valuable informationfor further commercial
designs. Modifications of the plant, together
with flexibility of basic equipment, will per-
mit reasonable latitude for process changes
and the processing of various fish species.
During plant operation, special efforts
will be made to acquire data on material
balances, operating factors, and related
product quality needed to evaluate the proc-
ess andthe product. An on-site chemical and
microbiological laboratorycapability has
been established to provide the operators
with information needed for process and
product control.
REFERENCES
1. FINCH, R.
1969. The U. S. Fish Protein Concentrate Program. Com-
mercial Fisheries Review, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 25-
30. Also Reprint No. 832.
2. PUBLIC LAW 89-701 (as amended)
1966. U.S. Congress, 80 Stat 1089, November 2, 1966.
3. FINCH, Re
1970. Fish Protein forHumanFoods, CRC Critical Reviews
in Food Technology, Vol. 1, Issue 4, p. 519-580.
4. KNOBL, G. M., Jr.
1967. The Fish Protein Concentrate Story, Part 4. Food
Technology, Vol., 21, No. 8, p. 56-59.
5. MEINKE, W. W.
1968. Unpublished report to SWECO, Inc.
6. CIPRIOS, G., D. P. COTRUPE, and P. W. ALLEN
1969. Studies forthe Purification of Isopropy! Alcohol,
Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific & Technical
Information, Springfield, Va. 22151.
7. Whole Fish Protein Concentrate
1967. Federal Register, Washington, D.C., February 2,
p. 1173.
CURRENT SKIPJACK OCEANOGRAPHY CRUISES IN
EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC OCEAN
F. Williams
A series of skipjack oceanography cruises is planned
for two offshore areas inthe eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
This report reviews the objectives, operational procedures,
and preliminary results of the first of these cruises--by
the NMFS research vessels 'David Starr Jordan! and 'Town-
send Cromwell', about 1,100 to 2,500 nautical miles south
of San Diego, Calif., in October-December, 1970.
The regulation of yellowfin tuna inthe east-
ern Pacific Ocean, through an annual catch
quota, has necessitated the utilization of al-
ternative tuna resources by the U.S. tuna fleet
for much of the year. One of the most im-
portant alternatives, and in the same general
region, is the stock of skipjack tuna (Katsu-
wonus pelamis), whichis unregulated and cur-
rently underexploited. At present, skipjack
are only fished heavily in the inshore areas
alongthe Americancoasts, but they certainly
occur offshore. Indeed, U.S. purse seiners
fishing north of the Equator to the west of the
boundary of the IATTC* regulatory area took
about 900 tons of skipjack in 1969 and 6,300
tons in 1970. However, these vessels were
fishing primarily for yellowfin, and skipjack
catches were largely incidental. Offshore
skipjack are expected to contain a consider -
able proportion larger insize thanthose taken
inthe inshore fishery and hence more accept-
able to the canning industry.
THE EASTROPAC expedition of 1967-68,
for which the National Marine Fisheries Serv-
ice (NMFS) was the lead agency, gave ocean-
ographic results (Love, 1970 and in prep.).
These indicated environmental conditions
generally suitable for skipjack: surface tem-
perature at 20°-29° C and presence of skip-
jack forage (food) over a large region north
of 5° S from 100° to 130° W. More detailed
work on EASTROPAC data (Blackburn and
Laurs, in press) has shown that the skipjack
forage was concentrated in several zonal
(east-west) bands, and at levels of abundance
equal to, or greater than, those in existing
inshore skipjack fishing areas. Skipjack do
occur in these offshore forage-rich zones.
This was shown in October 1969, when the
Honolulu-based NMFS research vessel
'Charles H. Gilbert! fished north of the Equa-
tor near 120° W, where there is normally a
forage-rich zone, Many skipjack were seen
and caught (Hida, 1970).
The current series of skipjack cruises is
designed for detailed investigations, ona sea-
sonal basis, of the occurrence and relative
abundance of skipjack intwo areas (designated
'A’ and 'B!' in Fig. 1) of offshore waters con-
sidered most suitable for skipjack. Tounder-
stand their occurrence in such offshore areas,
we need toknowthe ways in which ocean fea-
tures and conditions determine the distribu-
tion and migrations of skipjack.
This report reviews the objectives, opera-
tional procedures, and preliminary results of
the first cruise. It was a 2-vessel operation,
in October-December 1970, in the eastern
tropical Pacific about 1,100 to2,300 nautical
miles south of San Diego (Area 'A!' Fig. 1):
The NMFS research vessel Townsend Crom-
well (Hawaii Area Fishery Research Center,
R. Uchida, NMFS-Cruise Leader), left San
Diego October 23 and arrived in Honolulu
November 29; and the David Starr Jordan
(Fishery-Oceanography Center, La Jolla,
The author is Associate Research Biologist, Scripps Tuna Oceanography Research (STOR) Program, Institute of Marine Resources,
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92037.
** IATTC--Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 903
30
MEXICO
QManzanillo
CROMWELL
7 TRANSECT
Area B
‘. » Galapagos Is.
ys:
SOUTH
“. AMERICA
Fig. 1 - Areas of eastern tropical Pacific Ocean under investigation in current series of skipjack oceanography cruises.
shown is location of oceanographic transect of Area 'A' completed by Cromwell in Part 1 - Operations of first cruise.
Also
31
[_] JORDAN
CROMWELL
§§ RENDEZVOUS
SOUTH
EQUATORIAL
ao
CURRENT
Fig. 2 - Unit areas investigated by Jordan and Cromwell in Part II Operations (first cruise) and relation to surface current systems.
Numbers in quadrants of unit areas denote order of occupation by vessels.
32
F. Williams, STOR-Cruise Leader), whichin-
cluded NMFS scientists from Honolulu and
La Jolla, andmembers of STOR Program and
IATTC at La Jolla.
Within area 'A', investigation by the ves-
sels was from 15° N to 5° S, 117° to 122° W.
Operations were in two parts: in Part I,
Cromwell made a rapid oceanographic tran-
sect of the area(Fig. 1); in Part II, both ves-
sels made detailed fisheries and biological
investigations of specific zonesin the general
area (Fig. 2).
OBJECTIVES, PROCEDURES & METHODS
Part I: Cromwell
In Part Loperations, Cromwell's objective
wastomeasure the distributions of a limited
number of environmental and other factors--
temperature, salinity, and oxygen (to 500 m.);
surface chlorophyll, micronekton, meteoro-
logical--from 15° Nto5°S along the meridian
of 119° W. This was accomplished in seven
days with a series of oceanographic stations,
including STD (salinity-temperature-depth
data acquisition system) and/ or Nansencasts,
and micronekton hauls (oblique, to 200 m.)
with the Blackburn 5' x 5! net, four times a
day (0200, 0800, 1400, 2000 hr. PST). Between
each station, about 45 to 50 miles apart, an
XBT was launched to give additional data on
the vertical temperature profile. Surface
temperature and salinity were monitored con-
tinuously with the thermosalinograph, and
surface chlorophyll at 3-hour intervals. All
salinity, oxygen, and chlorophyll samples
were processed on the vessel. Records were
also maintained of fish schools, bird flocks,
and marine mammals sighted.
The following dataderived from Cromwell
stations and records were transmitted daily
by radio to the Jordan: 1) inflection points
from temperature and salinity traces of STD
and XBT analog charts, 2) raw surface chlo-
rophyll measurements, 3) settled volume of
micronekton per quart jar, and 4) summaries
of weather, bird flocks, and fish schools
sighted.
Part II; Cromwell and Jordan
In Part II, the first task was to compare
results from Part I with historical data for
the area, particularly that of EASTROPAC,
and to delineate the zones in which oceano-
graphic features andevents were likely to be
indicative of skipjack occurrence. This was
carried out aboard the Jordan on receipt of
data from Cromwell.
Then, the two vessels were to undertake
detailed investigations in these zones toa
standardized plan:
(a) to determine distribution and relative
abundance of larval, juvenile, and adult skip-
jack;
(b) to measure distributions of a limited
number of environmental factors (as in Part
I) coincident with (a) above;
(c) to increase our knowledge of the skip-
jack ecosystem by sampling zooplankton and
micronekton (for potential skipjack forage)
and by relating these findings to the environ-
mental conditions and fish distribution;
(d) to extend our knowledge of the skip-
jack's life history by study of gonads, stom-
achs, livers, and other vital statistics; and
tagging of fish whenever possible;
(e) touse knowledge gained in(a)-(d) above
to test a proposed model of the migrations
of recruit skipjack into the eastern Pacific
Ocean (see page 34);
(f) to develop a sonar-mapping technique
for measuring the size and estimating the bio-
mass of schools andaggregations of tropical
tunas and their principal food organisms (Jor-
dan only).
The standardized plancalledfor investigation
of zones with a "unit area'' approach, in this
case a 2° x 2° area. The scheduled work for
each 2°x 2° unit areatook 96 hours, including
run in and out; the observations were as in
Fig. 3, and totals as given in Table 1.
Other observations --meteor ological, con-
tinuous surface temperature, and salinity;
surface chlorophyll (Jordan only); sightings
of fish, birds, andmammals--were continued
as in Part I.
The sonar-mapping design (Jordan only)
was based ona similar study (Smith, in press)
conducted for coastal pelagic species of the
California Current Region. Inparticular, this
entails determining the range and school size
dependence on numbers of sonar targets per
unit area.
33
TROLLING, DAYLIGHT (6-1/2 kt) A MICRONEKTON, 5'X5' NET
———— RUNNING, NIGHT A ZOOPLANKTON, CALCOFI 1m.& 1/2m.
FULL SPEED (II-1/2 kt) NEUSTON
@ STD/NISKIN OR NANSEN (500m) O MIDWATER TRAWL (UNIVERSAL
O XBT TRAWL)
Fig. 3 - Track and scheduled observations for 2° x 2° unit area investigations.
Table 1 - Number of observations scheduled for each unit area (2° x 2° area)
Parameter Gear Day Night
Adult skipjack Trolling
Juvenile skipjack Midwater trawl - 7h
Larval/juvenile skipjack Neuston net 4 5
Larval/juvenile skipjack 1m. CalCOFI nete/ 4 8}
Micronekton oY xiS! net 4 3
Zooplankton 1m. & im - CalCOFI nets 4 3
Temperature, salinity, oxygenc/ STD/Niskin or Nansen - 3
Temperature XBT 20 -
alg hauls occupied equal time either side of marine dawn.
Same hauls as for zooplankton.
£/No salinity or oxygen samples were obtained during Part Il on Cromwell due to elimination of Nansen casts.
34
}
Fig. 4 - RV. Townsend Cromwell seen from RV. David Starr Jordan athigh-seas rendezvous on Nov. 19, 1970,
about 1800 miles south of San Diego. (On Jordan, note portside trolling outrigger, white pole, and door for
midwater trawl.)
The unit areas investigated by the two ves-
sels are shown in Fig. 2. The sequence in
which the individual quadrants were occupied
is indicated.
Jordan and Cromwell rendezvoused at 0900
November 19 at 3° N, 120930'W. (Fig. 4), but
a heavy swellprevented the envisaged trans-
fer of data and some samples and equipment
from Cromwell to Jordan. (The Cromwell
departed for Honolulu November 20.)
SKIPJACK MIGRATION MODEL
The adolescent (sexually immature) fish,
which form the bulk of the skipjack catch in
the eastern Pacific, are considered to have a
central Pacific origin (Rothschild, 1965). Any
model of the migration of the juvenile skipjack
(<35 cm) eastwards must account for the sep-
aration into the northern stock (Acapulco to
California) and the southern stock (eastern
Gulf of Tehuantepec to northern Chile).
The proposed migration model of Williams
(in preparation) indicates that changes in flow
of surface North Equatorial Countercurrent
(NECC), due to seasonal changes in position
of Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)--
the meteorological equator--are responsible
for north-south split of incoming recruit skip-
jack. When NECC eastward flow is continuous
to Central America coast from May/June to
December/ January, skipjack are being re-
cruited to the southern stock. Then, from
about February to April, when the NECC is
absent east of 120° W, skipjack are being re-
cruited to the northern stock.
Thus a gating mechanism is considered as
operating on incoming recruit skipjack at
about 120° W, which is controlled by a major
meteorological featur e--the ITCZ-through
the current system. Confirmation of this may
lead to prediction of the percentage north-
south split of annual skipjack recruits to the
fishery based onthe ITCZ position during the
first four months of the year. Such informa-
tion would be of strategic value to the tuna
industry andto those studying skipjack popu-
lation dynamics.
Testing this migration model is necessary
if the oceanographic monitoring and forecast-
ing system (presently for U.S. west coast al-
bacore fishery) of NMFS Fishery-Oceanogra-
phy Center, La Jolla, now being extended to
tropical tunas, istohave predictive value for
skipjack.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Part I: Oceanographic Transect
Preliminary analyses show the distribution
of temperature (Fig. 5) and salinity was gen-
erally similar to that observed at the same
meridian, 119° W, inlate October, 1967, dur-
ing EASTROPAC. The lowest surface
35
*(astnio ysitj--suoteiedo J weg ‘TTaMaIOID) OZ6T ‘Z-T “AON SM oGTT BuoTe S$ of OF N (ST ators uoroas (D5) aimeseduray, - ¢ bry
92 «oe oe
NoS
SGNLILV1
36
temperature, 20°C, was observed inthe South
Equatorial Current at 1° S, and the lowest
surface salinity, 32.9 ‘0, in the North Equa-
torial Current at 13° N. The slope of the
thermocline indicated that the North Equato-
rial Countercurrent was well developed: the
northern boundary was at 10° N, the southern
at 4° N. Noclear indication of the Equatorial
Undercurrent was found in the temperature
distribution. However, an isolated high-sa-
linity core (maximum salinity about 35.2 %o,
centered at adepth of 50m, at 1° S, suggested
the Undercurrent),
Part II: Fisheries & Biological Observations
Zones Investigated
From the physical and biological data ob-
tained during the transect (Part I) and com-
parison with historical data, the most likely
zones for occurrences of skipjack were:
1) 12°-14° N, a zone of high micronekton
catches and shallow mixed layer in the North
Equatorial Current (NEC), but not far from
the surface North Equatorial Countercurrent
(NECC);
2) 99-119 N, straddling the NEC-NECC
boundary;
3) 3°- 5° N and 1°-3° N in the high"'pro-
ductivity'"’ band of the South Equatorial Cur-
rent (SEC), between the NECC southern
boundary and cold upwelled equatorial water
(at approximately 0°30' N);
4) 29-49 S, a zone of relatively high pro-
ductivity in the SEC south of the equatorial
upwelling,
It was decided also to examine a zone at
6°-8° N near the center of the NECC, where
skipjack might be expected to be absent or
present only in small numbers, The equato-
rial zone from about 0°30' N to 2° S was not
examined because near-surface tempera-
tures were considered rather low for skipjack
occurrence,
Relative Abundance of Tuna
Trolling time averaged about 10 hours
per day at 63 knots; the effort in each zone
was4-8days. Skipjack and yellowfintuna
were the principal species caught (boarded,
tagged, or lost but identified). Relative
abundance of tuna in 2° latitude zones--ex-
pressed as mean-number of fish caught per
line-hour x 108, all longitudes combined--is
given in Table 2,
Table 2 - Relative abundance of troll caught tuna
urrentSystem ZoneLatitude Meancatch perline-hour x 103
Skipjack Yellowfin
NEC 12°-14° N 52 34
NEC/NECC 9°-11° N 39 11
NECC 6°- 8° N 43 2
NECC/SEC 3°- 5S°N 115 8
SEC 1°- 3°N 196 0
SEC DOTASES 82 0)
Relative abundance data in Table 2 are
based oncatches alongthe fixed tracks shown
for each quadrant of 2° x 2° unit areas (see
Fig. 2). They donot include the larger catches
made when the vessel circled and chummed,
with anchovy live bait, schools from which fish
already had been taken trolling.
Skipjack were most abundant i in South Equa-
torial Current from 1°-3° N, and yellowfin
in North Equatorial Current from 12°-14° N,
Yellowfin tuna, always less abundant than
skipjack, were not caught south of 3° N, and
most were small--lessthan35cm. The skip-
jack caught were mainly smaller or larger
than average size of those taken in inshore
commercial fishery cff U.S.: they were less
than 40 cm., or greater than 55 cm. (up to 71
em. and 20 lb.). The small skipjack were
mainly in North Equatorial Current from 12°
14° N, but some also were in the NEC fron
10°-11° Nand the SEC from 3°- 4°N; the large
ones predominatedin the other zones. Rela-
tive abundance of skipjack in center of the
NECC (6°-8° Nzone) appeared similar to that
in zones to the north.
First results show that for 2° or 1° latitu-
dinal zones there is asignificant positive cor-
relation (probability at 5% level) between sur-
face chlorophyll levels and skipjack relative
abundance.
Tagging
Sixty-seven skipjack and four yellowfin
were tagged from the two vessels during the
cruise,
Fish Schools, Bird Flocks, Marine Mammals
Very few tuna or other fish schools were
seen at the surface in survey area, and these
were restricted to 79-119 N. Birds (flocked
or unflocked) were most common, but never
abundant, in this region; porpoises were sel-
dom seen. However, on passage to Honolulu,
and just outside survey area (6°-8°40' N,
128°30'-133° W), the Cromwell encountered
on two successive days many flocks of birds
over fish schools. Few ofthe latter were iden-
tified, but one or two on each day were noted
as 4-8 lb. skipjack.
Live Bait
Fifty scoops of anchovy live bait were taken
aboard JordaninSan Diego and used as chum
ontuna schools, And, onat least 3 occasions,
this resulted in keeping a school of skipjack
near the vessel's stern and increasing consid-
erably the troll catches, Fish had taken the
live bait as shown by fresh anchovies in the
stomach contents, The anchovy were taken
on board in 17° C water and withstood water
temperatures exceeding 29° C during the
cruise, Those notused remained in good con-
dition whenreleased in 19° C water near the
end of the cruise. They were fed a proprie-
tary brand of ''trout chow" twice a day.
Behavior of Tuna
On several occasions, small groups of tuna
were Seen Swimming ahead of the Jordan for
severalhours. Onone day, observations from
the bow chamber indicated the presence of
both yellowfin and skipjack; on two others,
only skipjack. On one of the latter, the fish
were Sampled from the bow by hook and line
using live anchovy bait; four specimens
ranged from 60-64 cm, fork length.
The times of skipjack catches onthe 2 ves-
sels showed, as expected, the immediate post -
dawn and predusk periods best for trolling--
between 0600 and 0759, 19% of total catch;
between 1700 and 1759, 30%. The postdawn
percentage probably would have been greater
but the 0600-0659 period was poorly sampled
because of the transdawntrawling operations.
Fish did strike at all other periods of the day
but to a lesser extent,
37
Biology
Fork lengths (cm.) were taken, gonad ma-
turity states noted, and stomach contents pre-
served for all fish landed. Skipjack ranged
from 32 to 71 cm. (about 1-20 lb.) on Jordan,
and 37 to 64 cm, on Cromwell. The Jordan
datafallinto3 size groups: 32-40 cm. (mean
35.3 em.,n = 17), 45-50 cm. (mean 47.5 cm.,
n=11), and 53.71 (mean 59.7.cm., n = 92).
Cromwell data tend to indicate similar groups,
although numbers are very much fewer, ex-
cept for 54-60 cm. group(mean 57.3,n = 14).
Ten skipjack, 53-68 cm., taken in 39-5° N
zone, were females with recently spent or
spent-recovering gonads; of latter category,
three females, 46 to 61 cm., were taken in
6°-7°9 N zone, and four, 59-64 cm., in 10°-
11° N zone. All skipjack taken on Cromwell
were immature.
Tuna Larvae and Juveniles
Twenty 15-minute neuston hauls were made
from Cromwell, and 40 from Jordan. The
Jordan samples were sorted on board ship,
but these appearedto contain no tuna or bill-
fish larvae or juveniles. On Cromwell 8, and
on Jordan 10, midwater-trawl hauls of 14-
hour duration were made around midnight to
a depth of 30 m.; and, respectively, 11 and 9
hauls were made to 100 meters, or depth of
20° C isotherm if less than 100 m., spaced
equally either side of marine dawn. On Jor-
dan, trawl depth was monitored by telemetry
from trawl warp transducers. Her trawl
samples were roughly sorted on board; a 17
cm. Auxis (frigate mackerel) was only tuna
observed.
Potential Skipjack Forage
Jordan made 42 tows with 5' x 5' net, Crom-
well 44, to determine total micronekton and
skipjack forage in Part I and II operations.
The zooplankton samples from the 1-m. and
3-m. CalCOFI nets, 38 on Jordan and 20 on
Cromwell, and all midwater-trawl samples
also will be examined in this respect.
Environmental Conditions
In addition to the Part I oceanographic
transect, oceanographic conditions will be
described for unit areas of Part II. In all,
38
for Parts landII, Jordanmade 122 XBT drops
and 17 STD/Niskin casts; Cromwell made 58
XBT drops and 8 STD/ Nansen casts for ver-
tical profiles of temperature, salinity, and
oxygen. Nansen casts also were made for
STD calibrations.
Acoustic Data
On Jordan, acoustic data were collected
on incidence of schools of large-fish targets,
single large-fish targets, schools of small
fish, and scattering layers. For most of
cruise, thermal stratification was so shal-
low and abrupt that near-surface targets were
not detectable with surface-mounted sonars.
Single -fishtargets were detectable to 150 m.
lateral range (30 kHz, 10 m-sec pulse); in No-
vember, the incidence ranged from a rate of
180 per day (Nov. 15) down to 6 per day (Nov.
18). Many schools of small fish were detected
on the sounder at depths of 260-400 m. On
occasion, these schools also were detectable
with long-range sonar due to downwelling
sound-propagation conditions. The range in
these instances was about 2000 m. (11 kHz,
30 m-sec pulse), Major layers were present
near thermocline, and at a depth of 350 m.
Maximum rates of migration were on the
order of 16 cm./sec. vertical motion, with
average rates of 6.5 cm./sec. 6 hours before
and after local apparent noon. One school of
Vinciguerriasp., animportant forage species
for skipjack, was detected near surface with
the 11 kHz sonar at 900 m. range; later, the
school was sampled by midwater trawl (15 x
15 m.trawl with3 mm, bar mesh). Noschools
of large fish were detected.
Communications
In a two-vessel operation of this type, good
radiocommunications are essential to coor-
dinate efforts. Throughout cruise, Jordan
was incontact with Cromwell and NMFS shore
station WWD to transfer scientific data,
weather, and general messages (CW, voice,
teletype). In November alone, Jordan handled
718 messages. Jordan received daily fac-
simile (FAX) charts of eastern Pacific weath-
er from Fleet Weather Central-Alameda,
which included position of the Inter-tropical
Convergence Zone. In addition, experiments
continued with transmission by FAX of special
weather and other charts and data from Fish-
ery -Oceanography Center, La Jolla.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS AND SKIPJACK
MIGRATION MODEL
At the time of this first cruise, the NECC
was well developedin the area investigated.
Recruit size Skipjack mainly were caught in
the NEC at 12°-14° N and, to a lesser extent,
in NEC and SEC immediately adjacent to the
NECC. They were not found in the NECC or
inthe SEC south of the equator. These find-
ings are consistent with the model for this
time of year.
FUTURE CRUISES
A second cruise to Area''A' usingthe Jor-
danistaking placefrom March 1 to April 12,
1971. The first cruiseto Area ''B" is planned
for August 16 to October 8, 1971.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank my colleagues who participated in
the first of the present series of skipjack
oceanography cruises, particularly R. Uchida,
Cruise Leader on the Townsend Cromwell,
and P.Smithand M. Tsuchiya for their com-
ments on acoustic and oceanographic results,
respectively.
LITERATURE CITED
BLACKBURN, M. and Re M. LAURS
(in press). Distribution of forage in the eastern tropical Pa-
cific. Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Fish. Bull.
HIDA, T. S.
1970. Surface tuna schools located and fished in equatorial
eastern Pacific, Com. Fish. Rev. 32(4): 34-37.
Also Reprint No. 868.
LOVE, C. M., Ed.
1970. EASTROPAC Atlas, Vol. 4. Biological and nutrient
chemistry data from principal participating ships,
First and Second Monitor Cruise, April-July, 1967.
Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv. Cir. 330 (Volumes 1-3, 5-11
in preparation).
ROTHSCHILD, B. Jo
1965. Hypotheses on the origin of exploited skipjack tuna
(Katsuwonus pelamis) in the eastern and central Pa-
cific Ocean. U.S. Fish. Wildl. Serv., Spec. Sci.
Rep. Fish (512}: 20 p.
SMITH, P. E.
(In press). The horizontal dimension and abundance of fish
schools in the upper mixed layer as measured by sonar.
Int. Symposium on Biol, Scattering, Washington,
D. Ce, 1970.
Sa
FACTORS AFFECTING EXVESSEL PRICES
OF SKIPJACK TUNA IN HAWAII
Yung C. Shang
The skipjack-tuna industry in Hawaiiis the
most important segment of the state's com-
mercial fisheries. However, the average an-
nual catch of about 5,000 tons of this industry
has remained relatively stable during the past
twodecades, The available evidence suggests
that the lack of growth of this industry is not
due to overfishing. On the other hand, the
cost-revenue analysis indicates that, given
the past input andtuna prices, the profit mar-
gins in the industry were too low to induce
new investment.* The relatively high cost of
inputs is associated with the labor-intensive
fishing technique used and the bait problems.
The main objective of this paper is to exam-
ine the factors affecting the prices of skipjack
tuna.
Skipjack tuna vesselsin Hawaii can be di-
vided intotwomajor groups: 10 ofthe vessels
based on Oahu are members of the Tuna Boat
Owner's Association; 2 others on Oahu, and 4
vessels onthe other islands are operated in-
dependently.
Two major markets exist for the local
catches: thefresh-fish market, and the can-
nery market. About one-third of the landings
is consumed mainly as sashimi (raw fish).
The remainder is canned and labeled as Coral
Tuna--the only brand inthe world canned from
fresh tuna (not frozen).
Marketing Channel
The marketing channel varies among the
vessel groups and among the markets (Figs.
1 and 2). Vessels belonging to the Tuna Boat
Owner's Association utilizethe Hawaiian
Tuna Packers asthe selling agency for fresh
fish. The Hawaiian Tuna Packers usually has
a representative contact the local whole-
salers andwholesalers/retailers about their
current needs for freshfish. The United Fish-
ing Agency acts as a selling agency for the
other two vessels on Oahu and usually sells
the fresh fish directly to wholesalers, whole-
salers/retailers and, occasionally, through
auction. The independent vessels onthe other
islands sell their catch to wholesalers and
retailers through their local selling agencies.
When the fresh fish market is fully supplied
each day, the excess is sold directly by the
independent vessels, and the members of the
Tuna Boat Owner's Association sell the ex-
cess, through Hawaiian Tuna Packers, to the
cannery at a set price, which is lower than
price at fresh-fish market.
Fresh-Fish Market
The fresh-fish market for skipjack tuna in
Honolulu consists of two major sellers, or
selling agencies, Hawaiian Tuna Packers and
United Fishing Agency, and a number of buy-
ers--wholesalers and wholesalers/retailers.
This is aduopolistic market--in which price
determination is usually dominated by the
sellers. Since the sellers have almost per-
fect knowledge about the market supply and
demand, the price is usually set higher than
the price which would be expected in a com-
petitive market. The local fishermen have
been receiving higher average prices than
those on the U.S. West Coast for 2 reasons:
price of fishinthe fresh-fish market is much
higher than price paid by the cannery, and be-
cause fresh-fish market of skipjack is the
largest in the United States.
How Exvessel Price Determined
The exvessel price of market fish is as-
sumed to be a function of its quantities sup-
plied tothe fresh-fish market, the quantities
of yellowfin tuna (a higher-quality substitute
for sashimi, raw fish), the quantities of other
freshfish, and the season. However, the re-
sults of the regression by using monthly data
for 1958-1966 indicate that the quantities of
yellowfintuna and other fishes have no signi-
ficant statistical effect on the exvessel price
of skipjacktuna, The prices of skipjack tuna
The author is an Assistant Economist, Economic Research Center, University of Hawaii.
*Shang, Yung C., The Skipjack Tuna Industry in Hawaii: Some Economic Aspects, University of Hawaii, Economic Research Center,
1969.
40
are influenced primarily by the quantity sup-
plied and the season.
The quantities suppliedto fresh-fish mar-
ket is a function of total landings in some
months of the off-peak fishing season, Since
supply is relatively scarce duringthis period,
100% of total catch is frequently sold to the
fresh-fish market. The exvessel prices usu-
ally fluctuate with quantity supplied. During
the peak fishing season, however, the quan-
tities supplied tothe fresh-fish market, which
accounts for a small proportion of seasonal
catch of skipjack tuna, are at a relatively high
level and at a relatively low and stable price.
The market demand for fresh skipjack tuna
is not likely to increase significantly in the
future because thereis no positive significant
relationship between the per-capita consump-
tion and the per-capita income. Therefore,
Independent
Skipjack Vessels
on Oahu
United Fishing
Agency
Processors
Tuna Boat
Owner's Association
Hawaiian Tuna
Packers
Retailers
Consumers
the development of this fishing industry relies
on the cannery market.
Cannery Market
The skipjack tuna cannery market in the
landing levelin Hawaii consists of one buyer,
Hawaiian Tuna Packers, anda number of sell-
ers--a monopsony market. Inthis monopsony
situation, price determination is usually dom-
inated bythe buyer. In the short run, the ex-
vessel prices paid by the local cannery do not
fluctuate withthe catches. They are set for a
longer period. The cannery buys all excess
catch at set prices that cannot be absorbed by
local fresh-fish market. Therefore, the can-
nery demand curve is approximately a hori-
zontal line with aperfect elasticity of demand
within a certain period.
Independent
Skipjack Vessels
on Other Islands
Selling Agency
Wholesalers
Fig. 1 - Marketing channels to the fresh fish market.
41
Independent
Skipjack Vessels
on Oahu
Hawaiian Tuna
Packers
Cannery |
| Wholesalers |
| Retailers |
a, |
Tuna Boat
Owner's Association
Independent
Skipjack Vessels
on Other Islands
Fig, 2 - Marketing channels to the cannery.
Canned tuna packed from local catches has
to compete with the mainland packed tuna in
the local and mainland markets. The exvessel
price paid by the local cannery does not fluc-
tuate monthly. However, whenthe average ex-
vessel price of skipjack tuna on the U.S. West
Coast increased in recent years, the level of
local price paid by the cannery alsoincreased.
Onthe West Coast, the prices of skipjack fol-
low the prices of yellowfin. The coefficient
of determination (R“) of the regression is
0.98. This indicatesthat these twoprices are
moving up and down very closely. The dif-
ference betweenthesetwoprices is about $50
per ton,
The exvesselprices of domestic yellowfin
is a dominant factor in determining the ex-
vessel price of skipjack tuna on the West
Coast. This, in turn, imposes limits on the
highest price that can be paid by the local
cannery. So local fishermen are not able to
increase their profit simply by raising the
price of fish to a large extent. The profit
should be increased mainly by reduction of
costs through improvements in fishing tech-
nique.
Acknowledgments
I thank Mr. Tamio Otsu, Hawaii Area Fish-
ery Research Center, National Marine Fish-
eries Service; Mr. Scott McLeod, Hawaiian
Tuna Packers; and the late Professor Vernon
E. Brock, University of Hawaii.
SD
GEAR NOTE: With this device, in-
experienced mancanhaul sablefish
pot in about 8 minutes.
A BUOYLINE COILING DEVICE
Ian Ellis and Gary Loverich
A new device of significant value for high-
speed coiling of buoylines has been developed
in a joint program by the Seattle Exploratory
Fishing and Gear Research Base and Captain
Sig Jaeger, owner-operator of the commer-
cialfishing vessel M/V 'Seattle'. The device
is a modification added to a standard pot
hauler, the ''MARCO* JO105 crab block."
The need forthis device became apparent
during anexperimental pot fishery for sable-
fish in the coastal waters off the State of
Washington, This fishery has been conducted
in waters with an average depth of 275 fath-
oms and, at times, up to 375 fathoms, using
400-fathom or longer buoylines. Initially,
without a line-coiling aid, one man was re-
quired to tend the pot hauler and another to
coil the lines by hand. Experienced fisher -
mentook 12 tol4 minutes to haul a sablefish
pot while inexperienced men took about 18
minutes. Using the device described in this
report, an inexperienced man working alone
could haul a pot in about 8 minutes.
Line -Coiling Device
The line-coiling device consists of a guid-
ing channel that receives and guides the line
after a splitter picksit off the main sheave of
the block and guides it into a fiber-reinforced
rubber discharge hose (Fig.1). The operator
stands facing outboard with his left hand mani-
pulating the hydraulic control for the block,
and his right hand directing the discharge hose
to place the line in a neat coil at his feet
(Fig. 2). A spring-loaded steel finger with a
grooved face holds the line tightly in the main
sheave when the incoming line is slack (Fig. 3).
This steel finger can be easily engaged or dis-
engaged by the operator with his left hand
while coiling the line and without interrupting
the smooth hauling of the pot. A knot passes
freely around the main sheave and under the
steelfinger. Ifthe knot will not clear the guid-
ing channeland discharge hose, the operator
can quickly remove the line from the hose,
pull enough slack past so the knot is clear,
and rethread the line in the hose (Fig. 4).
Early inthe development of this device, the
idler sheave was removed from the discharge
side of the main sheave and a spring-loaded
wheel with a grooved nylonface was installed
to hold the line tightly in the main sheave
(Fig. 5). This wheel was subsequently re-
moved and replaced by the present steel fin-
ger, which does the job equally well and takes
less space,
The idler sheave was reinstalled to facili-
tate setting groundlines, When setting, the
groundline is paid out over the crab block with
the idler sheaves holding the line in place un-
der tension on the main sheave,
Since anerratically swinging block makes
coiling difficult, the block in its present con-
figuration is hung centered over the rail and
secured in place to stop this action. Two
crossed braces are attached to the block at
points behind the idler sheaves and bolted to
a bracket weldedto the rail. The buoyline is
led intothe crab block from a lead block sus-
pended outboard by a chain fastened to the
rail. Whentraveling, the bolts at the rail are
removed and the unit swings inboard.
Initially, the crab block was suspended
much further outboard, and the guiding chan-
nel redirected the line through a much sharper
angle. The lead roller arm was therefore
modified (Fig. 3) to eliminate chafing ‘when
the line came up at an angle.
The authors are with Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E.,
Seattle, Wash. 98102.
** The use of trade names does not imply endorsement of a firm or product.
42
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 904
43
MAIN SHEAVE
STEEL FINGER
SPLITTER
NN
!
\ I
L
IDLER SHEAVE IDLER SHEAVE
(DISCHARGE ae S ye] Cy (INCOMING SIDE)
Ch
GUIDING aN
LEAD ROLLER
DISCHARGE HOSE
’
Fig. 1 - MARcCoL/ JO105 crab block with modifications to aid in high-speed line coiling.
1/The use of the name MARCO does not imply endorsement of a firm or product.
44
Fig. 2 - Method of operation of a crab block modified to aid in line coiling.
LEAD ROLLER ARM
i
Fig. 3 - Crab block with line coiler showing the
steel finger holding the line in the main sheave.
spring-loaded
Fig. 4 - Discharge hose and lower end of guiding channel showing the
slot for threading and removalofline. (Photos: William L. High)
45
B"DIAMETER WHEEL
WITH 1/2" NYLON RIM
GUIDING CHANNEL
eee DIAMETER SPLIT TUBING
Fig. 5 - Crab block with spring-loaded wheel to hold line in the
sheave.
System's Advantages
Insummary, the line coiling device is very
effective for deepwater pot fishing. The chief
advantages of this system are:
1, The operation of the block and the coiling
of the line are carried out by a single crew
member,
2. The crab block may be operated contin-
uously at full capacity, thus reducing the haul-
ing time.
3. The line-coiling device is asimple mod-
ificationto an existing, proved piece of fishing
equipment.
4, The modification to the crab block can
be accomplished by almost any shop having
welding and burning facilities.
5, Little experience is required to operate
the line-coiling device.
The line coiler has been employed success-
fully on the blackcod pot fishing vessel Seattle!
for several fishing trips.
TECHNICAL NOTE
FISH PROTEINS AS BINDERS
IN PROCESSED FISHERY PRODUCTS
R. J. Learson, B. L. Tinker, and L. J. Ronsivalli
The bindingrole of proteins has been well
established for emulsified products such as
frankforts and baloney. Much work has been
done on the water-holding capacity and
emulsification properties of beef and poultry
proteins.
The Japanese have worked on the binding
properties of fish proteins in fish sausages
and the traditional Kamaboko, which are also
emulsified or gelled products.
Recently inthe meat and poultry industry,
there has been interest in binding together
pieces or chunks of flesh to produce loaves
or rolls. The need for binders in these fab-
ricated foods has initiated much research
into a host of protein materials. These in-
clude soy protein, gluten, gelatin, milk solids,
and egg whites.
At the Fishery Products Technology Lab-
oratory in Gloucester, Mass., we became
interested in the binding properties of fish
proteins to increase the structural stability
of fish fillets exposed to various thermal
processes. Research Showed that when fil-
lets were coated with a slurry made from
diluted fish muscle their physical structure
was unaffected by thermal processing and
storage at temperatures above freezing.
The following describes some of the re-
search on the use of fish proteins as binders
in new-product development.
THE FORMATION OF ROLLS OR LOAVES
Research was carried out todevelop roll or
loaf-type products incorporating other fish-
ery products as flavoring agents. Haddock
and cod fillets were comminuted (pulverized)
for various times in a silent cutter (30-180
sec). Pieces of shrimp and clams were in-
corporated into the ground muscle and the
mixtures were placed in No. 2 cans. The
cans were sealed and heat-processed to in-
ternal temperatures ranging from 50 to
LOO? Co Wine resulting product, Figure 1,
was a solid mass of flesh physically stable
at above -freezing temperatures. For taste-
testing, the rolls were sliced into 1.5 cm.
portions, lightly breaded and deep-fat fried.
In general, these products were considered
highly acceptable by the test panel. The flavor
of the products was considered to be that of
clam or shrimp and not haddock or cod. The
texture of the products appeared to be re-
lated directly to the amount of grinding or
the particle size of the ground fish muscle.
Fish muscle comminuted for 30 seconds re-
sultedin very little binding, whereas muscle
treated for 3 minutes produced an almost
rubbery texture. The heat treatment needed
tobind the flesh did not appear to be critical.
Highly acceptable products were prepared by
heating them tointernal temperatures as low
as500 C andupto 77° C. Products heated to
internal temperatures above ls Coueaclaes
tendency to be dry and slightly discolored.
This was especially true of heat-sterilized
products.
Other products of this type were prepared
using various flavoring agents such as ocean
quahogs, Maine shrimp, and crab meat. All
these were highly acceptable.
REFORMATION OF CRAB MEAT
As part of our blue-crab research pro-
gram, we continued this line of research to
develop new productsfrom crab meat. Flake
Mr. Learson and Mr. Tinker are Research Chemists and Mr. Ronsivalli a Food Technologist with National Marine Fisheries Service,
Fishery Products Technology Laboratory, Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, Mass. 01930.
46
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 905
47
Fig. 1 - Shrimp roll (A) prepared from Maine shrimp (B) and diluted comminuted fish muscle (C).
meat, the meat picked from crab bodies, is
much less desirable than the solid ''back fin
lump" meat. Itis alsomore difficult to pick,
resulting in an adverse effect on quality, es-
pecially with increasing labor costs. For
this reason, the industry is moving towards
machines toremove the meat from the bodies.
To date, these machines show a tendency to
break up the meat, making it less desirable
for the salad or cocktail market.
Using a fish protein binder, we attempted
to upgrade the broken flake meat to some-
thing similar tothe desirable ''back fin lump"
meat now produced by the industry. A binder
was prepared by grinding fish muscle ina
silent cutter and mixing this with commercial-
grade flake meat. The product was formed
tothe desired shape and sealed or bonded by
steaming. A number of formulations and
processing conditions were tried in an attempt
to produce exactly the right texture--the
texture of a solidpiece of flesh. The texture
of the finished product appears to be related
to three interdependent variables: the size
of the particles in the binder, the moisture
content of the product, andthe heat treatment.
The binding property and product elasticity
increased with decreasing particle size and
decreasing moisture content. The application
of heat decreased the moisture content and
increased the binding property. The most
acceptable product was prepared in the fol-
lowing manner:
Haddock or cod fillets were comminuted
in a silent cutterfor 60 seconds. The binder
was prepared by mixing 8 parts fish flesh to
2 parts water. Commercial blue-crab flake
meat was mixed with the binder at a ratio of
48
9 parts crab meat to one part binder. The
product was formed and treated in steam for
one minute to seal the binder. This product
had the texture of a solid piece of flesh and
there was no organoleptic evidence that any-
thing but crab meat was added, Although we
called this product "simulated lump meat",
there was really no comparison with "real
back fin'' lump meat, and it certainly cannot
be substituted for the genuine ''back fin'' lump.
However, the product was considered far
superior to the original flake meat in terms
of versatility, andthe factthat it did not break
up during packaging and handling represented
important advantages over the lump meat.
Todemonstrate this versatility, we prepared
a number of products using the simulated
lump meat. These included smoked crab
(lump meat prepared with liquid smoke), crab
cocktail, fried lump meat, and a simulated
soft-shell crab (Figures 2 and 3). All these
were considered highly acceptable. by mem-
bers of the industry as well as by taste panels
at the laboratory.
Since most of this work was carried out
on cod and haddock muscle as the binder ma-
terial, we decided to test a number of fish
species todetermine if there were differences
in binding characteristics. An experiment
was carried out where a crab-meat product
was prepared using a number of fish species as
the binder. All the products were prepared
using the previously described procedure.
To give an indication of the relative binding
power, the force necessary to penetrate the
product was measured for each binder. This
was done by measuring on a gram scale the
pressure required to pierce the product with
a steel shaft (flat end--diameter = 0.5 cm).
The binders tested included flesh from cod,
haddock, flounder, oceanperch, whiting, hake,
skate, white perch, skup, mullet, sea trout,
butterfish, striped bass, and raw crab flesh.
We also tested haddock binder (80% haddock,
20% water) stored for 10 days at 1° C and 11
days at -20° C. Within the accuracy of the
experiment, we found no significant differ-
ences among fish samples. The crab flesh,
however, had binding properties far less than
the fish flesh. To achieve the same product
elasticity, a heat treatment of 25 minutes was
required. This compares to a one-minute
heat treatment for the others.
Fig. 2 - Simulated blue crab lump meat prepared with 90% flake meat and 10% fish protein binder.
49
Fig. 3 - Simulated soft shell crab (A) prepared with 90% flake meat (B) and 10% fish protein binder (C).
SUMMARY
In general, all our data indicate that the
role of fish proteins is similar to that theo-
rized for meat. The application of heat pro-
duces an unravelling of the protein and ran-
dom cross linking by means of hydrogen
bonding. The cross linking of randomly
organized protein mixed with connective tis-
sue is responsible for the tightly adhering
mass.
So, in general, it appears that a fish-pro-
tein binder can be used effectively in the
development of formed fishery products, The
binder material is cheap and easy to obtain
by means of meat/bone separators. It is
reasonably stable at both refrigerated and
frozen temperatures. It can be flavored and
colored and, finally, it is a protein natural to
fishery products and readily available to fish
processors.
50
REFERENCES
CARVER, J. H. and F. J. KING
1970. The economic potential for mechanical recovery of
meat from low value fish products. Food Engineer-
ing, Vol. 42, No. 10.
HANSEN, L. J.
1960. Emulsion formation in finely comminuted sausage.
Food Technology 14:565.
HUDSPETH, J. P. and Ke N. MAY
1967. A study of the emulsifying capacity of salt soluble
proteins of poultry meat. 1. Light and dark meat
tissue of ducks. Food Technology 21:89.
LEARSON, R. Je, Le Je RONSIVALLI, B. W. SPRACKLIN,
and F, HEILIGMAN
1969. Process criteria for producing radiation-sterilized fish
products. Food Technology 23:85.
SAFFLE, R. L.
1968. Meat emulsion. Advances in Food Research, Vol.
16:105, Academic Press.
SWIFT, C. E., C. LOCKETT, and A. J. FRYAR
1961. Comminuted meatemulsions. The capacity of meat
for emulsion. Food Technology, 15:468.
TANIKAWA, E,
1963. Fishsausage and ham industry in Japan. Advances in
Food Research, Vol. 12:368, Academic Press.
VADEHRA, D. V. and R. C. BAKER
1970. The mechanism of heat-initiated binding of poultry
meat. Food Technology, 24:766.
GLUCOSE OXIDASE REDUCES OXIDATION
IN FROZEN SHRIMP
Carolyn Kelley
Glucose oxidase-catalase, an oxygen-uti-
lizing enzyme system, has beenused success-
fully to decrease oxidation and loss of color
in frozen Alaska pink shrimp.
Oxygen plays an important role in many
of the problems of modern food processing.
The oxidative rancidity in fat-containing foods
and discolorations or loss of color in many
foods can be attributed, at least in part, to
oxygen. Freezing rather than canning, con-
venient small-size portions, and the use of
cartons and bags rather than cans or glass
have all accentuated the destructive role
oxygen can have during storage of foods
(Scott, 1958).
Glucose oxidase-catalase preparations are
usedtocarry outthe net reaction: 2 glucose +
oxygen glucose oxidase , 2 gluconic acid.
catalase
The reaction proceeds until either the glucose
or oxygenis all used (Scott and Craig, 1967).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A commercialenzyme Ovazyme (1) prep-
aration was used. Two solutions were pre-
pared containing equivalent amounts of this
enzyme, one to be used in place of the usual
brine dip, and the other to be added in small
amounts directly to the cans.
Precooked, machine peeled, blanched
(ready-to-eat) Alaska pink shrimp were used
for samples. Enzyme solutions either were
put into the cans and the shrimp added, or
shrimp were dipped into an enzyme solution
before being put into the cans. Several
amounts of the enzyme solution and various
dip treatments were used to determine the
most effective amount of glucose oxidase to
have in the can. Cans were sealed without
vacuum and left at ambient temperature
(45-50° F) for 30 minutes for the enzyme to
act before samples were frozen at -20° F,
After about 24 hours, the cans were trans-
ferred to 0° F storage and analyzed at given
intervals for rancidity development and loss
of color, The storage study was planned to
last six months, but the samples stayed un-
expectedly fresh so the time was extended to
a year.
Analyses for rancidity were done by the
TBA method of Yu and Sinnhuber (1967).
Color was determined by the method of Kelley
and Harmon (1971).
RESULTS
Analyses for rancidity showed that glucose
oxidase in any amount tried was effective in
reducing rancidity when shrimp was dipped
The author is a chemist with National Marine Fisheries Service Technological Laboratory, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901.
(1) The use of trade names is merely to facilitate description; no endorsement is implied. Fermco Labs, Chicago, Ill., donated the
Ovazyme.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 906
52
in it, or when it was added to the can. After
the year of storage, the untreated control
sample has a rancidity value of 1.32, and
treated samples values ranged from 0.71 to
0.98. Theloss of color in the untreated con-
trol was 29.1%, and treated samples ranged
from 9.0-20.0% loss of color.
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE WORK
Loss of coloris usually not as large when
shrimp are not exposed to light. The benefits
of glucose oxidase-catalase would probably
be more obvious in shrimp, which were
packed in transparent bags rather than cans.
Inthis work, rancidity was less with larger
amounts of glucose oxidase-catalase present.
The removal of oxygenin the closed contain-
er is a function of both amount of enzyme
present and time in which enzyme was active.
The effectiveness of the glucose oxidase-
catalase could probably be increased if opti-
mum amounts, delay time, and temperature
requirements were identified for given con-
tainer sizes. If, for economic reasons, it
were desirable to reduce the amount of glu-
cose oxidase-catalase, a longer time between
sealing and freezing would probably compen-
sate for the smaller amount of enzyme.
It remains unknown whether freezing com-
pletely inactivates the enzyme system. Some
unreported work inconnection with this study
indicated that the enzyme may become active
again if the closed container is brought back
If this
proves true, glucose oxidase -catalase may be
to ambient temperature for a while.
especially useful for removing trace oxygen
during shipment when temperatures may
fluctuate considerably and oxidation could
occur,
LITERATURE CITED
KELLEY, C. and A. HARMON
1971. Determination of carotenoids in pink shrimp. Sub-
mitted to J. of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
SCOTT, D.
1958. Enzymatic oxygen removal from packaged foods.
Food Tech. 12:7, 8, 11, 13-17.
SCOTT, D and T. CRAIG
1967. Maintaining freshness (flavor and color} of bottled
citrus beverages. Beverages, 8:2 (April-May 1967).
YU, T. C. and R, SINNHUBER
1967. An improved 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) procedure
for the measurement of autoxidation in fresh oils.
J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 44:256-258.
WORLD FISH MEAL PRODUCTION RISES
During Jan.-Sept. 1970, fish-meal output
by major producers-exporters, Peru, Nor-
way, and Chile, totaled nearly 2.6 million
short tons; the figure was1.8 million in 1969
period. The 3 nations export about 97% of
their output and account for about 75% of world
exports. This was reported in'' Foreign Agri-
culture,'' U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Jan. 11,
1971.
Their combined exports during Jan,-Sept.
1970 were2.1 million tons--only 47,000 tons
above 1969 period--and 487,000 tons less than
production. In 1969, exports at just over 2
milliontons had exceeded production by over
200,000 tons. A substantial buildup in stocks
occurred in 1970. The last time it happened
was in 1967. That was followed in 1968 by
heavy stock dispersals, which boosted ex-
ports to 5% over production.
Imports by 'Big 8' Drop
The 1969 decline inimports into 8 selected
countries continued through the first 9 months
of 1970. In the past, the '8' had taken bulk of
imports. The decline resulted from relatively
scarce supplies and high prices that began in
May 1969.
Imports by the '8'--at 1.4 million tons
for Jan,-Sept.--were down 365,000 tons (20%)
from level of 1969 period. When compared
with exports, 600,000 tons remain unac-
counted. This may reflect, in part, the lag
between export and import data; and, partly,
possibility that larger quantity is probably
moving to other importing countries in East
and West Europe.
Agriculture Dept. Observations
Although 1971 fish-meal production "is
indeterminate," says U.S. Department of
Agriculture, several observations can be
made:
(1) Aggregate fish-meal prod: ction in the
three major countries trended upward at an-
nual average volume of 246,700 short tons
during 1960-68 period.
(2) Their production since 1960 increased
in 7 years and declined only in 2--1965 and
1969,
(3) Exports from the three have accounted
for over 95% of combined output. During
1960-68, it trended upward at volume of
243,900 tons annually.
(4) Export availabilities in 1971 from 1971
production would amount to2.7 million tons--
if 1971 productiondoes nomore than stagnate
at 1970 volume, currently estimated at 2.85
milliontons, and local use continues at about
150,000 tons.
(5) Also, asubstantial quantity of fish meal
(roughly 380,000 tons) accumulated in 1970
will be available for export.
(6) Although aggregate imports into major
consuming countries declined sharply in 1969,
and continued todecline in 1970, imports into
all countries, except U.S., were well main-
tained through 1969. Only in1970 was decline
infish-meal availabilities felt in major con-
suming countries. This indicates that U.S.
exports of soybeans and meal were not af-
fected by 1969 decline in fish meal availabil-
ities--but did benefit significantly from re-
duction in 1970.
(7) In1970, fish-meal productionmay have
reached record. However, as before, impact
of large production would not be felt in con-
suming countries until 1971.
53
JAPANESE ARE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT
1971 FISHERY EXPORTS
The Japanese fishing industry is apprehen-
sive over recent U.S. actions banning the sale
of mercury-contaminated fishery products.
In 1970, Japan sold to the U.S. 3.3 million
cases of canned tuna worth about US$36 mil-
lion. This was almost 10% of all fishery ex-
ports. Exporters expect U.S. purchases to
droptopractically nothing while the mercury
problem is studied in the U.S. The same is
true for frozen tuna and swordfish.
The U.S. alsohas banned imports of whale
meat and oil under the Endangered Species
Act. (‘Japanese Economic Journal', Jan. 19,
1971.)
Although exports of whale products to the
U.S. were worth only $2.5 million in 1970, the
ban willhit whalers hardfor2 reasons: there
isa highprofit ratiointhe sale of whale pro-
ducts, and the industry already is troubled.
Canned Tuna No. 1
Canned tuna is Japan's most important
fishery export. In 1969, sales expanded 20%
to $66 million. More than half was bought by
the U.S., the rest by West Europe. Japanese
sources report several European Community
nations, particularly Italy and France, are
considering minimum import prices for Jap-
anese canned tuna to protect domestic pro-
ducers.
Japanese frozen tuna exports to the U.S.
were worth $35 million in 1969.
On Jan. 20, 1971, the U.S. National Fish-
eries Institute announced that under provi-
sions of existing contracts 5 million lbs. of
04
frozen swordfish, worth $2 million, would be
returned to Japan because of high mercury
levels. The swordfish can be sold in Japan
if the government permits. ('Japan Times',
dein, BA, 7k.)
W. German Situation
West Germany, too, is seriously concerned
about mercury-in-tuna situation. A move-
mentis under way to prohibit sales of canned
tuna containing more than0.4 part mercury in
a millionparts of canned tuna, Some buyers
are demanding that Japanese exporters of
canned tuna attach certificates attesting less
than 0.4 ppm mercury.
The move by West Germany to establish a
more rigid standard than the U.S. apparently
is aimed at preventing the diversion of U.S.-
rejected shipments to W. Germany.
Japanese exporters claim they cannot com-
ply with German demand because Japan's
positionis not toissue individual certificates
The West German
move will hurt because W. Germany is Ja-
for canned tuna exports.
pan's second-best canned-tuna market (after
U.S.) and best market for Japanese canned
tunainoil. ('Suisan Tsushin', Jan, 14, 1971.)
NMFS Comment:
exporter of fishery products.
Japan used to be net
During last
few years, it has imported more and more.
In 1969, fishery imports increased 30% over
1968 to $261 million; exports decreased 2%
to $347 million. The continued rapid decrease
of exports could severely affect fishery trade
balance.
JAPAN
FISHERY BUDGET IS RAISED
FOR FISCAL YEAR 1971
The Japanese Government approved on
Dec. 30, 1970, the Fisheries Agency budget of
50,052 million yen(US$139 million) for fiscal
year (FY) 1971 (April 1971-March 1972).
The requested sum is 23.7% higher than the
FY 1970 fishery budget of 40,462 million yen
($112.4 million).
Some Large Increases
The Agency is requesting large increases
for: improvement of fishing ports (26.3%);
development of deep-sea fisheries (53.4%),
which includes establishment of a $278,000
marine fishery center; and a marketing pro-
gram including a $47,000-subsidy for experi-
mental tuna marketing.
For first time, the Fisheries Agency is
seeking funds to control pollution on fishing
grounds ($267,000),
Amounts for some programs are shown
below. ('Nihon Suisan Shimbun', Jan. 6, 1971.)
Program
Fishing ports improvement
Fishermen disaster compensation system
Deep-sea fisheries development
Fishery products marketing program
International fisheries biological research
North Pacific fisheries enforcement
Distant-water fisheries enforcement
Fish culture center
Fishing ground pollution control
Marine resources conservation
Fish culture experimental projects
Coastal/ offshore fisheries forecasting
Other
Total
Fishing industry disaster compensation system
55
SAURY PRICES RISE AS LANDINGS FALL
Saury prices in Japan have risen sharply
in recent years as landings declined. Once
considered poor man's food, the saury now
is high priced.
In 1969, landings declined 60% from 1968
and reached a record low of 52,200 metric
tons; the average exvessel price tripled.
So earnings of vessel owners suffered less
than had been expected.
Earlier Season Opening Suggested
Still, saury fishermen want to increase
the catch to make the fish available to all.
Fishing captains have suggested an earlier
season opening. ('Shin Suisan Shimbun',
Feb. 1, 1971.)
OK OK
SQUID FISHING OFF
U.S. EAST COAST IMPROVES
Japanese trawlers fishing squid off New
York since late Nov. 1970 reported in Jan.
1971 that fishing had improved. Earlier re-
ports had indicated that about 14 trawlers
were having difficulty finding good concen-
trations. Although January catches were still
Proposed
FY 1971 Budget FY 1970 Budget
(US$1,000)
75,917 60,105
4,530 6,411
4,423 4,409
3,490 2,275
2,083 1,062
816 700
778 592
552 511
479 435
267 2
235 201
145 187
84 83
45,201 35,429
139,000 112,400
56
JAPAN (Contd.):
below 1970 peak-season catch, some vessels
were hauling incloseto 10 metric tons a day.
European Price Drop
The Japanese firms hope to export squid
to Europe at US$400/ metric ton (cost, insur -
ance, freight). However, the European price
will almost definitely decline to $300/ton lev-
el, about half the 1969 price. The Japanese
fear they may not be able to make any profit.
Butterfish & Argentine
Prior to squid, the trawlers concentrated
on butterfish and argentine. In early Jan.
1971, 1,800 tons of East Coast catch (1,400
tons butterfish, 400 tons ocean perch and ar-
gentines) arrived in Japan. There the but-
terfish packed in 44-lb. boxes brought 5,800
yen ($16.11) a box wholesale. ('Minato Shim -
bun', Jan. 14, 1971.)
NMFS Comment: The Japanese wholesale
price for butterfish was $0.37 apound. Recent
U.S. prices were:
wholesale Baltimore US$0.35
wholesale New York US$0.35-40
retail Baltimore (Dec. 1970) US$0.69-0.79.
* OK OK
REPORT ON SHRIMP INDUSTRY TRENDS
About 70 Japanese shrimp trawlers were
fishing in the Caribbean Sea off the Guianas
(South America) in Jan, 1971. The trawlers
began organized fishing 4 years ago. They
lost money because their crews were not
familiar with the grounds.
Over the years, however, crew skill im-
proved steadily, mechanical refrigeration
was installed. Now most trawlers are oper-
ating profitably.
1970 Catch
In 1970, their combined shrimp catch off
the Guianas was 5,768,190 pounds--about 5%
above 1969 catch of about 5.5 million pounds.
The catch, mostly pink and brown shrimp,
is exported to the U.S. and Japan. ('Suisan
Keizai Shimbun!', Jan. 27, 1971.)
Prices Firm in Japan
Frozen shrimp wholesale prices in Japan
generally are holding firm. Prices for large
sizes, in short supply, continue high due to
stronginstitutionaldemand. But the plentiful
smaller sizes, particularly 31-40 counts, are
steady. ('Suisan Tsushin', Feb. 3, 1971.)
OK OK
IMPORTS OF FROZEN SHRIMP FROM
AFRICA ARE INCREASING
In1970, Japanese imports of frozen shrimp
from Africa, especially from Nigeria and
Senegal, increased. During 1969, Japan im-
ported 530 metrictons from Nigeria, 286 tons
from Senegal, 104 tons from Tanzania, and
47 tons from Mozambique.
Liberia, Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Cameroun
also supplied shrimp in 1970. Although the
quantities were small, Japan expects ship-
ments to increase because of Japanese ex-
ploratory fishing off Gabon and Cameroun.
Senegal Largest Supplier
In 1970, Senegal was the largest west Afri-
can supplier of shrimp to Japan: 238 tons in
Jan.-July. In 1967, Tomen, a Japanese trad-
ingfirm, beganto import frozen shrimp from
Senegal; by Sept. 1970, ithad reached 50 tons.
Tomen believes that only significant catch im-
provement will make it profitable for Japa-
nese to fish off Senegal.
Shrimp from Senegal are mainly white with
a predominant count of 26 to 30 and 41 to50,
heads on, per pound. The Japanese market for
these is good. Shrimp with a count of 50 or
over, heads on, are exportedtoEurope. ('Sui-
san Keizai')
NMFS Comment: Imports of shrimp from
Africa are small part of Japanese shrimp
imports: 3.1% in 1969. Total 1969 Japanese
imports of shrimp were 48,885.7 metric tons
worth US$121,747,500. In 1970, these fell to
45,187.4 MT worth US$106,835,833 (Africa
3.4%).
But imports from Africa are increasing
rapidly. In 1969, six African countries ex-
ported 1,734 metric tons worth US$3.7 mil-
lion, According to Japan, Madagascar led
JAPAN (Conid.):
with 760 tons, followed by Nigeria, 530 tons;
Senegal, 286; Tanzania, 104; and Mozambique,
47. Somalia exported negligible amount.
During first 9 months of 1970, significant
changes occurred. Five countries joined the
6 that exportedin 1969: Ivory Coast, 137 tons;
Liberia, 36 tons; Gabon, 27; Cameroun, 8;
Angola, 1. Madagascar remains chief sup-
plier, 790 tons, but imports from Nigeria have
decreased significantly, to 212 tons. This
contradicts information supplied by 'Suisan
Tsushin'. Imports from Senegal fell to 272
tons in first 3 quarters of 1970.
It appears that the Japanese, to maintain
African shrimp supplies for ever-increasing
domestic demand, are rapidly establishing
joint ventures in most coastal African coun-
tries.
se ok
Es ce
HIROSHIMA OYSTER GROWERS WORRY
ABOUT S. KOREAN IMPORTS
In Jan. 1971, when oyster harvest was at
its peak, the Hiroshima oyster growers
worried about imports from Republic of Korea
(ROK) by a Japanese firm.
For about a year, the San-ei Suisan, Hiro-
shima's largest wholesaler of oysters, had
been culturing oysters in Korea, with ROK sup-
port, inwaters much cleaner than Hiroshima's.
S. Korean Oysters
Ini970, the wholesaler had imported from
ROK 30 metric tons in the shell and shucked
them (yield 4 tons of meats). A small part
was senttoTokyoFish Market. It sold fresh
at 11,000 yenper 20 kilograms (US$1.53/kilo),
below market price of Hiroshima oysters.
The Korean oysters harvested more than a
week earlier (twice time allowed Hiroshima
oysters destined for fresh consumption) were
not best quality. They were used mostly for
canning,
Origin of Oysters Troublesome
The 4 tons are negligible compared with
Hiroshima's annual shucking of 32,000 tons.
However, even if Korean oysters are frozen
or canned, they are likely to be regarded as
57
Hiroshima oysters because importer is Hiro-
shima's largest. (It handles nearly 20% of
city's oyster sales.) Some oyster growers
in Hiroshima triedtoeliminate San-ei Suisan,
but they failed because of company's long as-
sociation with oyster growers. ('Minato
Shimbun!, Jan, 7, 1971.)
KKK
NICHIRO IS PURSE SEINING
OFF WEST AFRICA
The Nichiro Company's purse-seine fleet
caught 4,500 to4,700 metric tons of tuna dur-
ing July-Dec. 1970 in the eastern Atlantic off
West Africa. This almost equals fleet's catch
target of 4,800tons. Although more skipjack
and fewer yellowfin were taken than antici-
pated, the trip is expected to show a profit.
1970 Fleet Reorganization
Previously, Nichiro had lost money each
year inpurse Seining off West Africa. In1970,
the fleet was reorganized and reduced from 6
pair-boat seiners and 2 motherships to 3
pair-boat seiners (9 vessels, including 3
skiffs) supported by 3,600-gross-ton mother -
ship 'Hiroshima Maru!',
1971 Fleet Plans
The fleet fished untilend of Jan.1971. The
mothership returned to Japan and will head
back for West Africa in May. During that
period, the seiners will be docked in an east
Atlantic port. (‘Minato Shimbun', Jan. 15,
1971.)
oy
%
RECORD MOTHERSHIP-TY PE BOTTOM-
FISH CATCH IN BERING SEA IN 1970
The 1970 Bering Sea bottomfish catch by
10 Japanese mothership fleets reached rec-
ord 1,184,000 metric tons. This surpassed
by 38% previous high of 855,000 metric tons
in 1969.
The large gain was attributed to increase
in Alaska pollock landings --over 87% of catch.
These landings have been increasing yearly
since fleets began producing “surimi'’
(minced fish meat). ('Minato Shimbun', Jan.
7D, WAL)
58
JAPAN (Contd.):
Bottomfish Catch in Bering Sea
1970 1969
(Metric Tons)
Alaska pollock 1,031,000 678, 000
Flatfishes 89, 000 106, 000='
Cod 47,000 39, 000
Herring 9,000 11,000
Sablefish 3,000 4,000
Pacific Ocean perch 2,000 11,000
Shrimp 2,000 4, 000
Other species 1,000 2,000
Total 1, 184, 000 855, 0002/
1/Includes 96, 800 tons of flounders and 9, 5000 tons of arrow-
toothed halibut.
2/The 1969 figures are rounded off.
Catch was 854, 600 tons.
kK
TOKAI UNIVERSITY CULTURES
TUNA SPECIES AND DOLPHIN
A 3-year study of the culture of tuna, skip~
jack, and dolphin is being conducted by Tokai
University's College of Marine Science and
Technology. The studyis part of a Fisheries
Agency program of marine culture of com-
mercially important fish species begun in
1970,
The college has been rearing about 200
tuna, skipjack, and dolphin since Aug. 12 and
reports that commercial culture of tuna and
skipjack is promising.
Tuna, Skipjack, Dolphin
Tuna and skipjack, which normally swim
straight, are extremely difficult to rear ina
small tank. The rearing of one bluefin tuna
for 2 months by Nagasaki Prefectural Fish-
eries Experimental Station is the longest.
On Aug. 12, 1970, at Mera Bay, the re-
searchers began rearing bluefin tuna, skip-
jack, and dolphinin a seawater pen 10 meters
long, 10 meters wide, and 1.5 meters deep--
and inatank 3.5 meters long, 3.5 meters wide,
and1.5 meters deep. Experiments also were
carried out inatraining pool 5 meters in dia-
meter and 2.5 meters deep.
Several fish have died, but 200 (including
dolphin) now canbe seen swimming in groups.
The experiment has passed its most difficult
stage, the fish are feeding well, and survival
should be good.
What's Ahead
Prof, Motoo Inoue, incharge of experiment,
foresees no Serious problems during winter.
The next objective will be to rear them to
maturity andtospawnthem artificially. Inoue
also wants to fertilize skipjack eggs artifi-
cially aboard avesselin waters around Bonin
and Mariana Islands, and yellowfin and big-
eyed around Truk Island. He plans to catch
young tuna with lights and to rear them. He
will collect tuna eggs with a net and hatch them
in laboratory. ('Suisan Keizai')
ws we
KOKO
UNDERWATER HABITAT NEARS
COMPLETION
A nearly $1-million submarine habitat be-
gunina Kanagawa Prefecture shipyard in 1969
was scheduled to be completed in February
Lge al
The Japanese Science and Technology
pete. (STAA) is building the habitat, known
"Undersea Operation Base". It aii be in-
Breillee on seabed 30 meters deep off Ito,
Shizuoka Prefecture. The habitat consists of
a main 65-ton compartment with workshops
and living-quarters, an elevator, and surface
buoys. The compartment is cylindrical and
measures 10.9 meters long and 6.5 meters
high. It is designed to withstand pressures
at a depth of 110 meters. Inside are a bed-
room for four, a kitchen-dinette with hot
running water, laboratories, and the central
control office. STAA said it was designed to
accommodate four persons comfortably for
one month.
Experiment in Nov. 1971
Four aquanauts will occupy itin Nov. 1971.
They will breathe artificial air--95% heli-
um and 5% oxygen. Because helium extracts
heat from human body, room temperature will
have to be kept at 28° C. to 32° C, (82.4°-
89.6° F.) with electric heater.
Another disadvantage is dietary. The aqua-
nauts may only eat frozen food thawed in hot
water. Flame is forbiddeninthe artificial air.
Four-manteams will take turns living in the
JAPAN (Contd.):
eraft for 5 days. They will photograph ma-
rine life, sample soilfrom seabed, and exam-
ine effects of high underwater pressures.
If first experimentis successful, the craft
will be lowered to60 meters for another ex-
periment in 1972, and to 100 meters in 1973.
24 Being Trained
Twenty-four youths, including graduate
students and employes of ocean-oriented
companies, are undergoing intensive training.
STAA officials say Japan is 5 to 8 years
behind France andthe U.S. inthis field. There,
successful experiments with similar craft
have been conducted in depths ranging from
130 to 186 meters. ('Japan Times', Jan. 1,
1971.)
Ok Ok
PHASES OUT FISHING IN
NEW ZEALAND WATERS
The 3-year Japan-New Zealand fishery
agreement, concluded in October 1967, ex-
pired on Dec. 31, 1970. It had allowed the
Japanese to fish within New Zealand's 12-
mile fishery limit up to 6 miles from the
coast. Japan was limited to 17 vessels, total
tonnage 6,000 GRT, and had to furnish a list
of vessels fishing in the area each month.
New Zealanders Want Fish
The Japanese are hoping to extend the
agreement, but their extensive mothership
operations and large catches, mostly sea
bream, have been eye-openers to New Zea-
landers, who will try to catch the fish them-
selves, But their coastal vessels are small
and not equipped for large, efficient fishing.
New Zealanders reported that Japanese
violated agreement many times by coming
closer than 6 miles and will now violate New
Zealand's 12-mile fishery limits. (From
"Asahi Evening News', Jan. 1, 1971.)
NMFS Comment: Japanese officials have
been soft on companies that violated the
agreement; penalties have been mostly ad-
ministrative not financial. Japanese had
hoped to form several joint ventures to ex-
59
ploit fishery resources within 12-mile limit.
However, findings of 1969 survey team dis-
courage this scheme. Nevertheless, Taiyo
established joint venture with A.G. Wicelams
Co. in Sept. 1967--capitalization US$368,000,
27.4% contributed by Taiyo ($100,800).
Kok OK
LARGE PURSE SEINER LAUNCHED
The 99-GRT purse seiner 'Nippon Maru',
first Japanese-built seiner of its size, is
scheduled for delivery to its owners, the
Overseas Purse Seine Fishing Co., in early
April 1971.
Its Vital Statistics
The vessel is modeled after U.S. tuna
seiners. It will be equipped with U.S. power
block anduse four U.S. 65-hp., 45-knot speed
boats. Main specifications are: overall
length 59.05 meters (193.7 feet), width 11.8
meters (38.7 feet), depth 7.68 meters (25.2
feet), main engine 3,500 hp., speed 16 knots,
crew 17. Total construction costs, including
speed boats, will reach 620 million yen
(US$1.72 million).
Hopes on New Seiner
The Japanese are pinning much hope on the
Nippon Maru in their contest with U.S. sein-
ers. It will be sent toeastern Pacific yellow-
fin and skipjack grounds around May 1971.
Two-thirds of the operating costs will be sub-
sidized by the government, which has desig-
nated it to explore for new fishing grounds.
(‘Minato Shimbun!', Jan. 31, 1971.)
The seiner willhave a brine-freezing unit
(minimum temperature -0.4° F.). It will fish
for 4 years without returning to Japan; crew
replacements will be flown out periodically.
oe
NMFS Comment: The Overseas Purse
Seine Fishing Co., established in June 1970,
sent representatives in Sept. 1970 to San
Diego, Calif.,to hire a U.S. trawl master for
its new purse seiner. In Oct. 1970, 7 U.S.
tuna fishermen were hired to give technical
advice andtohelpcrewthe vessel. The ship's
master and the chief engineer, however, will
be Japanese,
Since the vessel will not be ready until
April 1971, after closure of regulatory yel-
lowfin season, skipjack tuna will be fished
instead,
oo000000
60
TAIWAN
1970 FISH PRODUCTION INCREASED
9.3% OVER 1969
Taiwan's fish production in 1970 totalled
613,044 m.t., an increase of 9.3% over the
560,783 m.t. of 1969. The 1970 production of
each fishery category compared with 1969
was:
Increase
1970 (m.t.) 1969(m.t.) m.t.
otal 613,044 560,783 52,261
eep-sea 277,955 255,057 22,898
nshore 234,704 221,646 13,058
27, 690 27,010 674
57,064 15,631
The production target set for 1971 is
665,000 m.t. with the following breakdown:
Deep-sea fisheries, 329,000 m.t.; inshore
fisheries, 241,000 m.t.; coastal fisheries,
25,000 m.t.; and fish culture, 70,000 m.t.
Fish Export
The export of fishery products in 1970
totalled US$66.7 million compared with
US$44.7 million in 1969. Most of the fish
exported are frozen tuna and marlin trans-
shipped from overseas ports. Shrimp is the
next important export item.
Artificial Propagation of Mullet
Continuing the experiment of the 1969-
1970 season, the Tungkang Marine Labora-
tory succeeded in rearing the hatchlings of
the grey mullet to stocking size. Froma
fish stripped on Dec. 21, 1970, 6,000 finger-
lings survived and grew to 2.2 cm in length
as of Jan. 31, 1971. It is expected that the
Laboratory will be able to produce 20,000 to
25,000 mullet fingerlings this winter to a size
suitable for stocking.
The Laboratory also succeeded in breed-
ing for the first time a pond-reared mullet of
about 33 years in age on January 17th. Sev-
eral thousand hatchlings have survived and
were in healthy condition at the time of this
report, Feb. 5, 1970.
T. P. Chen
Chief, Fisheries Division
Joint Commission on Rural
Reconstruction, Taiwan
se oko
a4 a BS
PLANS TO BUILD TUNA LONGLINERS
The Taiwanese have scheduled construc-
tion of forty 250-GRT tuna longliners. Govern-
ment approved, the vessels willbe financed
by a US$10 millionloan from Asian Develop-
ment Bank (70%), and private Taiwanese cap-
ital (30%).
Tuna-Mercury Problem
The tuna-mercury problem encountered
in the U.S. in Dec. 1970 had generated argu-
ments against building tuna vessels, but the
Taiwan Fisheries Bureau decidedtogo ahead.
The Bureau reportedly said its future efforts
will be directed toward building large purse
seiners. ('Katsuo-maguro Tsushin', Jan. 26,
1971.)
EUROPE
USSR
BUYS FISH-MEAL PLANTS FROM
DENMARK
After years of negotiations in Moscow and
Copenhagen, the Danish firm Atlas has se-
cured a Soviet order for 20 million DKr.
(US$2.66 million) to deliver 8 fish-meal plants
for 2 factoryships. The combined daily pro-
duction capacity of eachvessel, 1,200 metric
tons of raw fish, will yield about 400 tons of
meal.
New-Type Vessels
The vessels are 2 new types built at a So-
viet shipyard. They willbe equipped too with
freezing and filleting equipment.
Atlas previously had delivered smaller
fish-meal plants for Soviet vessels. Several
were builtat Burmeister & Wain Shipyard in
Copenhagen. (U.S. Embassy, Copenhagen.)
OOK ok
'FROST-PROOF! RESERVOIRS FOR
LIVE CARP IN LITHUANIA
A reservoir for live fish has been built
on the Neman River downstream from hydro-
electric power station feeding Kaunas, Lith-
uania. The reservoir is filled with warmer
waterfrom power Station and does not freeze
over in winter.
Carp Available Longer Period
Already, 40 metric tons of carp raised in
local hatcheries have been placed into the
400-ton-capacity reservoir. Kaunas stores
willbe supplied with live carp through March.
In the past, live carp was marketed only
during a short period in autumn. ('Pravda',
Dec. 16, 1970.)
61
ICELAND
1970 CATCH WAS SLIGHTLY
ABOVE 1969
Iceland's 1970 fishery catch is estimated
at 720,000 metric tons, compared to 689,400
in 1969. Herring continued poor: only 45,000
tons were landed. While this was aslight drop
from 1969's 56,900 tons, it was onlyafraction
of the 461,500 tons caught in 1967.
The groundfish catch of 469,000 tons was
up slightly from the 390,100 tons in 1969, but
it was less than expected. Lobster, scallop,
and shrimp catches reportedly rose.
Board Raises Prices
As 1971 began, the Iceland Fisheries Pric-
ing Board raised the average landed price of
fish by 25%--including 35% for haddock (in
short supply) and 27% for cod. Retailers
reacted with 15% increases.
Vessel owners and fishermen negotiated
contracts for 1971 during the last days of
1970.
most, but notall, agreements. Owners and of -
By mid-January, unions had ratified
ficers stillhad not agreed. The officers went
on strike as their vessels returned to port.
(U.S. Embassy, Reykjavik, Jan. 13, 1971.)
62
DENMARK
REPORT ON GREENLAND'S
COD FISHERIES
Greenland's 1970 catch of cod was about
17,000 metric tons (gutted weight) a 28%
decline from 1969; and the latter was 44%
below 1962 record. Poor catches may be
expected for several years because there is
no evidence of improvement in recruitment.
Most of the current fishery is based onthe
1963-65 year-classes. The year-classes
since then have been relatively small, so the
cod stock is expected to be low until 1974.
Hope lies with the 1965 year-class now en-
tering the fishery.
Catch by All Nations
The cod catch by all nations fishing off
West Greenland was 230,000 tons in 1969, the
lowest since 1959, A decrease ineffort since
Efforts
were directed toward Labrador andthe north-
1967 is one reason for the decline.
east Arctic, where conditions were somewhat
more profitable.
In 1969 and 1970, an enormous ice field
hampered fishing, Simultaneously, large
amounts of cold polar water arrived, Tem-
peratures at West Greenland fishing banks
were unusually low.
Large Stern Trawlers Ordered
Most cod now are taken in inshore waters
by small boats. Four large longliners fish
on offshore banks, where foreign fleets have
caught about 90% of annual total.
Toremedy uncertainties of inshore fishing,
and to ensure steadier fillet-plant operation,
the Royal Greenland Trade Department
(RGTD) contracted for large new stern trawl-
The first entered fishery in May 1969.
Another, the 'Nuk', landed 1,618 metric
tons of cod (gutted weight) during 1969, and
about 2,700 tons in 1970.
ers.
Twolarger stern-trawlers, nearing com-
pletion, will start fishing this summer. These
vessels are 58 meters long, 11 meters wide,
and have a hold capacity of about 550 cubic
The Nuk had only 280. They are
equipped with double trawl rigs and rein-
meters.
forced hulls. The trawl winches will be lo-
cated aft of bridge on boat deck. This is
believed to be especially advantageous in
waters heavy with drifting ice. Crew quar-
ters include 24 one-man rooms.
Since the need was great to obtain off-
shore fishing capacity this year,a Norwegian
trawler was chartered anditfishedfrom Suk-
kertoppen.
The Danish Ministry for Greenland has
contracted for two 700-gross-ton stern
trawlers tobe ready in 1972 and 1973. These
willbe 58.6 meters longand cost US$8.2 mil-
lion each. In 1973, RGTD plans call for a 7-
vessel trawler fleet.
U.S. Big Market
Sixty percentof catch now is used to pro-
duce frozen fillets and blocks. Practically
the entire productionis exported tothe United
States. (Reg. Fisheries Attaché, Copenhagen,
Jan. 14.)
LATIN AMERICA
PERU
MINISTER OF FISHERIES REPORTS
1970 WAS GOOD YEAR
On the first anniversary of the Ministry
of Fisheries, the Minister, General Javier
Tantalean V., reported onthe status of Peru's
fishing industry.
Over 200 companies are fishing. These
employ about 32,000 fishermen: 20,000 for
anchoveta, 12,000 for other fishing.
As of Nov. 9, 1970, exports had generated
$320 million of foreign exchange; the indus-
try is paying $32 million in taxes to the goyv-
ernment. Foreign-exchange earnings were
about $100 million greater in 1970 than in
1969--and. $50 million more than estimates
for the sector contemplated in the National
Planfor Economic Development. This paves
way for improvements in industry efficiency
and commercialization.
1970/71 Fish Catch
Regarding 1970/71 seasoncatch, Tantalean
said it would be reduced by about 500,000
metric tons on recommendations of Peruvian
Marine Institute. Total fish catch permitted
for 1970/71 season has been fixed at 10 mil-
lion metric tons; catch was 10.6 million met-
ric tons in period 1969/70. This measure had
been adopted, he said, to assure normal
growth and preservation of the species, and
to assure jobs for fishermen and their fam-
ilies. The Minister regarded fish catch of
nearly 4.5 million metric tons in second-half
1970 as ''a very good semester."
Closed Season
The Minister stated that closedseason
for both fish and shrimp catch will be Janu-
ary and February of each year. It will be
rigidly enforced,
His Ministry is thinking of planting trout
and troutlike fishin lakes and rivers through-
out Peru during 1971 to improve fish produc-
tion for home consumption.
63
rig. 1 - Peruvian "anchovetera" with hold and decks tull of fist
unloading at Chimbote.
Fig. 2 - A typical small purse-seinerof the anchoveta fleet wait-
ing to unload,
He believes the industry is in good shape.
It is improving steadily as a foreign-exchange
earner.
New Law Awaited
In an earlier statement, the Minister had
said that the new Fisheries Law would be
published "before the end of the present year"
(1970). All attention is centered on whether
the new law will contain provisions creating
"fishing communities" similar to the "indus-
trial communities" recently decreed for the
industries. If it does, and the betting is that
it will, the question is what such a determi-
nation willmeanin terms of new investments
and orderly growth for this important sector
of Peru's economy. (U.S. Embassy, Lima,
Dec. 24, 1970.)
Page
INDEX
UNITED STATES:
Supreme Court Upholds Army Engineers'
Veto of Florida Dredge Plan
.. U.S. & USSR Sign Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Agreement
.. U.S. & USSR Sign 3 Agreements
.- Yellowtail Flounder in Serious Decline
. New England Landings & Values Rose in 1970
. Monitor Spawning Haddock
- NMFS Studies Herring Off Maine
. E. Coast Deep-Water Lobsters Transplanted
in Pacific NW
. »« Record Shrimp Catch Set on Pacific Coast in
1970
. . Commercial Fishing Course at Bellingham,
Wash,
. . Study Effects of Starvation on Swimming of
Young Jack Mackerel
. « Generations of Plankton Reared in Lab
. « 3,325 Whales Pass Yankee Point, Calif., in
67-Day Census
.. NMFS Begins Cooperative Fishery-Advisory
Program With Tuna Fishermen
. . Oregon Fish Commission Surveys Estuaries
. . Shellfish Situation and Outlook, by Richard W.
Surdi & Donald R. Whitaker
. . The Chesapeake Bay Rock Crab, by Dr. Paul
A. Haefner Jr. & Roy T. Terretta
. American Samoa Gets Fishery Statistical
Analysis Project
. - Undersea Research Vessel Commissioned for
Smithsonian
Oceanography:
- NOAA Issues First Maps of Florida's Sea-
ward Boundaries
. Marine Science Center Is Dedicated in
Miami
.. Killer Whales Seen Pursuing Steller Sea
Lions
.. Decades-Old Ocean Data May Be A Clue to
Today's Pollution
ARTICLES:
- FPC: The NMFS Experiment & Demonstra-
tion Plant Process, by Robert C. Ernst Jr.
. « Current Skipjack Oceanography Cruises in
Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, by
F, Williams
Factors Affecting Exvessel Prices of Skipjack
Tuna in Hawaii, by Yung C. Shang
. A Buoyline Coiling Device, by Ian Ellis and
Gary Loverich
Page
46
51
53
54
55
64
. « Technical Note:
ARTICLES (Contd.):
Fish Proteins As Binders in
Processed Fishery Products, by R. J.
Learson, B. L. Tinker, and L. J. Ronsivalli
. . Glucose Oxidase Reduces Oxidation in Fro-
zen Shrimp, by Carolyn Kelley
INTERNATIONAL:
- World Fish Meal Production Rises
Asia:
Japan:
Japanese Are Pessimistic About 1971
Fishery Exports
<8 Fishery Budget Is Raised for Fiscal Year
1971
Saury Prices Rise As Landings Fall
Squid Fishing Off U.S. East Coast Im-
proves
. Report on Shrimp Industry Trends
Imports of Frozen Shrimp from Africa
Are Increasing
° Hiroshima Oyster Growers Worry About
S. Korean Imports
6 Nichiro Is Purse Seining Off West Africa
5 Record Mothership-Type Bottomfish Catch
in Bering Sea in 1970
9:0 Tokai University Cultures Tuna Species
and Dolphin
Underwater Habitat Nears Completion
° Phases out Fishing in New Zealand Waters
6 Large Purse Seiner Launched
Taiwan:
ss 1970 Fish Production Increased 9.3% Over
1969, by T. P. Chen
o Plans to Build Tuna Longliners
Europe:
USSR:
O09 Buys Fish-meal Plants from Denmark
'Frost-Proof! Reservoirs for Live Carp in
Lithuania
Iceland:
ont 1970 Catch Was Slightly Above 1969
Denmark:
O19 Report on Greenland's Cod Fisheries
Latin America:
Peru:
Minister of Fisheries Reports 1970 Was
Good Year
-INDEX
ssU. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1971 435-340/8
BACK COVER: A Korean woman in fish market
at Inchon with string of squid. (FAO photo)
A UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE
PUBLICATION
WES:
DEPARTMENT
| OF
COMMERCE
National
Oceanic and
| Atmospheric
\dministration
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Ulf,
SOEs ®
a Review
VOL. 33, NO. 3 MARCH 1971
eee Ss ea = “i seg er Sree ne tine eerie ii omg
a tine cand a Z oni i
ene EMR. EE eee — : Sra ee mona Te feenean
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Maurice H. Stans, Secretary
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Robert M. White Howard W. Pollock John W. Townsend, Jr.
Administrator Deputy Administrator Associate Administrator
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Philip M. Roedel, Director
COVER: Killer whales (foreground) pursuing sea lions
(bow of ship). See account by Jim Branson on p. oor
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
A comprehensive view of United States and foreign
fishing industries--including catch, processing, market-
ing, research, and legislation--prepared by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (formerly Bureau of Commer-
cial Fisheries).
FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL --GLOUCESTER, MASS
II
Managing Editor: Edward Edelsberg
Production: Jean Zalevsky
Alma Greene
Throughout this book, the initials NMFS stand for the
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, part of
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Address correspondence and requests to: Commercial Fisheries Review, 1891 North
Moore Street, Room 200, Arlington, Va. 22209. Telephone: Area Code 703 - 557-9066.
Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement. The
Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions of these sources.
Although the contents have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference
to source is appreciated.
Use of funds for printing this publication was approved by the Director, Bureau of the
Budget, April 18, 1968.
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402.
Price 60 cents (single copy). Subscription Price: $7.00 a year; $2 additional for foreign mailing.
CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
IDES eiacl Wire 5665 ooo o ob ooo ooo 0 6 Ou
ARTICLES
Seasonal and Geographic Characteristics of Fish-
ery Resources: California Current Region--
V. Northern Anchovy, by David Kramer and
PL I, SieMldy oS 66 ok ao ooo oe ae o oe oe oW 6
Killer Whales Pursue Sea Lions in Bering Sea
Dramas aby, JamuBranson 5 coe ee ee
(Sars Cl aes here eee aru Nalcaltatasinentehises (Mion (er tehton fotltebns \ehceten Sens
IDUROINS gon O46 6190665000 ob AO Olo ogee Blom) a 00.00
Tipteniey ANiaeVSre@R, Gig Ginls Oe wiatorolo 0 oval Oo ole deo oa ola
Gari pe anwar acne omen nae oucuertieliet te) tot lot Vollle: oh a] Mobtemtonomstcs
Gia ae ere er liccn tie Serer a MMreyei he Wenxetret ay isl torte: tel ist qeallel Pogie as) to
III
IV
Sea
The NMFS research vessel ‘Delaware II' sails from Woods Hole, Mass., to assess shellfish
resources south of New England. See cruise report page 9.
INTERIOR & COMMERCE TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS
OF FISHERY CONSERVATION
Secretary of the Interior Rogers C.B. Mor-
ton has announced that his department and the
Department of Commerce will sponsor a con-
ference on'' Fishin Our Lives" in Washington,
D.C., inDecember 1971 to commemorate the
100th anniversary of Federal fishery conser -
vation efforts.
The conference is expected toattract fish-
ery Scientists, economists, sport-fishing
interests, and nutritionists. The conference
will deal with many aspects of fishery re-
sources, including the growing menace of
pollution.
Secretary Morton said Federal fish hatch-
eries and laboratories will hold open house
during the year.
Began in 1871
In 1871, Spencer Fullerton Baird was ap-
pointed first commissioner of fish and fish-
eries. President Grant signed anact "for the
protection and preservation of the food fishes
of the coasts of the United States.'' Since then,
Federal fish conservation has been the re-
sponsibility of a succession of agencies--at
present, Interior's Bureau of Sport Fisheries
and Wildlife (BSFW) and Commerce's Na-
tional Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
BSFW operates 100 national fish hatcheries
and 16 fish-research laboratories.
NMFS has nearly 30 laboratories and ex-
ploratory fishing bases involved in fishery
research.
—
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE e Major Facilities
LOS ANGELES
TERMINAL ISLAND
HAWAII
aD
S25
HONOLULU e
AUKE BAY
= s
JUNEAU *
KETCHIKAN Qy
O BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES
@ TECHNOLOGICAL LABORATORIES
w% EXPLORATORY FISHING BASES
BOOTHBAY HARBOR
SS) : LOUCESTER
NARRAGANSETT
o ANN nee COLLEGE PARK
WASHINGTON, 0.C.
woOODs HOLE
OXFORD
NEW ORLEANS
We PASCAGOULA
St. PETERSBURG
{GALVESTON
CORPUS CHRIST!
BROWN SHRIMP LIVE LONGER
THAN MANY BIOLOGISTS BELIEVE
It has been generally accepted among fish-
ery biologists that the average life span of the
more important penaeid shrimps is about 1
to 13 years. However, recent evidence sug-
gests that they live considerably longer.
Past longevity estimates were based on
size distribution studies, body proportion
measurements, and marking experiments us-
ingtags and dyes. During 1969, personnel of
the National Marine Fisheries Service Biol-
ogical Laboratory at Galveston, Texas, tagged
and released 6,514 brown shrimp, Penaeus
azetecus, in24 fathoms southwest of Freeport,
Texas. These shrimp, sexually mature adults
(average total length 169 mm), were at least
8 to 12 months old. They were marked with
a cut-down version of the Petersen disc tag,
the best mark available for large shrimp.
Pins used to secure the discs were coated
with an antibiotic mixture to retard infection.
Since release, 583 (8.9%) have been re-
captured; several, males and females, are at
least 20 to 27 months old. Recent returns
indicate the probability of more recoveries
and a further extension of the known life span
of brown shrimp.
--K,. N, Baxter
U.S. AND USSR STUDY SHRIMP
IN GULF OF ALASKA
The abundance and distribution of northern
shrimp over alarge part of the Gulf of Alaska
is being studied in a cooperative U.S.-USSR
research project,
The project resulted from discussions be-
tween U.S. and Soviet scientists in Moscow,
December 1970, Such meetings are provided
for in U.S.-USSR agreements concerning
North Pacific fisheries as opportunities to
study the status of resources,
The Vessels & Areas
Three researchvessels are participating:
the Soviet 'Krill', the NMFS 'Oregon', and the
"Resolution! of the Alaska Department of Fish
and Game.
The Krill is working exclusively outside
the 12-mile U.S. fishery limit; the Resolution
only withinthe 12-mile limit; and the Oregon
on either side of the 12-mile limit.
Sampling stations extend from Portlock
Bank along south coast of Kodiak Island and
westward to Shumagin Islands.
Two NMFSscientists are aboard Krill to
observe trawling operations,
>
EDA GRANTS FUNDS FOR HARBOR
IMPROVEMENT IN SEWARD, ALASKA
The Economic Development Administra-
tion (EDA) of the U. S. Department of Com-
merce has approved a $288,000 grant and a
$72,000 loan to stimulate growth of the fish-
ing industry in Seward, Alaska,
The City of Seward will use the money to
build a wharf toprovide additional berths for
commercial fishing boats. The wharf will be
constructed between existing docks serving
the fishing fleet.
City officials say the expansion will help
increase fishermen incomes and enhance
plans to put processing operations on year-
round basis.
ALASKA’S SALMON FORECAST
Alaskan salmon harvests of slightly over
40 million fish of allspecies are projected for
1971 season, reports Melvin C. Seibel, Alas-
ka's Commercial Fisheries Division. If this
harvest is achieved, it would produce about
2.3 million cases of canned salmon--and
15-20 million pounds of fresh, frozen, and
cured salmon products.
In 1970, about 66 million salmon were
harvested. The lower projected harvest for
1971 reflects weakness in recent odd-year
pink salmon runs to Southeastern Alaska and
Kodiak, and an off-cycle year for Kvichak
River system. The latter is the major con-
tributor to Bristol Bay sockeye fishery.
1971 Forecasts
Preliminary 1971 forecasts indicate an
especially weak predicted return of 4.3 mil-
lion pink salmon to Southern Southeastern,
This size could sustain little, if any, harvest;
nearly the total return would be needed to
meet escapement requirements.
Northern Southeasternhas projected har-
vest of 5 million pink salmon. Prince William
Sound has a brighter outlook: a total return
of 6.2 million pinks, and harvest projection of
4.7 million. Seven million pink salmon will
be available for harvest in Kodiak fishery if
forecasted returnof 8.3 million materializes.
A predicted return of nearly 17 million sock-
eye to Bristol Bayfishery would yield harvest
of nearly 10 million.
What Estimates Depend On
The Department of Fish and Game empha-
sizes that harvest estimates depend on 1971
total salmon returns being the size expected,
Weaker returns may require more restriction
of harvests to insure desired escapement
goals. Larger-than-forecast returns may
allow relaxation of regulations to insure max-
imum allowable harvest.
The forecasts resultfrom extensive stud-
ies each year throughoutstate. Estimates of
parent spawning populations and later abun-
dances of young salmon gotten during past
several years were analyzed for 1971 fore-
casts. Inareas suchas Prince William Sound,
these techniques have been refined repeatedly.
They now provide forecasts with sufficient
accuracy for management and operational
planning.
1970 Forecast
In 1970, the Department's first statewide
salmon-harvest forecast (released in Nov.
1969) of 96 million proved too high; about 66
million salmon were harvested. Salmon re-
turns considerably smaller than anticipated
in 3 major Alaskan fisheries --Southcentral
and Kodiak pink salmon, and Bristol Bay sock-
eye fisheries--accounted for roughly 90% of
difference between projected and actual 1970
salmon harvest.
Total returns below forecast levels in these
areas required additional restriction of har-
vest to insure achievement of adequate es-
capements. Widespread weaknesses in
salmon runs throughout Alaska and British
Columbia suggest possibility that below -av-
erage survival conditions existed in ocean-
rearing areas.
Although 1970 harvest was below forecast,
the 66 million salmon produced 3.7 million
cases, and the largest harvest in more than
20 years. Major contributions included 10
million pink salmon from Southeastern, 12
million pinks from Kodiak, and 21 million
sockeye from Bristol Bay.
State Optimistic
The Department is optimistic about the
future of Alaska's salmon resources. This
is not based on the size of a salmon harvest
for any single year. Because salmon popu-
lations exhibit large natural fluctuations, itis
necessary to base measures of population
health onaverages or trends. The graph be-
low depicts annual commercial harvests of
salmon in Alaska for 1951-70.
The two horizontal bars represent average
annual harvest levels for the two 10-year
periods--1951-60 and 1961-70. Average
annual salmon harvests during the latter have
exceeded by about 12 million fish the average
of previous 10-year period. On a cumulative
basis, this increase resulted in 120 million
more salmon for Alaskan fisheries since 1961.
If there are no natural catastrophes, or loss
of salmon habitat from unwise development
of other resources, Department biologists are
confident that this higher level of production
can be sustained and alsoincreased. The De-
partment emphasizes that achievement of
maximum sustained harvest is primary goal
of commercial fisheries management.
Alaska Annual Salmon Harvest, 1950-70
N
ol
1951-60 AVERAGE
x=
vz)
iL
re
je)
”
2
iS)
=
=
=
=
| coal
n
w
>
x
<x
as;
2
e)
=
=I
<x
7)
1961-70 AVERAGE
A Special Report on
FISH BLOCKS and STICKS and PORTIONS
Morris R. Bosin, Clemens B. Bribitzer,
Donald R. Whitaker
NMFS Division Current Economic Analysis
In 1970, supplies of blocks, sticks, and por-
tions increased, but the rate of increase was
not so great as in 1969. Imports of blocks
were high in first-half 1970 but dropped
sharply in second half as inventories were
depleted in exporting countries.
The shortage of blocks, especially cod,
caused prices for all blocks to rise; these
reached record levels in December. As
prices rose, U.S. inventories fell to 30.7 mil-
lion pounds at the end of 1970.
Production of sticks and portions in 1970
increased 6% over 1969 but, in the fourth quar-
ter, production was less than in 1969 period.
The higher prices of blocks forced a rise
in prices of sticks and portions, which set
records at the close of 1970. Concurrently,
there was a decrease in disappearance of
blocks, sticks, and portions in second-half
1970 compared to first half.
Two principal conditions will greatly in-
fluence the quantity of block imports and pro-
duction and the sales of sticks and portions in
ONG
(1) the worldwide shortage of supplies of
blocks, and
(2) the resultant high price levels.
GROUNDFISH
In 1970, supplies of groundfish fillets were
384 million pounds, 9% above 1969 and 18%
above 1965-69 average. Landings of ground-
fish declined again in 1970--down 11% from
1969 to 92 million pounds (fillet weight). Im-
ports continued to make greater inroads into
U.S. markets. Theyincreased 18% in 1970 to
245 million pounds and accounted for most of
increase in supplies.
In the past 2 years, a discernible pattern
of events has affected most groundfish spe-
cies. In 1969, and especially 1970, prices in
the economy became increasingly inflation-
ary. Wholesale prices of groundfish fillets in
the U.S. also rose, reflecting increasing costs
of operation. High wholesale prices for fillets
attracted heavier quantities of imported fil-
lets--notably cod, flounders, and haddock.
Imported products have been able to compete
effectively with the domestic product because
of lower production costs and because U.S.
distributors considered imports a more
stable source. An important reason for this
stability was that supplies coming from sev-
eralnations spread the risk of declining fish-
eries.
When a larger proportion of world fillet
production was shipped to the U.S. in 1969 and
1970, a greater strain was placed on world
supplies. Greater fishing effort by exporting
countries, along with rising costs, made these
countries more dependent on high wholesale
prices, such as those in the U.S.
Toward the end of 1970, wholesale prices
began to level off as the economy cooled some-
what. The combination of scarcer supplies of
some species (cod and haddock) and higher
fillet prices, compared to other food items,
accounted for a slowdown in consumption.
Although the demand for cod fillets has
been bolstered by the burgeoning fish-and-
chip outlets, scarce supplies and higher
prices very possibly may cause buyers to
resort to substitute species at lower prices.
However, not all potential demand for cod fil-
lets willbe satisfied by substitutes, especially
in institutional market.
In 1971, world supplies of cod fillets, and
possibly pollock, maybediverted increasing-
lyfrom the U.S. market. The United Kingdom
and European Economic Community countries
are likely prospects because of rising prices
there.
The rise in wholesale prices of fillets in
1970 did not prevent consumption from reach-
ing 333 million pounds, 9% above 1969. Cod-
fillet consumption was constrained chiefly by
supplies. Flounder and ocean-perch con-
sumption may have been hurt in the latter part
of 1970 by high prices,
Consumption of groundfish fillets is ex-
pected to be about 180 million pounds in first-
half 1971;
1970.
it was 181 million in first-half
Flounder and ocean-perch consump-
tion likely will rise, while consumption of
cod, haddock, and pollock will fall.
World landings of cod are not expected to
increase in 1971 and, possibly, may drop
slightly in the next 2 years. A larger per-
centage of cod will be diverted to fillet pro-
duction if--the potential demand for cod fillets
in the U.S. generated by fish-and-chip fran-
chises remains strong, anddemand for sticks
and portions levels off because of higher
prices,
HALIBUT
Supplies of halibut decreased slightly in
1970 due to quota restrictions. Increased
landings by U.S. vessels were offset by de-
creased imports.
Prices in 1970 were higher than in 1969,
both wholesale and retail. Because of these
higher prices, sales were a little low com-
pared to previous years, and holdings at the
end of 1970 were unusually high.
But a large increase in consumption in
January 1971 ended fears of lower prices in
1971 because of decreased consumption and
higher holdings in 1970. The outlook in 1971
is for firm prices and lower stocks.
WHITING
Supplies of whiting--headless and
dressed--were 27 million pounds in 1970, 20%
below 1969. Supplies have declined continu-
ously for 5 years.
Consumption of whiting declined in 1970
following downward direction of available sup-
plies. Consumption has also been down for
the last 2 years. With the prospect for low
landings in 1970, processors paid high prices
to fishermen to assure supply.
As a result of higher exvessel prices,
wholesale pricesrose. They began to attract
substantial quantities of headless and dressed
whiting from Argentina and South Africa.
Prior to 1970, virtually all whiting were im-
portedas blocks. Inventories of headless and
dressed whiting began to build in summer 1970
as imports undersold domestic product.
To meet this competition, domestic proc-
essors began to lower wholesale prices, but
exporters did likewise, andthe price was still
dropping in March 1971. Prospects in 1971
indicate that if wholesale prices continue to
fall, imports will begin to shift back to blocks,
especiallybecause of the present U.S. short-
age of blocks.
Consumption of headless anddressed whit-
ing will probably continue to decline but, pos-
sibly, whiting in other forms--blocks and fil-
lets--may take up some of slack.
SALMON
Salmon supplies were 2.2 million standard
cases during first-half 1970, considerably
lower than previous years, Canners and dis-
tributors made a concerted effort to reduce
stocks during January through June to make
room for anticipated record pack. Biologists
had predicted a pack of 5.6 million standard
cases, highest since 1941, The pack was larg-
er than usual--3.9 million standard cases--
butnot a record, Salmon runs in Central and
Southeastern Alaska fell below expectation.
Despite large pack, inventories were not
excessive in second-half of 1970 andbeginnirg
of 1971. Prices for pink salmon were a little
higher than 1969, reflecting relatively short
stocks. Red salmon were plentiful, but prices
remained firm.
The 1971 outlook is for a smaller salmon
pack: 2.5 million standard cases, 36% below
1970, and 22% below most recent 5-year av-
erage. At beginning of 1971, inventories were
not excessive, The industry isnot unduly dis-
tressed about moving stocks in light of lower
anticipated pack.
Prices should remain firm for red salmon
and may even edge upfor pinks. Consumption
mayrise slightly, primarily because of car-
ryover from last year's large pack.
TUNA
Supplies of canned tuna increased sub-
stantially in 1970. Supplies were estimated
at 505 million pounds, edible weight, 8% above
1969.
million pounds in 1970--also 8% above 1969.
U.S. tuna landings were a record 452
Imports totaled 313 million pounds, product
weight, the 1969 level. Total production of
canned tuna was 21.7 million standard cases
in 1970--8.5% above 1969 pack.
Demand for canned tuna was strong during
most of 1970; retail prices and per-capita
consumption advanced. Exvessel and whole-
sale prices also increased sharply; albacore
prices increased most rapidly.
In second-half 1970, and in early 1971, can-
ned tuna was tested extensively for mercury.
About 3.6% of U.S. domestic and imported
supplies was found to exceed the Food
and Drug Administration's guideline of one-
half part (.5) mercury per million parts of
tuna. Tuna exceeding the guideline were with-
held from sale or removed from market.
The outlook is for slightly higher prices
and for recovering sales. It is possible that
sales could be back to their long-run growth
rate by midyear, if not sooner.
SARDINES
The domestic herring fishery continued to
decline in1970. Total supplies were 83 mil-
lion pounds, 11% below 1969. U.S. landings
decreased to 37 million pounds, about a third
below 1969. The pack was below 20 million
pounds for the first time in recent history of
the fishery. Contributing to declining pack
were low abundance, unpredictability of re-
source, and increasing use of imported sar-
dines.
Imports of sardines increased slightly in
1970. But the category most competitive
with U.S. pack--sardines in oil from Canada--
more thandoubled: 4.0 million pounds, com-
pared with 1.9 million in 1969. Both whole-
sale and retail prices were up in 1970.
Consumption was down, the decline mostly
attributable to lower available supplies.
Prospects in 1971 are for a continued
slight increase in imports, and a little lower
consumption.
‘DELAWARE II’ ASSESSES SHELLFISH RESOURCES
SOUTH OF NEW ENGLAND
The NMFS research vessel Delaware II
defined and assessed resources along the con-
tinental slope south of New England from Dec.
18, 1970, through Feb. 26,1971. The primary
objectives of the 5-part cruise were:
1. Totest and evaluate a system installed
aboard the Delaware II for setting and hauling
various pots in deep water.
2. Determine the species composition and
distribution available to this fishing method
during winter.
3. Gather biologicalinformation and sam-
ples of the catch; tag and release lobsters for
migration studies; record and transmit hy-
drographic information.
4. Conduct test fishing with a variety of
trapping devices (pots) along continental slope
at 3 locations.
The scientists sampled at 3 primary loca-
tions off the Northeastern seaboard, Tran-
sects from about 100 to 600 fathoms were
accomplished at Block, Hudson, and Balti-
more Canyon (see map). All sampling was
completed during January and February.
Fig. 1 - Areas of Operation.
ae
Pot Track
7 ==
=
(= fBeoy Line
Fig. 2 - Delaware II's deck layout.
10
Three varieties of crustaceans comprised
92% of recorded catch of 20,103 pounds. Red
crabs (Geryon quinquedens) were most abun-
dant: 69% of total catch. In weight landed,
lobster (Homarus americanus) was next most
important species (13%); then Jonah crabs
(Cancer borealis) 11%.
The remaining 7% were predominantly
hakes (Urophycis sp.) and small amounts of
other fishes and animals.
Gear and Handling System
To cover broadest spectrum, a variety of
pot types were fished at most locations. These
included steel, plastic-coated steel, and
wooden lobster pots; cylindrical fish pots;
wire-mesh shrimp pots, and west-coast king-
crab pots. With exception of king-crab pots,
all types were fished over a wide range of
depthsinsets of lOto50 pots. Strings of gear
normally included one or more pots of each
type.
Two king-crab pots, one standard and one
with modified heads for taking fish, were
fished individually. Allpots were baited with
herring and/or redfish frames.
Setting
The gear was organized into these com-
ponents: (1) Buoys--a staff buoy with ball
floats for one end of the gear, and only ball
floats for other end. (2) Buoy line--%-inch
polypropylene cored nylon braided rope.
(3) Main line--3-inch galvanized wire rope.
(4) Pots--lobster, shrimp, and fish traps.
The staff buoy was attached by 5 fathoms
of polypropylene rope to a pair of inflatable
ball floats. The buoy line, secured to this
assembly, was dividedinto 50-fathom lengths
to allow easy adjustment for many opera-
tional depths. The main wire was divided into
10-fathom lengths topermit changing number
of pots fished on each set.
The sequence of operations during setting
was: (1) Pots to be fished were baited and
arranged in order in an open-ended skid-rack.
(2) The vessel began steaming slowly along a
predetermined track for setting the pots.
(3) The buoy line was shackled to staff buoy
andballfloat assembly. (4) The staff buoy &
ball float assembly was pushed out the stern
ramp, followed by buoy line. (5) When enough
buoy line had been set, the vessel was stopped.
The buoy line was stopped off, disconnected,
and the end of main wire was attached. (6)
Then the main wire was set while steaming.
A pot was attached to each 10-fathom length
with a snap hook slipped -over running line.
The hook would snub against eye splice in each
length of wire; the pot would be pulled over-
board, (7) Againthe vessel was stopped. The
main wire was disconnected and more buoy
line attached. (8) This buoy line was then set.
(9) The vessel was stopped a third time, the
buoy line disconnected, the buoy assembly at-
tached and put overboard.
— Buoy Line
(3/4'' nylon-polypropylene)
Main Wire
,
¢
/ (1/2" wire rope)
Fig. 3 - Schematic view showing arrangement of typical set. "Standard" sets usually consisted of a total of 20 pots,
including 3 types lobster, shrimp, and fish pots.
Hauling
Hauling involved additional gear not used
in setting. An openingin starboard bulwarks
was used to bring pots aboard. A hydrauli-
cally powered movable gantry was mounted
over opening. Two deck mounted fairlead
blocks, one for buoy line and one for main line,
provided leads to winch drums. A tensio-
meter was installed on one to provide an ac-
curate gauge of load on buoy line. The rate
of haul, therefore, could be adjusted to pre-
vent excessive line tension.
The sequence of operations during haul
back were: (1) The vessel approached buoy
parallel with direction of set. (2) A grapnel
was thrown over a floating line between staff
buoy and ball floats. (3) A messenger line
from starboard winch drum was passed
through block at top of haulback gantry.
(4) The buoy assembly was detached, hauled
aboard, and carried aft for next set. (5) At
same time, messenger line and buoy line were
connected and hauling started. (6) When the
buoy line was aboard, a messenger line from
port winchdrum was connected to main wire.
(7) Buoy line was disconnected and hauling
‘main wire with pots attached was started.
Fig. 4 - Lobster pot coming aboard Delaware II. Note move-
able gantry and track (at bottom).
11
Fig. 5 - Stern area showing pots ready for launching off
track. Note fairlead and buoy line.
(8) As hauling continued, the pots were brought
to gantry hanging block. The gantry was
brought inboard and pots were dropped on
deck by action of gantry's arc of travel.
(9) The pots were detached manually and skid-
ded down racks for emptying, rebaiting, and
storage inpreparationfor next set. (10) Then
hauling was switched back to original winch
drum for retrieval of buoy line at other end
of string of gear.
Buoys
Two types of buoys were used: a lighted
radar reflecting staff buoy, and inflatable ball
floats.
The staff buoy was equipped with an alu-
minum radar reflector encased ina protective
polyurethane foam sphere. Flotation was
provided by arectangular piece of styrofoam.
Weight at bottom holds staff buoy upright.
The inflatable ball floats are about 20
inches in diameter. They are used with staff
buoy to facilitate retrieval of gear (see Fig.
3).
12
Coverage and Results
Sixty-one sets were made ranging from 85
to 823 fathoms. Due to weather and other
operational factors, the time each individual
set was onbottom varied; the average soaking
time was 21 hours.
The scientists sampled at three locations
along continental shelf at Block, Hudson, and
Baltimore Canyons. When possible, ''stand-
ard sets'' of 20 pot strings of gear were fished
one or more times within each 100-fathom
interval between 100 and 800 fathoms. Each
set included lobster, shrimp, and fish pots.
At some locations, standard sets were sup-
plemented by sets using only lobster or king-
crab pots.
pe
L 3
Fo SPSS oo We
Fig. 6 - Large lobsterweighing about 20 pounds. Average weight
of lobsters was over 3 pounds.
During cruise, 23,607 hours of pot-effort
were completed. This was 1,000 individual
pot-days of effort. Ofthistotal, over 83% was
by lobster pots; the remainder fish pots (8%),
shrimp pots (7%), and king-crab pots (1%).
Geographically, effort was divided equally
among the 3 canyons.
The total catch was over 20,000 pounds,
most of this crustaceans. Small amounts of
fish also were caught.
Red Crabs
The redcrab was 69% of totalcatch. This
is particularly significant because the great-
est concentrations of red crab were in rela-
tively deep water, over 250 fathoms, and re-
ceived somewhat less coverage than shoaler
depths. In areas sampled, the most dense
concentration of red crabs was at 400-fathom
depth contour near Hudson Canyon, Here,
lobster pots averaged 122 pounds of red crab
per pot-day; asingle king-crabpot caught 714
pounds in an 18-hour set.
Good concentrations of red crabs alsowere
found at Block and Baltimore Canyon sampling
sites. The red crabs averaged about 1.2
pounds each and were found from 166 to 823
fathoms. There were consistently high con-
centrations between 250 and 500 fathoms.
Fig. 7 - Red crab (Geryon quinquedens}, the most abundant spe -
cies caught. Occasionally reach over 2 lbs.
(Photos: W. F. Rathjen, NMFS, Woods Hole)
Table 1 - Fishing Effort by Canyon
Pot Hours Fished
AREA No. Sets Lobster Shrimp
Block C. 18 BETA 661
Hudson C. 26 6,612 324
Baltimore C. 17 7,068 721
Totals 61 "19, 655. 1,706
Fish King Crab Total Percent
785 96 7,517 31.8
415 163 7,514 31.8
787 None 8,576 36.3
1, 987 259 23, 607
Lobster
In weight, lobster catches were about 13%
of total. They were caught at the three areas
sampled from 85 to 300 fathoms. The best
concentrations were between 150 and 200 fath-
oms at Baltimore and Hudson Canyons; there,
lobster pots averaged about 6 pounds per pot
during 24-hour periods,
Catch rates at shoaler and deeper depths
were much less.
Comparing the 3 areas
13
served catches, They were most plentiful in
sets at lessthan150 fathoms but were caught
down to over 200 fathoms,
The best indications accountedfor average
catches of about 8 pounds per pot-day from
lobster pots.
The observed depth ranges for the 3 pre-
dominant species of crustacea were:
Table 2 - Depth Range of Crustacea
Red Crabs Lobsters Jonah Crabs Depth Fished
Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min.
Fathoms
Block C. 175 654 85 273 85 210 85
Hudson C. 185 823 151 300 98 212 98
Baltimore C, 166 583 89 293 89 200 89
Entire Cruise 166 823 85 300 85 212 85
sampled, the Baltimore Canyon provided the Fish
best catches. More than 800 lobsters aver-
aging over 3 pounds were taken during cruise;
of these, 326 were tagged and released for
migration studies, the remainder preserved
for research on stock identity.
Jonah Crabs
Jonah Crabs, whichare similar to inshore
rock crabs, were surprisingly abundant in ob-
Catches of fish with the gear used were
uniformly light. Red. and white hake (Uro-
phycis sp.) were the most common species
indepths less than 500 fathoms. Beyond 500
fathoms, frequent catches of deep-water
sharks and blue hake (Antimora rostrata)
were made,
For more information, contact Keith A. Smith, Base Director, NMFS, EF&GRB, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543,
VIMS STUDIES HERRING SPAWNING SITES & NURSERIES
Scientists of the Virginia Institute of Ma-
rine Science determined recently which areas
of 4 major river systems serve as spawning
and nursery grounds for river herring and
shad. The largestis the Potomac River with
45,000 acres of mainstream and 16,000 acres
in 40 creeks from both Virginia and Maryland.
The James River system ranks second with
41,000 total acres; 8,300 of these make up 104
major primary and secondary streams.
The Rappahannock River is third with
16,000 acres, including 1,860 in 56 tributar-
1es.
The York-Pamunkey-Mattaponi river sys-
tem is fourth with 11,000 acres, including 900
acres in 38 streams. Only the two major
branches of the York River system serve as
nurseries because the York proper is too
salty.
How They Sampled
Sampling was done monthly at 5-mile in-
tervals from mouth of each river to fall line
tolocate nursery areas. A 4-man field crew
used gill nets, seines, and fyke nets to cap-
ture adult fish. It used plankton nets to lo-
cate the eggs and newly hatched larvae. Ex-
tensive collections of juveniles were made
The
crew worked from onset of spawning season
with surface andmidwater Cobb trawls.
in the spring until juveniles left in fall; it
sampled a single river system each year.
Determining Spawning Areas
If ripe adults were caught, the site was
assumed toserve as Spawning area. The same
14
assumption was made where eggs or larvae
At least two
visits, and frequently more, were needed to
were taken in plankton nets.
confirm whether a tributary or site in main-
stream served as Spawning area.
River herring and shad spawning areas ex-
tend upstream from point where fresh and
The study indicates that
most river herring spawn in the freshwater
salt water meet.
reaches of tributaries and, to a lesser extent,
in tidal freshwater portion of mainstream.
Above the zone in each river where fresh
water first meets salt water, nearly all
streams could be listed as "probable" or
"confirmed" spawning sites. However, ex-
tensive industrial and domestic pollution in
James and Potomac rivers has made some
spawning waters unsuitable.
American & Hickory Shad
American shad prefer spawning on shal-
low-water flats of mainstream's tidal fresh-
water section. Most running-ripe spawners
Shad
also apparently spawn in tributary streams
were captured onthis area of the river.
because shad larvae and young juveniles were
foundin upper reaches of tributaries shortly
after spawning period.
Hickory shad also were found in running-
ripe and spent condition in tributary streams
and mainstream. These shad appear to run
as far up mainstream as possible to spawn
below first insurmountable barrier they meet.
Hickory shad in spawning condition were taken
below dam on Rappahannock River at Fred-
ericksburg, at Walkers Dam on Chickahominy
River, and below first dam at Richmond on
James River. Spawning hickory shad and
river herring were captured in several trib-
utary streams of these rivers.
Alewife & Shads
Alewife, hickory shad, and American shad
enter Chesapeake Bay about same time in
early spring. Blueback herring come later.
Alewives have beenreportedin York-Pamun-
key-Mattaponi river system in December and
January. But earliest capture of alewives
during VIMS study was in early February in
James River system; surface-water temper-
ature was 41°F, Alewives were found in
spawning conditionin tributary streams until
mid-May. The height of spawning occurred
during latter part of April, when surface-
water temperatures ranged from 61°to PS 1,
Fishermen recognize alewife (a) and blueback (b) as two distinct
kinds of river herring, but use several different names for
them. Alewife is the deep bodied, big-eyed, greenbacked
fish that runs early; blueback is the slender, smalleyed,
bluebacked fish that runs later.
Hickory Shad
The VIMS crews recorded earliest capture
of hickory shad in York River system in late
15
March; surface -water temperature was 50°F,
These fish were found on spawning grounds
with partially spent gonads until late May,
when surface-water temperature was ie ia
Not enough were taken to determine peak
spawning period.
American Shad & Blueback Herring
American shad enter Chesapeake Bay in
March; height of spawning migration is in
April. The earliest capture of ripe shad was
in late March in Pamunkey River, when sur-
face-water temperature was 50°F, Shad were
found inspawning areas until late May, when
water temperature was Gio tees
Blueback herringusually do not appear in
the rivers until April; they remain until late
May andearly June. Most blueback spawning
occurs in May when water temperature ranges
from 64° F, to 75° F,
Males More Numerous
In all 4 species, the males generally are
more numerous than females throughout
spawning season; they also appear in the
rivers earlier and stay later.
Starting in 1953, and continuing for 4 years,
VIMS scientists investigated the effect of
water temperatures on shad catches, They
reported that almost no shad were caught be-
low a water temperature of 40° F. Between
40° and 45° F, a few were caught. Largest
catches were made in45° to 59° F. Athigher
water temperatures, catches taper off but,
even at 70° to74° F, more shad were caught
than at 39° F or less.
L.l. SHELLFISH THRIVE IN WEST INDIES EXPERIMENT
Oysters andclams shipped from Long Is-
land Sound are being raisedin St. Croix in the
subtropical Virgin Islands in a bold effort to
make use of what some have calledthe world's
most important resource--the deep, cold,
nutrient-rich water foundinsome parts of the
world oceans. This was reported by Walter
Sullivanin The New York Times on March 28.
The shellfish arrived in December 1970.
Since then, their growth rate has been ''abso-
lutely fantastic," according to Dr. Arthur Chu,
City University of New York, who is 'mother-
ing'' the first crop.
I, Aquaculture
A larger plan, of which the shellfish ex-
periment is one part, seeks to: explore the
oceans! cold, deep layers for large-scale food
production by "aquaculture"; generate pow-
er without pollution; extract moisture from
trade winds to supply arid islands.
Antarctic Bottom Water
The Antarctic bottom water is the raw
material for the plan. It originates in Ant-
arctica's ice-clogged seas. It sinks beneath
warmer waters of Atlantic, Pacific, and In-
dian Oceans. It inches northward until it
crosses into Northern Hemisphere.
On its long voyage, the water gathers phos -
phates and nitrates from decayed marine life.
It becomes remarkably fertile. And, where
it surfaces--off Peru and West Africa, for
example--oceanic life blooms.
Trying To Top Nature
The Virgin Islands experiment aims to
stimulate andincrease the upwelling phenom -
enon to propagate shellfish, The "longer -
term prospect" is for use of the water's low
temperature as a source of power and fresh
water.
Three-quarters of the world's ocean water
is colder than 50° F, state R. D. Gerard and
Dr. A. O. Roels, Columbia University's La-
mont-Doherty Geological Observatory. Much
of it is just a few degrees above freezing.
Because of its potential uses, they add, ''it is
obvious" that such waters are the planet's
"most abundant resource."
16
St. Croix Experiment
A pipe has been laid from St. Croix's shore
downto about 2,500 feet amile off shore. Cold,
nutrient-rich water is pumped into pools on
shore. Cultures of one species of diatom, a
microscopic form of algae, are put into the
pools. The diatoms multiply until the water
turns brown. Then they are passed through
tanks with trays of oysters and clams,
The deep water is 50 times richer in phos-
phates and nitrates than surface water. The
diatoms thrive--and so do the shellfish that
eat them.
When the seed oysters and clams arrived
in Dec. 1970, they were barely visible. They
have been growing so fast that the scientists
are looking forward to a summer feast.
In northern waters, oysters need 4 or 5
years to mature because they hibernate in
winter and their diet is less rich.
II. Power Plants
Intensive production of marine life could
be a byproduct of the planned power plants,
the Columbia scientists say. The principle
underlying such plants was demonstrated by
French engineers in a Cuban plant in 1930,
and in Africa's Ivory Coast in 1950,
The success of steam plants depends partly
onthe efficiency of their cooling systems. A
steam -driven destroyer moves faster in cold
watersthaninthetropics. The reason is that
turbines are turned by a flow of steam. The
intensity of the flow is determined by the dif-
ference in pressure between start and finish
of heating cycle. The cooler the water at start
of cycle, the greater theresulting pres-
sure.
The St. Croix system would be special. By
using Antarctic bottom water, it would operate
at a very low-starting pressure--and, asa
result, at a very low temperature.
Air pressure on a mountain is lower than
at sealevel, sowater there boils more readily.
If pressure is low enough, water will boil at
temperature of tropical sea water--about
80° F,
17
4800 Ft. <—Trade wind |.
(warm, saturated air)
ded eee. -- Shellfish culture area
¥ =e ZA LEE
3600 Ft.
3000 Ft.
=
nutrient iff,
Intake 2400 Ft.
temperature
a” (F) 1800 Ft.
1200 FR.
Intake © 600 Ft.
PIPE
60_Ft.
Water temperature
@ at surface 80° (F)
rt Site of attempted
landing by Columbus
\
Salt River
0 Miles 50 , Bay
San ;
Juah | Atlantic Ocean
bt
VIRGIN
Cold, nutrient-rich water is pumped from ocean depths off St. Croix as a means to mass produce sea food, as depicted above. Inset
diagram, upper right, shows related plan for extracting fresh water from the moist trade winds. Cold water, drawn from deep, nu-
trient layer (1) by windmill pump (2) is used in cooling condensers (3) that collect water from damp air. The oceanic cooling wa-
ter is then fed into lagoon (4) where marine life is cultivated. Columbia University is conducting the experiments.
(The New York Times, March 26, 1971)
18
In the proposed St. Croix power plants, a
temperature and pressure difference suffi-
cient to drive turbines would be created by us-
ing the heat in warm surface waters. The cool-
ing agent would be bottom water at about 50°.
III, Producing Fresh Water
To produce fresh water, the scientists
would pass bottom water through hill-top con-
densers exposed to warm, moisture-laden
trade winds. As wind strikes cold surfaces
of the system, its moisture would condense--
producing a steady trickle of fresh water.
A scheme like this was proposed by Mr.
Gerardand Dr. J. Lamar Worzel of Lamont-
Doherty Observatory. They noted that St.
Croix was idealfor the experiment: it needed
water and trade winds swept it continually.
Generally, the West Indies bar the flow of
Antarctic bottom water into Caribbean. But
there is adeep passage between Virgin Islands
and Anguilla. This allows entrance of the
water into a basin close to St. Croix's north
shore.
Condensing fresh water from trade winds
has an advantage over desalination plants.
The latter extracting fresh water from the sea
dump a highly saline residue. This endangers
sea life.
InGerard-Worzel plan, power to pump up
deep water would be generated by windmills,
The operation would be free of pollutants.
At present, the water drawn from depths
off St. Croix pass through a pipe only 33"
indiameter. When it reaches surface, it has
been warmed considerably by sea's upper
layers. If deep water is used as coolant, it
will have to be pumped up quickly through a
larger pipe.
Excelling Nature
The natural upwelling off Peru, which is
responsible for richfisheries, does not bring
up the very deep water richest in nutrients,
according to Gerard. The St. Croix experi-
ment, reaching deeper into the sea, is trying
to improve on nature.
Gerard and Roels have identified areas
throughout the world suitable for deep-water
exploitation. There, the surface waters are
warm, and the deep, cold water is within 20
miles of shore. In a plan for large-scale
aquaculture, they would instal conduits
connecting coastal lagoons to deep water.
Nutrient-rich water would be forced through
these pipes into the lagoons. Pumping would
not be needed,
In St. Croix, in pools enriched with deep
water, the abundance of one-celled organisms
reaches 10,000 times the level in adjoining
sea. The organisms being grown are Cyclo-
tella Nana, a diatom used as food in oyster
hatcheries, The scientists are not sure it is
suitable food for adult shellfish but, so far,
it has been effective.
This may be first time individual species
have been tested as food for maturing shell-
fish.
Culturing Diatoms
Each culture of diatoms is grown in suc-
cession of containers, each larger than the
preceding one. In 8 days, one dropper full of
diatoms proliferates enough tomake a12,000-
gallon pool dirty brown.
The scientists are trying to learn enough
about shellfish culture toassess its economic
potential for many locations similar to St.
Croix,
TANNER CRAB TAGGED SUCCESSFULLY
FOR FIRST TIME
A small-scale tagging study by NMFS Auke
Bay (Alaska) Biological Laboratory has de-
veloped a method for tagging tanner crab
(Chionoecetes sp.) with a tag that will be re-
tained through ecdysis(molting). John Kari-
nen reports that of 9 male C. bairdi tagged
with Floy anchor tags inthe body musculature
proximal to the third walking leg, 30% molted
successfully and retained the tag; molting
The biol -
ogists believe that molting success of tagged
success of the controls was 90%.
crab can be improved by modifying the tag
and the insertion method.
Tanner Crab
(Chionoecetes tanneri)
Tanner May Come Home To Molt
The tagging program also has shown that
tanner crab may return to a "home" area to
molt and mate eachyear. SCUBA divers re-
cently recovered a tagged male tanner crab
in 30 feet of wateratthe Laboratory dock. It
was one of 10 tagged in March 1970 and re-
leased at the same location. Tanner crab
gather here each year to molt or mate and
then return to deep water.
More tagging of tanner crab is underway
to learn more about local movements and be-
havior.
19
OCEANOGRAPHY
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA BUOYS WILL BE TESTED
IN GULF OF MEXICO
NOAA's National Data Buoy Project Office
has selected General Dynamicsto build sev-
eral ocean platform systems. Each unit will
have a buoy hull, moorings, power system,
data-processing and communications sys-
tems,
These buoys, designed for oceanographic
and meteorologic work, will be deployed in
the Gulf of Mexico.
The General Dynamics-designed buoy has
a discus-shaped hull and can withstand hur -
ricanes with 150-knot winds, 60-foot waves,
and 10-knot currents. Each buoy weighs about
100 tons when on station; it is capable of car-
rying over 100 sensors. These sensors will
measure and report ocean and atmospheric
conditions.
Long Needed
The buoys will fill the data gap in mari-
time areas. Inhabited regions are observed
Pacific
Northwest
Pacific
Southwest
20
fairly well. International efforts currently
seek toprovide better coverage over land and
oceans. ''Measurements of the oceans are
availablefrom satellites, ships, and aircraft
of opportunity, a few ocean station vessels,
and occasional oceanographic ships sampling
the environment. But more detailed infor-
mation is needed on environmental conditions
over vast marine areas."
Network of Buoys
A network of automatic buoys is needed
throughout the oceans, It would measure and
report environmental conditions inthe oceans,
coastal waters, bays, estuaries, and Great
Lakes. It would provide data needed to pre-
dict weather, sea state, fish migration, mon-
itor pollution, and alsofor marine transporta-
tion and other ocean-oriented industries. The
World Weather Watch and the Integrated
Global Ocean Station System programs may
have someday a network of marine buoys and
automatic land stations.
WARNINGS OF BAD WEATHER
STRENGTHENED BY NEW DEVICE
Warnings of emergency weather from 12
radio weather stations along the U.S. Atlantic
and Gulf coasts are being heightened by a
special device called "tone-alert,'' which is
being installed by NOAA's Weather Service on
its UHF-FM stations.
The device transmits a signal that auto-
matically increases the volume on special
receivers within40to50 miles of the station.
Receivers without the tone-alert receive and
broadcast a distinct 3-to-5-second tone just
before the station operator transmits the
emergency weather message.
When Device Is Used
The device is used immediately before
special warnings of severe weather: torna-
does, hurricanes, winter storms, high winds,
severe thunderstorms. These warnings are
sent to hospitals, schools, civil disaster agen-
cies, newspapers, TV and radio stations --and
to those with radio receivers containing
"weather band" at 162.550 or 163.275 mega-
cycles.
U.S. Network Planned
In time, each UHF-FM weather radio sta-
tions of the Weather Service's nationwide net -
work will have the alertdevice. The stations
are part of NOAA's Natural Disaster Warning
System.
The 24-hour-a-day stations transmit con-
tinuous weather forecasts and observations
to farmers, sportsmen, boaters, and others
needing reliable information. The regular
flow of weather information is interrupted by
hazardous-weather warnings.
21
Cost of Receivers
Equipment to receive the tone-alert is
priced from about $150 upward. Receivers
without tone-alert feature that can pick up
Weather Service UHF transmissions start
near $20.
The reception of transmissions, especially
when low-cost receivers are used, depends
on location and sensitivity.
MEXICO AND U.S. SET UP
WEATHER STATION
Mexico and the U.S. have established a
jointly funded weather station on Mexico's
Guadalupe Island off Lower California. It is
expected to improve warnings of storms
threatening both countries.
The stationmakes upper-air observations
to fill a need for atmospheric data from an
ocean area that generates severe weather.
Upper-Air Reports
The upper-air reports made at Guadalupe
Island are transmitted to the National Mete-
orological Center in Suitland, Md., by Mexican
personnel who make observations twice a day.
The reports are expected to offer valuable
cluestothe high-level steering currents that
propel moist air inland from the Pacific and
the Gulf of Mexico,
Mar. 8.)
(‘Commerce Today',
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL HELP DETECT
MARINE POLLUTION
A system that will aidindetecting and con-
trolling marine pollution has been devised and
tested successfully by Texas A & M Sea Grant
oceanographers. It is an electrical logging
system that measures relatively quickly and
cheaply the upper soft seabottom sediments.
NOAA's NationalSea Grant Program is sup-
porting continued development and adaptation
to computer techniques.
In-Place Gravity Probe
A main feature of the electrical systemis
an in-place gravity probe with electrodes in
the nose. Thisis dropped into the soft bottom
sediments. As it is withdrawn, it measures
the electrical resistances of the sediments.
The oceanographers also have developed a
device for obtaining the same measurements
from cores. Also, they are showing how the
electrical properties measured by either
technique are related to some "chemical,
physical, sedimentological, and engineering
properties of the sediments."
Pollution detection is one of NOAA's re-
sponsibilities in monitoring the marine en-
vironment. Detection is vital to adequate
pollution control. Bottom sediments are af-
fected directly by changes in the kinds of
particulate matterinthe sea. Electrical log-
ging techniques can record these changes.
Information obtained through logging also
can benefit ocean engineering, mining, pipe-
line surveys, and basic research into bottom
sediments.
System's Advantages
The oceanographers state that on-site
measurement of electrical resistivities of
sediments is a relatively quick and inexpen-
sive way to determine some properties. Be-
fore, these could be measured only on ship-
board, or in the lab, through subbottom
samples gotten by the more painstaking
technique of coring. Electrical logs will sup-
plement, not replace, coring and reduce num-
ber of cores needed.
1969-70 Tests
Tests with probes 12 to 25 feet long were
made in 1969 and 1970 south of Galveston,
Texas, innorthern terminal of Alaminos Can-
yon. In one series, electrical profiles were
obtained in about 90 minutes of recording on
the seafloor. Recovery of 30 cores from these
stations would have taken about two weeks;
analysis of their porosity and density would
have taken months more.
Present Work
The oceanographers are building a new
in-place device. With it, measurements will
The
device will end irregularities in pull-out
be made while probe is at the bottom.
caused by movement of the ship--and so in-
crease accuracy appreciably.
22
NAVY SCIENTISTS DIVE AND WORK
UNDER ARCTIC ICE COVER
Four oceanographers of the U.S, Naval
Oceanographic Office (NOO) recently dived
and worked under the Arctic ice massless
than 500 miles fromthe North Pole. NOOsays
the dives may be "the first extensive day-to-
day operationever conducted this far north."
The dives were made during a 10-day
period in the 24-hour darkness of the Arctic
night through a hole cut in 15 feet of sea ice
adjacent to Fletcher's Ice Island. This is a
floating 28-square-mile glacier. Since 1952,
it has served as the site of an Arctic research
laboratory for U.S.
The waters underlying the ice ranged in
thickness from 15 to 60 feet. They were a
constant 28.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Outside
temperatures ranged from 20 to 39 degrees
below zero. The first dive lasted 25 minutes;
the longest was one hour, 55 minutes. The
scientists reported that cold hands ''were the
principal factor limiting dive duration."
Their Purpose
The scientists were working to establish
techniques for making scientific observations,
especially measuring and profiling the under -
side of the ice cover. They photographed the
ice with still and motion-picture cameras.
They profiled a part of the underwater ice
mass by direct measurement with tapes,
measuring rods, and a recording slate.
"We were particularly interested in meas-
uring and recording on film the juncture of
Fletcher's Island with the adjacent sea ice,"
they said.
Value of Work
Oceanographers-divers can only provide
information on a small part of undersea ice
at any one time, NOO states, as opposed to
wide-ranging surface techniques, such as
aerial photography. But divers! data will be
useful in relating ''the bottom side with the
top. If we know this general relationship, we
cantheninfer what the bottom side looks like
from our surface observations.'' A complete
picture of ice structure will. help NOO oceano-
graphers predict movement of sea ice for the
23
benefit of shipping in the Arctic and the Ant-
arctic.
NOO's oceanographers provided much ini-
tial data that helped to insure a safe voyage
for the 'Manhattan'. The world's largest oil
tanker-icebreaker successfully navigated the
icebound Northwest Passage in fall 1969.
OCEANOGRAPHERS HUNT EARTH’S
OLDEST CRUST IN SOUTH PACIFIC
NOAA oceanographers aboard the !'Sur-
veyor!' are making a 6800-mile trip in April-
May from American Samoa to South America
seeking what may be the oldest part of the
earth's crust in this area.
The Seattle-based vessel, operated by
NOAA's National Ocean Survey, conducted a
hydrographic survey of the approaches to
Pago Pago Harbor in American Samoa before
beginning the 34-week oceanographic expedi-
tion.
A Giant Chasm
Barrett H. Erickson, the project's chief
scientist, said: 'Although the undersea
structural features in this part of the South
Pacific are now poorly known, it seems that
the oldest oceanic crust in this area may lie
just east of the southern Tonga Trench."
This great chasm in the seabed descends
more than 6 miles below the sea surface; it
extends south of the Samoan Islands toward
New Zealand,
Ericksonadded: "A study of the geophys-
ical characteristics of the oceanic crust be-
tweenthe Tonga Trench and the East Pacific
Rise should provide evidence on the age and
history of the oceanic crust inthis area," The
East Pacific Rise is a mile-high underwater
mountain range lyingin water almost 2 miles
deep It parallels the northwest coast of
South America.
The Surveyor expeditionis part of NOAA's
long-range program to investigate the sea
bottom and to illumine the earth's history.
24
RECREATIONAL BOATING IS
EXPANDING RAPIDLY
In 1970, recreational boating in the U.S.
involved an estimated 44,070,000 persons who
spent about $3,440,000,000.
National Association of Engine and Boat Man-
So reports the
ufacturers.
The pastime has grown greatly. The in-
dustry estimates there were 8,814,000 rec-
reational boatsin the U.S. in 1970; 4,864,074
were registered by states andthe Coast Guard
The boats ranged from plush sailing craft and
sleek motor jobs to rowboats, prams, and
dinghies.
Housing Them
The boatmen were from 5,900 marinas,
boatyards, andyacht clubs. They hauled their
craft tothe water aboard 3,700,000 homemade
and factory-produced boat trailers.
Industry's Growth
There were an estimated 3,510,000 rec-
reational boats in 1950; in 1970, 8,814,000.
Total expenditure jumped from $680,000,000
to nearly $3.5 billion.
Outboard Motors
An estimated 7,215,000 outboard motors
were being used in 1970.
The skilled worker is the heaviest buyer
of outboard motors: 24.5% of them. The pro-
fessional was second with 17.6%. Clerical and
sales people were third with 17.2%. Only 2%
of factory workers bought outboard motors
during the year.
The New York City area led in outboard
motor use with 316,000.
of motor boats purchased in one 12-month
The average length
period is listedas 15.4 feet; the greatest num-
ber (43%) run from 14.7 to 16.6 feet.
a
TELL COAST GUARD WHEN HELP NO
LONGER NEEDED, CAPTAINS URGED
Fishing vessels callingfor emergency aid
should notify Coast Guard immediately when
assistance is no longer needed, the Search and
Rescue Branch of the First Coast Guard Dis-
The Fishing
Vessel Safety Division of the National Marine
trict has urgently requested.
Fisheries Service joins in this appeal.
Over 300 commercial fishing vessels from
Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island ports
are aided each year by Coast Guard cutters,
aircraft, and bases located from Eastport to
Block Island. While most Coast Guard mis-
sions are completed safely, some vessels
solve their own difficulties while help is on
the way. These vessels continue their trips
without notifying the Coast Guard.
A Wild-Goose Chase
This happened recently when a Gloucester
(Mass.) trawler called for Coast Guard as-
sistance while disabled in the Gulf of Maine.
Coast Guard search and rescue units raced
to assist the stricken craft. When they ar-
rived at the reported location, there was no
trace of the vessel. Alongsearchof the area
ended when the vessel was reported safely tied
OKLAHOMA SCIENTISTS SEEK
ANTIBACTERIAL AGENTS IN CORAL
NOAA has awardeda $161,800 Sea Grant
to inland Oklahoma University for marine
pharmacology work. Chemists under Dr.
Alfred Weinheimer will isolate and try to
produce useful compounds that demonstrate
antibacterial, or similar effects, from coral
and other marine invertebrates.
The Oklahoma marine-chemistry program
is morethan15 years old. It has studied the
extractable organic chemical content of sev-
eral abundant coral-reef invertebrates from
the Caribbean and other waters. The scien-
tists have observed that many extracts dem-
onstrate antibacterial activities of possible
benefit to man. Recent experiments showed
a high degree of antitumor and antileukemia
action among certain compounds.
Practical Production Methods Sought
With the NOAA Sea Grant, the researchers
hope to develop practical methods for pro-
ducing useful compounds in quantity. They
will give special attention to those aspects
showing potential as anticancer agents.
The Oklahoma researchers collect tropical
and subtropical invertebrates several times
each year, mainly in the Caribbean, They
have studied corals, sponges, and other ma-
terials.
The program is part of NOAA's Sea Grant
effort in marine pharmaceuticals. In Decem-
ber 1970, NOAA awarded a Sea Grant to Os-
born Laboratories of Marine Sciences of the
New York Zoological Society to extract and
test antibacterial agents from sponges,
29
SEA GRANTS FOR COASTAL-ZONE
PLANNING, RESEARCH & TRAINING
NOAA has awarded $207,500 worth of Sea
Grants for coastal-zone planning, for re-
search, and for training:
1) $139,200, in 2-year project, to Nassau-
Suffolk Regional Planning Board, Hauppauge,
New York, todevelop methods for planning the
best use of coastal-zone marine resources,
The project 'willidentify, classify, and anal-
yze problems confronting decision makers
dealing with marine resources."
2) A $50,000 Sea Grant to Lamont -Doherty
Geological Observatory of Columbia Univer -
sity to continue its artificial upwelling proj-
ect in the Virgin Islands. (See p. 16.)
The major emphasis during the next year
will be on''food fromthe sea'', This involves
the growth of plankton and selected commer -
cially valuable organisms.
3) The University of New Hampshire, Dur -
ham, was awarded $18,300 togive engineering
students experience inthe parts and systems
used in ocean-oriented projects.
Students will continue to work on such proj-
ects as underwater life-support systems,
shallow-water coring, and underwater tools.
Each project is conducted by a team of stu-
dents under one or more faculty members.
In the project's first two years, 52 under-
graduate and 17 engineering faculty members
participated,
The 3 institutions will match at least half
the NOAA Sea Grant with non-Federal
funds.
26
LAMPRICIDE STUDY
A chemical used in Lake Michigan and Lake
Superior tocontrol sea lamprey--TFM--will
be studied systematically for the first time
by pharmacologists of the Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee. NOAAhas awarded it
a $26,500 Sea Grant to study the metabolism
and pharmacology of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-
nitrophenol.
TFMis a selective lampricidal agent that
has been effective in destroying the sea lam-
prey duringits early development. Two or 3
parts of TFM in a million parts of water are
lethaltosea lamprey larvae, while not affect- .
ing most other fish and aquatic species.
TFM's Achievement
Since TFM's introduction, the population
of lake trout and white fishhas increased sub-
stantially. The lamprey had nearly wiped out
these fishes.
However, very little is known of how TFM
works and what happens to it after it has done
its job. Nodefinitive studies have been made
of TFM's pharmacology, metabolic fate in
fish and mammals, and its possible environ-
mental effects.
That is what the Medical College of Wiscon-
sin will do,
STUDY CIGUATERA POISONING
Ciguatera poisoning, a tropical malady of
humans and fish, will be investigated under a
NOAA Sea Grant to the Caribbean Research
Institute, College of the Virgin Islands, St.
Thomas. Tropicalislanders around the world
fear the malady.
Dr. Robert W. Brody will seek to determine
patterns of infection and food-chain relation-
ships, and conduct laboratory analysis of the
poison,
A Ciguatera Case Repository will be set
up to gather clinical and pathological data
from human cases.
Serious Problem
Ciguatera fish poisoning is a serious public
health problem inthe northern Leeward-Vir-
gin Islands area. It slows the growth of the
fishing industry so much that local fisheries
provide only about 50% of the fish protein
eaten.
The malady, apparently concentrated in
tropicalislands, has little effect on continen-
tal areas. It has been studied in the Pacific
since World War II. There it is linked toa
shallow-water food chain. The Caribbean
scientists will be inclose communication with
University of Hawaii researchers.
Published Reports
About 4,500 persons in the world have had
the illness since it was first identified; 542
deaths have been recorded. It affects the
gastrointestinal and nervous systems, Itusu-
ally develops 3 to 5 hours after an infected
fish has been eaten.
FAOwill cooperate withSea Grant project.
Its fishing vessel 'Alcyon! will provide fish
samples and other data. NOAA's NMFS lab-
oratory at Seattle, Wash., will also partici-
pate. It will provide chemical services in
extracting and purifying the toxin.
Information Program
Medical reporting of ciguatera poisoning
in the Virgin Islands is presently spotty.
Individuals who become affected apparently
seldom seek medical help. To obtain better
data on symptoms and on suspect fish, the Sea
Grant scientists plan to conduct an informa-
tionprogram inthe Virgin Islands. This will
include TV and a brochure similar to one
used in Japan and the U.S. trust territories
to encourage people to report to medical au-
thorities when they suspect that they have
ciguatera poisoning.
TEXAS LAB TO PRESCRIBE
MEDICINE FOR FISH IN MARICULTURE
Texas A&M University opened its new
Aquatic Animal Medicine Laboratory January
hike
erinary Medicine is the only one in the U.S.
The university says its College of Vet-
that has a medical-care program for marine
animals.
"What we hope to do is be able to produce
a cheaper and better seafood product,"' says
Dr. George W. Klontz, associate professor of
veterinary medicine, who is in charge of the
lab.
Need for Mariculture
Ocean fishing is largely a hunter-type op-
eration, Dr. Klontz adds. The ocean is being
drained of its resources, and industry must
devise more effective ways to produce food
from the sea.
In mariculture, propagation in captivity of
marine life, ocean water can be directed into
ponds and the "livestock" cultivated.
"An example is a two-acre pond," Dr.
Klontz notes. ''Yourun seawater in one end,
through the pond, and out the other end back
tothe sea. You stock the pond with fish, feed
them and harvest them."
Disease Is Major Problem
A major problem so far with mariculture
is contraction of disease.
"Of all animals presently being hatched in
captivity, 25 to 50 percent don't get to the mar-
ket because of disease,'' he says. ''In some
cases it runs even higher, but that's a good
estimate,"
Atl
Also, 30 cents of every dollar spent in
mariculture enterprises goes to disease con-
trol.
12 Species For Lab
When the laboratoryis stocked, Dr. Klontz
says, 12 species of fish will be available for
study and experimentation. Two species, al-
bino catfish and Gulf topminnows, already are
swimming nervously in 4 separate tanks.
He says the albinos were used because of
their genetic homegeneity for measuring re-
sponses to viruses and bacteria; the topmin-
nows for measuring a large spectrum of re-
sponses,
"These are our lab animals," he notes.
"When commercial propagation of fishes be-
comes a reality, we hope to be ready to help
when the diseases occur,"
Lab Supports Sea Grants
The new laboratory will support the work
of 4 Sea Grant projects in marine fisheries,
The studies focus on bacteria and viral dis-
eases of marine fish and shellfish, parasitic
relationships, and histopathological studies
of inflammation in fish.
Cooperative work with the Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department also will be con-
ducted.
Dr. Klontz points out that the university
has the only vet college in the U.S. offering
formal instruction in aquatic animals medi-
cine at the preprofessional and graduate
levels.
AT&T MAKES PROGRESS
IN PROTECTING SUBMARINE CABLES
A 12-year effort by American Telephone
and Telegraph Company's Long Lines Depart-
ment to prevent fishermen from snapping
submarine cables between U.S. and Europe
is beginning to pay off. This is reported by
New England Marine Resources Program.
The breaks are caused by snarling of gear
inthe cables. Whenthese occur, hundreds of
voices are silenced; repairs cost hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
To ease problem, AT&T has:
the fishing industry; offered free charts and
appealed to
brochures pinpointing the cables; offered to
pay fishermen for nets and fouled gear that
have tobe cut away to avoiddamage to a snag-
ged underseas cable; maintained a North At-
lantic patrol to warn trawlers away from cable
routes; developed equipment and techniques
that enable company to bury cable two feet
under ocean floor, safe from commercial
fishing tackle or natural disasters.
70 Cable Failures
In the past 15 years, there were 70 cable
failures on the 4 transatlantic telephone
cables; 54 wereon this side of Atlantic. Two
were caused by icebergs, the remainder by
AT&T feels that
elimination of breaks causedby fishing is key
trawlers or scallopers.
to preventing cable failures. AT&T says it can
no longer dependon selecting routes to avoid
fishing grounds because fishing areas have
extended considerably in the past 12 years and
have overrun new cables. Routes that were
free of trawling when cables were placed are
now vulnerable.
28
AUANAETS) I=)
The first transoceanic telephone cable
system, TAT-1, was put into service in 1956,
Since then, 4 more have been placed along
ocean floor. When TATS 1 through 4 were in
planning stage, prime importance was given
to routes outside fishing grounds. TAT-1 was
charted north of Grand Banks in Newfoundland,
A
change in fishing methods and consumer
where fishing mainly for cod was heavy.
tastes in the late 1950s drew trawlers
farther north, where cables were located.
Soviet fleets with refrigerated trawlers began
to process ocean perch, a highly perishable
catch formerly ignored by fishermen. Even-
tually, trawlers from 13 other nations began
fishing near the cable routes.
A Break In 1959
"The first break in service occurred in
February, 1959, when a Russian trawler ac-
cidentally snagged TAT-1,'' AT&T stated, Its
air patrolsbegan that month to augment ship
patrols designed to warn trawler captains
when they are too near a cable, Two ships
patrol Cabot Strait and the North Atlantic
trawling area; they are ready to repair a
snapped cable. The air patrols drop leaflets
printed in 6 languages warning captains of
their closeness to submarine cables, Coop-
eration has been good.
"Shoes! Kick Cables
It isn't the trawling nets themselves that
cause the cable breaks, The 'culprit'is the
!
large oak and metal ''shoes,"' called otter
boards, which scrape along ocean bottom
holding open the great nets. If otter board
scoops up cable instead of riding over it, the
cable is likely to be snapped.
In 1965, Woods Hole Oceanographic Insti-
tution, Cape Cod, Mass., discovered a rich
scallop bed off New Jersey through which a
cable hadbeen placed. New England and Ca-
nadian fishermen converged on the area.
Cable breaks became numerous, mostly from
scallop dredges being dragged repeatedly
across bottom. In one instance, 7 miles of
cable had to be replaced and, in one period,
repairs cost over $350,000.
Going Underground
This was when AT&T was trying to con-
vince fishermen to weld a small metal addi-
tion to their dredges between the shoe and the
dragging frame. This would allow gear to
slide up and over a cable instead of hooking
onto it. This did not eliminate problem, so
AT&T solved it by burying sections of new
cables near this areain1966. It was the first
underground cable along an ocean bottom.
Working cable into the ocean floor is al-
ways preceded by an oceanographic survey.
A Bell-designed, 7,000-pound survey vehicle
with communications and measuring instru-
ments collects underwater information,
29
Towed by a cable ship, this vehicle has a
weighted steel wheel to cut through the soil.
Cooperation With Fishermen
AT&T is asking fishermen to help where
cable lines lie exposed on ocean floors, and
where itis impossible or impractical to bury
the cable.
show exact cable positions. AT&T points out
Its charts are highly detailed and
that snagging cables can also be costly to
fishermen. Fishermenhave lost fishing time
and up to $8,000. The company is willing to
replace snarlednets. It hasdone so 12 times
at a cost of about $2,000 each time.
AT&T emphasizes danger fishermen ex-
pose themselves to when they cut cables to
free meshed gear, Telephone cables carry
up to 5,000 volts of electricity, considerably
higher than telegraph cables.
Successful Burial
The successful burying of cable has in-
creased reliability of international communi-
It has reduced AT&T patrol and
repair costs from fishing damage or natural
cations.
events--undersea landslides, icebergs, cur-
rents, surf action, and rough ocean-bottom
conditions. Shorter cable routes are possible
because commercial fishing locations do not
have to be circumvented.
CALIFORNIA’S GIANT KELP
In 1968, the California Legislature directed the
Department of Fishand Game to prepare "a compre-
hensive master inventory and preliminary master
plan for utilization of all ocean fish resources from
existing scientific information... .'
The deadline was the 5th legislative day of the
1971 Regular Session. The department has prepared
"California's Living Marine Resources And Their
Utilization,'' a 148-page work.
"It concerns itself
primarily with the living marine resources that en-
hance the wealth of this State and provide for recre-
ational benefits for the people. Itdoes consider some
of the effects of man's activities in coastal areas of
California as wellas some problems confronting the
State's fishing industries
W
°
The following is reprinted from the California
publication:
History of the Harvest
Marine plants have beenusedinmany parts
of the world for hundreds of years as a food
The
giant kelp, Macrocystis, has been harvested
supplement for humans and animals.
commercially and processed in California
since 1910, Except for a few innovations to
reduce spillage and speed up the cutting and
loading process, kelp still is harvested as it
was over 50 years ago.
Kelp contains carbohydrates, minerals,
vitamins, and algin or alginic acid. During
World War I, potash, acetone, and iodine were
the chief products recoveredfrom kelp. Kelp
meal, usedas ananimal food supplement, and
algin, used inmany modern products, are the
most important items today.
Algin, acolloidal substance extracted from
kelp, has the unique property of absorbing
large quantities of water. This property
makes it important in preparing commercial
ice cream Since it prevents water from form-
30
ing coarse ice crystals. Algin also has sus-
pending, stabilizing, emulsifying, gel-produc-
ing, film-forming, and colloid-forming
properties which render it valuable in other
processes. It is used in pharmaceuticals to
suspend drugs and antibiotics such as peni-
cillin. Algin is important in the preparation
of adhesives for containers, coatings for
welding rods, and to hold fiberglass mats to-
gether. The textile industry uses it for thick-
ening and stabilizing dyes. At present, there
are more than 200 uses for algin.
The annual California kelp harvest has
varied from a high of 395,000 wet tons in 1918
to a low of 260 tons in 1931, but averaged
129,000 wet tons during the 10-year period
(1960-1969). Noadverse influence onthe rich
fauna associated with kelp beds can be attri-
buted to harvesting as currently practiced.
Kelp beds are numbered and designated
beds may be leased for a 20-year period.
Commercialkelp harvesters may lease two-
thirds of the kelp beds in California; however,
the remaining one-third is not leased and may
be harvested by any company. These are
called openbeds. Commercialharvesters bid
for the privilege of exclusive use of leased
beds.
more than a total of 25 square miles or 50
A single entrepreneur may not lease
percent of the total kelp areas, whichever is
greater. Every harvester must purchase an
annual license and pay a royalty per ton of
wet kelp harvested. Over or under harvesting
a leased bed constitutes a violation of the
lease agreement, and a fine and loss of the
exclusive lease can occur.
Giant kelp is harvested by specially built
barges. These vary in size and some are
capable of carrying upto 300 tons of wet kelp.
Kelp is cut to a maximum depth of 4 feet (by
regulation) below the water's surface and is
transferred by a conveyor belt into the open
hold of the barge.
processing plant where it is transformed toa
It then is transported toa
salable product.
Status of Biological Knowledge
Alaska,
southward to Pt. Abreojos, Baja California;
Giant kelp ranges from Sitka,
nevertheless, kelp harvesting has been cen-
tered in southern California. Kelp grows in
water from just outside the surf to depths of
100 feet. The plant has a root-like structure
called a holdfast which clings to a hard rock
or shale substrate.
Giant kelpis a perennial, living and send-
ing up new stalks called stipes for a period of
5 to l0 years. These stipes reachthe surface
to form a canopy, and live for about 6 months.
There is a constant succession of new stipes
growing to the surface to replace dead and
dying ones, and a single holdfast may have
31
more than 100 stipes. A young plant takes
about 1 year to become established, Under
favorable conditions, a young plant will double
in size every 3 weeks. Growth and repro-
duction are limited by the available light
(water clarity and depth), temperature,
amount of available rocky substrate, nutrients
present, number of grazers in area (opaleye,
sea urchins, abalone, and other gastropods),
disease (black rot), storms, and by heated
water discharges and sewage outflows in the
area.
Growth is primarily from the terminal tips
of the stipes. Nutrients are taken from the
surrounding water inthe presence of sunlight
Rapid
growth may follow an increase in the amount
during the process of photosynthesis.
of plant food present in the water. During
periods of optimum conditions, which consist
of clear, cool waters, below 66° F, enriched
with nutrients upwelled to the surface, giant
kelp stipes have been observed to grow from
12 to 24 inches in a single day. When water
temperatures reach 66° F, growthis arrested
and sloughing occurs.
Giant kelp has a fascinating reproductive
system. There aretwodifferent forms in the
life cycle of the species. The sporophytes
(the large plants making up the kelp beds)
liberate billions of spores which give rise to
microscopic plants known as gametophytes.
The male and female gametophytes in turn
give rise to sporophytes. The reproductive
tissue of the sporophyte is located in special-
While
individual plants fruit at specific times during
ized blades at the base of the plant.
the year, within any one kelp bed reproduction
occurs throughout the year.
32
Grazers, such as sea urchins, may have
a tremendous impact onkelp beds when ecol-
ogical conditions permit their populations to
reachlarge numbers, Environmental condi-
tions created by sewage outfalls in southern
California have led to the establishment of
large urchin populations in certain areas.
Urchins not only destroy the existing kelp, but
keep young plants from becoming established.
Once the kelpis gone, the urchins are able to
survive by living off the sewage discharge
nutrients. Researchindicates an urchin also
may absorb up to 50 percent of its minimum
daily nutrient requirements from the sur-
rounding water. Inthismanner, large urchin
populations continue to exist in areas that
formerly contained kelp beds,
Kelp beds can be restored. Sea urchin
populations can be controlled by man. The
kelp bed at Point Loma, near San Diego, has
beenrestored almost to the same size it was
20 years ago, In addition to physically or
chemically killing the sea urchins, several
other techniques have been developed to
assist in kelp restoration. Juvenile plants
have been cultured in the laboratory and
planted at suitable sites. Adult plants have
been transplanted. Work is underway to de-
velop mass culture techniques. Spore pro-
duction and dispersal rates have been studied,
and light requirements of the microscopic
stages of kelp are being investigated. Ef-
forts continue to upgrade water conditions
along the coast.
One side effect of disappearing kelp beds
is the loss of fish habitat. Areas that once
sustained considerable sport and partyboat
fishing pressures now provide very little sup-
port to these fisheries. Unfortunately, loss
of kelp beds has been the largest in areas
where fishing pressures are the greatest. In
these same areas, the need for high aesthetic
values in the inshore marine environment is
possibly the greatest in California because of
their proximity to large metropolitian areas.
Status of Population
California kelp beds have decreased in
size since the early 1900's when they covered
Today they
There are
approximately 100 square miles.
cover less than 75 square miles,
74 designated kelp beds along the California
coastline. These cover 53.86 square miles
south of Point Conception, including the off-
shore islands, and15.5 square miles between
In the
last 10 years, some of the major kelp beds of
Point Conception and Point Montara.
southern California have all but disappeared
due to temperature changes, sewage dis-
charges, and kelp grazers. Kelp habitat im-
provement projects, initiated in 1963 by in-
dustry and the academic society, have re-
stored the Point Loma kelp bed near San
Diego to a point where it again can sustain a
commercial harvest. Increased numbers of
heated water discharges could pose a threat
to the kelp resources of California in the fu-
ture unless special effort is made to keep the
warm effluent away from kelp beds.
SEASONAL AND GEOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
OF FISHERY RESOURCES
California Current Region--V. Northern Anchovy
David Kramer and Paul E. Smith
The resource of the northern anchovy,
Engraulis mordax, off the coasts of California
and Baja California has beenestimated tohave
grown from 640,000 tonsin 1951 to a spawn-
ing biomass fluctuating between 5 and 8 mil-
liontons since 1962 (Smith, MS). (Estimates
from various sources, 1940-41 to 1965, were
compiled by Messersmith in 1969--Table 2.)
The growth has been attributed, in part, to the
anchovy's occupation of the niche left empty
by the Pacific sardine during its decline. In
1966, Ahlstrom depicted this phenomenon in
comparing the relative abundance and distri-
bution of the larvae of the two species for 1954
and 1962 (Figs. 1 and 2), Data from fossil
scales, presented by Soutar (1967) and Soutar
and Isaacs (1969), offer an alternate explana-
tion to the anchovy's filling the sardine's
niche. They imply that fluctuations in the
populations of these two species may have
been independent of one another in different
periods over the last 2,000 years.
In 1964, the California Cooperative Oceanic
Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Commit-
tee proposed to the California Marine Re-
search (MRC) Committee that a 200,000-ton
harvest be allowed for reductionpurposes on
the hypothesis that a fishery for this species
might help to restore the sardine resource;
once restored, proper management could
maintain a balance betweenthe tworesources.
This was detailed by Messersmith in 1969,
Seasonal and Geographic Distribution
Two sources of information are available
on the seasonal and geographic distribution
of the anchovy population. One is a tagging
study in 1966-69: the California Department
of Fish and Game (CF&G) tagged anchovies
from San Francisco, California, to Ensenada,
Baja California, to determine their migra~
tory habits and to obtain estimates of their
population size and mortality rates (Haugen,
Messersmith and Wickwire, 1969). Recov-
eries of tags indicated northerly movement
during late summer and southerly movement
duringthe winter. The data were insufficient
todetermine the sizes of the population mor-
tality rates, or total distribution, because of
the low level of the reduction fishery during
that period of the study and lack of catch sta-
tistics south of Ensenada,
Vrooman and Smith (MS), using serological
data, estimated the same movements ina cen-
tral subpopulation of the anchovy between Pt.
Conception, California, and Cedros Island, off
Baja California. This subpopulation is in-
cluded in the area depicted by Haugen, et al.
(1969) for their tagging work.
The second source are the data of the
CalCOFI, which show the seasonal and geo-
graphic distributions of anchovy larvae,
cruise by cruise, for 1951-65 (Kramer and
Ahlstrom, 1968), and in summaries for eggs
and larvae for 1951-60 (Figs. 3 and 4) over
the full range of the investigations.
Summarized data can be used to predict
the times and locations of adult fish spawning
as described by Kramer and Smith (1970a) in
the first report in this series, where the or-
ganizations, area of investigations, and treat-
ment of the data were presented.
Unlike our previous reports, which used
either all eggs or all larvae for the summa-
ries (Kramer and Smith, 1970a, b, c, d), we
are using both for the anchovy; for the larvae,
we are using the 5-mm size only, the most
abundant in the plankton hauls,
The authors are Fishery Biologists, NMFS Fishery-Oceanography Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, Cali-
fornia 92037.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 907
34
SARDINE LARVAE
1954
CAPE MENDOCINO
35° ° o ok
Bh ee
alias - O-4
anes
sie (eA
° oot
°
62
30° © IilipNike ee °
, fo 0
° Hl °
WAT
| Nl
° ied I
|
|
°
25°
CUMULATIVE TOTALS
1-10
|
° 0
11-100 |
Ci aolcio
20° 101-1,000
1,001-10,000
BROCE
OVER 10,000
STATIONS OCCUPIED
1] -POINT CONCEPTION
ot}
[SAN DIEGO
ANCHOVY LARVAE
1954
Na USAN FRANCISCO
>
35°
152 110°
[betes Oe =
Fig. 1 - Distribution and relative abundance of sardine and anchovy larvae in 1954 on the survey pattern of the Cali-
fornia Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI).
(Fig. 2 of Ahlstrom, 1966.)
SARDINE
1962
CUMULATIVE TOTALS
I-10
11-100
101-1,000
1,001-10,000
OVER 10,000
STATIONS OCCUPIED
LARVAE
“CAPE MENDOCINO
(VSAN FRANCISCO
ANCHOVY LARVAE
1962
p)),
Cll mil
} os
i ! Ay
4. * iN
3 m ’
(Fig. 3 of Ahlstrom,
Fig. 2 - Distribution and relative abundance of sardine and anchovy larvae in 1962 on the survey pattern of the Cali-
fornia Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI). 1966.)
35
36
*(eOZ6T ‘ututIg pue Jaurery 9as) vary [eor}sI7e1Ss patood e syuaseidas yop0 auty ‘aTout
T ) 14ST 2) 9
SUOTTEHTISAIAUT Satsaysty O1UeIDO aAtJeEIadoOD eIUIOFI[eD Vy Jo utayqed Avains ay UO YQ-TSET ut sb6a eee a Se eee
AuvnYa34
4380190
\
JINAYYNDIO %G2=
vauv dS0VHS
JONAYYNIDO %Ol= °
JINSYYNIIO %Ol> °
Q3aldND90 VA"V -
09 -IS6I
SIDFT AANOHINY
37
*(eOZ6T ‘taturs pue iawery eas) eore [eOTISTIeIs patood e syuasasdas yop Jo aurT ‘apostO yORY *(1TYOOTeD)
SUOTIEBTISAAT] SaTISYStY OTUEDO aAtgeIadooD eIUIOFITeD ay Jo usexed Aaams ay} Uo OO-][SET Ut aeAIeT AAoYOUE WIUI-G Jo adUaIINII0qUAadIAdg - F “BIY
SJONSYYNIIO *%G2=
vauyv G3S0VHS
SONAYYNDIO *%Ol= ®
JONSYYNIDIO *%Ol> 0
G3IdND90 Vay -
'
09-IS6I
(iw G)
IVA 7 AAOHINV
38
The eggs and larvae show only slight dif-
ferences in the extent of their distributions
in the same month for which each is shown.
The major centers of spawning (25% or more
occurrences in plankton hauls) are evident
first in January from Pt. Conception, Cali-
fornia, to Pt. San Juanico, Baja California,
and about 50 miles seaward. The north to
south extents remain the same through April,
with some increase seaward and northward
to San Francisco. The southern extent re-
mains the same in May, June, and July, but
the northern limit varies between Pt. Con-
ception and San Francisco. By October, the
centers are located only off southern Cali-
fornia and sometimes southward. The data
for August, September, November, and De-
cember were insufficient for summarization
to show the trends depicted in Figs. 3 and 4.
The Fishery
Until the 1965-66 season, when a reduction
fishery was allowed by the California Fish
and Game Commission for the northern an-
chovy in California, the resource had been
virtually untapped. Majorusage was in com-
mercial landings restrictedto canning and in
landings for live anddeadbait. Total use, in-
cluding the new fishery for reduction, was
summarized by Messersmith (1969) in his
review of the industry through 1967, and by
Hardwick (1969) for the fishery through 1968.
Landings for reduction have been strictly
limited and controlled by the California Fish
and Game Commissionto quotas by zones and
areas along the California coast with some
slight changes from year to year (Messer-
smith, 1969; Hardwick, 1969). Quota totals
were 75,000 tons for each season, 1965
through 1969. The quota total was raised to
100,000 tons for the 1970-71 season. An-
chovy landings 1964 through 1969 are shown
in Table.
Anchovy landings 1964 through 1969
(source - California Department of Fish and Game)
Year Reduction Other commercial Live bait Total
1964 0 2,488 5,191 7,679
1965 170 2, 866 6, 148 9, 184
1966 27, 335 3,705 6, 691 37,731
1967 32, 349 2,455 5, 387 40,191
1968 1385795 1,743 7,176 22,714
1969* 65,099 233 5,538 73,170
*Preliminary.
LITERATURE CITED
AHLSTROM, ELBERT H.
1966. Distribution and abundance of sardine and anchovy
larvae in the California Current region off Cali-
fornia and Baja California, 1951-64: A summary.
U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. 534,
71 p.
HARDWICK, JAMES E,
1969, The 1967-68 anchovy reduction fishery. Calif. Dept.
Fish & Game, Fish Bull. 147: 33-38.
HAUGEN, CHARLES W., JAMES D. MESSERSMITH and
RUSSELL H, WICKWIRE
1969. Progress report on anchovy tagging off Califomia and
Baja California, March 1966 through May 1969.
Calif. Dept. Fish & Game, Fish. Bull. 147: 75-86.
KRAMER, DAVID and ELBERT H, AHLSTROM
1968, Distributional atlas of fish larvae in the California
Current region: northernanchovy, Engraulis mordax
Girard, 1951 through 1965. Calif. Coop. Oceanic
Fish. Invest. Atlas No. 9, vii+ 269 p.
and PAUL E, SMITH
1970a. Seasonal and geographic characteristics of fishery
resources, California Current region--I. Jack
mackerel. Commer. Fish. Rev., 32(5): 27-31.
(Also Reprint No. 871.)
1970b. Seasonal and geographic characteristics of fishery
resources, California Current region--II. Pacific
saury. Commer, Fish. Rev., 32(6): 46-51. (Also
Reprint No. 876.)
1970c. Seasonal and geographic characteristics of fishery
resources, California Current region--III. Pacific
hake. Commer. Fish. Rev., 32(7): 41-44. (Also
Reprint No. 880.)
1970d. Seasonal and geographic characteristics of fishery
resources, California Current region--IV. Pacific
mackerel. Commer, Fish. Rev., 32(10): 47-49.
(Also Reprint No. 891.)
MESSERSMITH, JAMES D.
1969. A review of the California anchovy fishery and re-
sults of the 1965-66 and 1966-67 reduction seasons.
Calif. Dept. Fish & Game, Fish Bull. 147: 6-32.
SMITH, PAUL E,
MS. The increase in the spawning biomass of the northern
anchovy, Engraulis mordax; 1951-1966.
SOUTAR, ANDREW
1967. The accumulation of fish debris in certain California
coastal sediments. Calif. Coop. Oceanic Fish.
Invest. Rep. 14: 136-139.
and JOHN D. ISAACS
1969. History of fish populations inferred from fish scales
in anaerobic sediments off California. Calif. Coop.
Oceanic Fish. Invest. Rep. 13: 63-70.
VROOMAN, ANDREW M, and PAUL E. SMITH
MS. Biomass of the subpopulations of northern anchovy
Engraulis mordax Girard.
SA CAH SA
KILLER WHALES PURSUE SEA LIONS
IN BERING SEA DRAMA
Jim Branson
NMFS Fisheries Management Agent
On Jan. 23, 1971, during a patrol aboard
the Coast Guard Cutter 'Storis' in the Bering
Sea, I observed a pod of 7 killer whales
(Grampus vectipinna) pursue a band of 20 to
25 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubata)
around a Soviet SRTM trawler for over an
hour.
At 3:15 p.m., on January 23, the Storis
came up alongside the Soviet SRTM trawler
'Iskra', which had just begun to haul its gear
from a depth of 440 fathoms. Its position was
54-18 N. 167-51 W., approximately 35 miles
NW of Point Kadin on Unalaska Island, and
24 milesE of N from Bogoslof Island, a very
large sea lion rookery.
At the time, there were 9SRTMs operating
inthis immediate area. Each had an accom-
panying band of sea lions, waiting to garner
what fish they could whenthe gear was pulled.
Each group of sea lions averaged between 20
and 30 animals.
Drama Unfolds
Asthe Storis came alongside the Iskra, a
group of killer whales was noticed about 600
yards from the ship. There were 7 whales:
4 adults, two subadults, and one apparently
quite young juvenile; they were making a di-
rect approach onthe Iskra. Asthey got within
a hundred yards or so, the sea lions showed
obvious signs of panic, clustering together in
a very tight group and staying alongside the
trawler, literally brushing the hull. As the
whales made a close approach, the sea lions
would mass and dive under the SRTM, or swim
around the bow or stern of the ship seeking
safety on the other side. The whales would
follow either by sounding or by going-around
the ends of the ship, at which time the sea
lions would immediately retreat to the dubi-
ous safety of the opposite side.
A Lion's Probable Death
As long as the sea lions stayed tightly
massed, the whales did not attack, but did
make continuous close approaches on the sea
39
lions. After about 20 minutes of this, the sea
lions were momentarily caught at adisadvan-
tage afew feet from the stern of the SRTM,
and two of the whales leaped clear of the water
in a dash on the sea lions, A small group of
sea lions, 5 or 6, apparently panicked and split
off from the main group; they got as much as
200 yards away from the ship. At this time
I believe one sea lion was taken, although I
could not be sure. The proximity of a whale
to a single sea lion, and the latter's sudden
disappearance, make it likely that this animal
was actually attacked and probably killed. I
was unable tosee any blood onthe water, how-
ever.
Another Kind of Surveillance
It was obvious at the end of an hour of this
that the sea lions were getting quite tired.
They had been moving very rapidly all this
time. The whales continued to maintain a
very close surveillance, approaching to with-
in a few feet of the SRTM and the cutter. At
one time, the two largest whales in the pod
stationed themselves side by side facing di-
rectly toward the bow of the SRTM. Most of
their back--from well forward of the blow-
hole towellaft of the dorsal fin--was awash.
They maintained this position with a cold and
beady eye onthe sea lions, which were clus-
tered tightly under the SRTM's bow.
Denouement A Mystery
The SRTM required 40 minutes to get its
doors aboard from the time it started hauling,
15 minutes to bring the cod end aboard, and
another 10 minutes to reset and stream the
net as it got underway. We left the area at
this time andthe whales were still in the im-
mediate vicinity of the SRTM; the sea lions
were doing their best to stay either on or
alongside of the net which was streaming on
the surface, or as close to the ship's hull as
they could possibly get.
I'm sure the sealions would happily have
climbed aboard the shipif the sides had just
been a little lower.
40
= 5 - : ~ Se . i —
=~ + x on tn erties :
Sees SOR SRE : repNcaees zs
Fig. 2 - Pod of sea lions sheltering under bow of Soviet SRTM watch approach of 3 killer whales. (Photos: Jim Branson)
"Ocean Life'' (In Color), by Norman B.
Marshall, 290 illustrations, many drawn from
living specimens by Olga Marshall, 214 p.,
$4.95. The Macmillan Co., Publishers, 866
Third Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10022.
A handbook of life in the oceans, hand-
somelyillustratedincolor. Dr. Marshall has
designed it as a reference of current knowl-
edge about the oceans beyond the tide marks.
He describes ''the physical nature of the
oceans and their fringes, and the history of
exploration of the oceans! life forms.'' He
outlines the ''different environments and pat-
terns of marine life, the life history of var-
ious groups and their ecological relation-
ships."
The book contains a catalogue of various
genera of life forms to match the 290 illus-
trations of particular species. There are
underwater photos of corals. Mrs. Marshall
painted some illustrations especially "'to cap-
ture the transparent characteristics of jelly-
like organisms."
"Sounds of Western North Atlantic Fishes
{A Reference File of Biological Underwater
Sounds), ''by Marie Poland Fish and William H.
Mowbray, 207 p., illus., $12.50. The Johns
Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Md. 21218.
"In 1954 the Office of Naval Research re-
quested the Narragansett Marine Laboratory
to institute and maintain a reference file of
41
biological underwater sounds which would be
an up-to-date reference library of the rec-
orded sounds of identified marine animals.
To identify with precision and certainty
sounds monitored in the field without seeing
the organism that produced them is consid-
ered impossible by many investigators; such
identification must be circumstantial, at best.
However, certain information is useful in ten-
tatively determining the source of sounds un-
der such conditions; therefore, supplemental
data are included here on distribution, ecol-
ogy, and behavioral patterns of fish which may
influence the occurrence of biological under-
water sounds.
"Through our own research activity this
library now contains characteristic sounds of
numerous invertebrates, at least 24 marine
mammals from both the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, and over 150 fish species recorded
during experimental monitoring of some 300
species representative of coastal waters from
Canada to Brazil. This report is limited to
220 species in 59 families of fishes studied
by us along the Atlantic coast of the United
States and in the Caribbean islands. Sound
analyses, illustrated by 160spectograms and
329 oscillograms, are presented for 153 spe-
cies in 36families. For each species, infor-
habits,
size, sound production, and sonic mechan-
mation is included on distribution,
ism."
42
"Fish and Invertebrate Culture--Water
Management in Closed System, '' by Stephen H.
Spotte, and Foreword by James W. Atz, 1970,
145 p., $8.95.
Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publishers, 605 Third
Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10016.
Can be obtained from John
The book "shows how to culture freshwater
and marine fishes and invertebrates in closed-
system environments by controlling the
chemical and physical factors in the water
affecting their normal physiology.
"Part 1, Effects of Animals on Captive
Water, treats biological, mechanical, and
chemical filtration and the carbon dioxide
system. Part II, Effects of Captive Water on
Animals, deals with respiration, salts and
elements, toxic metabolites, disease preven-
tion by environment control, and laboratory
tests.
"Fish and Invertebrate Culture offers the
culturist both theoretical and practical infor-
mation. For example, nitrification is dis-
cussed, along with its practical applications,
such as how to construct and operate a bio-
logical filter. The chemical filtration tech-
niques using activated carbon, ion exchange
resins, air-stripping, ozone, and UV irradia-
tion are also dealt with, bothin theory and in
practice. There are instructions for mixing
large volumes of synthetic sea water, discus -
sions of the best buffer materials, and form-
ulas for calculating the carrying capacity of
a culture system.
"Special features include line drawings of
water management equipment and equipment
functions, practical and up-to-date tables,
and an extensive bibliography."
"Ferro-Cement Boat Construction," by
Jack R. Whitener, 128 p., illus., $7.50. Cor-
nell Maritime Press, Inc., Cambridge, Md.
21613.
"Here is a practical guide to every phase
involved in construction of the hull, finishing
and fitting out of ferro-cement boats. Italso
includes the following reports of vital interest
to those contemplating construction:
"T: An Investigation of 'Ferro-Cement!
Using Expanded Metal--by J. G.
Byrne and W. Wright.
"IT: Some Notes on the Characteristics
of Ferro-Cement--by Lyal D. G.
Cullen and R. W. Kirwan.
"The plan sections contain outline exam -
ples of four plans readily available in full
scale ... an 18' Auxilliary Cruiser, a 25!
Cruiser, a 38! Sailing Ketch anda 54! Trawl-
CANADA
VALUE OF 1970 LANDINGS IN
MARITIME PROVINCES SETS RECORD
In 1970, the value of fishery landings in
Canada's Maritime Provinces set a record,
according to the Departmentof Fisheries and
Forestry. The Maritimes are Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Preliminary data show that about 20,000
fishermen landed 1,129 million pounds of fish
worth C$80 million. These compare with
1,232 million pounds valued at C$76.7 million
in 1969, and 1,372 million pounds for C$73.8
million in 1968.
Strikes Play Big Role
The 1970 decrease in landings, compared
to 1968 and 1969, was due mainly to a drop in
herring landings, The subnormal groundfish
landings were partially due to a fishermen's
strike. No offshore fish were bought from
late March until early fall by major proces-
sors in Canso, Mulgrave, and Petit de Grat
because about 250 trawler fishermen were on
strike.
Strikes by shore workers during 6 weeks
in February and March at major fish plants
in Louisbourg, Halifax, Lunenburg, and
Lockeport also contributed to decline in
groundfish landings.
Another factor wasICNAF closure of had-
dock fishery during March and April in two
large areas (partof northeast Georges Bank,
Browns Bank, and part of Emerald Bank).
Unfavorable December 1970 weather re-
sulted in fewer lobsters landed in western
Nova Scotia than during December 1969.
Record Volume & Value
There were record catches and values of
redfish or ocean perch and shrimp landed,
Record values too were set for hake, flat-
fish, and clams.
Fishermen harvested 106 million pounds
of Irish Moss, worthC$2.9 million, a record.
The Most Valuable
In order of rank, lobsters (31.6%), scallops
(16.1%), herring (9.6%), cod (9.6%), haddock
43
(6.3%), and flatfish (5.6%) were 78.8% of total
value.
Leading Species
The leading species landed were herring
(579.2 million pounds, C$7.7 million), mostly
in Nova Scotia (N.S.) and New Brunswick
(N.B.); cod (142.6 million lbs., $7.7 million)
mostly in N.S.; ocean perch or redfish (88.9
million lbs., $2.9 million) mostly in N.S. and
N.B.; flatfish (88.4 million lbs., $4.5 million)
mostly in N.S.; mackerel (32.2 million, $1.2
million) mostly inN.S.; lobsters (30.7 million,
$25.3 million); and scallops (11.8 million,
$12.9 million).
Landings by Provinces
By provinces, the landings were: N.S.
590.7 million pounds ($53.3 million), N.B.
438.4 million ($17.2 million), and P.E.I. 100.4
million ($9.6 million).
xO OK
MARINE SPORTS-FISHING LICENSES
TO SUBSIDIZE HATCHERIES
Nonresident sports fishermen in Canadian
tidal waters will pay a license fee based on
vessel size, All proceeds will go to build
coho and spring-salmon hatcheries,
The license fee for privately owned vessels
will range from C$15 to $75, depending on
length. Charter and rental boats servicing
nonresident sports fishermen will be classed
commercial. These fishermen will pay the
same license fees as fishermen in salmon
fleet, $100-$400.
Exceptions
Only charter or rental Canadian boats un-
der 30 feet willnot pay license fee. This will
exempt most marinas renting small boats on
a daily or hourly basis.
The new fees structure will go into effect
in1972. A $400,000 returnis expected during
first year. Licenses will be available from
any office of Department of Fisheries, and
mail applications will be accepted. ('Fish-
eries News!, Dept. of Fisheries of Canada,
Jans 29%)
EUROPE
NORTH SEA MACKEREL
FISHERY OVEREXPLOITED
Until the mid-1960s, the mackerel stock
in the northern North Sea and the Skagerrak
was underfished. The annual catch of Danish,
Norwegian, and Swedish fleets during the
1950s fluctuated between 10,000 and 20,000
metric tons.
In 1964, many new large purse-seine ves-
sels with power blocks were introduced. The
Norwegian catch doubled. It multiplied each
year until it peaked at 868,000 tons in 1967.
Thereafter, catches declined each year to
683,000 tons in 1969. The indications of ex-
cessive fishing were clear, and severe re-
strictions were imposed in 1970; the catch
reached only 293,000 tons.
Fewer Fish
Now, scientists believe the stock has been
overfished. Based on tagging research by
Norwegian biologists, estimates of mackerel
in the area showed fewer fish than would be
caught in a goodseason. Like other species,
the size of the year-classes entering the fish-
eries has fluctuated yearly and recruitment
has not been good.
Outlook Poor
The present outlook for North Sea and
Skagerrak mackerel fishery is poor, but biol-
ogists hope that the good 1969 year-class will
remain plentiful until its productive age.
They expect Norwegian catch regulations to
be helpful.
If stock size can reach about one million
tons, the annual catch might reach 400,000
tons. The stock can be utilized better ina
controlled fishery. But with fishery at its
maximum sustainable yield, there will be
fewer larger fish. ('Fiskeribladet?)
ITALY
IMPORTS 45,000 TONS OF
FROZEN TUNA DESPITE HIGH PRICE
Of all Japanese products imported into
Italy, frozen marine products, mostly tuna,
account for about 20% of value. In1970, Ital-
ian demand was greater than supply, and
frozen tuna brought record prices. These
high prices were expected to continue.
High Prices In 1970
In December 1970, the price of tuna (cost,
insurance, freight Italy) reached US$610-640
a metric ton for round yellowfin; $880-930 for
semidressed yellowfin; $940-990for dressed
yellowfin; $880-930 for semidressed big-
eyed; and $640-700 for dressed big-eyed.
Despite such high prices, total Italian im-
ports of frozentuna in 1970 were about 45,000
metric tons, down from 48,835 in 1969.
Italy's 45,000 MT Quota
Italy allocates an annual quota of about
45,000 metric tons of frozen tunafree of im-
portduty. Theimports are processed by Ital-
ian canneries into canned-tuna-in-olive-oil,
almost all consumed domestically.
In 1970, Italy imported frozen tuna from
Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, U.S., Cuba, France,
and South Africa.
No Sharp Price Decline
Price this year willnot decline sharply so
long as Italy imports a reasonable quantity to
keep the monthly capacity of her canneries
(about 4,000 metric tons) balanced. However,
the current price of nearly $1,000is consid-
ered toohigh. About $800 for dressed yellow -
fin will be break-even point for canneries.
('‘Suisancho Nippo!, Jan. 11.)
—— 7 S
eee
Ao
FROZEN FISH
ICELAND
TRAWLER FLEET EXPANDS
The failure of the herring fishery in recent
years has renewed Icelandic interest in trawl-
ing. Greater effort increased landings of cod,
haddock, and other groundfish. Favorable
resource conditions, strengthened markets
forfrozenfish, and better export prices also
influenced the catch.
In 1969, the groundfish catch was the larg-
est since 1960. According to the Fisheries
Directorate, the 1970 catch will show further
large gains, with cod alone up 24,000 metric
tons.
Groundfish Fleet Encouraged
Good fishing by the groundfish fleet in 1969
strengthened vessel owner-operators suffi-
ciently to encourage them to better equip their
Reet.
Good catches continuedin1970. The favor-
able 1964-66 year-classes now promise good
catches in 1971 and 1972.
The principal fishing grounds have been in
Icelandic coastal waters, mainly along the
south and west coasts.
Cod Emphasized
Emphasis on cod is being encouraged for
the smaller (up to 200 tons) and the larger
trawlers. The governmenthas approved bids
for 8new 1,000-GRT sterntrawlers; also five
500-GRT stern trawlers will begin fishing
soon.
Year of Stern Trawler
Last year was the year of the stern trawl-
er. At the beginning of 1970, Iceland owned
1smallsterntrawler; by year's end, 5 others
were built and fishing; and another was being
built. Also, eight 1,000-GRT stern trawlers
were under construction for government and
private interests: 2 in Poland, 4 in Spain, 2
in Iceland.
Of the 500-ton trawlers, one 550-ton vessel
purchased in W. Germany is fishing and an-
other is being built.
The purchase of three 3-year-old French
trawlers has been agreed on. (Reg. Fish. At-
taché, Copenhagen, Jan. 26.)
a
45
DENMARK
80% OF ANNUAL 1,000-MT AGAR
PRODUCED FROM LOCAL SEAWEED
Denmark produces about 1,100 metric tons
of agarannually: about 80% from locally har-
vested seaweed, the balance from imported
gelidium. In 1969, production totaled 1,162
tons; about 90%, worth US$1.7 million, was
exported,
The raw material is called ''Gaffeltare"
(Furcellaria Fastigiata); the extract is 'fur-
cellan". Furcellanis soldin powder form and
is known as Danish agar.
A Barber's Brain Wave
Production began in 1943, when a barber
trying to make a permanent-wave lotion from
seaweed found the algae contained a mucil-
aginous substance that became gelatinelike on
cooling. It was used during 1944/45 as a bac-
teriological gel, when Japanese agar supply
was cut off. Most of present product is used
to stabilize foods.
Agar From Seaweed
Four Danish firms have produced agar
fromseaweed. Fiveorsixvessels work con-
tinuously using a special trawl that collects
the weed. Production of seaweed, from off-
shore waters 4 to 15 meters deep, is around
25,000 metric tons a year. The agar content
varies from 2%-5% of raw-material weight.
The largest amounts have been taken in
Kattegat north of Djursland, where concen-
trations of loose and drifted weed seem to
gather. Large harvests in 1961-65 reduced
the resource seriously. The industry was in
critical shape in 1966 and 1967 until new re-
sources were located that could be taken by
trawl. Imports started in 1964.
Exports Exceed Local Use
Since 1949, exports of agar have far sur-
passed domestic use. In 1969, the principal
markets were W. Germany, France, Great
Britain, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico,
Argentina, and the Netherlands. Small quan-
tities goto many other countries. (Reg. Fish.
Att., Copenhagen, Jan. 19.)
Kk Ok
46
DENMARK'S SHRIMP FISHERIES
Denmark's shrimp catch comes from 2
main sources: North Sea area and West
Greenland. In 1969, the catch of deep-water
shrimp (Pandalus borealis) from North Sea
and Skagerrak was 5,434 metric tons. In
Greenland waters, the catch totaled 5,982
tons, Also, about 347tons of common shrimp
(Paelamen fabricii) were caught mainly in
Belt Sea and Baltic area.
Fishery Began In 1931
The Danish shrimp fishery startedin 1931.
The catchrose steadily, peaked at 6,204 tons
in 1968, and now seems to have leveled off.
At first, main source wasthe Skagerrak and,
later, mainly the North Sea. In 1960, fishing
began on Fladen Ground, between Scotland
and Norway; now the bulk of catch comes
from there.
Greenland Shrimp Fishery
The Greenland shrimp fishery started on
a small scale for canning in 1935. It was
dormant during World War II. In 1947, it
resumed and, during 1949, good resources
were found in Disko Bay area. Since then,
output has risen steadily. Now, it equals and
frequently exceeds Denmark's level.
Because overfishing threatens Greenland
less, the potential there appears much better
than inDenmark. Fishing can be carried out
only in limited areas, where bottom condi-
tions arefavorable. So any temporary over-
fishing soon is compensated by entry of
shrimp from outside areas, Catch rates are
greater in Greenland: for the most part,
over 50 kilograms per hour and, in some
cases, 100 kilograms or more. In Denmark,
average catches run under 50 kilograms an
hour.
Scandinavian Market
In Denmark and other Scandinavian coun-
tries, shrimp are sold fresh-cooked and
peeled, in light brine, for use in open-faced
sandwiches or insalads. Quickfrozen shrimp
packed inbags are increasing in importance.
The shrimp aretender and mild in flavor. In
Denmark, shrimp are cooked aboard vesselto
preserve quality. InGreenland, most of catch
Is processed in shore plants, where a large
part is canned for export.
Top export markets for frozen shrimp are
Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, and
Switzerland. Canned-shrimp markets are
Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzer -
land, France, and U.S. (Reg. Fish. Att.,
Copenhagen, Jan. 21.)
KK OK
OYSTERS REMOVED FROM
RESTRICTED IMPORTS LIST
Effective Jan. 1971, oysters with or with-
out shell, fresh, chilled, or frozen, can be
imported intoDenmark duty free. Until then,
oysters were the only fishery product retained
on Denmark's list of restricted imports.
Oysters are a festive food. The supply is
small, the cost high. Limfjord oysters are
in seasonusually from mid-Sept. until Christ-
mas. Inthe past, when Limfjord oyster were
not in season, limited quantities came from
Holland.
Prices for smaller-size oysters, from
40-60 grams each, were about US$0.30 each.
Larger oysters were $0.38-0.43 each.
Spring 1970 Planting
During spring 1970, 1.5 million new oys-
ters were planted in Limfjord at cost of
US$133,000. The harvest inthe next few years
will be about 200,000 oysters. Some die from
winter temperatures, during transport,
and for other reasons, (Reg. Fish. Att., Co-
penhagen, Jan. 29.)
UNITED KINGDOM
GOVERNMENT PAYS DAMAGES FOR
POLLUTING RIVER
The following is a dispatch from The
Times, London, which appeared in The New
York Times, March 21, 1971:
A payment of £5,000 ($12,000) with costs
has been made by the Ministry of Defense as
compensation for damage suffered by the
Freshwater Biological Association at one of
its research stations. The settlement was
reached out of court after more than five years
of litigation.
The damage was caused by paint dumped
inthe Frome River in Dorset from the mili-
tary camp at Bovington, This took place a
year after the association established a net-
work of experimental channels to study the
behavior of salmon, trout and coarse fish as
part of an ecological study of the river.
Camp Indicted
The main laboratory of the Freshwater
Biological Association is on Windermere,
where aquatic life in relatively calm waters
is studied. The outstation in the Avon and
Dorset River Authority area was an investi-
gation into the environmental influences in
fast -flowing hard water.
The contamination of the Frome has be-
come one of the best-documented cases of the
destruction caused by the dumping of pollu-
tants into ariver. The Bovington camp was
indicted after a careful study involving the
association's scientists and the fisheries de-
partment of the river authority.
During the investigation, innocuous salts
were released into the river and their pat-
tern of distribution plotted along the stream.
Introduction of the substances from the Gov-
ernment establishment showed aspread iden-
tical to that of the poisonous pollutant.
Association Had to Sue
Usually a river authority can prosecute for
this type of offense; but as a Government de-
partment was involved, it was left tothe asso-
ciationto sue for damages to the value of the
scientific information lost and of the distur -
bance caused to research,
It will probably take 14 years before it is
possible to say whether the Frome has recov-
ered completely or has fundamentally changed
in character, Fourteen years was the age of
the oldest fish taken from the river.
H.C. Gilson, director of the Freshwater
Biological Association, expressed belief that
the settlement established an important prin-
ciple inmakingthe Government pay for dam-
age and disruption to amenities.
47
NORWAY’S 1970 FISHERIES WERE PROFITABLE
Norway's 1970 fishing season was the sec-
ond best ever in quantity and value. The
results were unexpected because forecasts
had not been optimistic, and because impor-
tant pelagic species were overfished and de-
pleted. Theforecasts also indicated reduced
landings of cod and haddock, but this happened
only with haddock.
The following listing for 1966-70 includes
data for the best 3 years:
Quantity Exvessel Value
Metric Tons US$1,000,000
2,665,092 182.7
2,206,452 "144.9
ZOD eyrf al 144.8
3,036,866 166.5
2,655,747 187.5
Rising prices, due to a lively export de-
mand, produced the high gross value. The
increase in quantity resulted mostly from
abundant capelin landings--a record 1,307,281
metric tons, 49% of total. These were worth
US$31.3 million, almost twice the 678,935
tons landed in 1969. One new contributing
factor was the 90,000 tons of fish taken (her-
ring and mackerellike species) by purse sein-
ers off west Africa and delivered to factory -
ships.
Pelagic Landings
Landings in Norway of pelagic species
(herring, sprat, capelin, mackerel, Norway
pout, sandeel, and polar cod) were 1,992,226
tons; the figure was 1,664,881 tons in 1969.
The herring fisheries based on Atlantic-
Scandinavian stocks and resources produced
only a fraction of landings during years when
this resource was still intact.
Until 1969, mackerel was the fish landed
in greatest quantity in Norway. The record
year was 1967 with 868,000 tons. In 1969,
683,000 tons were landed, but only 292,708
tons were produced in 1970. Mackerel is
overfished. Therefore, Norway imposed
strict regulations for 1970 and will apply even
stricter ones in 1971. About 400,000 tons of
mackerel appear permissible annual catch
from North Sea--assuming resource level is
normal,
48
Capelin Fishery
Due mostly tocapelin fishery, the fish meal
and oil industry landed 1,892,000 tons from
pelagic resources in 1970. This compared
with 1,564,000 in 1969 and 1,947,000 tons in
1968.
The prospects of edible herring processing
industry are curtailed indefinitely because
raw materialis lacking. Inanagreement with
Denmark, USSR, and Iceland, Norway has con-
sentedtolimit her 1971 catch of adult Atlan-
tic-Scandinavian herring to 1969 level of
15,000 tons, and the catch of juveniles to 70%
of the same level, or 25,000 tons.
Cod Set Record
Cod landings, though down in second-half
1970, set record: 303,855 tons. These sur-
passed 1969 catch by 30,389 tons. The land-
ings were 101,329 tons of spawning cod, 49,054
tons of Finnmark spring cod, and 153,472 tons
"other cod,"
The 1970 landings of "other cod" were also
a record. These surpassed 1969's by 17,944
tons, and outweighed for first time the aggre-
gate spawning-cod and spring-cod catch.
Total landings of codlike species other than
cod for human food was 176,664 tons; they
were up 7,372 tons from 1969.
Other Consumer Species
The yield of other consumer species, in-
cluding flatfishes, sharks, skate, ocean perch,
catfish, and eel were 40,691 tons; in 1969,
45,460 tons. Landings of some of these spe-
cies fell in recent, years.
The reduced landings of dogfish and Green-
land halibut resulted from difficulty of medi-
um longline vessels in getting crews. There
was a considerable reductionincod catch per
unit of effort in North Atlantic waters. This
trend may improve gradually in 1974 or 1975,
when some abundant year-classes probably
will appear and influence the fishing.
Export Demand & Price Higher
Export demand and prices of fish products
increased during 1970. Norwegian fishery
exports probably will: reach records when
final figures are in, An export value of about
US$280 was expected; it was US$250 million
in 1969. ('Norwegian Fishing and Maritime
News!)
LATIN AMERICA
PERU
REPORT ON FISH MEAL PRODUCTION,
EXPORTS, AND STOCKS
Peru is the world's leading producer and
exporter of fish meal. The product is the
largest competitor of U.S. exports of soy-
beans and meal.
Peruhas been building stocks. On Jan. 1,
1970, these were estimated at about 725,000
short tons.
These stocks were the largest since
March 31, 1968, and were expected to in-
crease in Jan.-Mar. 1971 quarter if tradi-
tional trend prevailed.
Improved Catches
The increase reflected improved catches,
which boosted estimated Oct.-Dec. 1970 fish-
meal output to 725,000 short tons. This fig-
ure was 174,000 over 1969 period and largest
since 1967 period.
Forecast
If Peru's 1970/71 catch continues unbroken
S-year increase, production should at least
approximate preceding year's record. This
could occur even with a possible decline in
meal extraction.
Production could amount to 2.34 million
tons, compared to 2.32 in 1969/70, if the fol-
lowing occurred: the estimated catch of 12
million short tons (11.7 million tons in
1969/70) and meal-extraction rate of 19.5%
(19.8% in 1969/70).
This volume, plus 360,000 short tons
carryover stocks on Sept. 30, 1970, would
total 2.7 million tons; of total, only 40,000
would be used in Peru.
Fish Meal Exports by Quarters
Year Net Exports share of
beginning exportable Exports Ending exportable
Oct. 1 supply stocks supply
1,000 short tons %
1970/71 2, 660 2 = =
1969/70 2, 393 2,033 360 85.0
1968/69 2,285 2,175 110 95.2
1967/68 2,561 7p sat 450 82.4
49
Total exportable supplies of Peruvian fish
mealin1970/71 would approximate 2,660,000
tons, a rise of nearly 270,000 tons from
1969/70 level. The increase is, expected to
lead to larger exports in1970/71, unless Peru
decrees further substantial increases in
stocks or production costs.
MEXICO
NAVY INTENSIFIES PATROL OF
NATIONAL WATERS
On Feb. 19, Admiral Bravo Carrera,
Mexico's Secretary of the Navy, ordered
round-the-clock surveillance of Mexico's
national waters in Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean
Sea, and Pacific Ocean to prevent foreign-
flag vessel from entering territorial seas
illegally. Special efforts to achieve this will
be made in fishery zones with large schools
of fish and shellfish. (Reg. Fish. Att., U.S.
Emb., Mexico, Feb. 24.)
CARIBBEAN
BAHAMA ISLANDS
BAHAMAS COMMISSION 4
NEW PATROL VESSELS
With considerable fanfare, the Bahamian
Government commissioned on March 5 four
new patrol vessels: 'Acklins', 'Eleuretha’,
'Andros', and 'San Salvador'. Thevessels
are manned by 45 men of the new Police Ma-
rine Divisionand are armed with NATOlight-
machine guns.
The vessels will patrol Bahamian waters
(3-mile territorial sea, 3-12 mile fisheries
zone) for fishing violators. They are expected
to be onthe lookout for spiny lobster fisher -
men during the lobster closed season March
16-August 31.
oo ab
oe
aah
a
50
In dawn light off Palawan Island, mackerel are lifted by scoop-net from purse seine over side of boat to deck. They will be showered
with crushed ice and shoveled into tube.
The deep tropical waters off the 7,000 Philippine Islands are rich in fish. FAO experts have helped develop purse seining.
(FAO/S. Bunnag)
ASIA
JAPAN
1970 EXPORTS OF FROZEN
FISHERY PRODUCTS ROSE 10.6%
In 1970, the Japanese exported 179,000
metric tons of frozen fishery products, about
10.6% above 1969. Because of higher prices,
the value of these exports increased 18.7%.
The Japanese earned US$95 million in foreign
currencies, $15 million more than in 1969.
Significant Changes
Most significant changes occurred in ex-
ports of tuna, swordfish, mackerel, saury, and
squid. Frozen-tuna exports totaled 62,514
tons, about 3,000 tons (4%) below 1969; com-
pared with 40% decline from 1968 to 1969, the
decrease in 1970 was small.
Pacific mackerel exports of 11,386 tons
were more than double the 1969 figure. Much
was exported to overseas tuna bases for use
as tuna bait.
Over half the 22,361 tons of frozen squid
went to Italy. ('Suisan Tsushin', Feb. 27.)
mK OK
FROZEN-TUNA IMPORTS
ROSE SLIGHTLY IN 1970
In 1970, imports of tuna (mostly frozen)
into Japan were about 35,000 metric tons,
slightly above 1969 imports, according to
Ministry of Finance. Compared with sharp
gains inearlier years, this indicates that tuna
imports are leveling off. Due to higher prices,
the value of imports was up 27% from 1969.
('‘Suisan Tsushin', Feb. 24.)
Frozen Tuna & Billfish Imports
Major Suppliers
Quantity Value Average Price Okinawa South Korea Taiwan
Metric Ton US$ US$/Metric Ton Metric Tons
Tuna:
Albacore B32) 1, 863, 250 577 781 316 1,760
Yellowfin 7,180 4, 448, 500 619 3, 359 1,595 1,657
Bluefish 342 206, 270 605 29 49 104
Skipyack 5, 329 1, 488, 170 279 683 75 2
Others! 19, 110 9, 484, 130 496 4,951 4,730 7, 309
Total 1970 35, 193 17, 490, 320 Not available 9, 803 6,765 10, 832
Total 1969 34,970 13, 782, 050 Not available 8, 803 7,773 11, 898
Billfishes 1970 16,235 7,705, 360 Not available S732 4, 106 6,215
1/Mostly big-eyed tuna.
Y, y,
The low rate of decline in1970 was due to
sharp increase in skipjack sales. These al-
most tripled 1969's and madeup most losses
in albacore and yellowfin shipments.
Saury & Pacific Mackerel
During 1970, saury catches were poor.
Exports of frozen saury totaled 14,337 metric
tons, downnearly 2,000 tons from 1969, How-
ever, value rose over US$2.1 million due to
higher prices. These averaged US$667 a met-
ric ton(US$605 a short ton), or about US$207
a ton higher than in 1969.
51
1971 CRAB FISHERY
TO BEGIN IN BRISTOL BAY
Two Japanese crab fleets were scheduled
to beginfishing in Bristol Bayin mid-March.
The 'Keiko Maru'fleet (Nippon Suisan, Hoko-
ku Suisan, and Hokuyo Suisan) consists of 14
trawlers and2 "kawasaki" (deck-loaded,
tangle-net, picking boats).
The fleet's quotais 19,200 cases (48 8-oz.
cans) of king crab, and 7,460,000 tanner crabs.
52
JAPAN (Contd.):
The fleet has reducedits crab canning lines
to 1 (from 2 in 1970). It will operate its 3
vacuum-packing machines at full capacity to
increase output of frozen crab.
‘Koyo Maru! Fleet
The 'Koyo Maru' fleet (Taiyo, Nichiro, and
Kyokuyo) has 18 trawlers(19 in 1970) and no
"kawasaki" boats (in 1970 it had 3), It will
test 150-200 crab pots to replace tangle nets
in the future.
The fleet's canning lines willbe phased out
and replaced by 3 vacuum-packing machines
(only 2 in 1970). Its 1971 production quota is
18,300 cases of king crab, and 7,140,000 tan-
ner crabs.
Tangle Nets to Pots
Although the number of Japanese crab
motherships this year is the same as in the
past, there is a sizable increase in trawlers,
anda decrease in"'kawasakis'', This reveals
a shift from tangle nets to pots.
Japan's crab quota for 1971 in the east-
ern Bering Sea is 37,500 cases of king crab
(85,000 cases in1970); tanner crab, 14.6 mil-
lion (21 million in 1970). (‘Suisan Keizai’,
Feb. 2.)
KOKO
READIES JOINT FISHING VENTURE
IN NEW ZEALAND
Hokuyo Suisan, C. Itoh, and New Zealand
firm Wonder Foods willestablish a joint fish-
ing and processing venture in Nelson, South
Island (New Zealand) around June 1971. The
company will harvest the abundant and un-
utilized Spanish mackerel (Scomeromorus
pineusis). It will process the catch into
'surimi'' (minced fish meat) at a shore plant
with a daily processing capacity of 3-4 tons.
Authorized capital is US$100,000: the
Japanese and New Zealanders 50-50. (‘Suisan
Tsushin', March 3.)
NMFS Comment: The Japanese established
another joint venture in New Zealand: Tai-
moana Fisheries Ltd., in Nov.1967. Taiyo
Fisheries Co. joined A. G. Wicclams and 16
other New Zealand investors. Taiyo's share
was US$100,800 (36.3 million yen), 27.4% of
total capital. Taimoana concentrates on
trawling.
KOK OX
MIDWATER TRAWLING FOR ALASKA
POLLOCK IN BERING SEA CONSIDERED
Until 1969, Japanese "independent" trawl-
ers fished Alaska pollock most of the year
north of Unimak Island (Alaska). The peak
season was July-mid-October. Frequent
winter storms and spawning season between
April and June caused low catches.
However, acomparison of 1970 catch with
1969's shows a decline: the same level for
July; 30% less for August; and 50% less for
Sept. 1970.
What's Needed To Break Even
Large trawlers cannot break even unless
23-25 metrictons of surimi(minced meat) is
produced each day. To achieve this, at least
100-110 tons must be caught.
Since Sept. 1, 1970, the catch has declined
from 70-80 tons/day per trawler to 30-50.
On Sept. 13,1970, only about a month before
season's end, the independents moved to
northwest of Pribilof Islands. The catch
again increased to 100 tons per day/trawler.
Rocky Grounds
Rocky grounds pose new problems: Trawls
are frequently damaged northwest of Pribilof
Islands by rocky bottom (unknown on Unimak
grounds), yet larger catch makes it profit-
able to fish there.
Alaska pollock is distributed along Aleu-
tians andinthe Gulf of Alaska, but daily catch
is only 30-40 tons per trawler. Both inde-
pendent trawlers and trawl fleets fish only
during day. To make pollock fishing more
efficient, it will benecessary to learn how to
fish at night with midwater trawls. (‘Minato
Shimbun‘)
NMFS Comment: Although 1970 Alaska
pollock catch in Unimak area reportedly de-
clined from 1969, total Japanese Bering Sea
pollock catch increased from 678,000 metric
tons in1969 to 1,031,000 metric tons in 1970.
OK OK
JAPAN (Contd.):
EXPORT PRICE OF BALEEN WHALE OIL
TO INCREASE 30% IN DEC, '71
The Japan Whale Oil Joint Sales Co. has
informed European merchants that export
price of baleen whale oil produced during 25th
Antarctic whaling season(beginning Dec. 12,
1971) willbe increased 30% over 24th-season
prices. It will be US$275 (99,000 yen) per
metric ton--highest in 10 years.
The Sales Co. was established by 6 com-
panies including Taiyo Gyogyo, Nippon Suisan,
and Kyokuyo Hogei.
World Prices Increasing
The international price of baleen whale oil
has been increasing because of worldwide
shortage of edible oil. Another increase will
strengthen Japanese whaling industry which,
the Japanese say, has been stifled by inter-
national restrictions.
Baleen Whale Oil
Baleen whale oil is processed from Ant-
arctic fin and sei whales, It differs from
sperm whale oil. About 70% of Japan's baleen
whale oil is exported to Europe as raw ma-
terial for oils and fats, including margarine
for human consumption.
Rising Prices Encourage Industry
After a 3-year interruption, the whaling
companies will resume commercial produc-
tion of sperm-whale oil during 25th Antarctic
season. This oil is used for lubrication oils
and detergents. Demand for it also has in-
creased. Its export price is expected to ex-
ceed present $262/metric ton for North
Pacific sperm-whale oil and exceed $300.
(‘Nihon Keizai Shimbun!)
x OK OK
EELS SPAWN ARTIFICIALLY
The Naiwan Fisheries Experimental Sta-
tion has successfully induced the artificial
spawning of eels (Anguilla japonica) after
other research groups had failed.
About 5,000,000 Eggs
Five 7-,or 8-year-oldfemales, 75-85 cm.
long, and weighing 1,000-1,200 grams were
used in the experiment. Since Sept. 25, 1970,
they had been injected with three hormones
and the pituitary extract of one rainbow trout.
Three eels died one month after the injec-
53
tions began; of the remaining two females,
one spawned about five million eggs, the other
was about to spawn in Jan. 1971. ('Minato
Shimbun', Jan. 10.)
OK OK
SHRIMP FARMING VENTURE
The MBC Development Co., a subsidiary
of Minami Nippon Broadcasting Co.,is start-
ing to farm shrimp. It has constructed two
large tanks holding 2,000 metric tons of water
and six 100-ton tanks close to northern edge
of Kagoshima Bay.
The small tanks willbe used to hatch eggs
and grow young shrimp. After one month, the
young shrimp willbe transferred to the large
tanks, each having capacity of 120,000-130,000
shrimp. Eachlarge tank is expected to yield
about 80,000 shrimp every 6 months.
The Plan
The shrimp willbe fed proteins madefrom
petrochemicals, fortified with vitamins, and
impregnated with a special odor. When har-
vested, each shrimp is expected to be 15 cen-
timeters (almost 6 inches) long and weigh
about 20 grams (0.7 ounce). To stimulate
growth, sea water pumped from the bay will
be heated. If feasible, heat from hot springs
will be used. Otherwise, oil may be used to
raise temperature of sea water.
First Harvest Nov. 1971
MBC does not expect to know until Nov.
1971 whether the venture willsucceed. The
first harvest is scheduled then to be mar-
keted at average price of 4,000 yen per kilo-
gram (US$5.05 per lb.). Production cost per
kilogram is estimated to range between 2,300
and 2,500 yen (US$2.90/1b.-$3.15/lb.).
At present, control over shrimp egg-lay-
ing activity has not beenperfected. Initially,
at least, egg-laden shrimp will have to be ob-
tained. For the future, thefirm plans to have
the shrimp lay eggs twice a year, in April and
in August.
A student of Dr. Motosakii Fujinaga, a
shrimp-culture expert, is technical adviser.
Also assisting is the Fishery Experimental
Station of Kagoshima Prefecture. (U.S. Con-
sulate, Tukuoka, Feb. 23.)
Ba es Es
54
JAPAN (Contd.):
JAPAN'S PACIFIC SALMON CATCHES
EXCEED QUOTAS, SOVIET LAGS
In 1970, in waters off Soviet Far East
Coast, Japan caught 90,854 metric tons of
Pacific salmon; the Soviet Union caught only
39,053 tons in her Far Eastrivers. This was
reported by Japanese Fisheries Agency.
Japan's catch exceeded the 90,000-ton
quota agreed on during Japan-Soviet Fish-
eries Commission negotiations in April 1970;
the USSR catch fell below 40,000-ton quota.
("Yomiuri', Mar. 5, 1971.)
NMFS Comment: Table (below) shows
that, except in 1968, Japanese Pacific salmon
catches exceeded the quotas set at the yearly
Fisheries Commission meetings. However,
USSR Pacific catches fell substantially below
quotas. Atthe 15th Annual Japan-USSR Fish-
eries Commission meetings in Tokyo, which
began in early March1971, the problem of the
declining Pacific salmon resource was a
subject of major discussion. The Soviets
stressed conservation of the resource; the
Japanese wanted a higher quota in 1971.
Salmon Catch in Area Regulated by
Japanese -Soviet Fisheries Commission, 1966-70
Japan USSR
Catch Quota Catch Quota
Metric Tons
19662/ 100, 782 96, 000 56, 223 65, 000
19671/ 144, 873 108, 000 78, 000 83, 000
19682/ 92,012 93,000 36, 1914/ 60, 000
19694/ 109, 757 105, 000 75, 469 80, 000
19702/ 90, 854 90, 000 39,053 40, 000
1/'Suisan Tsushin', Apr. 2, 1969.
2/ Japanese press.
3/'Yomiuri', Mar. 5, 1971.
4/40, 177 ('Suisan Tsushin')
=
A
SOUTH KOREA
S. KOREANS INTERESTED IN
N. PACIFIC ALASKA POLLOCK
South Korean fishermen have concentrated
on high-seas tunafishery inline with govern-
ment's policy to increase earnings of foreign
currencies. Now they appear to be focusing
ontrawl fishery in "northern waters ''(Okhotsk
Sea, Bering Sea, and North Pacific Ocean).
They are especially interested in Alaska pol-
lock, now in greater demand on market than
salmon.
Less Money In Tuna
The reason is that Koreans, like Japanese,
are making less money in tuna fishery be-
cause of declining resource, recruitment
difficulties, and mercury-in-tuna problem.
Japanese fishermen have reported 5-6
Korean trawlers fishing for pollock north
of Kuriles.
Trawlers for Northern Waters
Also, Japanese data show that in fiscal
year 1970(ends March 1971), about 10 small,
used trawlers were sold to S. Korea for use
in "northern waters.'' The Japanese Fish-
eries Agency foresees a rise in these ex-
ports. Korea already has around 20 multi-
purpose vessels that could be deployed in
North Pacific for bottom and midwater
trawling.
Japanese Uneasy
Pollock fishing by S. Korea and Soviet
fleets are causing uneasiness among Japanese
fishermen. They are talking about volun-
tarily regulating pollock fishing during sum-
mer in view of poor condition of the resource.
The Japanese also feel that the Soviets,
who claim Japanese are overfishing egg-
bearing pollock, will raise subject at annual
meeting of Japan-USSR Fisheries Commis-
sion. ('Suisan Keizai Shimbun', Mar. 5.)
TAIWAN’S TUNA FISHERY
Taiwanese fishing firms have been hurt
by declining tuna catches in the Indian and
Atlantic oceans. This was reported by Yang
Yung-sung, Taiwan Ocean Research Labora-
tory, to annual tuna conference in Shimizu,
Japan, Feb. 3-5, 1971. The conference was
sponsored by the Far Seas Fisheries Re-
search Laboratory.
Yang disclosed:
The range of Taiwanese tuna fishing ex-
panded after World War II when larger ves-
sels were added. In 1954, the Taiwanese
fished as far as Banda Sea off Indonesia; in
1956, they sailed for Indian Ocean; in 1960,
for Atlantic.
The Fleet
In 1969, the tuna fleet totaled 1,039 ves-
sels, including 396 distant-water vessels over
50 gross tons. In Taiwan, vessels under 50
tons are "inshore vessels". In 1969, 166
vessel fished in Indian Ocean, 128 in Atlantic,
and 102 in Pacific. In 1970, additional vessels
increased distant-water fleet to 420.
The inshore vessels, based mostly in
Kaohsiung, fish primarily for yellowfin off
Taiwan but also in Celebes and Banda Seas,
In the latter they compete with Japanese
longliners, which average 15 times more
catch.
Peaked In 1969
Taiwan's high-seas tuna fishery peaked
in 1969, then began to level off. Vessel own-
ers are troubled by a sharp decline in Indian
and Atlantic catches. They are considering
switching to Pacific grounds closer to Tai-
wanese ports. The government reportedly
agrees. The Taiwanese tuna fishery is said
to be approaching its growth limits.
An economic reassessment is being made.
The owners are considering cutting labor
costs and installing refrigeration to improve
management and reduce vessel-operating
expenses,
Tuna Exporters Association
In 1970, a Tuna Exporters Association was
organized, It has over half the 230 vessel
owners, It is similar to National Federation
of Japan Tuna Fisheries Cooperative Associ-
ations (NIKKATSUREN).
The association's functions include: (1)
study of tuna industry; (2) research on mar-
keting and overseas fishing bases, including
processing of documents for crewmen going
ashore; (3) training; and (4) promoting ex-
ports.
World Bank Loans
In 1963, three 1,000-ton and thirteen 300-
ton vessels were built with a World Bank
loan of US$7.8 million. In 1968, a second
loan of $7 million was obtained to build twen-
ty 250-ton vessels in South Korea, In 1970,
a $10-million loan was arranged with Asia
Development Bank to build 40 vessels, but
only 36 firms applied for loans, Over half
the applications were approved. This indi-
cates that many vessel owners, faced with
management difficulties, are not building
more vessels,
Industry Enthusiasm Lacking
Eighteen 160-ton tuna vessels were built
in 1967, and 18 in 1968, with loans from Cen-
tral American Fund (CAF). In 1969, sixteen
similar-sized vessels were scheduled for
construction with CAF loans but, so far, only
one has been built. The government plans to
continue build-up program. But lack of indus-
try enthusiasm makes it unlikely at this time.
55
Page
41.
INDEX
UNITED STATES
Interior & Commerce to Celebrate 100 Years
of Fishery Conservation
Brown Shrimp Live Longer Than Many Biol-
ogists Believe, by K. N. Baxter
U.S. and USSR Study Shrimp in Gulf of Alaska
EDA Grants Funds for Harbor Improvement
in Seward, Alaska
Alaska's Salmon Forecast
A Special Report on Fish Blocks and Sticks and
Portions, by Morris R. Bosin, Clemens B.
Bribitzer, and Donald R. Whitaker
"Delaware II' Assesses Shellfish Resources
South of New England
VIMS Studies Herring Spawning Sites & Nurs-
eries
L.I. Shellfish Thrive in West Indies Experi-
ment
Tanner Crab Tagged Successfully for First
Time
Oceanography:
nvironmental Data Buoys Will Be Tested
in Gulf of Mexico
Warnings of Bad Weather Strengthened By
New Device
Mexico and U.S. Set Up Weather Station
Electrical System Will Help Detect Marine
Pollution
Navy Scientists Dive and Work Under Arctic
Ice Cover
Oceanographers Hunt Earth's Oldest Crust
in South Pacific
Recreational Boating is Expanding Rapidly
Tell Coast Guard When Help No Longer
Needed, Captains Urged
Oklahoma Scientists Seek Antibacterial
Agents in Coral
Sea Grants for Coastal-Zone Planning, Re-
search & Training
Lampricide Study
Study Ciguatera Poisoning
Texas Lab to Prescribe Medicine For Fish
in Mariculture
AT&T Makes Progress in Protecting Sub-
marine Cables
California's Giant Kelp
” ARTICLES:
Seasonal and Geographic Characteristics of,
Fishery Resources: California Current
Region--V. Northern Anchovy, by David
Kramer and Paul E, Smith
Killer Whales Pursue Sea Lions in Bering
Sea Drama, by Jim Branson
BOOKS
56
Page
AB) ovo
GS ovo
44...
44..,
CoB) | 'a
EX) 5 6
ZO oa
4673:
Als,
EY3}0 16
BON.
BO g ‘cs
aon:
Bll 6.6
BS 6
Oo) ae
52) 2.
ated
BS} 5.5
BS) bib
BS} 5 i
54...
byob
BS) oa
56.
INTERNATIONAL
Canada:
~ Value of 1970 Landings in Maritime Prov-
inces Sets Record
Marine Sports-Fishing Licenses to Sub-
sidize Hatcheries
Europe:
North Sea Mackerel Fishery Overexploited
Italy:
Imports 45,000 Tons of Frozen Tuna De-
spite High Price
Iceland:
Trawler Fleet Expands
Denmark:
80% of Annual 1,000-MT Agar Produced
From Local Seaweed
Shrimp Fisheries
Cysters Removed From Restricted Imports
List
United Kingdom:
Government Pays Damages For Polluting
River
Norway:
1970 Fisheries Were Profitable
Latin America:
Peru:
Report on Fish Meal Production, Exports,
and Stocks
Mexico:
Navy Intensifies Patrol of Newionel Waters
Caribbean:
~ Bahama Islands:
Bahamas Commission 4 New Patrol Vessels
Asia:
Japan:
1970 Exports of Frozen Fishery Products
Rose 10.6%
Frozen-Tuna Imports Rose Slightly in 1970
1971 Crab Fishery to Begin in Bristol Bay
Readies Joint Fishing Venture in New Zea-
land
Midwater Trawling for Alaska Pollock in
Bering Sea Considered
Export Price of Baleen Whale Oil to Increase
30% in Dec. '71
Eels Spawn Artificially
Shrimp Farming Venture
Japan's Pacific Salmon Catches Exceed
Quotas, Soviet Lags
South Korea:
S. horeans Interested in N. Pacific Alaska
Pollock
Taiwan:
Tuna Fishery
. INDEX
* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1971 435-341/3
BACK COVER: A gillnet is being used to harvest milkfish
on a Philippines fish farm. (FAO: P. Boonserm)
The UN's Development Program (UNDP) was helping the
Philippines improve brackish-water fish-culture techniques.
Fish are a cheap source of protein for the islanders. FAO re-
ports that latest feeding and fertilization practices boosted pro-
ductivity to meet about 60% of needs.
Milkfish were being cultured in 345,800 acres of privately
owned fish ponds.
UNITED STATES j if
a) seen
a COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
US.
)EPARTMENT
OF
|} COMMERCE
National
Oceanic and
Atmospheric
idministration
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Maurice H. Stans, Secretary
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Robert M. White Howard W. Pollock John W. Townsend, Jr.
Administrator Deputy Administrator Associate Administrator
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Philip M. Roedel, Director
COVER: A sling load of halibut being unloaded at a Ketchikan,
Alaska, cold storage. (NMFS-Alaska photo: J.M. Olson)
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
A comprehensive view of United States and foreign
fishing industries--including catch, processing, market-
ing, research, and legislation--prepared by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (formerly Bureau of Commer-
cial Fisheries).
irs TI <M Z
THEY THarco
WN-TO THE seal
o: IN SHIPS2°>
IT
Editor: Edward Edelsberg
Production: Jean Zalevsky
Alma Greene
Throughout this book, the initials NMFS stand for the
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, part of
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Address correspondence and requests to: Commercial Fisheries Review, 1801 North
Moore Street, Room 200, Arlington, Va. 22209. Telephone: Area Code 703 - 557-9066.
Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement. The
Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions of these sources.
Although the contents have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference
to source is appreciated.
Use of funds for printing this publication was approved by the Director, Bureau of the
Budget, April 18, 1968.
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402.
Price 60 cents (single copy). Subscription Price: $7.00 a year; $2 additional for foreign mailing.
CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
Bi VientsSvandmre na Siqa tee sujel ce eicsl weitere aeessiues on ieee
ARTICLES
Fishery-Advisory Information Available to Trop-
ical Pacific Tuna Fleet Via Radio Facemile
Broadcast, by R. Michael Laurs ..........
OVERBOARD - With Chest Waders, Hip Boots,
Or Rain Gear, by R. O. Parker Jr. SONS a0 do 6b
IXOOINS! Sob Gob Do Ob bp Dabo DO Go OS S.).0 00 oD 6
ION PARE RINVAMI CARO INET <5 6 505 Gogg 0 OO one Oude ASAE UONA ORO
INSTAN ey siitmen ome EGo00dd 6boDOGDD OS SG oo 6 tO
EV UTP OP CMs renanerentel oe see ai lerel eso et alia felue 000 OO 6
Watine Ame Pi Capertee ace ole) ieee) ee Coun oo oo 8
CAC bo bgododo soca bo od O00 0 On Wooded
SOs) IEEE 65 Big a pia niga aid qub-ole 5 O6°0.0:0 0
ENTER. 66) Ge '6o.6 0.6 6 a 6 ola ONO O10) oid S $59 0 ONO 00
III
IV
VOLUME & VALUE OF CATCH BY REGIONS 1970
© Million Pounds
O Million Dollars
MEXICO ‘
Hawaii
Ou
O 4.0 Q
(Source: 'Fisheries of the United States, 1970')
U.S. 1970 CATCH OF FISH & SHELLFISH
WAS NEAR 5 BILLION POUNDS
In 1970, U.S. fishermen caught 4,884 mil-
lion pounds of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic
The catch was 591 mil-
lion pounds, 16%, above 1969; it was the larg-
plants and animals.
est since 1962's all-time record 5.4 billion
pounds,
The catch brought the fishermen a record
income of $602 million. The figure was $83.4
million, 16%, above 1969 and 36% above
1964-68 average.
These data were reported by NMFS Divi-
sion of Statistics and Market News.
UPS & DOWNS
The fishermen landed record amounts of
tuna, Gulf menhaden, California anchovies,
shrimp, Dungeness crabs, snow crabs, surf
clam meats, northern lobsters, and spiny
lobsters.
There were sharpincreases in landings of
Atlantic menhaden and Pacific salmon,
Also, more Atlantic flounders and blue
crab were landed.
Marked declines were registeredin
catches of Atlantic alewives and haddock.
Somewhat lower were landings of Atlantic
cod, bonito, jack mackerel, king crab, sea-
scallop meats, and oyster meats,
PROCESSED FISHERY PRODUCTS
The value of U.S.-processed fishery pro-
ducts from domestic and imported raw ma-
terial was a record $1.7 billion, 15% above
1969,
The canned pack of 46.5 million standard
cases was worth $750.7 million; in 1969,
$580.8 million,
There were record packs of tuna, shrimp,
and animal (pet) food. Recorded, too, was
larger production of salmon, crab meat, clam
products, and oyster items.
Production of fish sticks and portions was
a record 349.4 million pounds worth $155.3
million,
Breaded shrimp productionreached 103.1
million pounds worth $109 million.
For the first time, production of industrial
fishery products reached $100 million--$15.5
million over 1969.
The fast-growing fish-and-chips franchise
chains kept expanding. Processors of fish
and shellfish specialty dinners and other
packaged fishand shellfish items passed the
$460 million mark,
Exports of U.S.-produced fishery products
were a record $117.7 million. Record im-
ports exceeded $1 billion,
THE 1970 STORY
The industry picture at year end was this:
pollution of the environment caused some
problems; there were high inventories of
some frozen products; some declines in the
availability of resources resulted from na-
tural causes and heavy fishing.
But many parts of the industry competed
wellwith foreign fleets and were functioning
at record volume.
Prices for fishery products, excepting a
few, increased at all levels--exvessel, whole-
sale, and retail.
In 1970, demand for fishery products was
strong. Both consumption and prices rose,
Onthe average, Americans ate more fish-
ery products in 1970--11.4 pounds--than in
any year since 1953,
NUMBER OF FISHERMEN AND FISHING CRAFT, 1930, 1950, AND 1968
os heteerenenererernerereri
hada dd ad
ct HETHTETET ETT RT ATTEN THEN ETE
fa f = 5,000
Fishermen
iis | HeeHenetererererrerenetets Se riinine crate
faded deed
VALUE OF FISHERY PRODUCTS 1970
Dp
o
fag
i)
Be
a
oO
n
To
Wholesaler
GS $100 million
To
Processor
To
Fishermen
A
WNAKUUINIANKNN
lll
ANKKAAAAAAANUAAAAAAAALAARLACAAAAAN
ANNANNANAANAAKANKANAANAUAAAU
AANININNNT
‘ sa z
eC 4
mat Ng i 2
n
a
i=)
£
o
Mf
ar
~
So
s W
n
w
iS
Oo
=
n
w
@
os
million dollars
U.S. SUPPLY OF FISHERY PRODUCTS
1961-70
(Round-weight basis)
Billion pounds
QUANTITY OF FISHERY PRODUCTS vs.
POPULATION GROWTH, 1960-70
Percent of 1960
(Round-weight basis)
Domestic catch
plus imports =
Total Quantity
VALUE OF EXPORTS OF U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS 1960-70
Million dollars Million dollars
Total value
Value of edible
CHART BASED
ON 1969
TRADE DATA.
<r
VALUE OF U.S. EXPORTS TO CONTINENTS 1969
Australia and Oceania 1.3%
Africa .4% wapy South America .5%
TOTAL VALUE $104,533 ,000
FISHERY PRODUCTS SITUATION
Donald R. Whitaker
NMFS Division of Current Economic Analysis
In 1970, per-capita consumption of edible
fish and shellfish was 11.4 pounds--up from
the 11.1 poundsin1969. Bothfreshand frozen
and canned products gained 0.2 pound per
capita. These gains were partially offset by
The net
gain of 0.3 poundin1970 was one of the largest
a 0.1-pound drop for cured products.
year-to-year increases inseveralyears. The
higher consumption of fishery products was
even more impressive in light of sharp gains
in prices for most items.
In first-quarter 1971, retail fish prices
They
advanced 3% from previous quarter and were
12% higher than first-quarter 1970. Higher
fish prices reflect not only general increase
continued their steady upward advance.
inprices andrisingcosts of doing business --
but alsothe sharply higher prices processors
are payingforrawfish. Higher raw-material
costs account for most of the gains in con-
sumer prices. Prices likely would be higher
if marketing margins were not reduced toease
some pressure on prices,
Imported Fish Also Higher
Higher prices also are being paid for im-
ported fish. World production of many vari-
eties is at about maximum. However, demand
inthe U.S., Western and Eastern Europe, and
Japan is growing. Consequently, growing de-
mand on relatively stable and, in some cases,
declining supplies is pushing prices upward.
The cost-price squeeze for many tradition-
ally popular fish species likely will result in
some substitution this year for lesser known,
more abundant, and relatively cheaper vari-
eties of fish. These substitutions are likely
to occur first in the school lunch programs,
fast-food chains, andinfishand chips outlets.
The latter group has been faced with sharply
rising menu prices.
Fresh and Frozen
Consumption of fresh and frozen fishery
products in first-quarter 1971 was probably
below first-quarter 1970. Lower supplies
rather than higher prices likely accounted for
most of the decline. Imports were off from
early 1970, and domestic production was sea-
sonally low in the first quarter.
The current shortage in world fish supplies
and growing demand in other countries is re-
flected in a nearly 30-million-pound drop in
fish imports during January-February this
year.
Decline in Inventories
To partially compensate for declining im-
ports, withdrawals from inventories of frozen
fish have been much larger than a year ago,
The decline ininventories in the first quarter
was 99 millionpounds compared with 76 mil-
lionpounds last year. Inventories on hand at
the start of the second quarter indicate few
products where supplies are relatively plen-
tiful. These include frozen salmon, flounder
and ocean-perch fillets, and whiting.
The situation regarding canned fishery
products is somewhat more favorable regard-
ing supplies thanfor frozen products. Inven-
tories of canned tuna, salmon, and shrimp are
generally ample for trade needs. In coming
months, prices of canned fish likely will be
higher than a year ago, againreflecting rising
costs of raw fish. Only Maine sardines are
likely to be limited.
(Top) Communication center aboard NOAA
National Ocean Survey's newest ship, the
'"Researcher'. (Bottom) A deep-sea camera
is lowered from NOAA's 'Oceanographer'.
(Top) Readying a plankton sampler.
(Bottom) Multisensor package senses salin-
ity, conductivity, temperature, and depth.
It relays these measurements to electronic
equipment in research ship's oceanographic
laboratory.
U.S. ANNOUNCES FIRST FEDERAL PLAN FOR
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTION
A comprehensive U.S. program in Marine
Environmental Prediction(MAREP) services
was announced on April 28 by the Federal
Coordinator for MAREP, Dr. Robert M.
White, NOOA Administrator.
Its purposes are to integrate all Federal
marine environmental monitoring systems,
to improve these systems, and to provide
better prediction and warning services to
people working in the marine environment.
MAREP's Scope
For MAREP purposes, the marine environ-
ment is the deep ocean, coastal zone, and
Great Lakes.
and forecasting the physical, chemical, bio-
"MAREP includes analyzing
logical, andhydrodynamic states of the ocean
and the overlying atmosphere, and their in-
teraction,"
Nine Federal agencies will contribute to
MAREP services costingan estimated $125.4
million in FY 1971 and $145.2 millionin
FY 1972.
Commercial ship operators and fishermen
are among the primary users of MAREP
services, In the past five years, 249 U.S.
flag vessels in merchant and fishing cate-
gories alone were lost because of flooding
caused by storms and other severe environ-
The MAREP system is
designed to reduce undue exposure to these
mental conditions,
conditions by providing timely warning in-
formation,
MAREP services for civilians include
many in public recreation--bathing, surfing,
boating, and sport fishing. The coastal warn-
ing system, tide predictions, and radio warn-
ings to boaters are particularly valuable.
MAREP services also are useful for de-
fense purposes.
A basic MAREP service is the program's
core. It is composed of 'observational or
monitoring networks, analysis and forecast
centers, telecommunications services, and
other facilities maintained by the Federal
agency participants.’ This basic service
provides data analyses and forecasts used by
the public, government agencies, and by
specialized groups.
Cost of the basic service is estimated at
$67 million in FY 1971,
million in FY 1972.
and nearly $78.2
5 SPECIALIZED SERVICES
Besides the basic service, there are 5
services for specialized users:
e For Maritime Navigation: In addition
to NOAA's marine meteorology service, this
consists primarily of Coast Guard manage-
ment and operations of the International Ice
Patrol, and Department of Defense sea-ice
observations and forecasts in the Arctic and
Antarctic,
e For Water-Pollution Control: A large
part is the water-quality program of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency (EPA), as-
sisted by Interior's Geological Survey meas-
urements and Transportation's Coast Guard
monitoring services,
In FY 1972, plans for service improvement
include expansion of monitoring service and
research, This will cover monitoring haz-
ardous materials by the Coast Guard; NOAA
research inestuarine and coastal-zone physi-
cal processes and the ecology of estuarine
waters; research by Atomic Energy Com-
mission on radionuclides and their pathways
to man, and on effects of waste heat from
nuclear-power reactors; EPA's projects in
water -quality contr oltechnology and inwater -
quality requirements research; and research
by NASA in applying remote-sensing tech-
niques.
e For Fishery Interests: Primarily, this
is maintained by NOAA's National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS),
ery biology surveys and assessment: 1)
It includes fish-
short term to locate fish concentrations, and
2) developing long-term capability to fore-
cast abundance of classes--and the major
environmental changes that influence abun-
dance and distribution (the ecological pat-
terns).
A major new NMFS program--the Marine
Resources Monitoring and Assessment Pro-
gram (MARMAP)--will begin in FY 1972.
Its initial estimated cost: $5,147,000.
NOAA's
Marine Minerals Technology Center is study-
e For Mineral Expivration:
ing waysto develop techniques for predicting
the probable effects of marine mining on the
environment,
e For Specialized Military Application:
The Department of Defense conducts many
services. These serve other groups in a
limited way--for example, antisubmarine
warfare systems.
Fig. 1 - A Sea of Alewives in Burnham Harbor, Michigan. (Photo: Bob Langer, Chicago Sun-Times)
There have been vast die -offs of alewives in the Great Lakes in recent years. Research shows that alewives cannot tolerate excessively
cold waters, although they may not die immediately. If water temperature warms rapidly in spring, the added stress of adjusting
to it could trigger mass deaths.
The Great Lakes alewife is small. Adults average about 64 inches and weigh about 2 ounces. 5
THE GREAT LAKES:
Their Grim Problems Persist
In 1970, nearly half (48%) of fish taken out
of the Great Lakes by commercial fishermen
were alewives. A pound of alewives brought a
fisherman about one penny. The continuing
predominance of this extremely low-value fish
is a continuing hardship for fishermen.
The fisheries of the Great Lakes never ap-
proached the tonnage of the major marine
fisheries, but for many years they involved
high-value fishes and contributed appreciably
to the region's economy.
Despite this decline, the Great Lakes re-
main vitally important to the whole Nation,
A fairly easy drive for about 25% of the popu-
lation, they offer many recreational opportu-
nities, including sport fishing, How their
living resources are managed concerns ev-
eryone.
The near-shore waters and the Great Lakes
and their adjacent waterfront are among the
most valuable in the U.S. They are used for
shoreline development, transportation, the
recovery and exploitation of living and min-
eralresources, National defense, waste dis-
posal, wildlife preservation, and recreation.
MAN'S HAND
The Great Lakes reflect their abuse by
man. The population crowding the lakes!
shores has accelerated the deterioration of
water quality. The input of nutrient mate-
rials--largely nitrogen and phosphorus from
man's activities--has produced eutrophica-
tion, the aging of lakes.
Lake Erie has been hit hardest, with lakes
Ontario, Michigan, Huron, and Superior fol-
lowing inits wake. Although Lake Erie is not
dead, it is far from the body of water people
enjoyed 20 years ago. Southern Lake Michi-
gan and parts of Lake Ontario show some
Erie symptoms.
a PORT ARTHUR
A FORT WILLIAM
TACONITE
HARBOR
SILVER BAY
TWO HARBORS
CY}
DULUTH
uw SUPERIOR WS
%
| ASHLAND
2 J x
4 ~
Lh —S — t
7 oy
NW ESCANABA
; ° po My,
a GREEN BAY
MARQUETTE QA
PORT INLAND @
MANITOWOC @
SHEBOYGAN @,
MUSKEGON
GRAND HAVEN
HOLLAND
SOUTH HAVEN
CHICAGO
\ GARY i
| INDIANA HARBOR .
'LLINOY 5s
|
(NE OR UAE AT SII
i
MICHIPICOTEN
SAULT STE. MARIE
Of & soo Locks
SAULT STE. MARIE @ JURE
ST. CLAIR RIVER yaa zs
K P 4 =—E~SS)
LAKE ST CLAIR ——— w
Z vetroir
DETROIT RIVER
(a B
MONROE a )} pak Ae (CONNEAUT
TS ea
ToLevo @
THE GREAT LAKES
AND THEIR
CONNECTING
° CHANNELS
ST MARYS RIVER 4
ST. LAWRENCE RIVER
Wi OGDENSBURG
KINGSTON
@ GovERICH
BAY CITY
SAGINAW
HAMILTON |Z
SL NIAGARA RIVER ROCHEST!
WELLAND CANAL \)
PT. COLBORNE @))_@ BUFFALO
ER
e
PORT HURON QW sown
Ke winoson pe Z Ge
ASHTABULA
A —
@ CLEVELAND (yet?
SANDUSKY LORAIN |
HURON
Olu Hs pltattOmm eat sy
\
il al
Fig. 2 - Great Lakes whitefish with sea lamprey attached to it.
The fisheries have suffered much from the
deterioration of water quality. The annual
catch in Lake Erie has not decreased with
accelerated eutrophication, but less-desir-
able species have replaced more-desirable
game fish, This came about because spawn-
ing andrearing areas had been contaminated
or destroyed. Pollutants and sediments
changed the bottom fauna, and this altered the
food supply of the game fish. Only the fish
that could tolerate these changed conditions --
the less-desirable species--could thrive.
The radical change inthe kinds of fish they
caught was bad newstofishermen, and to bio-
logists. The percentage of high-value lake
trout, whitefish, blue pike, and walleye de-
clined sharply. The only increases were in
low-value species: chubs, carp, yellow perch,
and alewives.
THE SEA LAMPREY
The sealamprey played an important role
in damaging the economic productivity of the
Great Lakes. The lamprey had been land-
locked in Lake Ontario, but the deepening of
the Welland Canal between 1913 and 1918--a
convenient route around Niagara Falls--gave
it entry tothe other Great Lakes, Lake Erie's
water conditions prevented large destruction
of its desirable fishes, but lakes Michigan,
Superior, and Huron suffered devastation of
some of their most valuable fish stocks, The
lamprey nearly wiped out the lake trout and
whitefishin lakes Michigan and Superior. The
toll of burbot was very high. Lake trout once
were worth more than $4 million a year; by
the 1960s, they had dropped below $100,000,
WHY DID LAKES DECLINE?
No single reason explains the decline of
the Great Lakes fisheries. Even before the
sea lamprey appeared, biologists say, the fish
life in the Great Lakes was "relatively thin,
with fragile and unstable relations among
predators and their prey." Also, the biolog-
ical balance was upset dramatically ''by a
series of shocks: the introduction of exotic
species, some from salt water and some from
fresh; man's own selective fishing activities;
and the flagrant pollution and misuse of the
coastal zones of the Great Lakes."
The biologists say, too, that the Great
Lakes are relatively new waters. Fish have
not had enough time to become a stable sys-
tem fully using the lakes! biological capacity--
as happens in older waters of comparable size
and composition.
Major causes include the physical nature
of the Great Lakes, great commercial pres-
sures, and lack of farsighted public policy.
The lamprey invasionhad other significant
effects. Fishermenput more pressure on the
remaining valuable species--with grave ef-
fects on these populations and the number of
predators. Partly asaresult of this pressure,
the population of another saltwater fish, long
knownin Lake Ontario, the alewife, exploded
in lakes Huron and Michigan about 1955.
GREAT LAKES COMMERCIAL LANDINGS
by State and Lake, 1970
1,000 Lbs.
New York:
Lake Ontario 333.0
Lake Erie 200.6
Pennsylvania:
Lake Erie 505.5
Ohio:
Lake Erie 8,420.0
Michigan:
Lake Erie 420.1
Lake Huron 2,410.5
Lake Michigan 16,196.7
Lake Superior 2,141.4
Indiana:
Lake Michigan 334.6
Illinois:
Lake Michigan 405.2
Wisconsin:
Lake Michigan 36,154.2
Lake Superior 1,560.7
Minnesota:
Lake Superior 1,306.5
70,589.0
(70,589,000 pounds)
PERCENTAGE OF 1970 U.S. CATCH BY REGIONS
Gulf States 35%
California 14%
New England &
Middle Atlantic 13%
Chesapeake States 13%
Alaska 11%
86%
The remainder: South Atlantic, Wash-
ington, Oregon, Hawaii, and inland waters.
Great Lakes and Mississippi River catches
combined were 129,000,000 pounds -- 3% of
total U.S. catch,
12
The alewife was unwelcome. It could not be
used for humanfood, Whenused for fishmeal,
oil, and pet food, it brought very little cash
to fishermen. Jt competed with chubs, lake
herring, andshiners, But in one area, it was
a plus factor: it was excellent forage fish for
trout and the coho and chinook salmon intro-
duced in recent years. The success of the
latter fishes may be attributable partly to the
abundance of alewives.
Deterioration of Water Quality
Vast amounts of industrial wastes and oxy-
gen-depleting organisms fertilized by proc-
essed sewage have harmed the fishes of the
Great Lakes. Soil erosion caused by the un-
wise development of agriculture and forested
areas has damaged the nearshore environ-
ment. Herbicides and pesticides have reached
dangerous levels. The relentless pressure
by industry and commerce for lake-trout
locations has hopelessly damaged the shore -
line environment. Fish production declined
sharply.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE LAKES?
No one package of recommendations can
end these problems. Inevitably, the land-
water interface of the Great Lakes will be-
come more congested, Industrial concentra-
tion and increasing population in the North
Central States will harm the environmental
quality in all Great Lakes.
But there is cause for a little optimism.
Both government and public have become
GREAT LAKES LANDINGS
1897-1908 U.S. landings averaged 102.3
million pounds
1914-1928 85.3 million pounds
1929-1963 Average of only 75.9 million
pounds. The 1963 U.S. catch
was 55.8 million pounds, the
lowest on record.
1966 and 1967
Sharp increase in harvest of
alewives, an extremely low-
valued species, boosted total.
Total landings were held up
by large Canadian catches.
13
more conscious of the importance of coastal
zones, Great Lakes, and the total American
environment.
The sealamprey's depredations have been
virtually arrested. A chemical--the lampri-
cidalagent TFM--has beenused successfully
in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior to de-
stroy the lamprey during its early develop-
ment. Two or three parts of TFM in a mil-
lion parts of water are lethal to the larvae,
while not affecting most other fish and aquatic
species, Since TFM has beenused, lake trout
and whitefish have increased substantially and
are reclaiming their rightful places in the
lakes,
Canada and the U.S. joined forces in con-
trolling the sea lamprey in Lake Superior.,
The situation in Lake Michigan permits re-
habilitation of valuable predator species.
Steelhead are doing well in several areas.
Experimental plants of coho salmon in Lake
Michigan foreshadow a major new sport fish-
ery and some commercial harvest.
U.S. and State fishery researchers are
defining the management problems that have
to be resolved before anything close to the
"most desirable balance of species and har-
vesting" can be achieved. This means more
than ''restoring" the Great Lakes fisheries.
Because biological relations were so unstable
in the past, it is important to select suitable
species and harvesting methods,
Despite these awesome problems, scien-
tists who have studied the Great Lakes say
they can make sizable contributions to the
public good,
Rehabilitating the Fisheries
The disasters of the past 2 decades have
reduced the fisheries to a few men and ves-
sels. So, ironically, it becomes easier to re-
establish a commercial fishery in the Great
Lakes than it would be in a marine setting.
Planners recognize that while reestablishing
a fishery itisnecessaryto balance the com-
mercial and sport efforts and to limit the
number of operatingunits, They believe that
gear more efficient than the traditional gill
and pound nets and traps would lower opera-
ting costs.
The planners recognize that the potential
of Great Lakes fisheries in tonnage or value
14
is not large. In a list of national fishery pri-
orities, the lakes would offer less promise
than many marine fisheries. Yet they are
well worth saving.
A strong national effort to control pollution
now and inthe coming years would permit the
rehabilitation of most Great Lakes waters.
Inits 1969 report, the Commission on Ma-
rine Science, Engineering and Resources em-
phasized the need for "full regionalization
[U.S. & Canada] of Great Lakes fisheries pro-
gram.'' The Commission stated that any plan
torestore Great Lakes would be a tremendous
undertaking. Present technology dealing with
the freshwater environment is not oriented
toward solving problems of Great Lakes mag-
nitude--but marine science is so oriented.
Marine science and technology should be used
to study restoration of the Great Lakes.
Fig. 3 - Alewife Fishing Craft.
(Photo: Bob Williams)
NORTH ATLANTIC HADDOCK STOCKS CONTINUE LOW
Scientists of the NMFS Woods Hole, Mass.,
Biological Laboratory predict that haddock
stocks off New England, now under restric-
tive international fishery quotas, will remain
at present low levels at least through 1973,
The very low abundance of spawning stock is
seriously reducing the probability of good
reproduction.
NMFS is responsible for wise use and con-
servation of marine fish resources.
The international quotas were set by the
15-member -nation International Commission
for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF);
the U.S. is an active member.
NMFS Survey Cruises
Estimates of the haddock population size
and abundance of juvenile haddock follow
groundfish survey cruises aboard the labo-
ratory's research vessel 'Albatross IV‘.
These have been conducted each spring and
fall since 1963,
and the 1971 spring survey just completed,
Data for the 1970 cruises,
indicate no significant change in population
ee Ny
aos f
15
size during 1970--the sixth consecutive year
of poor reproduction.
ICNAF Quota
The ICNAF member nations established a
12,000-ton international quota for haddock in
New England waters in 1969, effective in
1970, They closed to fishing certain spawn-
ing areas during March and April of three
calendar years; 1970, 1971, and 1972.
In 1970, 11,660 metric tons, 97% of 12,000-
metric-ton international quota, were caught
by foreign and U.S. fleets operating off New
England, The U.S. fleet landed 9,864 metric
tons, These domestic landings compare with
a U.S. long-term, pre-1965, average of ap-
proximately 50,000 metric tons, Daily land-
ings of haddock declined to 4,500 pounds, an
18% decrease compared to1969 and the low-
est ever observed.
Difficult Period Ahead
Stock-assessment studies have indicated
strongly that the 12,000-ton-catch quota
through 1971-1972 will not provide for any
recovery of haddock stocks, Also, at certain
low levels of abundance, there is a direct re-
lationship between size of spawning stock
and probability of a successful reproduction,
Scientists at the Woods Hole laboratory are
concerned that any further reductionin stock
size may threaten the continued existence of
the haddock species in New England waters.
THERE ARE COMMERCIAL CONCENTRATIONS OF
SHRIMP IN HAWAIIAN WATERS
The research vessel Townsend Cromwell
NMFS scientists aboard the "Townsend
Cromwell! have confirmed the existence of
commercial concentrations of shrimp in Pail-
olo Channel between the Hawaiian islands of
Molokaiand Maui. This was reported by Dr.
Frank J. Hester, Area Director of NMFS Ha-
waii Area Fishery Research Center (HAFRC),
when Cromwell returned home after a 47-day
cruise in local waters.
Part of the cruise continued the investiga -
tions begun by HAFRC 3-years ago. At that
time, commercial concentrations of opaelolo,
Hawaiian red shrimp, were found in Pailolo
Channel, off Molokai's northwest coast and on
Penguin Bank's north edge.
One objective of the recent cruise was to
check seasonal abundance of shrimp popula-
tions. The survey showed no difference in
size over the 3-year period, according to fish-
ery biologists Dr. Bruce E. Higgins and Paul J.
Struhsaker.
Live specimens were taken for behavioral
studies at HAFRC Kewalo Basin facility.
Best Catches
Best catches were made with a Gulf-of-
Mexico-type ''semi-balloon" shrimp trawl.
This produced 324 pounds of shrimp during
a series of five 2-hour trawl hauls.
Stern-trawling experiments with a large
midwater trawl also were conducted off the
Waianae coast.
Performance characteristics of the gear
were checked directly by divers who observed
and photographed the net in action. Depth-
sensing units provided indirect observations
on trawl performance in depths beyond the
divers! range.
The midwater trawl is an efficient sampler
of young tunas and other pelagic fishes, Hig-
gins and Struhsaker reported.
HAFRC scientists are interested espe-
cially in the distribution inlocal waters of the
young skipjack tuna, aku, the basis of Hawaii's
pole-and-line fishing industry. Assessment
of the akuisa current objective of the Honolulu
laboratory.
is J
16
OCEAN QUAHOG BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT
AS SURF & BAY CLAMS DWINDLE
Government and industry efforts have en-
couraged fishermen to become more inter-
ested in the ocean quahog, reports the New
England Marine Resources Program.
The quahog is native to large parts of the
Continental Shelf along the Atlantic Coast from
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to the Arctic
Ocean in depths of 6 to 90 fathoms.
Joseph M, Mendelsohn, research chemist,
NMFS Technological Laboratory, Gloucester,
Mass., says the offshore species, Arctica is-
landica, is the best available shellfish re-
source. This is because overfishing and pol-
lution are diminishing the quahog's popular
relatives--the surf and hard-shell clams.
HARD-SHELL CLAM :
Supplies Decreasing
Once thought inexhaustible, resources of
hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), sea
clams (Spisula solidissima) and soft-shell
clams (Mya arenaria) are dwindling rapidly;
at the same time, demand is increasing con-
stantly.
So foodmarketers are looking more to the
ocean quahog (known too as mahogany quahog
or black quahog) as a staple. If this clam is
developed fully, it could lead to a steady mar -
Ia
ket for fishermen year round along entire
Northeast Atlantic Coast.
Dredging Ocean Quahogs
Rhode Island and nearby Stonington, Con-
necticut, fishermen are dredging ocean qua-
hogs and landing them at Sakonnet Point, Point
Judith, and Stonington. The quahogs are pro-
cessed at Blount Seafood Corp., Warren, R.I.,
and at Sealord, Inc., East Greenwich.
Blount's president, Fred Richardson, re-
grets the disappearance of the bay quahog (hard
clam) because of pollution and other reasons.
He says: ''Atone time, Narragansett.Bay was
the best setting ground in the world for this
hard clam, and we derived 76% of our produc -
tion from this area.'' Blount now handles
only a few thousand bushels of the bay species
|
1
1
1
i]
1
i
1
NEW
HAMPSHIRE ,
U
/ -
Ss See
ia
if MASS
(ee ROS aS
i Rae ence
' CONN. 'RI Moo
18
Ocean quahogs.
a year and processes ocean quahogs almost
entirely.
Blount uses over 5,000 bushels weekly to
fill demands from Camden, N.J., plant of
Campbell Soups. Forty workers receive qua-
hogs from licensed dealers, use steam to
separate meat from shells, and freeze and
ship to canner.
Sealord Operation
At Sealord, the operation includes process-
ing and freezing clam and quahog products.
The items include a baked stuffed-clam prod-
uct, achowder base, clam juice, and fresh and
frozen quahog meat.
The firm distributes to large chain gro-
cery stores, restaurants, and institutions. It
alsosupplies 1,000 gallons of mahogany clams
weekly insummer toan amusement center that
uses only ocean quahoginits famous chowder.
Sealord operates a 72-foot boat to dredge
ocean quahogs. They also receive daily the
landings by 4 boat owners. The quahogs are
rushed by refrigerated trucks from docks to
the 10,000-sq. ft. East Greenwich plant.
There they are hand-shucked or opened by
steam in pressurized cookers,
Size varies from 3 to 4 inches in length, 2.5 to 3.5 inches in height, and 1 to 1.5 inches
in width. The colors range from dark mahogany to mottled black and white.
Sealord uses special equipment to over-
come a desanding problem peculiar to ocean
quahog. The firm alsouses amethod to clean
the shells, which have an unattractive black-
skin covering. A 4-step conveyor system is
used: from acid to neutralizer to cleaning bath
to chlorinated treatment. The shell comes out
antiseptically cleanand white. Thenthe shell
is filled with Sealord quahog stuffing.
Brayton Seafood reported that during Feb.
1971 about 15 fishing boats (4 its own) dredged
daily for ocean quahogs in rich beds off Block
Island to supply Rhode Island processors. The
firm saiddemand is up because ocean quahog
cost less than half bay quahog and come
from clean ocean water.
Estimates of Quahog Crop
NMFS! Mendelsohn says conservative es-
timates of ocean quahog crop between Cape
Hatteras and Canada are 100 to 150 million
bushels. Based on world harvest figures, U.S.
production could reach sustained annual yield
of about 150,000,000 pounds of meats. NMFS
is encouraging fishermen and processors to
explore possibility of ocean quahog for year-
round fishing and processing--particularly in
Gloucester-Boston-Cape Cod-Rhode Island
areas. NMFS exploratory surveys have
demonstrated that available resources would
justify the ventures.
NMFS Gloucester Lab Research
Scientists of NMFS Gloucester Technolog-
ical Laboratory have shown that ocean quahog
canbe usedin many ways. It can replace bay
clam inclam cakes, clam potatocakes, poultry
clam stuffing, deviled clams, and Manhattan
chowder. The scientists found mahogany to
have a robust" clam flavor. The medicinal
or iodine flavor was found only in quahogs that
came from beds where the clams feed ona
specific alga. This problem can be overcome
by not fishing those beds--or by "shallow-
water relaying'': transferring them to beds
that produce clams without this undersirable
flavor.
i@)
The Gloucester lab has shown that the
source of this medicinal flavor is water sol-
uble. Several washings can eliminate it.
Mahogany is harvested closed, so it is
harder to shuck, Meat color varies from
cream togray. One processor has method for
bleaching it to the more desirable white.
Ocean Quahog Survives Its Family
Ocean quahog is the only known surviving
species of family Arctididae, Thisis only one
of families inlarge group of bivalve mollusks.
The latter have two opposed shells hinged to-
gether at top. At one time, the ocean quahog
was thought to be a European species only.
<p
U.S. COMMERCIAL WHALING TO END DEC. 31, 1971
On April 19, Secretary of Commerce
Maurice H. Stans reaffirmed his decision to
halt U. S. whaling. Thedateis Dec. 31, 1971.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Interior,
acting under the Endangered Species Act,
decided to endimport of whale products after
the end of 1971.
"As Secretary of
Secretary Stans said:
Commerce, I will do everything possible to
soften the impact of this decision on the Na-
tion's one remaining whaling company and its
employees. I am directing agencies within
the Department of Commerce, specifically
the Economic Development Administration
and the National Marine Fisheries Service,
to see what canbe done to alleviate hardships
which may result from this action."
INDUCED MATURATION OF OVARIES &
OVA IN PINK SHRIMP
Full development of successful maricul-
ture of shrimp, Penaeus spp., will depend in
large measure upon control of the entire life
cycle of these animals in captivity. Gravid
female shrimp collected on the spawning
grounds can be induced to spawn, and their
fertilized ova can be reared into shrimp of
Methods of in-
ducing maturation of ovaries and ovainreared
marketable size in captivity.
shrimp are now required toprovide the nec-
essary year-round control of the reproductive
cycle.
Adult pink shrimp--Penaeus duorarum.
Eyestalk Removal
Scientists at the Rosentiel School of Ma-
rine and Atmospheric Science, University of
Miami, Florida, have used the long-estab-
lished technique of eyestalk removal as a
means of inducing female pink shrimp, Pena-
eus duorarum Burkenroad, to mature in cap-
tivity. The eyestalks of decapod crustaceans
20
contain glands which secrete an ovary-inhib-
iting hormone. Thus eyestalk removal elim-
inates the source of this inhibitory hormone
and allows maturation to proceed.
Ripe Ovaries in 1-2 Weeks
In a research project directed by Dr.
Charles W. Caillouet Jr., Associate Profes-
sor, Division of Fishery Sciences, a female
pink shrimp developed ripe ovaries containing
ripe ova within one totwo weeks after bilateral
eyestalk removal. Since the eyestalkless fe-
males matured in experiments conducted in
May, July, and November 1970, Dr. Caillouet
feels that maturation can be achieved year-
round by eyestalk removal. Maturation was
induced in females reared from ova in cap-
tivity, as well as in females collected from
the spawning grounds. The project was spon-
sored by Armour and Company and United
Brands Company.
Important First Step
This work represents an important first
step toward producing multiple generations
of pink shrimp in captivity on a controlled
basis. The methods should be applicable as
well to other species of Penaeus presently
being cultured in captivity.
Dr. Caillouet was assisted by Gary L.
Beardsley, Research Assistant, and Nicholas
Chitty, Graduate Assistant.
--Dr. C,. P. Idyll, Chairman,
Division of Fishery Sciences,
Rosenstiel School of Marine and
Atmospheric Science,
University of Miami,
Miami, Florida 33149
BLUE CRABS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO
POLLUTION OF SHORELINE
Catches of blue crabs, important to com-
mercial and sport fishermen, may be reduced
by industrial andagricultural pollution of the
shoreline environment.
Studies by Eugene Jaworski, Texas A&M
University's Department of Geography, have
established that blue crabs migrate from one
environment within an estuary to another to
meet the physiological requirements of their
different life cycles.
Jaworski explains: ''The low salinity area
in the upper reaches of an estuary is a vital
one because maturation of the crabs takes
place here. This shoreline area is the one
most susceptible to pollution."
For a year, he made periodic trips with
crab fishermen and collected data from the
Barataria Estuary in Louisiana, which is
southwest of New Orleans and west of the
Mississippi River.
Fishermen were the best source of infor-
mation on locations of the crabs because fish-
21
ing patterns reflect the seasonal distribution
of commercial-size crab populations. A tag-
ging system was notpractical because of the
blue crab's molting pattern.
Jaworski identified 3 main subhabitats of
the blue crab: the areas where it matures,
winters, and spawns.
The Seasons
During winter, crabbing is most success-
ful in the lower, highly saline waters of the
estuary. As spring approaches, crab-fishing
areas become larger. Water temperatures
begin to rise, and adult males and immature
juveniles migrate toward lower salinity wa-
ters of upper estuary. Pregnantfemales be-
gin to spawn inthe lower estuary and adjacent
marine area.
By late March, ''sponge crabs,'' females
in process of extruding eggs (protected by
law) cause fishermen to abandon high salinity
waters of lower estuary.
"The crab population reaches its widest
distribution during summer months, and up-
per estuarine waters yield the highest catch,"
Jaworski explains.
"Soft-shell'’ crabs are most numerous in
this shallow, shoreline environment. Caught
while molting, these crabs are a seafood
delicacy.
As fall begins, molting and spawning stop.
Females mate after final molting and migrate
again toward tidal inlet entrances. Small
juvenile blue crabs are in lower estuary and
along Gulf. Adult males and large juveniles
stay near shoreline until decreasing water
temperatures force them back toward lower
reaches,
By mid-December, crabbing in the upper
estuary ends, and the winter season begins.
VIMS IMPROVES METHODS OF PRODUCING
‘CULTCH-FREE’ SPAT
A major obstacle to developing seed oys-
ters in commercial hatcheries at reasonable
cost has been the expensive washing and
handling of bulky oyster and clam shells used
as natural cultch. The development of
"cultch-free'’ seed oysters may facilitate a
hatchery operation that eliminates the use of
shells for cultch and costly washing and
handling. Scientists of the Virginia Institute
of Marine Science (VIMi3) are now concen-
trating on improving methods for separating
spat from artificial substrate at a very early
age--and then growing them intrays and tanks
without cultch until they are large enough to
be planted on beds.
Oysters pass through a free-swimming
larval stagefor about two weeks. After that,
most larval oysters settle to the bottom,
extend their fleshy feet, and crawl about
seeking suitable substrate to attach them-
selves.
Producing Cultch-Free Spat
The first successful method developed at
VIMS for producing cultch-free spat is based
on the natural sequence of changes that be-
gins when the well-developed larval oyster
(eyed larva) attaches toa shell or artificial
substrate. The methodis accomplished when
oyster larvae change their structure to be-
come juvenile oysters (spat), The first period
when the newly set oyster can be removed
easily from the cultch is while the spat is
developing gills, and after the food and velum
have beguntodisappear; itis before sufficient
new shell is produced for permanent attach-
ment,
Two VIMS Methods
VIMS has developed one method for grow-
ing the spat in relatively clear estuarine
areas after removal from substrate, A sec-
ond method grows them in areas with muddy
waters.
In the first method, it is important to re-
move oyster spat before they become at-
22
tached permanently. While massive setting
of eyed larvae is taking place in the setting
trays, a strong stream of river water is
appliedto a commercial plastic sheet (Mylar)
on the bottom surface of the setting tray at
1-to 2-hour intervals. This yields cultch-
free Spat.
Microscopic examination shows that the
water pressure tears the temporary organic
matrix attachment, which releases the spat
before any new shell can be deposited, but
after metamorphosis has begun. Then these
free spat are put intocontainers with a glassy
Mylar bottom. If some spat reattach to the
Mylar, they canbe removed easily by bending
the Mylar over a roller. Heavy sets have
been avoided on natural cultch, but they are
advantageous for free spat production, It is
desirable to limit the setting surface.
Second Method
A second VIMS method manipulates newly
set oyster spat where siltation and fouling
are Serious problems, Removal of newly set
spat from Mylar sheet is delayed 19 to 21
days. A new setting tray, frames, and tank
were designed to manipulate efficiently the
setting, growth, and removal of spat. The
Mylar sheets on which larvae spat have set
are mounted in frames that hold the sheets
vertically inthe tank to minimize the accum-
ulation of silt and trash around the oyster
spat. Untreated river water is circulated to
the holding frames, then spills over a ledge
into an auxiliary tank.
Study Nursery Techniques
VIMS also is investigating development of
nursery techniques or methods of growing
cultch-free spat to sizes resistant to preda-
tors, suchascrabs, fish, drills, and starfish.
Unlike clams, oyster spat are unable to re-
attach or dig into substratum, so they are
washed away easily or are covered by silt.
The challenge VIMS accepts now is to grow
cultch-free spat in trays or ponds to a size
suitable for planting in oyster beds.
SALTWATER FARM-RAISED SALMON
MARKETING PROGRAM IS BEING TESTED
Salmon have long been an important food
resource inthe Pacific Northwest. To sup-
plement natural production, Federal and State
agencies operate freshwater hatcheries,
where young salmon are reared until ready
to migrate downstream to the sea. Rearing
salmon to maturity in saltwater pens would
extend control over the entire life cycle. This
would permit biologists to breed them selec-
tively for characteristics best suited to mar-
ket demand. Such research is being conducted
by the NMFS Aquacultural Experiment Station
in Manchester, Washington,
The Procedure
Newly hatched fry are placed in circular
tanks of fiberglass or steel lined with poly-
ethylene sheeting. The tanks are supplied
with fresh and salt water; the salinity is ad-
justed. Whenthe fishare able to live in salt-
water, they are transferred to floating pens.
The fish are fed with moist pellets, a wet,
high-proteinfeed. Also, shrimp meal can be
added totheir diet for 5 to 6 weeks to control
the redness of their flesh. This feed is sup-
plemented by naturally occurring plankton and
other small forms of sealife carried in with
the tidal currents,
Under such ideal conditions, salmon grow
much faster then they dointhe natural pattern
of extended freshwater life. They are ready
for market as trout-sized fish in 18 months
or less.
Test-Marketing Underway
The NMFS Marketing specialists are test-
marketing these salmonto get public reaction,
They are distributing samples to major re-
tailers, wholesalers, and restaurant opera-
tors inselected metropolitancities to deter-
mine their interest. They are gathering
information on market form desired--dressed
head-on, dressed head-off, or boned, the size
or sizes preferred, the price acceptable to
buyers, andthe flesh color preferred (degree
of redness),
A Firm's 1972 Plans
In January 1972, Ocean Systems, Inc.,a
division of Union Carbide, operating under a
NOAA Sea Grant, will have 400,000 salmon
23
‘OOB
yr RADE
bs cs
The Testing Area
available for market. These fish are being
raised with NMFS technical assistance and
will be available fresh and/or frozen thr ough-
out the year. If this pilot program is success-
ful, the company will raise about 2.5 million
fish to be marketed starting January 1973.
Salmon Shipped
Approximately 300 fish have been shipped
to Boston, New York, Baltimore, Washington,
Tampa, and Minneapolis for distribution by
the NMFS Marketing staff to selected potential
buyers. Already, the staff has commitments
for the sale of about 300,000 pounds, The re-
tail chains are requesting fresh salmon 12
to 16 ounces in the round and/or dressed.
The restaurants and distributors that service
restaurants are asking for 14 to 16 ounces
dressed, and 12to14 ounces boned, both fresh
and frozen. In July and August, 1,000 more
fish will be test-marketed in several restau-
rants to obtain consumer reaction.
Gus Morel, Acting Chief, Division of Mar-
keting Services, reports that the Seattle sea-
food firms, and wholesale, restaurant, and
retail merchandisers contacted throughout
the U.S, are enthusiastic about the salmon they
have seen, They are eager to try selling the
salmon when they become available in January
1972,
SEA GRANT FOR SALMON CULTURE
The success of NMFS salmon-culture ex-
periments has encouraged a private firm to
adapt and expand the system for possible com-
mercial production.
With a $100,000 NOAA Sea Grant, Ocean
Systems, Inc., based in Reston, Va., will try
to show the feasibility of a commercial-sized
pilot operationtoraise pan-size salmon from
egg tomarket size in Puget Sound, Wash., en-
closures.
NMFS Biological Laboratory, Seattle,
Wash., will assist.
The $100,000 will be matched by the firm,
plus nearly $160,000 more. The firm's prin-
cipal investigator for the project is Jon Lind-
berg.
The project began Nov. 1, 1970, because
of the Pacific salmon's spawning cycle and
the need to get the best results with summer-
time cultivation. The firm has bought and in-
stalled incubators and hatched 670,000 coho
salmon eggs. These were obtained from the
Washington State Department of Fisheries.
Also, about 400,000 chinook salmon fry of a
selected strain were gotten from Dr. Lauren
Donaldson, University of Washington, Coho
and chinook fry are now infresh-water ponds,
Inlate May, the fry will be transferred to
floating net pens in the open water of Puget
Sound, They will be fed a prepared fish food
until they weigh about one -half pound, and then
be harvested.
Market conditions will determine harvest
time and fish size.
Many Pioneered
Many people prepared the way for this
project. Washington State has had salmon
hatcheries since 1895, Today, about 30 hatch-
eries continuously rear 15,000,000 chinook,
coho, and chum salmon for release at normal
migrating time into salt-water pasturage.
24
Oregon State University research has
shownthat fry of several Pacific salmon spe-
cies may be adaptedto sea water before their
normal time to exploit the high efficiency of
feed conversion in salt-water rearing.
NMFS Seattle laboratories conducted
salmon-culturing experiments to reduce pen
cultivation to practice. The labs developed
a relatively quick method of rearing salmon
intensively. “Floating pens in flowing tidal
water ended many of the problems that ob-
structed earlier work. These experiments
inspired the Ocean Systems project.
3-Phased Project
Ocean Systems project has 3 phases:
Salmon now are being culturedfor market;
With aid of NMFS Division of Marketing,
there will be test marketing and cost evalua-
tion of the cultured salmon;
Federal, state, and local agencies will be
provided information and guidance on aqua-
culture principles, compatibility with other
water uses, and possible changes of fishery
laws to permit commercial salmon culture.
The results will be made public and may be
used,
Coho or Silver Salmon
The coho or silver salmon was chosen
"primarily for its resistance to disease, vo-
racious feeding, history in culture experi-
ments, and value as a food fish. The chinook,
another highly desirable species, was in-
cluded to obtain comparative results."
Salmon have several advantages for cul-
ture: They are much sought as food, grow
rapidly, and their hatchery technology is per-
haps most highly developed of any marine fish.
Also, Puget Sound's abundant marine re-
sources make possible intensive fish cul-
ture, using much clean flowing salt water.
STRAIT OF GEORGIA BOASTS ANNUAL ‘PEA SOUP’
OF PHYTOPLANKTON
During May, the Strait of Georgia between
Vancouver Island and British Columbia ex-
plodes into a vast''pea soup" bloom of phyto-
plankton (microscopic algae). It happens
every spring, when mountain snows melt and
wash rich nutrients intothe icy ocean waters.
A month-long expedition sponsored by the
National Science Foundation and the Founda-
tionfor Ocean Research was on hand for the
blooming this May.
Its work is essential to continuing studies
onfat metabolism in marine ecological sys-
tems by the Scripps Institution of Oceanog-
raphy, University of California, San Diego.
Marine food-chain research alsois planned
to seek better understanding of who eats
whom and why in the ocean environment.
Copepods End Hibernation
About the time the algae bloom, copepods --
tiny, shrimplike marine organisms-end their
winter hibernation in the cold, dark waters
near the bottom of British Columbia inlets.
They rise towithin 30 feet of the surface and
begin grazing on phytoplankton.
Copepods have interested Dr. A. A. Ben-
son, director of Scripps's Physiological Re-
search Laboratory (and biologist Richard
Lee) for the last 3 years. Copepods are the
predominant marine animals small enough
to consume microscopic algae in the ocean.
They are thought to be the first animal link
in marine -food chain.
Insects of the Sea
These ''insects of the sea'’ change the ex-
tremely polyunsaturated algae fat into poly-
unsaturated liquid waxes. They store these
in oil sacs tobe used as reserve energy during
periods of starvation,
Up to 50% of the dry body weight of Van-
couver copepods is stored liquid wax. This
¢ Vancouver — Fraser River R
bop BRITISH
L ,
We, Cae COLUMBIA
% wo New Westminister
%, oN a
: “Wy, >) @ Bellingham i
Sho Be u
NY op t i
Dy see, o Victoria ® @ Anacortes t
We
SE! 7 WASHINGTON :
=: ”P d -
Port Angeles _ ort Townsen: i
Everett :
|
@ ios
Spokane a
Seattle ‘
ie)
Tacoma ny =
Aberdeen 990
Grays Harbor Hoquiam ® Olympia 1
Westport i
Z
< |
8 Snake River -
UV
= ']
Y
=
Astoria
25
Columbia River
OREGON
26
OIL SAC
Fig. 1 - Enlarged photo of Fth-inch marine copepod
'Calamus', '"insectof thesea." Oil sac is toward rear
of its tiny body. Wax is used for energy storage and
food supply during periods of starvation and hibernation
in long winters. Wax is made from oilsof algae that it
eats (darker area below sac).
makes them some of the world's waxiest
copepods.
While copepods are swimming to the sur-
face, where they eat freshly bloomed algae,
baby chum and sockeye salmon are swimming
downstream from their river birth places on
their way to begin life in the open ocean.
About 4 or 5 inches long, the salmon fry eat
only wax-rich copepods,
Coincidence of Copepods + Salmon
Dr. Benson's group hopes to discover what
triggers this coincidence --the return of cope-
pod tothe ocean's surface at the moment the
small, hungry salmon arrive from the rivers.
Because the young salmon eat only cope-
pods, their whole metabolic system is geared
to digest large amounts of wax. They offer
scientists the most specialized example of
wax digestion.
Sardines, anchovies, and herring also
feed, though not exclusively, on copepods —but
these species are difficult to catch in the
open ocean. Vast numbers of bay chum and
sockeye salmon are easily available when
they swim through the Strait of Georgia in
May.
Second Animal Link
Salmonfry are the second animal link in
the marine food chain. They digest copepod
wax and turn it into a fatty alcohol; they
convert this into fatty acids. Fatty acids are
the common fats that human beings eat.
However, to perform this chemical con-
version, fatty aldehyde must be involvedin
an intermediate stage. So far, no trace has
beenfound in salmon. The scientists plan to
look for it in the blood samples from young
feeding salmon.
Fatty aldehydes also are a source of
mystery in human metabolism. They occur
as major components of humanheart muscle
and brain, but their existence has never been
explained.
How they get there or what they do are
mysteries. Dr. Benson thinks salmon may
provide a clue.
Analyzing Copepod Waxes
The scientists are studying other things.
To understand better the marine food chain,
they are analyzing copepod waxes suspected
of having been derived from different types
of algae populations. They are comparing
wax composition in copepod with fat composi-
tion in fishes that feed actively on copepod
wax,
The researchers are collecting samples
from the 95-foot ocean research vessel
'Dolphin'. They are collecting wax-filled
copepods to isolate enough wax for experi-
ments on animal nutrition and on the poten-
tial uses of wax in making varnish and
plastics.
FISH SPAWNING IN HOME STREAM
JUNE -SEPT.
;
ADULT MIGRATION TO SPAWNING GROUNDS
JUNE -AUG.
%
SAC FRY IN GRAVEL
JAN. - APRIL
MALE
FEMALE 5 ww
MAY-JUNE, | INCH LONG
JUVENILE FISH
, 18-30 INCHES LONG {-3 YEARS
SMOLT MIGRATION TO OCEAN
JUNE-JULY, 3-6 INCHES LONG
Fone
SS »
FISH MATURING IN OCEAN
1-4 YEARS
Fig. 2 - Life cycle of ths sockeye salmon.
FRY MIGRATION TO NURSERY LAKE
IN LAKE
27
28
POOR YELLOWFIN-TUNA FISHING
OFF W. AFRICA IN 1970
A preliminary examination of length-fre-
quencies of yellowfin tuna caught off West
Africa by the U.S. and Canadian purse -seine
fleet has revealed significant differences in
year-class strength. The work was done by
Dr. W. Lenarz, NMFS Fishery-Oceanography
Center, La Jolla, Calif.
Very few fish of the 1968 year-class were
caught in 1969 compared to contributions of
the same age in other years. The apparent
failure of the 1968 year-class was evident too
in 1970. Data from the surface fisheries of
France and French-speaking nations also
show that 1968 year-class was below normal
in 1969. Data for 1970 are not yet available.
Poor Fishing in 1970
Normally, the 1968 year-class would have
yielded a significant part of 1970 landings.
The apparent failure of 1968 year-class may
be animportant cause of relatively poor fish-
ing by U.S. fleet in African waters during
1970.
Data from 1970 U.S. fishery indicated that
1969 year-class is much stronger than 1968
year-class. Thehigh variance in year-class
strength of Atlantic yellowfin contrasts with
relatively stable recruitment in eastern
tropical Pacific.
SEA-URCHIN GONADS TO APPEAR
IN U.S. ‘SUSHI’ RESTAURANTS
Lovers of seafoods
willfind an unusual one
on the menus of U.S.
‘sushi! restaurants:
sea-urchin gonads. S.
Kato of NMFS La Jolla
has demonstrated to
workers at a Califor-
nia firm how to proc-
ess gonads for human consumption.
Sea urchin
An abalone diver collected about 500 ur-
chins and delivered them to the company. One
hundred urchins yielded 11 pounds of gonads - -
after dark-colored gonads and broken pieces
were discarded. The gonads were delivered
freshtoa Los Angeles market, which shipped
some to Chicago and New York.
800-1000 Lbs./Month
Initial monthly production will be about
800-1000 pounds. One diver and a helper in
a boat can pick 1600-2000 urchinsaday. Four
men in a second boat will crack the sea-
urchin shells and remove the gonads. Final
cleaning, packing, and freezing will be done
by 11 workers in the plant. California's
Farm Labor Board helped find workers from
ranks of unemployed field workers.
Entire Output for U.S.
The entire production will be used in U. S.,
mainly in specialized 'sushi' restaurants in
New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other
cities. When productionincreases, the gonads
will be exported to Japan. The fishery will
begin when the company receives special
packing trays.
Kato also demonstrated the processing
methods toaSan Diego fish dealer. Japanese
importers are slated to arrive in San Diego
in May 1971 tosample product and to negotiate
price and delivery schedule.
RD ~S
ee er = aN
os ;
je
~
ALASKA’S KING CRAB RESTRICTIONS
RELAXED
Some restrictions in king crabbing were
relaxed by the Alaska Board of Fish and
Game, reported the 'Kodiak Mirror'on May 8.
The most significant was a change in the
legal size of crab that may be taken along
Alaskan Peninsula, in Aleutian Islands and
the Bering Sea. A uniform 63-inch minimum
king crab now maybe taken instead of the 7-
inch minimum previously required in most
locations.
A closed seasonfor king crabbing in Ber-
ing Seaalso was established: April1 through
May 31.
Bering Sea
In Bering Sea fishery, shared with Japa-
nese and Soviet fleets, the minimum-size
crab permitted domestic fishermen will be
64 inches during March, June, July, Septem-
ber,and October. This size is a treaty pro-
vision. The months during which smaller
crab are allowed are those when the foreign
fleets are normally operating in Bering Sea.
The change to the smaller crab responds
to the requests by king-crab operators during
the past few years.
29
More Crab Pots
Another relaxation was anincreaseincrab
pots permitted from Cook Inlet westward into
Aleutians. The limitwas raisedfrom 60to75.
The previous limit in the eastern Aleutians
remains 75 pots; in the western part of the
chain, it is 90. There is no pot limit in Ber-
ing Sea.
CALIFORNIA CRAYFISH TO FINLAND
FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES
The California Fish and Game Commission
approved on April 30 the capture and trans-
port to Finland for scientific purposes of
100,000 Lake Tahoe crayfish.
Finland stated that the fish will be tested
to see whether they can survive and reproduce
in Finnish waters, where crayfish disease is
rampant.
Swedish Success
During 1967-1970, Lake Tahoe crayfish
were shipped toSwedenfor experimental re-
stocking purposes. The experiments were
successful. Thecrayfish were highly resis -
tant to the infections that have nearly wiped
out native lake crayfish.
—
NEW ENGLAND MARINE INDUSTRY MUST IMPROVE
TO PROSPER, STUDY SAYS
If New England's marine industries hope
to winfuture U.S. & world markets and allay
growing public anxiety about the environment,
they willhave toimprove their operations and
originate new products and services. These
are the central points of a study by the New
England Aquarium of Boston, Mass., and the
New England Marine Resources Information
Program. W.R. Patterson of the Aquarium
directed survey.
>
4
>
2
4
Q
(e)
Q
3]
>
Z
The survey focused on marine company.
It excluded small fishing firms, local fish-
processing and retailing firms, marine re-
tailers, and marina operators. These form
a sizable number of workers in marine-re-
lated business.
The report is a preliminary analysis of
questionnaires sent to 405 regional compa-
nies; 131 (32.4%) usable forms were returned.
Patterson estimates there are 345 to 415
suchfirms in New England employing 110,000
to 130,000 persons. Estimates of sales for
these companies ranged from a half-billion
dollars to five billion.
30
FINDINGS
The study revealed that 43.6% of compa-
nies answering questionnaire had sales of
under one million dollars a year; 2.9% sold
over 200 million. Of the sales, 90.25% was in
U.S. (38% of this in New England); 9.75% in
world markets. Sixty-one of 131 companies
reported some international sales.
The companies expected a 90% average in-
crease in world sales in the next 5 years.
They cited expanding foreign markets, es-
pecially Japan and Europe, need for their
products, and their unique services. About
25% of firms have or expect problems because
of foreign competition, import duties, and
shipping costs.
Industry Predominantly Onshore
The New England marine industry is apre-
dominantly onshore manufacturing operation.
Only 10% of companies operate beyond coast-
line. Manufacturing-fabrication is 47% of
total. The manufacturingis mainly electrical
or mechanical in the basic technology.
The smaller, more highly specialized
firms employing fewer than 50 persons had
highest percentage (33%) of technically
trained workers. On average, about 10% of
all the employes are technically trained.
Sales are mainly to industrial-commer-
cial and government-military customers.
Domestic Sales
The firms are optimistic about domestic
sales growth in next 5 years: from 55%
(transportation) to 163% (coastal-zone man-
agement). The reports cautions that latter
sample was probably too small for accurate
conclusion.
Companies in electronics-instrumenta-
tion, biological equipment-products-services,
and research technology -design expect sales
improvement.
Questionnnaire Comments
The study evaluates business practices:
"The current corporate policies are attempt-
ing to follow the guidelines of the past and
have not undergone critical reorganization
for the next decade."
The report states: ''Marine scientists
must redirect their research, reestablish
their thinking on the usefulness of the sea, and
approach allinvestigations in a more social-
ly related way."
Marine Environment Dominant Theme
Preservation and protection of marine en-
vironment will be dominant theme in marine
development in next decade, the report pre-
dicts. Government aid may fall below indus -
try expectations, so the latter willhave to re-
organize policies to meet this eventuality.
Monitoring and controlling pollution
sources will require low-priced equipment
and improved biological technology.
Every technological device shouldbe used
to find "cheapest way to harvest the premium
biological marine foodstuffs."
31
New ways must befound to use the coastal
zone for recreation--and new recreational
equipment to satisfy expected demand.
State and local governments will seek more
controlover the environment. The electronic
data-processing part of the marine industry
will expand with this movement. New ways
should be found to gather the information
sought.
Marine ‘transport willbe used more. This
will create demands for hardware and equip-
ment. Better methods to load and unload
ships--and to prevent harbor and coastal pol-
lution--will be needed.
Man's use of marine environment will spur
greater attention to biological studies of the
effects. This will change "thrust of research
and scientific development to more socially
oriented programs."
Marine industry must contribute to de-
velopment of new methods for coastal zone
multiuse as state and U.S. land-use policies
improve.
BOSTON HARBOR (Mass. Port Authority Photo)
MORE FISHING AND HUNTING LICENSES SOLD
In 1970, fishermenand hunters spent more
than $192 millionfor licenses, tags, permits,
and stamps--an increase of $9.3 million over
1969, This was reported by the Fish and Wild-
life Service (FWS), U.S. Department of the
Interior.
The number of fishing-license holders was
a record 24,434,680--358,532 above 1969.
Fishermen spent $90,864,154 for licens-
es--$3.4 million above 1969.
Not Accurate Indicators
The agency cautioned that license sales are
not accurate indicators of actual numbers be-
cause: (1) in several states, one sportsman
may purchase separate licenses, stamps,
permits, or tags for different fish species;
(2) most states do not require persons above
or below certain ages to buy licenses; (3) most
coastal states donot require licenses for salt-
water fishing; and (4) some persons fish in
more than one state and are counted more than
once.
Money For Conservation & Management
State fish and game departments certify
the number of paid hunting and fishing license
holders tothe Fish and Wildlife Service. FWS
uses the data--plus the size of State fishing
and/or hunting areas--to determine how
much money it will add to State funds for
fish and wildlife conservation and manage-
ment.
32
OCEANOGRAPHY
AUTOMATED DATA-GATHERING SYSTEMS
BEING INSTALLED ON NOAA CRAFT
NOAA's National Ocean Survey (NOS) has
acted to speed the acquisition of hydrographic
survey data and the production of nautical
charts. Itis installing automated data-acqui-
sition systems on 3ships and 6 of their auxi-
liary 25-foot launches at a cost of $497,200.
The agency produces about 2,700,000 nauti-
cal charts a year for commercial shipping,
small-craft operators, and the military.
Will Speed Charts
The new system was designed by Survey
personnel. It will reduce appreciably the two
years now required to produce a new chart
from beginning of hydrographic surveying to
publication of chart.
It should improve effectiveness of data
gathering aboard hydrographic survey vessels
because it will eliminate human errors.
These now occur during manual, conversion
of data to digital format for later computer
processing and chart compilation ashore.
The new systems also will provide for
automatic control of vessels and launches
over predetermined straight line courses as
they conduct hydrographic surveys. This will
increase still more the overall effectiveness
and efficiency of the data-gathering process,
Significant Advance
The new systems are as much an advance
over present manual system as use of echo
sounder (sonar) was over methods used in
early days of hydrographic surveying. At that
time, the lead line was used to determine wa-
ter depths and bottom characteristics. The
development of echo sounding and exact elec-
tronic navigational control systems during the
past 30 years has significantly improved hy-
drographic surveying.
33
NOAA EXPEDITION SEEKS CLUES TO
AFRICA-NORTH AMERICA SPLIT
The first complete investigation of an en-
tire ocean's seafloor is being carried out by
NOAA scientists aboard NOAA's 'Discoverer',
The 10-week study in April, May, and June
centers on a 250-mile-wide, 3,500-mile-long
corridor from Cape Hatteras, N.C., to Cap
Blanc, Mauritania, in northwest Africa.
The project is directed by NOAA's Atlan-
tic Oceanographic and Meteorological Labo-
ratories (AOML) in Miami, Fla., and by the
National Ocean Survey.
The Cape Hatteras-Cap Blanc corridor
was Selected because many scientists believe
it is the path North America and Africa took
when they divided and begandrifting apart 200
million years ago.
What Scientists Will Do
The NOAA scientists will use the Discov-
erer's electronic equipment toprobe the bot-
tom and subbottom along corridor to deter-
mine the structure and to sample the rocks
forming the ocean bottom.
They willinvestigate the way the continents
separated, They also will study sea bottom
for evidence of potential mineral resources,
Dr. Peter Rona, the project's chief scientist,
recently discovered huge domes off northwest
Africa on the ocean bottom within the same
corridor. These resemble the oil-producing
salt domes of the U.S. gulf coast and have
"immense potential significance for petrole-
um industry."
Samples of Ocean Bottom
Coring devices willretrieve samples of the
ocean bottom's layered sediments, Dredges
will raise samples of rocks and sediments
from chasm-like fractures of the floor, The
ship's deep-sea camera may photograph the
ocean bottom.
Electronic instruments will record data on
the earth's magnetic and gravity fields, These
data are useful in interpreting the ocean
floor's geological history, evaluating the po-
tential for oiland mineral resources, and for
a better understanding of active earthquake
zones in the North Atlantic Ocean.
34
Canary
Islands 4
Tipe
F)
Bermuda
Cape Verdeor
Islands
1. Interpretive sketch of North Atlantic Ocean as it may have existed 200 million years ago after continents surrounding
it split up and began to drift apart.
2. The 250-mile-wide area across which Cape Hatteras and Cap Blanc may have drifted apart. It is route of NOAA ship
Discoverer as she seeks answers to mystery. The ship will spend 10 weeks this spring probing sea bottom between the
two continents.
SATELLITE WILL SPEED
TRANSMISSION OF WATER DATA
An earth-orbiting s atellite will relay
streamflow, water quality, and groundwater-
leveldatafrom monitoring stations to a cen-
tral records center, according to a plan dis-
closedinAprilby the U.S. Geological Survey,
Department of the Interior.
A Survey hydrologist, Richard W. Paulson,
described an experiment involving 20 hydro-
logic stations in the Delaware River basin.
From these, radio-telemetered data would
be picked up and relayed by NASA's first
experimental earth-resources technological
satellite, ERTS-A, planned for launching in
early 1972.
The Plan
Paulson said: ''By using the satellite as a
data relay system, we believe that we can re-
duce the time lag between data collection and
dissemination to less than 12 hours--com-
pared to present systems with a lag of two
weeks to two months." He added that "many
of the water datanetwork stations inthe Del-
aware basin are located in relatively remote
regions, and have no telemetry hook-up, and
the data records are generally collected by
hand at weekly intervals."
One data-collection station also will have
a landline telemetry hook-up, as well as
transmitting via satellite, ''thus helping to
provide an accurate cross-check of water
resource information."
Message Every 90 or 180 Seconds
Paulson explained: "A brief water data
message will be broadcast every 90 or 180
seconds from the various monitoring stations
35
inthe basin. Whenthe satellite passes within
1,400 miles of the basin the satellite will pick
up the data messages from the stations and
transmit them to an ‘acquisition site' at
Greenbelt, Maryland, about every 12 hours.
"This will provide water resources man-
agement agencies and officials data at fre-
quent intervals--particularly important at
times of water supply or pollution problems.
"As water resources agencies develop the
means for managing river basins, the results
of this experiment are expected to demon-
strate the relative merits of satellite relay of
data versus conventional data transmission
and to provide abasis for development of op-
erational satellite relay of hydrologic data."
a
NAVIGATIONAL HAZARDS ALONG
NEW JERSEY COAST BEING SURVEYED
NOAA's National Ocean Survey (NOS) began
a 6-month search along the New Jersey coast
inlate Aprilfor over 60 reported navigational
hazards in the intracoastal waterway between
Little Egg Inlet and Cape May. Purpose is to
update nautical charts.
The survey team is looking for wrecks,
piles, pipes, rocks, shoals, and other obstruc-
tions in harbors, rivers, creeks, and chan-
nels.
Hazards will be reported to NOS chart
division for inclusionin 'Notice to Mariners'
‘Small Craft Chart
826-SC' and other charts.
cover changes made by dredging, waterfront
and for correction of
The report will
construction, and natural causes.
os
STUDY EFFECTS OF DREDGED CHARLESTON HARBOR
SEDIMENTS ON MARINE LIFE
A one-year cooperative study onthe effects
of dredged harbor sediments on the flora and
fauna of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina,
will be initiated bythe NMFS Center for Es-
tuarine and Menhaden Research, Beaufort,
N.C., and the Belle W. Baruch Coastal Re-
search Institute, University of South Carolina,
Columbia, S.C. The 2 groups were awarded
a one-year contract by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers,
Large amounts of silt and sediment are
dredged from Charleston Harbor each year
tomaintain ship channels, The dredgers face
Columbia
SIGs
Charleston
36
a problem of whereto dispose of these sedi-
ments. Present plans call for deepening the
harbor channels toaccommodate large ships.
This willincrease temporarily the amount of
spoil to be disposed. The problem is aggra-
vated by the fact that Charleston Harbor has
been polluted for many years by municipal,
These
wastes may include concentrations of heavy
industrial, and agricultural wastes.
metals, pesticides, oil, and other organic and
inorganic salts that could affect marine and
estuarine organisms.
Study Goals
The 1-year study will attempt todetermine
what effect the resuspension of the sediment,
and its associated toxic materials, will have
on certain prominent planktonic marine or-
ganisms andthe young of certainfish. Plank-
ton and larval fish were chosen because they
are fundamentally important to the survival
of a disturbed ecosystem--and because these
stages are most sensitive to environmental
disruption. Data from this study could help
evaluate any proposed environmental alter-
nation of the watersin Charleston and neigh-
boring localities.
R.T. Whiteleather, Director, NMFS South-
east Region, announced that Dr. F. John Vern-
berg, Baruch Institute, and Donald E, Hoss,
NMFS Laboratory, will direct the study.
A NEW SHIPBOARD NAVIGATION AID
A new shipboard navigation aid processes
Loran-C radio signals to provide a heading
angle and range to the ship's destination; at
the same time, it displays velocity and any
cross-track error. The Coast Guard Loran
Assist Device (COGLAD) system was devel-
oped by The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics
Laboratory (APL). In recent tests aboard
Coast Guard Cutter 'Acacia' on Lake Huron,
APL scientists were able to approach within
2 Sgro saan
SS neayanee:
cost he
10 yards of an ice-concealed buoy using the
device.
How It Works
To maintain a true course, the helmsman
keeps a needle centered on a meter while a
digital display reads out yards to the desti-
nation, Relevant navigation information is
presented graphically on meters at the helm,
and on the COGLAD system in the chart
Helmsman's Navigator
This black box, about the size of a telephone base, tells helmsman aboard a ship exactly where to go and when he has arrived. Top
needle in meter indicates if he is going in right direction; bottom needle (both appear as one in photo) lets him know his cross-track
error and how much in yards, Oblong window (left) tells distance to destination--and coordinates are fed to Hewlett Packard elec-
tronic calculator, which has been programmed to compute navigation figures from Loran-C signals. A "O" comes up in window
when craft has reached target point set in calculator.
At right is interface box, which operates Loran signal receiver (not shown) and calculator. The interface unit reads out cross-track
error and speed, along-track distance and ground velocity. Knob is for adjusting unit on its stand at helm.
37
38
room. Meanwhile, a plotter marks ship's
course with a pen on standard navigation
chart in real time as vessel proceeds.
Key to System
An interface box is the key to shipboard
system. It accepts the Loran-C radio naviga-
tion signals from areceiver and preprocesses
them for programmed computations by a
Hewlett-Packard 9100B Electronic Calcula-
tor. The interface unit, without modifications,
is compact enough to fit directly on top of
calculator.
From microsecond time differences in
Signals received from 3 widely separated
Loran transmitters, the programmable cal-
culator determines accurate position of ves-
sel on a rectangular coordinate latitude and
longitude grid, Thisis done instead of adher-
ing to the Loran geometry, which exhibits
position on hyperbolic time difference lines.
Once the coordinates of a destination are
fed to COGLAD system, the programmable
calculator recomputes automatically the
heading angle, along-track distance, along-
track velocity, cross-track error, and cross-
track velocity every 23 seconds. The plotter
marking ship's course on map in real time
also is commanded by calculator after being
fed the scale of map used and a reference
point from which to operate.
System's Advantages
The system is particularly useful in set-
ting out buoys and returning to them, and
alsocanbeused to navigate rivers and chan-
nels. The Loran-based system offers special
advantages in search-and-rescue missions.
The recue ship canbe directed speedily to any
point, and the system can aid the ship to
steer a precise pattern for optimum cover-
age of a search area.
NOAA WILL MAP FLOOD-PRONE
ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTAL AREAS
NOAA has announced a storm-evacuation
mapping program for flood-prone areas along
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts where hurri-
canes may strike. At times, storms, par-
ticularly hurricanes inthe Gulf of Mexico and
along Atlantic coast, cause extensive tidal
flooding of low-lying coastal regions.
The National Weather Service watches
these storms very closely. It tries to predict
the height of the storm tide. It issues warn-
ings of possible flooding as soon as possible.
Series of Useful Maps
NOAA's National Ocean Survey will pre-
pare maps showing emergency evacuation
routes, areas subject to flooding, and eleva-
tions that might be ''safety islands'' for
storm evacuees, The maps will show areas
of flooding at various heights of storm tide.
The first map will cover the shore area
from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans, La.
scheduled to be completed June 1.
It is
39
1,400 DEAD IN 1970
BOATING ACCIDENTS
More than 1,400 persons lost their lives in
boating accidents during 1970, reports the
annual ''Boating Statistics" of the U. S. Coast
Guard (USCG). The Commandant of the Coast
Guard stated that despite the best efforts of
U.S. and State boating safety agencies, and
organizations and individuals throughout the
U.S., the number of deaths is still rising.
The Commandant added: ''We feel that
regulations which will be developed after
passage of the Federal Boat Safety Act of
1971, now before Congress, will greatly aid
us in reversing this trend,"
Property Damage Up
Property damage increased by almost two
milliondollars., Injuries, however, decreased
to 780 from 1,004in 1969. The reported num-
ber of accidents also decreased from 4,067 in
1969 to 3,808.
There was anincrease of more than 250,000
numbered boats--to 5,128,345--over 1969.
ORFOLR ==
% ° GuapLeLoure
e.
FISHERY-ADVISORY INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO TROPICAL
PACIFIC TUNA FLEET VIA RADIO FACSIMILE BROADCAST
R. Michael Laurs
Fishery-advisory information is being
transmitted to the tropical Pacific tuna fleet
via radio facsimile (FAX) broadcast by the
NMFS Fishery-Oceanography Center at La
Jolla, California. Two FAX charts containing
oceanographic and weather information tai-
lored to fishermen's needs are being trans -
mitted daily (except weekends) to vessels on
the fishing grounds in the eastern tropical
Pacific by NMFS-licensed radio station WWD
at 2300 GMT on frequency 17294.9 kHz.
Sea-state information including swell di-
rection and height, wind-wave height and, once
each week, a 7-day sea-surface temperature
analysis, is given on one chart (Fig. 1).
A second chart provides information on
direction and speed of surface winds, location
and direction of movement of tropical storms,
location of areas of squalls and other inclem-
ent weather conditions, and location of the
Intertropical Convergence Zone (Fig. 2).
Within the next month orso,a weekly ana-
lysis of thermocline depth willbe included on
the charts. Eventually, the location of ocean-
. surface temperature fronts indicated by in-
frared temperature measurements made by
orbiting satellites and received by the Auto-
matic Picture Transmission (APT) installa-
tion at the Fishery-Oceanography Center will
be added to the charts. The geographical cov-
erage of the charts is from the American west
coast to 140° W between latitudes 30° N and
5°'S.
The FAX charts are basedon data receiv-
ed at the Fishery-Oceanography Center from
many sources. These include: merchant ship
marine weather and sea-surface temperature
observations, which appear on Service 0 cir-
cuit 8275, the APT installation at the Fishery -
Oceanography Center, Navy Fleet Numerical
Weather Central at Monterey, National Weath-
er Service storm warning bulletins and other
products, and cooperating fishing vessels.
The fishery-advisory service is being per-
formed on anexperimental basis as a means
of obtaining valuable environmental data from
fishing vessels--and to provide fishermen
with information that may assist them in
The en-
vironmental data collected by fishermen are
making tactical fishing decisions.
necessary foruse inthe development of fish-
ery-forecasting techniques and methods for
tropical tunas now underway at the Fishery-
Oceanography Center. The environmental
data are also passed on to the Navy Fleet
Numerical Weather Center in Monterey, Cal-
ifornia, and the National Weather Service for
use in their programs.
The Fishery-Oceanography Center is pro-
viding FAX recording equipment to coopera-
ting fishermen with the agreement that fish-
ermen make and transmit ashore at least one
XBT-BATHY, with probes provided by the
Navy Fleet Numerical Weather Central or
synoptic marine weather observation per day
while on the fishing grounds. FAX equipment
has been installed aboard 13 modern purse
seiners during the 1971 tuna fishing season,
and more installations are planned.
The author is an Oceanographer, National Marine Fisheries Service, Bihe ns Oceanography Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, P.O.
Box 271, La Jolla, California 92037.
41
008
rye} |
002
o0€
“ueyp aimesadurez adezins vas pur yseoaroy a1e3S Bas - [ *6Iq
2008
006 00!
OJINdVIV
(i
12,9834 6-2 ‘SISAIVNV ‘dW3L Vas
NOILOauId 773MS h
(+4) “4H SAVM
‘€34 OIl-6 :31V0
(443) “4H TH3MS ¢€ LSV935YO4
svas
HONOY 4O va" 3IWLS WAS
oOll
002i
eOEl
42
*yIeYD ISPOSIOF JoyWeIM pue putM - Z “OIA
y’sv3s HONOY
T
OJINdVIV
ane
NOILOSYIG GNIM i
($44) G33adS GNIM_ al
STivnds 4O V3aHY"vV 8 YSHLVSM '8 GNIM
oVERBOARD
With Chest Waders, Hip Boots, Or Rain Gear
R. O. Parker Jr.
Neither chest waders, hip boots, nor rain gear will cause
you to drown if you don't panic, Waders, the most dreaded of
the three, can actually be the safest.
If you are wearing bulky
clothing in addition toyour boots, and do nothing after you enter
the water, you will float.
If I fall overboard feet first, or if I wade
into a hole over my head, willmy waterlogged
boots* and clothing cause me to sink? If I
plunge inhead first, willmy boots and clothing
trap air and cause me to float head down?
The answers to these questions are of grave
concern to sportsmen, commercial fisher-
men, and biologists. Most of us have heard
the ''answers'' from various sources, often
with vivid examples of personal experiences.
But what are the facts? As a sportsman and
a biologist, lam a frequent user of this equip-
ment and have repeatedly been asked what to
do in case of an emergency.
To demonstrate to myself and to others
what actually happens under these circum-
stances, and what can be done about it, I car-
ried out a series of Simulated accidents in the
harbor at Beaufort, N.C. In most instances,
I wore a pair of trousers, Sweat shirt, and
winter jacket in addition to the boots and rain
gear (fig. 1). 5
FEET FIRST
When you fall feet first into the water, air
is forced out of your boots but is often trap-
pedinyour clothing, thus creating temporary
buoyancy (fig. 2), Thrashing around in the
water will not only tire you but will also cause
youtolosethis buoyancy, If you are wearing
trousers and a T-shirt when you enter the
water instead of bulky clothing, no air will be
trapped in your clothing and you could sink
several feet; however, it is a simple matter
to returntothe surface by raising your arms
overhead, cupping your hands, andthen pulling
them toyour sides at moderate speed. Using
your legs inthis situationis a waste of energy
Fig. 1 - Equipment used in simulated accidents.
Fig. 2 - Temporary buoyancy results from air trapped in clothing
and rain gear,
The author, a fishery biologist and ex-Navy frogman, is with NMFS Center for Estuarine and Menhaden Research, Beaufort, N.C.
28516. Fishery Leaflet 635.
*“Boots include chest waders, hip boots, and knee boots.
44
and time because the shape of the boots keeps
you from using the surface area of your feet
effectively for propulsion. Rapid stroking
and kicking can eventually get you to the sur-
face, but it is exhausting. Swimming and
treading water while you are wearing these
outfits, particularly the boots, is also ex-
hausting. Therefore, lrecommend removing
the boots immediately. If no one is close by
to help you, or if you are not able to stand,
grab something, or reach safety by swim-
ming just a short distance. By holding deep
breaths, you can float at the surface, while
removingthe boots, This can be done easily
after you have held them open to let them fill
with water. Contrary topopular belief, water
inyour boots will not cause you to sink--be-
cause it is floating there to begin with, and
obviously does not become heavier upon en-
tering your boots.
If you are wearing waders, they can be
quickly converted intoa life preserver, After
you allow them tofill with water, remove them
and bringthem to the surface upside down to
drain most of the water. Hold the top of the
waders on each side and work them behind
you; then swing them rapidly overhead with
the top held open and continue down into the
water in front of you (fig. 3). At this point
there should be more than enough air in the
legs of the wadersto keep you afloat. If not,
repeat this procedure. Then, holding the top
underwater, youcan slide between the legs of
your emergency ''wader wings" (fig. 4).
Fig. 3 - Preparing to swing chest waders overhead to force
air inside,
Fig. 4 - Chest waders can save your life when used as "wader
wings."
HEAD FIRST
When you fallintothe water head first, air
is trapped inyour boots as well as your cloth-
ing. But instead of causing you to float head
down, as you might think, it causes you to float
like a log (fig. 5). The same thing occurs
(provided you hold your breath) when you fall
inhead first while wearing trousers and a T-
shirt instead of bulky clothing. Although in
this instance no air is trapped in your cloth-
ing on the upper half of your body, plenty of
air canbe heldinyour lungsto keep your head
Fig. S - Air trapped in chest waders and clothing causes you to
float like a log.
a ae ee ee Oe a ee ee
.
Stas
celle a
a la IE adn,
afloat. By rolling on your back, you can float
and breathe effortlessly for an extended peri-
od (fig. 6).
You need not be concerned about removing
the boots and clothing immediately. Clothing,
even in water, actS as an insulator. So, if
you are in cold water, remove only as much
as is necessary to enable you to swim to
safety, ortotread water with minimum effort
until help arrives. Remember, if you are
wearing bulky clothing, slow to moderate
45
strokes are more effective and much less
exhausting than fast ones.
Most important of all, you have a good
chance of surviving if you think about what
you are doing and what effect it is having on
you.
At the first opportunity, take your gear to
a swimming pool or the beach with a couple
of buddiestoact as lifeguards. Then find out
first hand exactly how easy it is to float and
to remove your boots. It is fun, and it could
save your life someday,
Fig. 6 - Floating and breathing effortlessly with air trapped in chest waders and clothing.
GRAY SNAPPER
"Investigations on the Gray Snapper, Lut-
janus griseus (Studies in Tropical Oceanog-
raphy No. 10),' by Walter A. Starck II and
Robert E. Schroeder, 224 pp., 44 figs., cloth-
bound, Nov. 1970, $12. University of Miami
Press, Drawer 9088, Coral Gables, Florida
33124.
The book contains two separate studies of
the gray Snapper madenear the Florida Keys.
I. The first is Walter A. Starck's ''The
Biology of the Gray Snapper, Lutjanus gris-
eus (Linnaeus), in the Florida Keys." It in-
vestigates the species' life history: habitat,
color patterns, morphology, feeding habits.
It compares this history with that of 7 other
common inshore lutjanids of the West Indies
region. The author points out that this species
is underexploited.
The snappers are a large group of gen-
erally medium-sized predaceous fishes com-
mon to tropical and warm temperate seas.
They feed largely on crustaceans and fish.
With several exceptions, they inhabit shore
and shelf waters and, occasionally, enter
fresh water. They are rated excellent food
fishes and are important commercially in
many areas. Several species (excluding Lut-
janus griseus) have been connected with ci-
guatera poisoning. Many species are sought
as game fishes.
The author says little is known about their
biology--true too for most tropical fishes --
and the group needs systematic review.
46
The gray snapperis the most abundant and
widespread species of Lutjanus inthe western
Atlantic. It is particularly abundant in the
Florida Keys. There, the extensive grass
beds of Florida Bay and the nearby Florida
reef tract unite to provide excellent habitats
for young and adults.
Il. The second monograph is Robert E.
Schroeder's "Ecology of the Intestinal Trem-
atodes of the Gray Snapper, Lutjanus griseus,
Near Lower Metecumbe Key, Florida, With a
Description of a New Species." It "examines
seasonal changes of trematode populations in
relation to movements, habitats, and the size
and sex of the hosts."
Figures and tables illustrate the data in
both studies.
FISHERY BIOLOGY
"Fishery Bulletin" of the National Oceanic
& Atmospheric Administration, National Ma-
rine Fisheries Service, Department of Com-
merce, Vol. 68, No.2, Feb. 1971, pp. 177-346,
illus., is a continuation of the Fishery Bulletin
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bulletins are distributed free to libraries,
research institutions, State agencies, and sci-
ientists. Some bulletins are sold by Super-
intendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
This bulletin contains 10 technical articles
on scientific investigations. They have been
printed and issued as Separates.
"Young of the Atlantic Sailfish, Istiophorus
platypterus,'' by Jack W. Gehringer, Jan. 1970,
pp. 177-189.
In 1960 and 1962, 154 Atlantic sailfish were
dip netted oncruises of BCF's charter vessel
‘Silver Bay' off U.S. South Atlantic coast.
This group was examined to determine
changes during development. It was com-
pared with 34 eastern Atlantic specimens dip
netted in 1968 by BCF's 'Undaunted! in Gulf
of Guinea. Allstudy material is cataloged in
the fish collections of BCF Tropical Atlantic
Biological Laboratory, Miami, Fla.
"Mollusks and Benthic Environments in
Hillsborough Bay, Florida," by John L. Tay-
lor, John R. Hall, and Carl H. Saloman, March
1970, pp. 191-202.
This report relates the diversity and abun-
dance of mollusks to bottom conditions in
Hillsborough Bay, Fla., where dredging and
pollution from domestic and industrial
sources now control the ecology. The data
are from benthic and hydrological surveys by
BCF's Biological Laboratory, St. Petersburg
Beach, Fla., during August-September 1963.
"Migration of Juvenile Salmon and Trout
into Brownlee Reservoir, 1962-65," by Rich-
chard F.Krema and Robert F.. Raleigh, April
1970, pp. 203-217.
The migrations of juvenile chinook, coho,
sockeye, and kokanee salmon, and rainbow
trout fromSnake and Weiser Rivers andfrom
Eagle Creek were studied. Populations of fish
were sampled with floating traps above res-
ervoir andafixedlouver trap in Eagle Creek
near lower end of Brownlee Reservoir. Age
and length of fish, timing of migration, and
numbers of fish of native or hatchery origin
were determined. The information was
needed to evaluate effect of Brownlee Res-
ervoir on migrations of anadromous fish.
"Distribution and Movement of Juvenile
Salmon in Brownlee Reservoir, 1962-65,"' by
Joseph T. Durkin, Donn L. Park, and Robert F.
Raleigh, April 1970, pp. 219-243.
The juvenile chinook, coho, sockeye, ko-
kanee salmon were studied. Their rates and
direction of movement, spatial distribution,
and successful passage to outlet varied in re-
lation to surface currents, water temperature,
and dissolved oxygen concentrations.
47
"Emigration of Juvenile Salmonand Trout
from Brownlee Reservoir, 1963-65,'"'by Carl
W. Sims, April 1970, pp. 245-259,
Floating scoop traps below Brownlee Dam
caught samples of marked and unmarked
salmon and trout that had left impoundment
from July 1963 through August 1965; esti-
mates of emigration were based on these
samples.
Success of passage varied among years and
populations. It was affectedby the reservoir
environment during outmigration. Down-
stream migrants that entered the reservoir
early in season were more successful than
later arrivals. Also, emigration was more
successful when reservoir level was low.
"Characteristics of Some Larval Bothid
Flatfish, and Development and Distribution of
Larval Spotfin Flounder, Cyclopsetta fim-
briata(Bothidae),'' by Elmer J. Gutherz, May
1970, pp. 261-283.
The article discusses pertinent literature
on larval flatfish of the family Bothidae and
some characteristics helpful in identifying
these larvae.
"Control of Oyster Drills, Eupleura cau-
data and Urosalpinx cinerea, with the Chem-
ical Polystream,"' by Clyde L. MacKenzie Jr.,
May 1970, pp. 285-297.
Summarizes laboratory and field experi-
ments during development of a method to con-
trol oyster drills for use on commercial oys -
ter beds in southern New England and New
York. This article includes the results of 15
treatments during 1961-67.
"Comparative Distribution of Mollusks in
Dredged and Undredged Portions of an Es-
tuary, with a Systematic List of Species," by
James E. Sykes and John R. Hall, May 1970,
pp. 299/-306.
This report compares the numbers and
varieties of mollusks in fine sediments of
dredged canals with those in undisturbed bot-
toms of sand and shell in Boca Ciega Bay,
Florida.
48
"Effect of Water Velocity on the Fish-
Guiding Efficiency of an Electrical Guiding
System,'' by John R. Pugh, Gerald E. Monan,
and Jim R. Smith, June 1970, pp. 307-324.
The purpose of this study was to determine
the effect of three water velocities--0.2, 0.5,
and 0.8 meter per second--on the fish-guiding
efficiency of anelectrical guiding system op-
erating under field conditions.
"Revision of the Genus Symphysanodon
(Pisces: Lutjanidae) with Description of Four
New Species,'' by William D. Anderson Jr.,
October 1970, pp. 325-346.
The genus is redescribed: four new spe-
cies --twofrom western Atlantic and twofrom
Pacific--are described; S. typus, from Paci-
fic and, until recently, the only known species
of the genus, is redescribed;akeyto the spe-
cies is provided. The author discusses sys-
tematic position of the genus, synonymies of
species, and zoogeography and phylogency of
genus; species are compared; there are brief
comments on distributions.
nl
THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, NA-
TIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION, NATIONAL MARINE FISH-
ERIES SERVICE, ARE AVAILABLE FREE
FROM DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS, NOAA,
CONNECTICUT AVE.& VAN NESS ST. NW.,
BLDG. 52, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234:
FISHERY COOPERATIVES
"List of Fishery Cooperatives in the United
States, 1969-70," Fishery Leaflet 627, 13 pp.
This leaflet contains only those organiza-
tions of fishermen recognized now bythe U.S.
Department of the Interior as cooperatives
under Fishery Cooperative Marketing Act of
1934.
No two fishery cooperatives are identical.
Each was organized to solve a problem--
unique to fishermen of a geographic area.
Therefore, the organizational and operational
activities of each cooperative are different.
Two other lists are published, one for
unions, another for associations: ''List of
Fishermen's and Fish Shore Workers! Unions
in the United States," and "List of Fishery
Associations in the United States."
FUR SEALS
"Fur Seal Investigations, 1968,'' by Na-
tional Marine Fisheries Service, Marine
‘Mammal Biological Laboratory, Sand Point
Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington 98115,
SSR-Fisheries No. 617, 125 pp., 32 figs., 53
tables, 3 appendices, 1970.
The purpose of this research on Pribilof
Islands was to appraise the reaction of the
herd to population levels adjusted purposely
to calculate level of maximum sustained yield.
The report has two parts:
Part I--''Fur Seal Investigations, 1968,"
summarizes information collected in 1968
and describes progress toward achievement
of this goal.
Part II--''Pelagic Fur Seal Investigations,
1968,'' had these objectives: (1) to collect
information on distribution of fur seals in
winter, including arrival time of year-class-
es, and their feeding habits off Washington;
and (2) to resurvey migration, distribution,
and feeding habits of fur seals in waters of
western Alaska with special emphasis on col-
lecting young females to study reproductive
condition in late spring and summer.
PLANKTON
"Macrozooplankton and Small Nekton in the
Coastal Waters Off Vancouver Island (Canada)
and Washington, Spring and Fall of 1963," by
Donald S. Day, SSR-Fisheries No, 619, 94 pp.,
illus., 1971.
Predictions of the location and abundance
of commercial fishes that depend on plankton
for food canbe improved by knowing the dis-
tribution and numbers of plankton within large
regions of the sea. The waters over the con-
tinental shelf and slope along the west coast
of U.S. and Canada appear to be one of world's
highly productive marine environments.
However, little is known about distribution
and composition of macrozooplankton and
small nekton inhabiting region off Vancouver
Island, British Columbia, and Washington.
This report shows abundance, distribution,
and composition of these organisms over con-
tinental shelf and slope.
SALMON
"Distribution of Salmon and Related
Oceanographic Features inthe North Pacific
Ocean, Spring 1968,'' by Robert R. French,
Richard G. Bakkala, Masanao Osako, and Jun
Ito, SSR-Fisheries No. 625, 22 pp., illus.,
1971.
This report details fishing and oceano-
graphic results of samplingin a wide area of
North Pacific Ocean and presents data on re-
lation between salmon distribution and ocean-
ographic features.
"Effect of Quality of the Spawning Bed on
Growth and Development of Pink Salmon Em-
bryos and Alevins,'' by Ralph A. Wells and
William J. McNeil, SSR-Fisheries No. 616,
6 pp., 1970.
This report describes_the growth and de-
velopment of embryos and alevins of pink
salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, in natural
spawning beds of different quality in Sashin
Creek, a small stream in southeastern
Alaska.
49
"Predation of Sculpins on Fall Chinook
Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Fry of
Hatchery Origin,'' by Benjamin G. Patten,
SSR-Fisheries No. 621, 14 pp., illus., 1971.
Patten studied predation by sculpins on fry
of fall chinook salmon that migrated into Co-
lumbia River from two hatcheries: the Elo-
komin River Hatchery (operated by Washing-
ton's Department of Fisheries) and the Oxbow
Hatchery (Oregon Fish Commission). Losses
of salmon to sculpins may have been related
to diet and to size of releases, In Elokomin
River, predation was greater on salmon fed
a wet diet than on those fed moist pellets.
Improvement of hatchery procedures prob-
ably is best way to reduce losses of hatchery-
reared salmon to sculpins.
SALMON & TROUT
"Spawning Areas and Abundance of Steel-
head Trout and Coho, Sockeye, and Chum
Salmon in the Columbia River Basin--Past
and Present,'’ by Leonard A. Fulton, SSR-
Fisheries No. 618, 36 pp., illus., 1970.
Fulton discusses spawning areas removed
from use before 1969 and those inuse in 1969;
abundance; and future of runs for: steelhead
trout, Salmo gairdneri; coho salmon, Oncor-
hynchus kisutch; sockeye salmon, O. nerka;
and chum salmon, O. keta. All four have lost
many Spawning areas because of water-use
developments and changes in watershed re-
sulting from logging, highway construction,
agricultural cultivation, placer mining, and
dumping of wastes.
Fulton says future prospects are fair for
steelhead trout, good for coho salmon, and
poor for sockeye and chum salmon.
50
CATCH BY LEADING COUNTRIES 1960-70
Billion pounds, live weight
Norway
United Statas A
1960
1/ Unofficial estimate 1960.
U.N. USES NEARLY 100 FISHING VESSELS
TO SEARCH FOR FOOD
In its search for more food for the de-
veloping nations, the U.N.'s FAO has dis-
patched a fishing armada of nearly 100 ves-
sels to many parts of the world. This was
reported by Sam Pope Brewer, The New York
Times, on April 18.
The vessels fly both the U.N. flagand those
of nations from which they operate. They have
modern navigational and fish-finding gear.
Many vessels have complete laboratories to
study fish, test seawater, and to analyze
samples of the aquatic life fish eat.
FAO Aims
The aims of the FAO program are to study
the movements of fish, to discover new
grounds, and to train fishermen to increase
their catches. FAO scientists are training
the people of underdeveloped nations to con-
serve the catch for use as food--or to use it
in other protein forms, such as flour."
FAO Vessels At Work
In Lake Nasser, created by Aswan High
Dam, 2 fishing boats built of steel-wire mesh
covered by cement are being used to help de-
velop the fisheries.
The first FAOvessel was the 40-foot tuna
boat 'New Hope', bought in U.S. in 1952, It
has seenmuch service: firstin Somalia, then
Iran, then Pakistan, where it helped develop
shrimp fisheries.
53 Fisheries Projects
Today, FAOhas 53 fisheries projects with
investment of $130 million, over 300 experts,
and 1,700 local seamen.
Some boats are built for specific projects;
others are acquired and modified. The build-
ers have been Japan, the Netherlands, Norway,
Spain, and Britain. Each vessel is assigned
51
to a project sponsored by government in-
volved.
A project lasts about 5 years and may be
renewed. In many cases, the vessels remain
with countries that used them.
Achievements
Argentina has reported that the 107 -foot
‘Cruz del Sur' has set fishing records since
its 1968 launching. It operates out of Mar del
Plata as a combination stern trawler and
purse seiner. An earlier project introduced
the purse seine to Argentina.
Caribbean Fisheries
Three FAO fishing vessels have dramat-
ically changed Caribbean fisheries for 16
countries and dependent territories, The ves-
sels are 81-foot twins, 'Alcyon' and 'Cala-
mar', and British-built 56-foot 'Fregata',
The twins were built in Japan in 1966 to cross
Pacific under own power..
These territories, although spread over
1.5 million square miles of ocean, had de-
pended chiefly on uneconomical imports,
Rome Headquarters
Headquarters for FAO's department of
fisheries isinRome. There, navalarchitects
and marine engineers design the fishing ves-
sels and arrange construction and delivery.
The department head is Jan-Olof Traung
of Sweden. Its staffis from Iceland, the Neth-
erlands, Sweden, Britain, and other countries.
Traung says new craft are launched and
projects begunevery year. They are designed
for more than one kind of fishing. However,
making them all-purpose ships would cost
more than FAO can spend and be less effi-
cient.
52
Small display stands carry variety of fish at Pusan fish market in South Korea. (FAO photo)
pene?
ASIA
JAPAN
HALF OF DOMESTIC FISHING GROUNDS
ARE POLLUTED
The Japanese Fisheries Agency estimates
that half the domestic fishing grounds are
polluted beyond the safe level for marine ani-
mal life. Damage to the fishing industry is
estimated at 15 billion yen (US$41.6 million)
a year. This ominous announcement followed
a nationwide survey of 227 fishing grounds
by the Fisheries Agency in late Oct.-Nov.
1970.
The survey covered 44 prefectures, ex-
cluding Tokyoand inland 'Gumma,' which are
conducting their own. Water, sea-bottom
7% OK
25th (1970/71) ANTARCTIC WHALING
EXPEDITION ACHIEVED GOALS
On March 8, 1971, three Japanese whaling
fleets in 25th (1970/71) Antarctic expedition
attained assigned quotas of 1,493 blue-whale
units (BWUs) and ceased operations. The
1970/71 quota was the same as in previous
year. ('Suisan Tsushin', Mar. 15; 'Minato
Shimbun!, Mar. 13.)
quality, and presence of heavy metals (like
mercury and cadmium) were checked,
Many Below Safety Levels
Aninterim report onthe findings of water-
quality tests indicates that 61 (47%) of 129
marine coastal fishing grounds and 35 (over
50%) of 67 freshwater grounds failed safety
levels for marine animal life. The Fisheries
Agency estimated the yearly loss of fish and
shellfish since 1968 at 15 billion yen.
The Agency said that pollution damage
actually was much more extensive because
number of polluted fishing grounds would in-
crease whenfinalfigures are known, ('Yomi-
uri', Mar. 23.)
ok
On March 19, 1971, 'Mainichi!' quoted whal-
ing-industry sources as saying that record
profits would be made from the 1970/71
Antarctic whaling operation. Prices for fro-
zen whale meat averaged $500 per ton; fin-
back whale oil $277 per ton; and sperm whale
oil $333 per ton.
Vessel and Owners
Catch and Products Tonan Maru No, 2 Taiyo Maru No. 3 Kyokuyo Maru No, 3 Total
(Nihon Suisan) (Taiyo) (Kyokuyo)}
(No. of Whales)
WHALES:
Fin 426 763 418 1,607
Sei 1, 356 1,401 1, 380 4,137
BWUs* 439 615 439 1,493
Sperm 130 443 761 1, 334
(Metric Tons)
PRODUCTS:
Baleen Whales:
Fin whale oil 8, 385.0 11,931.0 7,944.0 28, 260.0
Frozen 25, 643.8 30, 495.0 22, 193.0 78, 331.8
Salted 750.7 302.0 416.0 1,468.7
Other - 3,712.6 $25.0 4,237.6
Total Baleen 34,779.5 46,440.6 31,078.0 112,298.1
Sperm whale 15395).0 2,709.0 5,605.0 9,709.0
GRAND TOTAL
(All whale products) 36, 174.5 49,174.5S 36, 683.0 122,007.1
* One blue-whale unit = either 2 fin whales, 25 humpbacks, or 6 sei whales.
54
JAPAN (Contd.):
TUNA LONGLINERS IN ATLANTIC
CONCENTRATE ON ALBACORE
Anticipating a favorable turnin U.S. alba-
core market, Japanese tuna longline fisher -
men in the Atlantic are concentrating on
albacore.
Indications were that U.S. tuna packers
would clear their canned white-meattuna
stocks by April or May because U.S. con-
sumer purchases were picking up during
Lenten season. The Japanese anticipate that
demand for albacore will start building in June
and higher prices will follow.
Main Albacore Grounds
The principal albacore areas in Atlantic
are the northern grounds (near 30°N, latitude),
off Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), and off
Montevideo (Uruguay) where fishing is usually
good. Most albacore takenin those areas are
small (28-33 pounds per fish) and suitable for
export to U.S. ('Katsuo-maguro Tsushin',
Mar. 24.)
* OK OK
JAPANESE-GUATEMALAN SHRIMP
VENTURE WAS PROFITABLE IN 1970
After 10 years of trying, the Nichiro Fish-
eries Co., Mitsubishi Trading Co., and Gua-
temalan interests reported profits in 1970.
Their shrimp-fishing-and-processing venture
at Champerico (Guatemala) was established
in 1961.
In 1970, the joint company handled 1,171
metric tons of shrimp with a sales value of
US$2.38 million. For first time, it declared
a 5% dividend of about $27,800.
20 Shrimp Trawlers
The partners operate two companies:
Pesca, S.A. and Copesgua, S.A. These own
20 licensed shrimp trawlers, 18 now fishing,
and 2 being replaced with vessels under con-
struction,
For severalyears, production was nearly
stagnant. But, in 1968, heavy rainfalls sud-
denly increased abundance of shrimp. The
catch has increased sincethen. ('Suisancho
Nippo!, Mar. 25.)
SUMMER ALBACORE TUNA FISHERY
BEGINS
The 1971 Japanese pole-and-line summer
albacore season off the home islands began
inmid-March, about 2 weeks ahead of sched-
ule. Fishing in April was good, promising a
favorable fishery this year.
The catches, 100 to200 metric tons a day,
began to arrive at Yaizu and Shimizu in late
March, Practically all albacore landings
were bought by domestic packers at exvessel
price of 280-290 yen a kilogram (US$706-731
ashortton), Indications were that price might
advance to300 yen per kilogram ($756 a short
ton), ('Suisan Tsushin', April 10.)
Ok OK
'SURIMI' FLEET FINDS IMPROVING
ALASKA POLLOCK FISHING
During good weather in March, 5 Japanese
'‘surimi' (minced fish meat) and meal factory -
ship fleets made good Alaska pollock catches
in "Triangle area'' of eastern Bering Sea.
The fleets were trawling at around 250 meters
(water temperature about 4° C.).
Fishing Schedule
The improvement in March catch over
Jan.-Feb. has allayedfears that the resource
is declining. Conceivably, the trawlers may
have been scooping up only dense concentra-
tions of a declining stock. From late April to
early May, the fleets were scheduled to fish
at shallower depths (around 100 meters) along
Aleutian chain because Alaska pollock would
be migrating shoreward to spawn. The catch
during spawning season would provide a good
indication of resource status. ('Suisan Keizai
Shimbun', March 24.)
S. VIETNAMESE FISHERIES MADE EXCELLENT
PROGRESS IN 1970
One of the brightest reports from South
Vietnam in recent months was the dramatic
progress of her fisheries in 1970. The re-
markable catch increase was due to various
factors: growth of motorized and nonmotor-
ized fishing fleets, more fishermen, use of
synthetic fish nets, and improved general con-
ditions.
500 fish
finders to modernize fishing vessels and 12
Projects for the future include:
shipboard ice-making plants, expected soon.
On Phu Quoc Island, a fish-meal plant
with a 5-metric-ton daily capacity will be
installed. Interest is great in small ship-
board fish-meal plants because about 25% of
the catch is trash fish discarded by fisher -
men; inexpensive plants could helpincrease
fishermen income substantially. (U.S. Em-
bassy, Saigon, April 14.)
The Fisheries Directorate, Ministry of
Agriculture, Saigon, provided these data:
+ or - from
1969 1970 previous year
Metric Tons %
Catch:
Marine 355,488 441,765 +24
Fresh-water 63,673 74,140 +16
Shrimp 27,504 33,268 +21
Other crustaceans &
molluscs 17,179 28,277 +65
Total 463,844 577,450 +25
_Number of Vessels
Fleet:
Motorized 39,001 42,603 +
Nonmotorized 42,955 45,612 +
Total 81,956 88,215 +
No.
Fishermen 277,118 317,442 +15
Metric Tons
Exports:
Shrim p 49.1 20169) -47
1, 000 Liters
Fishery products produced:
Fish sauce 60, 850 64, 184 +5
Metric Tons
Cured fish 30, 242 34, 425 +14
Dried fish 20,769 27,979 +35
Shrimp sellers at market place of Rach Gia, S. Vietnam.
55
(Keith Brouillard)
56
INDIA
TRAWLERS TO FREEZE SHRIMP
AT SEA
Two 86-ft., double-rig, shrimp trawlers
built in Mobile, Alabama, for Union Carbide
India Ltd., have been delivered to Cochin
(Kerala). Named 'Lakshmi' and 'Sunita Rani,'
they will help modernize India's large shrimp
industry.
Fig. 1 - A vast shrimp bed off Kerala, India, is fished by hun-
dreds of Indian boats. FAO states the bed is more than 120
miles long and 4 to 6 mikes wide. The bed yields the large,
succulent prawns, prized in N. America and Europe.
Plants in Cochin freeze, pack, and export the shrimp, which
eam much-needed hard currency.
FAO has aided Indian Fishery development in boat design and
construction, mechanization, and gear technology. Hundreds
of shrimp trawlers have been built from FAO designs.
In this photo are fisherman's house and fish-landing quay. Catch,
mostly prawns, is sun dried. (FAO: C. Day)
The boats are equipped with freezers and
refrigerated holds. The shrimp are cleaned
and processed aboard within an hour of cap-
ture.
A Third Trawler
Each boat has a capacity to catch and
process 500,000 lbs. of shrimp a year. They
will work at seafor 15-day periods. A third
trawler, builtin Bombay, willjoin them later.
The frozen shrimp will be shipped to the
U.S., Western Europe, and Japan. ('Fishing
News International', Mar. 1971.)
ae
5 > <e ay a
eS s
aes, LE
Fig. 2 - Prawns sun drying at Cochin. This preservation method
is used for local sales and nearby export markets, Quick-freez-
ing and packing plants prepare prawns for export to European
and N. American markets. (FAO: C. Day)
EUROPE
REPORT 2ND MILL PLANNED AT LAKE BAIKAL
The Soviet government is proceeding with
plans to build a second wood -pulp mill on Lake
Baikal's shore, a conservationist has re-
vealed. The report, from Theodore Shabad in
Moscow, appearedin The New York Times on
April 18.
U. S. S.
vee Dots
NN.
Ne
=~.
eee! 5 a
t .
MONGOLIA pe
a
\
Sp
Vas
Qatisran f
INDIA} nf ry wal
\Y BURMA 2.95
Soaks DEM
Some Soviet ecologists point to Lake Baikal
as a strikingexample of the misuse of water
resources in their country.
Nikolai G. Ovsyannikov, the conservation-
ist, promisedthat a modern waste -treatment
plant would maintain Baikal's unusual purity.
But his disclosure has rekindled an old con-
troversy.
First Mill in 1966
Conservationists have been worrying about
Baikal's future since 1966, whenthe first pulp
mill began operations in Baikalsk, a town on
the lake's southwest end. They protested the
discharge of effluents. To meet their pro-
tests, a specially designed treatment plan was
added to the mill. This did not placate the
critics, who argued that no treatment plant
could preserve the lake's quality. The re-
markably transparent water contains many
unusual plant and animal species,
2nd Long Planned
Planning the second mill has proceeded
sporadically, as controversy heated and
57
cooled, for about adecade,. The site is Selen-
ginsk, near Kamensk, 100 miles northeast of
mill one.
Ovsyannikov stated at a Moscow news con-
ference held during meeting of Society of the
Conservation of Nature: ‘An advanced 3-
stage treatment system will remove all toxic
material from waste waters and preserve
Baikal as one of the cleanest lakes in the
world,"
He is president of the society, a Russian
Republic organization, which claims 19 mil-
lion members,
Other Soviet republics have similar so-
cieties.
Conservationists vs. Planners
Baikalis anold battleground between con-
servationists and industrial planners--de-
spite the adoptionin 1969 of a decree ordering
strict measures to halt pollution.
The industrial planners argue that the for-
ests of Baikal region must be cut because
country badly needs pulp for the tough cord
used in cars and in airplane tires.
58
USSR (Contd.):
SOME DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS:
1971-75
Expansion plans for the Soviet fishing fleet
continue full speed: the Fisheries Ministry
announced a 30% increase in BMRTs (Soviet -
built factory stern trawlers of 'Maiakovskii'
class) for 1971-75. East German deliveries
of fishing vessels willcontinue at same pace.
Domestic construction of 'super-trawlers"
is being pushed,
Catamaran fishing vessels have not yet
reached commercial stage, but tests will
continue.
Gear
The fleet will be equipped with electronic
trawl-control devices for midwater trawls,
and with wide-mesh nets. Purse seining will
be adopted on large scale. Three techniques
are being perfected for industrial use: (a)
discharging catch from purse seines by
pumps, (b) "contactless" transshipment of
catch, (c) container delivery of catches to
motherships,
Fishing Off U.S. and Canada
'Atlantik'-class stern trawlers are being
dispatched to fish for herring and mackerel
inthe area supervised by International Com-
mission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.
Explorationfor new herring grounds is being
intensified. Fishing on Continental Slope
(depths between 500 and 1,500 meters) is
being tested.
ICELAND
RECORD CAPELIN CATCH EXPECTED
The 1971 capelin season, which started
Feb. 16, promises to be the best ever. By
March 7, 60 boats had caught 117,000 metric
tons, compared with 68,000 at same time in
1970.
As of March 10, with weather ideal, there
was no endin sight to large catches. A sec-
ond large run had been tracked off southeast
coast. It was expected to follow along south
coast on heels of first run, which earlier
reached southwest tip. Storage tanks were
overflowing; some boats had to come as far
as Reykjavik to unload,
The season was expected to last through
March, Lastyear's record catchwas 191,000
metric tons; the 1971 prospects were even
better.
Unrelated to Norwegian Stocks
Ichthyologists say the different number of
vertebrae in Icelandic stocks indicates no
connection to Norwegian stocks. They also
claim that stocks of capelin are not endan-
gered by huge catch as the herring stocks
were.
Advance Contracts
More capelin meal has been sold under
advance contracts than last year. Contracts
have been signed with Sweden, Denmark, U.K.,
and Poland for 20,300 metric tons and 7,200
metric tons of capelin oil.
Prices are only slightly higher than last
year's: US$3.24-$3.36 per protein unit for
meal, and about $238 per metric ton for oil.
Advance contracts for sale of 5,600 metric
tons of frozencapelinto Japan also have been
signed at prices varyingfrom $80 to $190 per
ton according to roe content of mature
females. These roe-richcapelin are delica-
cies in bars.
1970 Exports
In 1970, Iceland's total capelin exports
were (metrictons): frozen 1,020; meal
29,776; oil 5,742. Japanreceived all the fro-
zen capelin, The largest buyers of meal and
oilwere Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Britain,
Hungary, and East Germany. (U.S. Embassy
Reykjavik, Mar. 10.)
WEST GERMANY
DEEP-SEA FLEET TO ADD 15
FACTORY STERN TRAWLERS
West Germantrawler owners have ordered
15 new factory stern trawlers from 4 ship-
yards for deliver in 1972 and 1973, The
present fleet has 108 vessels (116,000 GRT).
Total investment for the 15 will be US$82.5
million. Such vessels have operated mostly
off Greenland, Labrador, Newfoundland, and
the U.S. east coast.
The new vessels, which have government
support, will replace technically outdated
vessels; the latter will be reconstructed into
fresh-fish vessels. The head of Deep-Sea
Fisheries Association says new construction
of fresh-fish vessels is too costly, but re-
construction of already depreciated old ves-
sel is possible,
Technical Improvements
The vessels, similar to units built during
last 5 years, will include technical improve -
ments: 40-50-ton freezing capacity per day,
and cold-storage space for 800 tons of frozen
products, They will have a crew of 70.
(‘Fiskets Gang', Feb. 25.)
SPAIN
REPORT ON 1970 FISHERIES
The Madrid newspaper 'Informaciones"
reported, Jan, 23, on Spanish fisheries dur-
ing 1970:
The catch was estimated at more than 1.5
million metric tons with exvessel value of
about US$336 million,
Lloyd's Register of Shipping credits Spain
with world's third largest fishing fleet: 1,289
vessels over 100 GRT, and total fleet of
678,436 GRT. The freezer fleet is modern;
even the salt cod or bacalao fleet has been
modernized.
59
Freezer Fleet
The first freezer vessel, ''Lemos", entered
the fishery in1961 andis stillfishing. During
1966 the freezer fleet had 62 vessels (56,666
GRT); in 1969, 123 vessels (110,052 GRT).
Production capacity is somewhat over 3,000
tons per day; in 1969, production reached
146,800 tons of frozen fish worth US$71.8
million. The freezer fleet suffered major
setbacks, particularly in 1968, but these were
resolved through more varied production.
Salt-Cod Fleet
The salt cod (bacalao) fleet had problems
in 1968/69. But it has stablized production
at about 270,000 tons of raw fish. This in-
dicated that 1970 salted-fish production would
be about 90,000tons. In1970, Spain exported
more than 57,000 tons of salted fish.
In 1970, the first research vessel began
to conduct research between Canary Islands
and Sahara. A 20-nation fleet is fishing un-
controlled there.
Exports
Fishery exports in 1969 were 133,876
metric tons worth US$65.8 million. Spain
has a large market in Europe. Since none of
the Common Market countries represents a
major fishery nation, the EC imports much
from outside countries. Although Norway,
Denmark, and Iceland dominate those mar-
kets, Spain's products are not in direct com-
petition, especially not in molluscs. Latin
America and Africa are the most important
markets for Spanish salt fish and cod. (Reg.
Fish. Att., Copenhagen, from 'Fiskets Gang,'
Feb. 18.)
60
UNITED KINGDOM
1970 CATCH SET RECORD
In 1970, the exvessel value of British land-
ings in England and Wales jumped US$24 mil-
lionfrom 1969toreacha record $186 million.
Landings rose 21,000 tons to 960,000 longtons.
Landings of demersal fish (719,000 tons)
were at 1969 level, but exvessel value rose
from $133 million to $153 million. This in-
crease was due mainly to a rise in average
landed value of cod, Value of plaice increased;
haddock's dropped slightly. Herring prices
were higher and lifted pelagic landings from
173,000 tons to 185,000 tons, and from $9.5
millionto $13 million. These are provisional
figures compiled by U.K. Ministry of Agri-
culture, Fisheries and Food,
Shellfish landings increased more than
11% above 1969 in quantity and value.
Exports & Re-Exports
There was a substantialrise of 43% in ex-
ports and re-exports of fish and fish prod-
ucts--from 105,000 tons to150,000 tons. Im-
ports dropped sharply from 901,000 tons in
1969to 766,000 tons, but value rose from $276
million to $301 million.
Fish-meal imports dropped from 460,000
tons to 363,000 tons, value from $76 million
to $75 million, There was a smaller drop in
imports of fish oil: 246,000 tons to 220,000
tons, but value rose from $34 million to $51
million, ('Fishing News', March 5.)
ITALY
SETS TEMPORARY GUIDELINE
FOR MERCURY IN FISHERY PRODUCTS
Italy has set a temporary mercury tol-
erance level of 0.7 part per million, plus a
10% allowance, or a maximum limit of 0.77
ppm for fishery products. This was reported
by the Japanese Fisheries Agency and trading
firms.
The guideline is valid from April through
June 1971. After that, Italy will make a
final determination based on test results.
The new regulation can sharply affect
Japanese exports of tuna, swordfish, and
sharks to Italy.
How Fish Tested
During test period, Italy will draw out 10
samples fromeachlot. The entire lot will be
rejectedif; the mercury content in all sam-
ples averages above guideline;twoor more
fish contain an excess concentration; or if
one sampled fish contains 1.5 times more
mercury than allowed. ('Suisan Tsushin',
Apr. 13'.)
Fish stall in Rome market.
(Robert K, Brigham)
LATIN AMERICA
LONG-AWAITED FISHING LAW IS ISSUED
On April 2, the official Brazilian news-
paper 'Diario Oficial' carried the Decree
Law governing fishing within the 200-mile
territorial sea. The law became effective
with publication,
I. Two fishing zones are established:
from the coast to 100 miles, and 100-200
miles. Intheinner 100 miles, fishing is re-
strictedtoBrazilian vessels. Both foreign-
ers and Brazilians canfishin the second 100
miles.
Exploitation of ''crustacea and other living
resources depending on the subject bottom
Brazilian territorial waters'' are reserved
for Brazilian vessels.
Vessels ''in the regime of lease to Bra-
zilian legal entities, having headquarters in
Brazil" are consideredtobe 'equal’ to local
vessels,
In "special circumstances," the Ministry
of Agriculture, through SUDEPE (Brazilian
fisheries ministry), in consultation with the
Navy, might permit foreign fishing within
inner 100-mile zone. Legislation covering
fishery research vessels will be dealt with
later.
Registration
II. Both national and foreign vessels must
be registered, 'National'' status will be
granted "exclusively to Brazilian born or
naturalized citizens or companies organized
in the country under Article 8, Decree Law
221, Mebane 1 96.
To get Ministry of Agriculture authoriza-
tiontolease foreign fishing vessels, the ap-
plicant must prove: his capitalis owned pre-
dominantly by Brazilians; the crew has the
stipulated number of Brazilians; the opera-
tion will expand exports or supplies in a def-
icit production zone. The leasing authoriza-
tion, good for one year, may be extended for
one more. After lease termination, the ves-
sel must be ''nationalized'' to continue op-
eration,
Foreign vessels not on lease may fish with-
in the outer 100-mile zone when authorized.
Authorization for a maximum of one year is
renewable. It will stipulate equipment and
process permitted.
The request for authorization to SUDEPE
must be made by a "reliable Brazilian legal
entity,'' which willassume legal and financial
responsibilities. The application should in-
clude name, nationality, description of vessel
and gear; also, astatement that there is room
for an "element'' designated by SUDEPE or
the Navy to accompany vessel.
Foreign vessels will be required to pay a
$500 registration fee, plus a $20/NRT fee.
Foreign captains must: (1) use SUDEPE-
approved sailing charts; (2) know and respect
Brazilian law, particularly concerning pollu-
tion; (3) use SUDEPE -approved equipment and
techniques; and (4) report arrival and depar-
ture times in Brazilian waters, plus daily
position, to the Navy. Foreign vessels can
unload only with SUDEPE special authoriza-
tion,
Punishing Violators
III. ''Trespassers'' will be escorted to
nearestport captain. Foreignvessels fishing
without authorization will be prosecuted for
smuggling. Brazil can impound the vessel,
gear, and catch, and prosecute the captain.
Violators also can be fined, The navy will
ask for air force surveillance.
IV. SUDEPE will establish catch lirnits
for speciesin each zone for national and for-
eign vessels, It will take other necessary
conservation measures,
Provisions of the law may be modified by
treaty. (U.S. Embassy, Rio de Janeiro,
April 2.)
61
62
PERU
NEW FISHING LAW CONFIRMS
200-MILE LIMIT
Peru's new General Fisheries Law con-
firms State control over all her marine re-
sourcesupto 200 miles from the coast. The
Ministry of Fisheriesis authorized to direct
all fishery development.
Most important, nonew foreign investment
is allowedin the fishmeal industry. Existing
foreignfirms are required to give up majority
holdings. Supposedly, the transfer of control
istobe done without harming the interests of
those foreign-controlled companies regarded
astechnically and economically competitive.
To Redistribute Income
A unique plan aimsto redistribute income
among the workers through profit-sharing.
The workers will share in the ownership and
management of their factories.
The industry is defined as public and pri-
vate, but ''socially owned" fishing companies
also are allowed. The public sector is rep-
resented by the Ministry of Fisheries and
autonomous public companies: Public Fish-
eries Service Co, (EPSEP) and Public Fish-
meal and Fishoil Marketing Co. (EPCHAP),
Private companies may be local, foreign, or
joint ventures.
Foreign companies must sign a contract
with the government stating how long it will
take to transfer at least 51% of their capital
to local investors,
Goals of New .Law
Fishing companies are to be encouraged
and developed by the State in accordance with
a scale of priorities: first, fishing for food
fish; second, fishing for nonfood consumption;
third, fishing for indirect human consumption
(fish meal).
The law creates a Fishing Community and
a Fisheries Compensation Community. Both
are designed to strengthen the fishing com-
panies andtopromote social solidarity among
workers, employers, and the State. Every
year, each firm must deduct 22% from net
profits, free of tax--2% for research and
training fund; 8% in cashfor communities; and
balance of 12% toward community's share of
firm's capital. (‘Peruvian Times', April 2.)
Fishmeal plants work round the clock.
This is view at night.
(FAO: R. Coral)
CANADA
SALTFISH CORPORATION HAS
GOOD YEAR
Despite the problems of organization and
getting under way, the Canadian Saltfish
Corporation (CSC) was able to sell all the
saltfish available and could have sold much
more during its first period of operation.
Sales in such areas as New York, Puerto
Rico, the Caribbean Islands (particularly
Jamaica), Portugal, and Italy were bigger
than ever; CSC also sold in new areas, such
as Chicago.
CSC has a staff of 35, including 8 quality -
control inspectors. The latter's presence
has improved the market's reputation,
In Short Supply
The major problem now facing CSC is in-
adequate supply. Two years ago, the govern-
ment hadto buy up vast quantities of surplus
salt fish for its foreign-aid program to save
fishermenfrom economic disaster; now CSC
is finding that it cannot supply its market
demand,
salted fishfor which U.S. and Italian demand
This is true particularly of lightly
considerably exceed supply. CSC officials
have been meeting with fishermen to assure
increased supply this year.
Why the Change?
The causes for this change are not com-
pletely clear. Tosome extent, this is because
of increased competition for fish from frozen-
fish trade. Market prices there have risen
sharply, sothe trade is buying more fish. The
frozen-fishtrade does not require fishermen
63
to be concerned about 'added-on-value,"
which salting and curing do require.
In addition to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia
and Quebec supply salt fish to the world. It
is expected that these Provinces will join CSC
this year. The supply of salt fish from New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Islandis com-
paratively small; their membership would not
appreciably affect market. (U.S. Consulate,
St. John's)
* OK OK
BRITISH COLUMBIA'S 1970 HERRING
SPAWN WAS WELL ABOVE AVERAGE
The 3-year closure of British Columbia's
herring fishery appears to have achieved its
goal of returning deposition alongs its shores
to adequate levels. The 1970 spawn deposi-
tion has exceeded substantially the 25-year
average, reports the Canadian Department of
Fisheries.
Department's Report
"In 1970, 290 miles of spawn were depos-
ited in British Columbia waters, over twice
as muchasin1969 and well above the 25-year
(1940-64) average of 199 miles,'' a department
report stated. Spawning abundance was above
average in most subdistricts, except for
Northern and Upper West Coast of Vancouver
Island (only satisfactory levels), and Queen
Charlotte Island and Southern Mainland, which
are still below average.
The spawning in Feb.-Mar. 1971 wouldin-
dicate whether resumption of fishing would be
possible this year. Severalthousand tons al-
ready have been taken in the food fishery.
SOUTH PACIFIC
AUSTRALIA
VALUE OF FISHERIES DECLINED
IN 1969/70
In 1969/70 (July 1, 1969-June 30, 1970)
total exvessel value of fish, crustacea, and
mollusc was US$63,530,000, $458,000 below
previous season and first decline since
1957/58.
Bureau of Census and Statistics.
These are preliminary figures of
Spiny Lobster Value Dropped
The decline was due almost entirely toa
27% drop in value of spiny lobster catch--
$29,830,000 to $21,864,000. The catch dropped
13% from 28,884,000 pounds in 1968/69 to
25,160,000 pounds in 1969/70. In Western
Australia, the main lobster-producing State,
the catch fell to 15,294,000 pounds, lowest
since 1957/58.
Shrimp Catch Value Rose
The 1969/70 shrimp production increased
Catch was 29,290,000
pounds, up 37% from previous season; value
rose 47% ($15,420,000). Shrimp is Australia's
second most important fishery.
in quantity and value.
The value of oyster production rose, but
scallop dropped 20% to $906,372, Abalone
productionincreased 13%from previous sea-
son. Australian wet-fish landing for 1969/70
increased in quantity and value; a record tuna
catch in New South Wales was main reason.
Despite slump in lobster catch, Western
Australia retained its position as Australia's
leading fishing state. (‘Australian Fisheries')
* OK
CHANGES TO METRIC SYSTEM
Australiahas convertedtothe metric sys-
tem. It will take 10 years to change over
completely and cost about US$112 million.
Despite this, Australia is expecting great
benefits. At present, Japan, her major trad-
ing partner, penalizes certain Australian
imports that donot conformtometric system.
90% of World Uses Metric System
About 90% of the world uses the metric
system, and 75% of world trade is transacted
in metric units. The only major countries
resisting change are the U.S. and Canada.
In East Asia, many countries have adopted
the metric system. So have New Zealand
and South Africa.
On Feb. 15, 1971, Britain changed to the
decimal system. One pound now is divided
into 100 pence, each worth $0.024. The trans-
sition was smooth and painless. Conversion
is expected to be completed by 1975.
64
AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
PILCHARD QUOTAS CUT
Growing concern in South and South-West
Africa over the effect of heavy fishing on
pelagic shoal fish stocks is reflected in the
1971 quotas for the 8 factories on the coast
of South-West Africa.
Bay, one in Luderitz.
Seven are in Walvis
There is a Sharp cut
in the amount of pilchards the factories can
catch for their canneries and meal plants.
This could leadtoareductionin South African
canned pilchards on world markets.
There has been a spreading intrusion of
anchovy among pilchards off South-West
Africa and, to an even greater extent, among
related stock to the south off South Africa's
Cape Province.
year; anchovy increased from 327,000 tons
in 1967 to 365,000 tons in 1968 and 437,000
tons in 1969.
In South-West African waters during 1970,
the ratio of anchovy to pilchards in the catch
was about 1tonin5, In South African waters,
to Sept. 1970, the pilchard catch was only
46,000 tons; anchovy catch, 237,000 tons.
Pilchard Quota Cut
The government is trying to prevent the
South-West African anchovy intrusion from
growing to level in South African waters. It
has slashed pilchard quota for each factory
from 90,000 tons to 45,000 tons, plus a
45,000-ton quota for anchovy.
PN ne
A Cape west coast pilchard and maasbanker cannery and fish reduction plant.
Pilchard & Anchovies
During the past 3 years, the amount of
pilchards received by the shore factories has
been between 1.1 and1.4 million short tons a
The South-West Africa pelagic shoal fish-
ing season was shortened by two months this
year. It started Feb. 15 and will close Sept.
15. ('Fishing News International')
66
FOOD FISH FACTS
OYSTERS
Crassostrea virginica Crassostrea gigas
Although no one knows how many centuries oysters have been enjoyed as food, it is
known that oyster farming has been practiced in the West since the days of the Romans,
and that oysters were cultivated in China long before the Christian Era. Early settlers in
America were delighted to find an abundance of excellent oysters along the coastlines and
in the bays of their newly found land, Today oysters are more popular than ever. Oysters
are still available and harvested from public oyster beds; however, most of today's oyster
market is supplied by men who farm the waters along the shorelines of many states.
DESCRIPTION
The oyster is a bivalve mollusk belonging to the Ostreidae family. More than a hun-
dred living species inthis large family have been described, but only a few are of economic
importance. True oysters are distinguished by having dissimilar lower and upper shells
and these shells or valves are hinged together by a complex elastic ligament. The upper
valve of the shellis normally flat, while the lower is concave, providing space for the body
of the oyster. Thetwo valves fit together making a watertight seal when the oyster closes,
providing the shell has not been damaged or broken. Near the center of the oyster's body
is an adductor muscle, attached to both valves, which controls the opening and closing of
the shell. There are three important species of oyster which are enjoyed in the United
States. They are:
The Eastern or Atlantic oyster Crassostrea virginica is found along the Gulf Coast and
up the Atlantic Coast to Cape Cod. The Eastern oyster represents approximately 85 per-
cent of the total production.
The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, recently called Pacific king oyster, is grown in
coastal waters from Alaskato Northern California. The biggest production area is centered
in the Puget Sound, Gray's Harbor, and Willapa Harbor areas of Washington State. This
oyster is grown from seed imported from Japan. The Pacific oyster comprises about 15
percent of the production,
The rare Westernoyster Ostrea lurida, also known as Olympia oyster, is native to the
Pacific Coast. The yield of this species has declined because of predators, water pollution,
and increased cost of production. Some Olympias are still available and it is hoped that,
through conservation methods, the cultivation of this species can be increased.
(Continued following page)
67
HABITAT
Oysters are found along the temperate and tropical coastlines of all continents. They
live and grow between tidal levels or in the shallow waters of bays and estuaries; however,
some oyster species live in waters several thousand feet deep. Oysters can adapt to living
in waters with considerable changes in salinity and temperature but the growth is more
rapid in warm waters and a marketable size is reached much quicker than in lower tem-
peratures.
OYSTER HARVESTING
A number of methods are used in harvesting oysters. In some areas, where there are
natural oyster beds, no mechanical methods are allowed and the harvest is done by hand-
picking during low water or by the use of manual tongs. If the oysters are plentiful, a tonger
may takeupto 25 to 30 bushels a day. In other areas, such as the public grounds of Chesa-
peake Bay and Connecticut, only hand-operated dredges are permitted. Privately owned or
leased oyster beds are harvested by large machine-hoisted dredges, or by suction dredges
which work on the same principle as a vacuum cleaner. Suction dredges are very efficient
in carrying oysters and other materials up from the bottom to the conveyor on the deck of
the dredge boat. The suction dredge, in addition to harvesting oysters, helps to clear the
beds of starfish, mussels, and other enemies of oysters. The escalator or scooper-type
of harvester is used effectively in relatively shallow water.
SUCTION DREDGE
MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
Oysters occur along practically every coastal area in the United States. However,
many formerly prolific oyster beds have been depleted because of over fishing and a lack
of cultivation, Pollution is also a very serious factor. In an attempt to assist the States
in better management of their fishery resources, Congress passed two major pieces of
grant-in-aid legislation. They are the Commercial Fisheries Research and Development
Act of 1964 and the Anadromous Fish Act of 1965. Both Acts authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to enter into cost-sharing cooperative agreements with States and other non-
Federal interests for commercial fisheries research and development. These programs
are administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service. State response has been excel-
lent,but there is still much to be done in the conservation of oyster growing areas as well
as in other fishery problems.
USES OF OYSTERS
Oyster meats are an excellent source of high quality protein, minerals, and vitamins,
and they are easily digested. Because of the high mineral content, oysters are often rec-
ommended by doctors for patients with anemia. Oysters can be used in a wide variety of
cooking methods and have special appeal because they are easily and quickly prepared. To
retain the oyster's delicate flavor, never overcook. Oysters should be cooked just long
enough toheat through and remain plump and tender. (National Marketing Services Office,
NMES, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, 100 East Ohio, Rm. 526, Chicago, Ill. 60611.) i
Page
INDEX
UNITED STATES:
Volume & Value of Catch By Regions 1970
U.S. 1970 Catch of Fish & Shellfish Was Near
5 Billion Pounds
Fishery Products Situation, by Donald R.
Whitaker
U.S. Announces First Federal Plan for Marine
Environmental Prediction
The Great Lakes: Their Grim Problems Per-
sist
North Atlantic Haddock Stocks Continue Low
There Are Commercial Concentrations of
Shrimp in Hawaiian Waters
Ocean Quahog Becomes More Important as
Surf & Bay Clams Dwindle
U.S. Commercial Whaling to End Dec. 31,1971
Induced Maturation of Ovaries & Ova in Pink
Shrimp, by Dr. C. P.. Idyll
Blue Crabs Are Susceptible to Pollution of
Shoreline :
VIMS Improves Methods of Producing 'Cultch-
Free! Spat
Saltwater Farm-Raised Salmon Marketing
Program is Being Tested
Sea Grant for Salmon Culture
Strait of Georgia Boasts Annual 'Pea Soup’
of Phytoplankton
Poor Yellowfin-Tuna Fishing Off W. Africa
in 1970
Sea-Urchin Gonads to Appear in U.S. 'Sushi!
Restaurants
Alaska's King Crab Restrictions Relaxed
California Crayfish to Finland for Scientific
Purposes
New England Marine Industry Must Improve
to Prosper, Study Says
More Fishing and Hunting Licenses Sold
Oceanography:
utomated Data-Gathering Systems Being
Installed on NOAA Craft
NOAA Expedition Seeks Clues to Africa-
North America Split
Satellite Will Speed Transmission of Water
Data
Navigational Hazards Along New Jersey
Coast Are Being Surveyed
Study Effects of Dredged Charleston Harbor
Sediments on Marine Life
A New Shipboard Navigation Aid
NOAA Will Map Flood-Prone Atlantic and
Gulf Coastal Areas
1,400 Dead in 1970 Boating Accidents
ARTICLES:
Fishery-Advisory Information Available to
Tropical Pacific Tuna Fleet Via Radio Fac-
simile Broadcast, by R. Michael Laurs
OVERBOARD - With Chest Waders, Hip Boots,
Or Rain Gear, by R. O. Parker Jr.
eA
=F
68
Page
46..
50..
Biles 6
64...
64...
65...
66.
68
BOOKS
INTERNATIONAL:
Catch By Leading Countries, 1960-70
U.N. Uses Nearly 100 Fishing Vessels to
Search For Food
Asia:
~~ Japan:
Half of Domestic Fishing Grounds Are Pol-
luted
25th (1970/71) Antarctic Whaling Expedition
Achieved Goals
Tuna Longliners in Atlantic Concentrate on
Albacore
Japanese-Guatemalan Shrimp Venture Was
Profitable in 1970
Summer Albacore Tuna Fishery Begins
‘Surimi! Fleet Finds Improving Alaska Pol-
lock Fishing
South Vietnam:
Fisheries Made Excellent Progress in 1970
India:
Trawlers to Freeze Shrimp at Sea
Europe:
USSR:
Report 2nd Mill Planned at Lake Baikal
Some Developments and Trends: 1971-75
Iceland:
Record Capelin Catch Expected
West Germany:
Deep-Sea Fleet to Add 15 Factory Stern
Trawlers
Spain:
Report on 1970 Fisheries
United Kingdom:
1970 Catch Set Record
Italy:
Sets Temporary Guideline for Mercury in
Fishery Products
Latin America:
iSraz le
Long-Awaited Fishing Law is Issued
Peru:
New Fishing Law Confirms 200-Mile Limit
Canada:
Saltfish Corporation Has Good Year
British Columbia's 1970 Herring Spawn Was
Well Above Average
South Pacific:
Australia:
Value of Fisheries Declined in 1969/70
Changes to Metric System
Africa:
South Africa:
Pilchard Quotas Cut
. Food Fish Facts (Oysters)
. INDEX
*% U, S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE; 1971 435-342/10
BACK COVER: Gill nets drying on a beach in
Ecuador. These catch surface-swimming
fish by their gills. (FAO: S. Larrain)
Gif:
A UNITED STATES peg
)EPARTMENT OF a yi HEI x
COMMERCE Fi S Pres
=e ~COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
MAY 1971
>
States of ©
VOL. 33, NO. 5
DEPARTMENT ee
| soe Ce
National
_ Oceanic and
_ Atmospheric
<dministration
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service fe eo
|
|
|
|
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Maurice H. Stans, Secretary
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Robert M. White Howard W. Pollock John W. Townsend, Jr.
Administrator Deputy Administrator Associate Administrator
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Philip M. Roedel, Director
COVER: Worker at Sitka, Alaska, processing plant inspects herring
roe before it is packed for shipment to Japan.
(NMFS-Alaska Photo: J.M. Olson)
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
A comprehensive view of United States and foreign
fishing industries--including catch, processing, market-
ing, research, and legislation--prepared by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (formerly Bureau of Commer-
cial Fisheries).
Fishermen's Memoria
Gloucester, Mass.
II
Editor: Edward Edelsberg
Production: Jean Zalevsky
Alma Greene
Throughout this book, the initials NMFS stand for the
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, part of
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Address correspondence and requests to: Commercial Fisheries Review, 1801 North
Moore Street, Room 200, Arlington, Va. 22209. Telephone: Area Code 703 - 557-9066.
Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement. The
Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions of these sources.
Although the contents have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference
to source is appreciated.
Use of funds for printing this publication was approved by the Director, Bureau of the
Budget, April 18, 1968.
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402.
Price 60 cents (single copy). Subscription Price: $7.00 a year; $2 additional for foreign mailing.
CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
Events and Trends..... Bictheil oso sk tice et Noh iol Generates
ARTICLES
Hard Clam Cleansing In New York, by Robert B.
Mac Millan and James H. Redman ..........
Disease in the Lives of Fish - The Role of Pollution
Is Now Being Assessed, by Richard Wolke .....
Taiwan's Use of Fishery Resources, by Yung C.
Slaelales | 65 5 4/66 64.010, 6 0 000 oo Budo G 610 Oop gle. 8 Ooo
How To Instal An Echo Sounder In A Small Fiber-
glass Boat, by Larry D. Lusz .............
The Separation of Crab Meat From Shell & Tendon
By A Centrifugal Process, by Wayne I. Tretsven
INTERNATIONAL .......:... § oo Gam mod Oo 0 .
IAHEL, 55 6 O0 Oro O-0'0 0 0/0 o.6 -0 O80 0 o2b ol b d-ou0 Gare OO
IAB OVNS 1G oo.lG-0ld oo 0000500 0;0 5-0 ono 0 1010-4 6.0
IRICIUP IONS "6-5 65.0 pt oy Ghao oo DS GA ono HOo GoGo 4
TI
IV
Laboratory tests reveal that some pesti-
cides in fantastically small amounts kill crabs
and shrimp. One part of DDT in a billion
parts of water will kill blue crabs in 8 days.
(One part per billion is about the relationship
1 ounce of chocolate syrup would bear to
1,000 tank cars of milk.)
Commercial brown and pink shrimp, ex-
posed to a 0.3 to 0.4 part of heptachlor, en-
drin, or lindane in 1 billion parts of water
were killed or immobilized in 48-hour labora -
tory tests. In the laboratory, paralyzed fish
or shellfish may live for days, even weeks.
But inthe sea, where only the fittest survive,
death may result almost immediately.
PESTICIDES PERIL OCEAN LIFE, SCIENTISTS WARN
Up to 25% of DDT compounds so far pro-
duced ''may have beentransferredtothe sea,
a Panel of the National Academy of Sciences
has reported in "Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
in the Marine Environment.’
The scientists emphasize: ‘This report
is not intended to represent an exhaustive sur -
vey of the literature. It hasbeen prepared to
alert the community of marine scientists to
one of the more serious problems arising
fromthe dispersal of man's materials to his
surroundings. Emphasis has been placed upon
DDT and its degradation products because
they have been the most studied to date,"
The amount of DDT compounds inthe living
things of the seais estimated at below 0.1% of
total production. But even this small per-
centage has had a ''demonstrable impact upon
the marine environment."
Bird populations that eat fish have failed
to reproduce and have declined. And, as
greater quantities of persistent chlorinated
hydrocarbons accumulate inthe marine eco-
system, more species will be. threatened.
These pollutants will reach “unacceptable
levels'' in the tissues of marine food fish.
Long-Lasting Harm
The experts state that it is very hard to
set an exact figure on certain risks involved
in using chlorinated hydrocarbons, but these
risks require serious consideration. The rate
at which such substances become harmless
is unknown, but some of the more persistent
materials remaindeadly for years, even dec-
ades or centuries.
The future may hold even greater peril for
marine life. If most of the remaining 75% of
the persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons is
now in reservoirs, but in time will reach the
sea, then marine organisms will take in
greater amounts despite improvements in
future manufacturing practices. Ifthese com-
pounds last longer than decades, it will be
virtually impossible to undo the damage.
In a grim cautionary note, the Panel states
that the story of pesticide problems has re-
vealed unexpected effects in the past decade.
"Our prediction of the potential hazards of
chlorinated hydrocarbons in the marine en-
vironment may be vastly underestimated.’
PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS
The NAS Panel recommends:
e@ An extensive and immediate U.S. effort
should be made todrastically reduce es-
cape of persistent toxicants into the en-
vironment. The goal would be to virtually
end this escape as soon as possible.
e Design programs to: determine entry
rates of each pollutant into oceans; make
base-line determinations of how these
pollutants are distributed inthe different
parts of that environment. Later, a pro-
gram should be devised tomonitor long-
term trends to see what progress has
been made--''and to document possible
disaster."
e Because the evidence shows some of
these substances degrade the environ-
ment, the laws covering registration of
chemical substances and release of pro-
duction figures by government ' ‘should
be examined and perhaps revised.'
U.S. & WORLD PRODUCTION OF
CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS
Th U.S. uses about 30% of its production
of DDT and 70-80% of its production of the
aldrin-toxaphene group: aldrin, chlordane,
dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and toxaphene,
World production data are hard to obtain
because the available informationis inade-
quate, But FAOdata in 1969 suggest ''that the
total world production of DDT and the aldrin-
toxaphene group is probably no more than one
and one half times that of the U.S."
It is "even more pressing"' to learn the
production figures for the polychlorinated bi-
phenyls, which have beenused since the early
1930s,
PANEL ON MONITORING PERSISTENT
PESTICIDES IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
of the
COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Edward D. Goldberg, Chairman
Philip Butler
Paul Meier
David Menzel
Gerald Paulik
Robert Risebrough
Lucille F. Stickel
ROUTES OF DDT RESIDUES + PCBs
TO MARINE ENVIRONMENT
After DDTis applied on land, its residues
make their way tothe ocean via rivers, sew-
age outfalls, and the atmosphere. DDT resi-
dues are DDT, DDE, and DDD. DDD and DDE
are metabolites of DDT; DDD itself is a pes-
ticide.
DDT residues reach the atmosphere in
several ways; aerialdrift during application
by rapid vaporization from water surfaces,
and by vaporization from plants and soils.
Whenthey are in the atmosphere, DDT resi-
dues may travel thousands of miles. They
enter the oceaninprecipitation or in dry fall-
out. The NAS Panel states: ''There are few
datafor estimating these rates of transfer."
DISTRIBUTION OF CHLORINATED
HYDROCARBONS IN MARINE
ENVIRONMENT
There are few data to document concen-
tration of chlorinated hydrocarbons (includ-
ing PCBs) in open-ocean environment. But
some observations reveal that DDT and its
residues are probably distributed throughout
marine biosphere.
e Gray whales concentrate up tofour tenths
(0.4) of a part of DDT residues in a million
parts of their blubber. These whales feed
largely on bottom-dwelling organisms in the
Chukchi and Bering Seas. Sperm whales feed
on larger open-sea organisms.
e Sea birds--petrels and shearwaters--
feed on planktonic organisms far from land.
Their concentrations of DDT residues run as
high as 10 ppm,
e Such migratory fish as tuna harbor as
muchas 2 ppmintheir gonads. Other marine
mammals carry as much as 800 ppm in their
fat. It is not known whether these concen-
trations resulted from localized contact in
coastal waters--or were accumulated during
their life in the open ocean.
e Inthe coastal environment, DDT and its
residues range from undetectable levels to
5.4 ppm in oysters. Concentrations within
these limits are highly variable, even within
same estuary.
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
The NAS Panel states: ''The acute and
chronic toxicity of chlorinated hydrocarbons
has been identified by observing the effects
of chlorinated hydrocarbons under controlled
laboratory conditions. The exposure of test
populations of marine fauna to several dilu-
tions of these pollutants in flowing seawater
has shownthat they affect growth, reproduc-
tion, and mortality at concentrations current -
ly existing in the coastal environments."
PLANKTON
Adding chlorinated hydrocarbons to lab-
oratory cultures of molluscan larvae--and
the phytoplankton they eat--causes (with in-
creasing concentrations) ''decreased growth
rates, developmental failures, and increased
mortality."
In one southeastern U.S. estuary, toxa-
phene levels were high enough to have killed
most of phytoplankton suitable as food for
molluscan larvae.
In the open ocean, phytoplankton are the
base of the foodchain. They may be primary
concentrators of chlorinated hydrocarbons
from the water.
CRUSTACEANS
In bioassay tests, laboratory populations
of commercialspecies of shrimp and crabs,
and zooplankton, are killed by exposure to
chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as DDT and
PCB, in parts per billion (ppb).
Exposing shrimp continuously to DDT con-
centrations of 0.2 ppb killed all of them in 18
days. A concentration of 0.12 ppb killed all
in 28 days.
Such concentrations have been found in
Texas rivers flowing into commercially im-
portant shrimp nursery areas. In such con-
taminated areas, there are significant mor-
talities of juvenile crustaceans.
In California, declining production of Dun-
genesscrabs ''may be associated" with DDT
residues in the developing larvae.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254)
at 5ppbkilled 72% of test populations of pink
shrimp (Penaeus duorarum) in 20days.
These shrimp had accumulated 33 ppm of
PCB in their tissues.
MOLLUSKS S
The chlorinated pesticides and PCBs hin-
der oyster growth. One ppr of PCB Aroclor
1254 produces 20% decrease in shell growth.
Many pesticides interfere with oyster
growth at levels as low as 0.1 ppb.
Mollusks concentrate these chemicals.
They indicate pollution levels in marine wa-
ters. Monitoring coastal samples have shown
that amount of chlorinated hydrocarbon resi-
dues inmollusks are correlated directly with
applicationrates of these agricultural chem-
icals in adjacent river basins.
FISH
Nearly the world over, marine fish are
contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbon
residues. There are expected concentrations
in such lipid tissues as the ovary.
Onthe south Texas coast, in speckled sea
trout, DDT residues in ripe eggs are about
8 ppm. This level may be compared with
residue of 5 ppm in freshwater trout that
causes 100% failure indevelopment of sac fry
or young fish.
"The evidence is presumptive for similar
reproductive failure in the sea trout." In
Texas's Laguna Madre, sea-trout inventories
declined progressively from 30 fish per acre
in 1964 to 0.2 fish per acre in 1969. Few
juvenile fish have been observed in recent
years. But only 100 miles away, in less con-
taminated estuaries, the distribution of sea-
trout year-classes is normal.
In California, the sale of some mackerel
has beenbanned because DDT residues were
too high, even in the processed fish,
In the Mississippi River, in 1963-64, a
large fish kill was traced to chemicals en-
tering river system from insecticide -manu-
facturing plant. Very high endrin amounts
were foundinnearby sewers and in riverside
dump.
Laboratory experiments showed that con-
centration of several chlorinated hydrocar-
bons, including DDE, damage reproductive
success of birds, fish, and marine inverte-
brates.
BIRDS
"Chlorinated hydrocarbon residues have
seriously affected both adult birds and their
reproduction."
Deaths of bald eagles, common loon, and
peregrine falcons have been correlated with
deadly amounts of chlorinated hydrocarbons
in body tissues.
In the Netherlands, many coastal birds
died and the population of sandwich tern
declined. This was traced to dieldrin
contamination of Dutch Wadden Sea and coast-
al North Sea resulting from factory effluent.
In the Baltic Sea, sea eagle reproduction
has failed and deaths occurred because of
very high levels of DDT compounds and PCB
in the tissues.
Studies of museum series of eggs showed
that, since mid-1940s, eggshell thinning has
occurredinmany species of fish-eating birds
and birds of prey. Where there was shell
thinning, the population usually declined.
Eggshell thinning and the population decline
that followed were linked to chlorinated hy-
drocarbon residues in eggs and in body tis-
sues of birds.
In U.S. Atlantic Coast sites, black duck egg
samples showed highest residues of chlori-
nated hydrocarbons in states where duck re-
production is poorest.
In southern California's marine ecosys-
tem, concentrations of DDT compounds in fish
may be greater than 10 ppm. In 1969, there
was a catastrophic failure of reproduction
among brown pelicans on Anacapa Island as
a result of egg-shell collapse.
BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS
The Panel states that ''several physiolog-
ical effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons could
account for shell thinning and for the abnor-
mal behavior observed incontaminated popu-
lations."
When they affect nerves, the chlorinated
hydrocarbons, including DDE, "are believed
to block the ion-transport process by inhib-
iting one or more ATPases inthe nerve mem-
brane that causes the required energy to be
made available."
RECOMMENDATION: A NATIONAL EFFORT
TO CURTAIL LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF
CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS ON
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
The Panel makes clear that these changes
in the earth's living systems are part of an
even more portentous pattern of changes in
the structure of the natural communities of
estuaries, coastal regions, and the oceans."
The familiar pattern is connected with step-
ped-up eutrophication and pollution of water
bodies.
In the water, simplified communities of
eutrophic lakes and estuaries develop. Har-
vestable fish populations often are depressed.
Bird populations are dominated by scaveng-
ers, such as the herring gull.
The problem in the water is greater than
that on land. This is because reduction of
consumer populations is accompanied by a
shift in plant species to hardy algae. The
algae arenoteatenby grazers. Worse, their
production accumulates. There is less oxy-
gen. And, the potential of the area to support
man further diminishes.
Many factors cause these changes. But,
the Panel states, the building up of persistent
chlorinated hydrocarbons in estuaries and in
coastal waters have madethese agents major
factors in speeding this pattern of change.
The Panelrecommends: ''A massive na-
tional effort to effect a drastic reduction of
the escape of persistent toxicants into the
environment, withthe ultimate aim of achiev-
ing virtual cessation in the shortest possible
time. Only in this way can we hope to cur-
tailthe deleterious effects of chlorinated hy-
drocarbons upon community structure."
RECOMMENDATION: A CHLORINATED
HYDROCARBON BASE-LINE PROGRAM
FOR THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
There has been little analysis of chlorin-
ated hydrocarbons inmaterials from the ma-
rine environment--andfrom parts of atmos-
phere and continental hydrosphere that
provide these pollutants to the waters.
An effective monitoring program cannot
begin ‘until the present dissemination of
these materials at the earth's surface is
detailed." A beginning can be made with a
reasonable monitoring program by using a
base-line study. This would determine con-
centrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons in
geological and biological components of the
marine environment, and in their transport-
ing agencies. ''Such aninvestigationcan con-
ceivably be carried out in a year."
The Panel believes that using a single
laboratory tomanage the program would min-
imize standardization problems of sample
preparation andhandling. Itthinks of a thou-
sand analyses during the first year's base-
line program. "Temporal, geographic, and
spatial sampling procedures will be formu-
lated for each of the groups of substances,"
RECOMMENDATION: REMOVAL OF
OBSTACLES TO PUBLIC ACCESS TO
CHEMICAL PRODUCTION DATA
The NAS Panel lists among the causes
contributing tolack of available data on chlo-
rinated hydrocarbons a legal structure: when
there are nomore than 2 producers, they can
withhold production figures as privileged in-
formation,
The scientists believe that "it is not in the
public interest for government tomaintain as
privileged data that are necessary for re-
search into the state of our environment and
for an assessment of its condition."
And the Panelconcludes; ''We recommend
that the laws relating to the registration of
chemical substances and to the release of
production figures by the Department of Com-
merce and the Bureau of the Census be re-
examined and revised in the light of existing
evidence of environmental deterioration. The
protection afforded manufacturers by govern-
mentisan artificial obstacle to effective en-
vironmental management, particularly with
reference to the polychlorinated hydrocar-
bons. In view of other impediments --tech-
nological, methodological, and financial--
such protection is clearly inappropriate."
Where the concentration of DDT is as low as 10 parts in a trillion parts of water,
the oyster collects and stores the pesticides. Oysters have stored DDT during a
40-day exposure period to levels 70,000 times greater than a 0.1 p.p.b. con-
centration in surrounding water. Put back in clean water, oysters can, intime,
eliminate the pesticide.
Typical effects of pesticides on growth of experimental oyster shell after 96 hours.
1. Control oyster with about one-fourth inch of new growth.
2. Oyster where exposure to a pesticide decreased growth by about SO percent.
3. Oyster in which pesticide was so toxic it prevented any new shell formation.
The illustrations in this article come
from "FISH, WILDLIFE and...
PESTICIDES," written by Edward
Edelsberg for Fish and Wildlife
Service.
PUBLIC SHOULD CONTINUE TO EAT FISH & SHELLFISH,
NOAA ADMINISTRATOR SAYS
Fish should remain a very worthwhile part
of the American diet, Dr. Robert M. White,
NOAA Administrator, recently told the Shell-
fish Institute of North America. He said it
would be ''needless and tragic" if the finding
of mercury inasmall number of fishes caused
consumers to avoid all fish.
Dr. White emphasized: ''There is no rea-
son whatever not to eat--and enjoy--fish and
shellfish,"
Pledges Full Study
He pledged that NOAA's National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) will try to find out
quickly and thoroughly the extent of mercury
or other heavy metals in fish. NMFS will
"keep the public informed, not only of those
products with high levels but those which fall
below the guidelines offered by the Food and
Drug Administration,"
Dr. White said NOAA works closely with
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
help protect the public against fish contam-
inants. He added: ''So far, what we have
found gives us reason for optimism. Since
the mercury problem first came to light
about a year ago, swordfish is the only spe-
cies that the FDA felt should be the subject
of a warning to the public.
"T have faith in the common sense of the
American people. I am confident that they
will be guided by specific cases and will not
deprive themselves of the nourishment, the
economy, and the pure enjoyment of eating
the vast majority of fish, which there is no
reason to distrust."
SHELLFISH SITUATION
Richard W. Surdi & Donald R. Whitaker
NMFS Current Economic Analysis Division
Supplies of all shellfish, except calico scal-
lops, decreased during the first 3 to 4 months
of 1971. The lower level ofimports this year,
especially for shrimp and northern lobsters,
has been a major reason for the present lack
of supplies. Although imports of scallops
from severalcountries andimports of lobster
tails from Australia and South Africa in-
creased, most shellfish-producing nations
are experiencing declining catches; so U.S,
imports have declined.
In addition to lower imports, domestic
landings have been down during the first
months of 1971. This drop has been due to
several factors, including bad weather and
lower abundance.
Another supply complication has been the
rapid decline in holdings of frozen shellfish.
Cold-storage holdings generally decline dur-
ing the first part of the year for most species.
During the first 4 months of 1971, however,
the rate was much more rapid than in pre-
vious years. To satisfy the market, and to
compensate partially for declining imports
and landings, processors and retailers have
drawn heavily from inventories. Consump-
tion of shellfish during the early months of
1971 was about the same or only slightly be-
low 1970. This stability is especially impres-
sive in light of the sharp gains in prices for
most species and the lower quantities avail-
able to be consumed.
The increase in prices has affected domes-
tic and imported shellfish. While U.S. and
world demand has continued torise, relatively
stable or declining supplies have boosted im-
port prices.
OUTLOOK
The shellfish outlook during May-July was
for continuation of the first 4 months! trends.
Supplies were expected toremain below 1970.
Rising prices at record levels and expected
lower supplies probably would keep consump-
tion at 1970 level. Demand, however, prob-
ably would remain strong.
Shrimp
Sales of fresh and frozen shrimp during
January -April1971 were a little over 100 mil-
lion pounds, heads-off weight--a gain of about
2% from1970. Sales were impressive in view
of the early months of 1971.
The importance of shrimp inventories was
never more evident thaninthe first 4 months.
U.S. shrimp landings were down about 3 mil-
lion pounds from January-April1970. Shrimp
imports declined 14 million pounds in the
same months. Despite declines in landings
and imports, sales actually gained a little
over last year. The gain was possible be-
cause of inventory withdrawals. Between
January 1 and May 1, 1971, inventories of
frozen shrimp dropped 28 million pounds--
15 million more than last year. Thus, in-
ventories made up practically all the deficit
in landings and imports. Exports of shrimp
were alsodowninthe first four months, This
made more Shrimp available for the domestic
market, The combination of these supply fac-
tors enabled salesto gain a little in January-
April.
If imports continue to decline, it will be
difficult for salesto remain at year-ago lev-
els. Inventories cannot continue to make up
the import deficit. Preliminary indications
pointed to another decline inimports in May--
the sixth consecutive month imports have
fallen below corresponding monthsin 1970.
Shrimp landings inthe Southern States during
the summer are expectedtobe nohigher than
last year.
Unless imports show a quick turnaround,
shrimp sales this summer likely will be off
from last year.
Scallops
Supplies of sea scallops were 7.9 million
pounds during the first 4months of 1971. This
was a Slight decrease fromayearago. Janu-
ary-April landings of 1.4 millionpounds were
about 18% below same periodin1970. A slight
increase in imports partially offset the de-
cline indomestic landings. Increases in im-
ports from the United Kingdom and several
other countries compensated for a large de-
cline in shipments from Canada,
Consumption of sea scallops at 6.2 million
pounds during January-April was 5% below
1970. The decline can be attributed to lower
supplies and higher prices.
Supplies of sea scallops during the sum-
mer are expected to continue lower than in
1970. Domestic landings likely will continue
low. Although the high prices of scallops
would seem toindicate the probability of high-
er imports, this is unlikely because of the
declining trendin imports from Canada. In-
creases inimports from other countries may
just offset the Canadian decline.
Northern Lobsters
Supplies of northern lobsters at 5.8 million
pounds, live weight, were 7% below first-
quarter 1970. Maine landings fell 13% to
611,000 pounds, and compelled wholesale
dealers torely primarily on''pound" lobsters.
Imports from Canada declined 6%.
The quantity demanded during first-quar-
ter 1971 was light due to record high prices.
Exvessel prices generally rise for the first 3
months of the year and then fall in April.
Prices paidtofishermennot only rose an un-
usual amount, 32 cents during January-March,
but continued to rise into April.
Lobster landings, which are seasonally low
in the first quarter, generally increase in
Apriland rise steadily until the peak in Sep-
tember or October. Prices normally drop
during May, then rise during June and July.
The normal seasonal pattern is expected to
be followed this year but atahigher level than
a year ago.
Spiny Lobster Tails
Supplies of spiny lobster tails were 17 mil-
lion pounds during first 4 months of 1971--
down about 2.5 million pounds from last year.
Most of this decline resulted from lower in-
ventories. Imports were higher in the first
quarter but droppedinApril. Inventories have
been averaging about 40% lower than a year
ago.
Demand has beenstrong. Sales were above
the previous year during the first quarter de-
spite sharply higher prices. At 10.2 million
pounds, sales were up about 9% during Janu-
ary-March. Consumption, however, fell
nearly 20% in April; the April decline resulted
mainly from lower supplies. Prices of lob-
ster tails have risen sharply in 1971--$.60 to
$1.00 higher than in 1970.
Supplies of spiny lobster tails are expected
to continue lower than a year ago during the
summer; prices may edge up a little more
from May levels and average well above a
year ago.
West Coast Crabs
Production of West Coast crabs was off
sharply infirst-quarter 1971. Total landings
were an estimated 32 million pounds com-
pared with 49 million pounds in January-
March1970. Landings of dungeness and snow
crabs were about half those a year ago, while
king crab landing were marginally higher.
With generally shorter supplies likely in
1971 for West Coast crabs, some gradual
strengthening in prices is likely this summer,
especially for king anddungenesscrabs. With
prices of most shellfish at record high levels,
and supplies generally lower, the possibility
exists for some substitution of crab products.
>
as
A SABLEFISH FISHERY
MAY BE POSSIBLE OFF CALIFORNIA
Two collapsible sablefish pots, developed
by NMFS Seattle, were bought and assembled
by NMFS Fishery-Oceanography Center, La
Jolla, Calif. The pots measure 96"x 33"'x 33".
The large catches of sablefish (Anaplopoma
fimbria) reported by Seattle base indicate that
the pots fish more efficiently than standard
longline gear.
Abundant Off S. California
The fish apparently are abundant off south-
ern California in100-500fathoms. The main
product in the U.S. is sold smoked, but local
restaurateurs and fish dealers have shown
interest in marketing the fresh product.
In the past, sablefish landings in southern
California have been almost zero. R. Green
of La Jolla is trying tointerest local fisher-
men in making trial market catches.
JUVENILE JACK MACKEREL
ADAPT TO FOOD DEPRIVATION
As part of its study of the ability of juvenile
fish to survive food deprivation, NMFS La
Jolla completed measurements of the respi-
ration of starved jack mackerel. The re-
searchers found that the basal level of res-
piration did not differ significantly from
control, well-fed fish; it indicated that food
energy is used up at about the same rate dur-
ing starvation.
The Testing
The starved fish lost weight and 2-3g of
body fat. But, after 45 days, these fish still
were able to swim at sustained speeds only
slightly slower than well-fed fish. This took
place in an exercise machine where swim-
ming speed was controlled. However, there
was abehavioral adaptation to starvation: the
juvenile jack mackerel, when permitted, re-
duced their overall swimming activity. Feed-
ing began as soon as food was given to the
starved fish. An increase in overall swim-
ming became evident immediately.
NOAA AWARDS GRANT
FOR PACIFIC ADVISORY PROGRAM
NOAA has awarded a $36,500 Sea Grant to
support a Pacific Sea Grant Advisory Pro-
gram (PASGAP). The program seeks to help
many users of marine resources whose work
carries them beyond the boundaries of a single
state.
The NOAA grant went to Oregon State
University, Corvallis. It will be adminis-
trator for 6 other participants: universities
of Alaska, British Columbia, California,
Hawaii, Washington, and National Marine
Fisheries Service.
Fishermen of the northeastern Pacific
usually seek certain species over wide areas.
Often it is difficult to pass along to them
useful extension advisory services. The
salmon troll fleet ranges from California in
the spring to Alaska in the summer and fall.
Albacore tuna fishermen travel from Baja
California to Vancouver Island.
The new NOAA-supported program will
tie the productive marine advisory programs
already in operation from Alaska to Califor -
nia. These programs are spurred by Sea
Grant and state, provincial, and local pro-
grams.
Already, PASGAP has produced, with the
participating groups, the first Commercial
Fishermen's Directory of Emergency Serv-
ices, and an inventory of publications and
films on marine resources.
The NOAA grant will help produce more
publications, conferences, and workshops
geared to provide timely information to ma-
rine-resource users.
CALIFORNIA’S ANCHOVY-FOR-
REDUCTION SEASON CLOSED MAY 15
California's open fishing season for an-
chovy to be reduced into meal, oil, and
solubles, which began Aug. 1, 1970, was
closed at midnight May 15, 1971. Nearly
80,000 short tons were landed, only about 73%
of 110,000-ton quota, reported California's
Department of Fish and Game.
In the last 4 open fishing seasons, land-
ings were 83,473 (1969-70), 28,050(1968-69),
6,506 (1967-68), and 37,615 (1966-67) tons.
NMFS PREDICTS GOOD ALBACORE FISHING
OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Commercial and sport fishermen should
have a good albacore season in California
coastal waters south of San Francisco, pre-
dicts Dr. R. Michael Laurs, NMFS laboratory
in La Jolla, California.
Based onthe historical trend of commer-
cial albacore catch distribution and environ-
mental conditions, commercial fishermen
will catch an estimated 25 to 35 million pounds
south of San Francisco, and 15 to 22 million
pounds northof it. Sport boats will do well in
southern California waters.
Favorable Conditions
Dr. Laurs and his colleagues say that there
will be cooler-than-average sea-surface
temperatures onthe U.S. west coast particu-
larly in the northwest; and stronger-than-
normal north-northwest winds. These condi-
tions favor local biological enrichment of the
ocean and adequate food for the migrating tuna.
Dr. Laurs explained that the commercial
albacore fishery was centered south of San
Francisco during 1960-64. It shifted to Pa-
cific Northwest in 1965 when ocean tempera-
ture in this area indicated a warmer-than-
normal trend. The northward swing peaked
in 1968: 85%of west coast catch was north of
San Francisco, mainly in Oregon and Wash-
ington waters. In 1970, only about 65% of west
coast commercial catch was north of San
Francisco. It appears albacore fishing will
continue return towards waters south of San
Francisco.
Cruise Updates Information
To keep forecast information up to date,
NMFS fishery biologists, meteorologists, and
oceanographers, under Ron Lynn, were
scheduled to leave San Diego, Calif., about
June 28, aboard NMFS research vessel 'David
Starr Jordan’ for 19-day cruise to study mi-
gration route of albacore into U.S. coastal
waters from central Pacific. The scientists
were to troll jiglines and observe life history
of albacore by studying age, length, weight,
sex, stomach contents, and other statistics.
Also, observations would measure distri-
bution of oceanographic features associated
10
with albacore migration. Included would be
plankton net hauls to obtain estimates of food
available for albacore.
The commercial fishing vessel 'Typhoon!
was slated to leave Newport, Oregon (about
June 15) to make a preseason scouting sur-
vey 400 to 500 miles offshorefrom about Cape
Mendocino southward to Erben Bank. Peri-
odically, the Typhoon would radio sea-surface
and subsurface temperature data and fishing
information to Dr. Laurs at La Jolla via radio
station WWD.
AVERAGE SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE
The 11-year average (1960-70) of the opti-
mum temperature zone for albacorefor July
1-15is shadedin Figure 1. The bulk of alba-
core are taken in this temperature range.
Prevailing weather during July 1-15, 1971,
"will no doubt cause deviations from this av-
erage pattern,'' which will influence albacore
distribution. NMFS La Jolla will monitor
evolving temperature patterns to project dis-
tribution as season develops.
RECENT TRENDS IN OCEANIC
& ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
The latest available observational data in-
dicate that sea-surface temperatures along
U.S. west coast from Vancouver Island to
tip of Baja California--and out to longitude
1350 W--are 2° (F) below average tempera-
tures computed for past10 years. These be-
low -average conditions continue a pattern that
has persisted since January 1971. The 60°
isotherm normally begins northward advance
between 1259 W and135° Win May; this year,
it appeared to start earlier and reverse cool
trend. But the momentum of early warming
was short-lived: the 60° isotherm was still
well south of its normal location in second
half of May (Figure 2). These short-term
events at beginning of the warming season help
little to project probable distribution of sea
temperature inmid-summer. NMFS La Jolla
cautions that continued monitoring and care-
fulinterpretation may lead to forewarning of
changes in trends over longer periods.
11
*TeALayUT oules ay}
IOJ UOTIISOd 9SeIBAE W119}-SUOT 0} WITaYIOST SUTITWITT
J 009 “TL6T ‘TE-9T APN JoUOTIISOd jouoTeTOy - Z “STA
Y¥30 109
YSWYVM
(1261-1961)
SOVYSAV YV3A-Ol ----
(2S ——=
1g-91 AVW
WYSHLOSI 009 =
*SUOTIIPUOS oSay} Jepun
STQeTIeEAe aq PTNOM dr1ODeTe 9} JO SOW aTOyM UOTE
-o1 soyeaul[ap auoz pepeyg ‘*TeAtaqut cT-{ Aine ayy
IO} Splety ainyeroduiay soejins eas a8eraAy - T °STY
(0261-096!)
S9VYSAV YV3SA-II
Gi-l AINS
12
UML:
WWW; WH,
WWMM
MUMMY. 4
We
WM
veh
—
WN
WMlU“ymhhn
Ly
SONNOd JO SNOITTIN
- Total west coast landings of albacore tuna in millions of pounds, 1938-1970.
Fig. 3
Fig. 4 - Percent of west coast albacore tuna catch taken north of San Francisco, 1938-1970.
HISTORICAL TRENDS IN CATCHES
Figures 3 and 4 give historical perspective
to the albacorefishery. Figure 3 shows total
landings of albacore tunafor west coast (U.S.
and Canada) for 1938-70. Excluding 1938-41,
the graph shows no significant trends in total
landings. However, a decrease in year-to-
year variability is evident in the later years.
This graph does not reveal the effects of
changes in fishing effort, availability, or fish-
ing technology. Inthelastfew years the catch
has risen--but not in proportion to increase
in effort and technology.
West coast landings for 1970 albacore sea-
son were 57.5 million pounds, higher than 1969
total (50.5 million pounds) and 1960-69 aver-
age (45.7). Probably, the higher 1970 landings
reflect partly the increased fishing effort; al-
though exact figures are not available, more
boats fished albacore in1970 than in 1969. At
the same time, several jig-fishermen indi-
cated their 1970 total catch was down 5 to 20%
from 1969. More fishing effort is expected
this year.
Figure 4 shows percentage of total catch
northof San Francisco for 1938-70. The per-
centage north-south distribution of catch re-
flects large shifts in center of albacore fish-
ery over past 30 years. An interesting and
important aspect of the changes in percent
distributions is that, year to year, these are
small relative to long-term trends. The av-
erage year-to-year change is 13%; the largest
year-to-year change is 27%.
BLUEFIN TUNA
In 1970, California bluefin landings were
about 4,800 tons. These were the lowest in
17 years. In 1969, about 7,600 tons were
landed. Average annual landings for 1957-68
are 10,900 tons; these include the record
17,400 tons of 1966.
13
ADVISORY OPERATIONS FOR 1971 SEASON
NMFS La Jolla will issue albacore advis-
ory information throughout the season. The
information will include sea-surface tem-
perature charts, narrative albacore fish bul-
letins, and daily broadcasts of albacore fish-
ing information over marine radio bands.
The Fishery-Oceanography Center at La
Jolla willaccept collect calls from fishermen
at sea to report oceanographic, weather, and
fishing information.
The telephone number is (714) 453-2820.
For more information about NMFS Alba-
core Advisory Information, contact:.
Director
National Marine Fisheries Service
Fishery-Oceanography Center
P.O. Box 271
La Jolla, California 92037
COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN'S
DIRECTORY AVAILABLE
A useful pocket-sized handbook for fish-
ermen working off Pacific Northwest, the
"Commercial Fisherman's Directory of
Emergency Service," is available. It lists
fish buyers and canners, medical facilities,
motor and general boat repair companies,
marine supply units, marine service sta-
tions, etc., for ports from Eureka, Cali-
fornia, andnorth. Itis a publication of the
Pacific Sea Grant Advisory Program. It
can be obtained free from: H.M. Dail,
University of California Cooperative Ex-
tension, 1422 South 10th Street, Richmond,
Calif. 94804.
14
THE FISHERMAN
AND THE METRIC SYSTEM
The U.S. is the only major nation without
plans toconvert tothe metric system. But it
is being studied. In August 1968, Congress
ordered the Bureau of Standards to study the
system and make recommendations by August
alae
Actually, the metric system has been legal
in the U.S. for 105 years. Scientists, phar-
macists, and others have longused the system.
Many U.S. farm exports are soldby the metric
ton (2,205 pounds) instead of the 2,000 pounds
in the common weight. Some persons are
advocating adoption of the metric system.
The Fisherman's Attitude?
Ernest D. McRae Jr., NMFS Woods Hole
(Mass.) Exploratory Fishing and Gear Re-
search Base, estimates it would take 10 to 40
years for fishermen to change from English
pound system to French metric system.
Dr. J. Perry Lane, supervisory research
food technologist, NMFS Gloucester, says
average age of fishermen in Massachusetts
areais55 years. Change would come slowly.
The fisherman's charts list water depths in
fathoms (6 feet); he hears that seas are run-
ning so many feet in wave height; visibility
at seais recordedinmiles; wind speed comes
in miles or knots per hour; his net's mesh
size is measured in inches and his catch in
pounds (especially in New England) or in tons
(tuna).
Translating English into French may chal-
lenge Gloucester's school kids, who learn
about the metric system, but observers are
reluctant to predict that the average fisher-
man would embrace it warmly.
TAX REGULATION
BENEFITS COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN
On June 9, the Internal Revenue Service and
NOAA announced that those who lease com-
mercial fishing vessels--and deposit money
in a fund to buy, build, or rebuild such ves-
sels--may file amended income-tax returns
for 1970 if the money they deposit in the fund
came from 1970 earnings.
Under a 1970 amendment to the Merchant
Marine Act, eligible fishermencanagree with
Department of Commerce to make such de-
posits. The law allows such taxpayers to re-
duce taxable income derived from operation
of vessels covered under agreements by
amounts of deposits.
How It Works
Even if a qualified taxpayer has not made
such deposits, and his 1970 tax returnhas been
filed, he may still enter into an agreement.
Then he may file an amended return for a re-
fund based on deposits into the fund.
To qualify, the taxpayer must act before
Jan, 1, 1972, or within 60 days after final
regulations are published, if this date is ear-
lier. Deposits must be made within 60 days
after agreement is executed.
Totake advantage of new regulation, write
to Director, National Marine Fisheries Serv-
ice, Interior Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20235,
for information.
W js
— aah.
BOSTON TO HOST FISH EXPO 71
Fish Expo '71, the 5th Annual American
Fish Exposition, will be held at the Haynes
Civic Auditorium, Boston, Mass., Wednesday
through Saturday, Oct. 20-23, 1971.
The first expo of its kind in the U.S. was
held in Boston during October 1967. Fish
Expo'70 was heldin Tampa, Fla., in October.
Fishery industrial exhibits were displayed by
organizations from 31 states and 9 foreign
nations.
Information may be obtained from Fish
Expo Headquarters, 3 School St., Boston,
Mass. 02108.
NMFS HELPS GLOUCESTER FISHERMAN
SWITCH FROM TRAWLING TO CLAM DIGGING
For about 40 years, Sam Favaloro, a ground
fisherman in Gloucester, Mass., dragged for
cod, whiting, haddock, and flounder. His fa-
ther and grandfathers had fished before him.
In recent years, it had become harder for Sam
to make a living.
His attitude was reported by the New Eng-
land Marine Resources Program:
"Faced with unreasonable competitive fac -
tors stemming from overfishing, foreign im-
ports, fluctuating prices, foreign fishing boats
poaching nearby fishing grounds, Sam came
torealize that he would be unable to obtain an
adequate living fromthe sea for his family of
seven, His discouragement reached a high
point last summer and fall when, after chasing
for whiting, he returned to a seaport already
overstocked with imports from South Africa
and Argentina,"
At that point, Sam was encouraged by sci-
entists of the NMFS Gloucester laboratory.
They urged himto investigate the ocean qua-
hog (Artica islandica) as a developing re-
source for year-round fishing. The very
abundant quahog is a potential substitute for
the popular but disappearing surf and hard-
shell clams. (See CFR, April 1971, p. 17.)
Back to Learning
Sam spent November and December 1970
learning about and digging for the ''ocean" or
"mahogany", Convinced that a potential mar-
ket existed, he was the first to register his
boat with NMFS for experimental research.
On Jan. 4, 1971, he applied for a $5,100 grant
to Economic Development Administration
(EDA) in Washington, D.C., to prove that the
close-at-hand quahog could keep fishermen
in Gloucester. In late March, EDA approved
grant. Contract signing by Sam, EDA, and
NMFS would follow.
The Operation
There will be two2-week expeditions, Sam
and 2 helpers will dredge off Massachusetts
under the NMFS flag. The NMF'S Woods Hole
Exploratory Fishing & Gear Research Base
will outfit Sam's shrimp boat (a 50-footer with
western rig). Ernest D. McRae Jr., assistant
base director, reported that Sam will have
15
latest experimental gear, including hydraulic
dredge, air compressor to blow the water
hose, and a 30-inch dredge pump and diesel.
Sam will supply the boat, some rigging and a
heavy mast, well-stayed with a fixed boom,
All data will become NMFS property.
On one trip, Sam will use only a "dry"
dredge. Fishermen call this a "rocking
chair". It isthe one most commonly seen on
small boats off New England. This mechan-
ical dredge is small, box-shaped, and steel-
slatted with steel teeth for digging into the
mud as dredge istowed across ocean bottom.
There-are 8 to 24 teeth, depending on size of
the dredge towed behind boat. It is brought in
over the sternby booms and winches. McRae
said one big drawback of the dry dredge is that
clams often are broken and the meats are
easily damaged.
Second Expedition
The second expedition's hydraulic dredge
uses jets of water toloosen bottom sediments
ahead of digging blade. The water jets create
turbulence onthe oceanbottom. This exposes
clams in path of the blade that scoops clams
into attached steelnet. The jet hits the ocean
bottom about 3 to 4 feet ahead of the blade.
Water is suppliedtothe jets through a 6-inch
hose attached to a powerful salt-water pump
on deck,
The 40-inch-wide digging blade at mouth
of dredge can be adjusted to various digging
depths. Aninclined rack passes shellfish into
the dredge. Two steel frames or cages form
bulk of the dredge and support the jet mani-
fold, cutting blade, and mesh bagusually made
of 3-inch metal rings or links. The cage
slides along bottom on broad flat runners
dragging the 8- to 12-foot bag.
McRae saida 40- or 48-inch dredge needs
1,600 to 1,800 gallons of water per minute--
at about 60 -pounds -per -~square-inch differen-
tial pressure between inside of manifold and
outside water pressure, regardless of depth.
Normally, the dredge is towed against tide
along bottom for 5 to 15 minutes, depending
ondensity of clam bed. Towing speed varies
from 4 to 6 knots per hour.
16
\y ‘paabbeealdeus
WY
TTS
\
aime |
ont
we iN
A hydraulic jet dredge alongside commercial vessel before being taken aboard for dumping. Catch has
nearly filled chain bag.
The 1,000-pound dredge is lowered by the
main winch and a =-inch wire cable attached
to a ring on forward cage towing bar. After
cage is filled, the dredge is raised to surface.
A line is attached toa chain bridle on rear
cage. This line is used to raise rear end of
dredge above deck so it can be dumped.
Can Be Operated Easily
McRae said this type of hydraulic dredge
is commonly used by fishermen to harvest
clams and quahogs. He added: ''The hydraulic
dredge can be operated quite easily from
small draggers or other small fishing vessels,
although this method of dredging requires
more accessory gear and is more expensive
than a dry dredge."
McRae reported that his unit's latest modi-
fication in the hydraulic dredge method was
getting rid of the diesel pump-and-hose ar-
rangement. This was replaced with an elec~-
trically driven submersible pump mounted on
a special steel plate. The plate is located
across forward end of dredge under towing
bar and braces. The 8-inch pump discharge
is connected directly to manifold with a re-
ducing elbow and a short length of 6-inch hose;
this acts as precaution against shock and vi-
bration. A neoprene-jacketed cable supplies
power to pump. It is handled on a powered
reel that can be mounted anywhere aboard
ship. Although total cost of submersible
pumping system is higher, the efficiencies are
greater, McRae noted.
Another Modification
Another future modification eliminates
mesh bag and enlarges after-cage. Now,
clams are dumped onto a sorting table equip-
ped with running water. Fishermen stand and
sort, an onerous and leg-punishing job, which
is going out, says McRae.
He would like tosee a constant return sys-
tem. Usingthis, the catchis brought ontodeck
without haulinginthe dredge. Also, he would
like to sée a complete preprocessing system
onboard ship. He noted that Soviets and oth-
ers now operate such ''factory'' ships. These
are equipped with preprocessing apparatus
and refrigeration. ''So this concept is cer-
tainly not new."
Ocean quahogs seem safe from Soviet ex-
ploitation because Soviets are bound by law not
to dredge ocean bottoms,
McRae was optimistic about this: 'Beds
of clams that occur outside the contiguous
fishing zone (3-mile limit) would probably be
reserved for the American fisherman because
the clams live within the bottom instead of
over the bottom as do fish."
U.S. TO HOLD UP DISCHARGES
INTO L. MICHIGAN UNDER 1910 STATUTE
Earlyin June, the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA) revealed that it would heed
a relatively unknown 1910 Federal law and not
grant permissionto7 heavy -industry firms to
discharge waste intothe southern end of Lake
Michigan.
Chicago conservationist groups hailed
EPA's decision. One of these groups, Busi-
nessmenfor the Public Interest, had discov-
ered the old law and informed EPA,
Refuse Act of 1899
EPA had planned to grant new permits for
discharges into L. Michiganunder Refuse Act
of 1899. This act requires permission from
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with EPA ap-
proval, before anything more can be dumped
into navigable waters or their tributaries.
Earlier in 1971, Pres. Nixon had ordered
a review of allexisting permits. He directed
EPA to renew these only if industry wastes
had been purified enoughto meet existing state
and U.S. water-quality standards.
But the conservationist group argued that
today's standards were much too low to pre-
vent industrial discharges from seriously
damaging lake. It maintained that permits
that meet only present standards were only
"licenses to pollute."
1910 Statute
The 1910 statute has been enacted specifi-
cally to protect southern-end of L. Michigan.
It banned discharge of any refuse from points
along shore of Cook and Lake Counties--
unless discharge is contained behind break-
water. NoU.S. officer may authorize dumping
contrary to this law.
1910 Statute Could Set Precedent
EPA's Administrator, William D, Ruckels-
haus, said that 1910 Act could set precedent
affecting future 1899 Act permits throughout
U.S.
The EPA decision facilitates legal actions
by conservationist groups to have the courts
direct Cook and Lake County industries to
change their disposal systems.
Challenge EPA's 1899 Permits
Businessmen for the Public Interest has
filed suit in U.S. court challenging EPA pol-
icy on 1899 permits. The group wants the
court to order EPA to require applicants for
permits to instal the ''most modern technol-
ogy available'' to clean their discharges in-
stead of just meeting present water-quality
standards.
Tllinois Action
The Illinois Pollution Control Board was
working to adopt more stringent standards for
all State waterways. It planned to single out
L. Michigan for special protection through
new standards.
7 Large Companies
Use of the 1910 statute affects 7 of largest
industrial firms along lake's southern shore:
Inland Steel, U.S. Steel, American Maize
Produce, American Oil, Union Carbide, Com-
monwealth Edison, and Northern Indiana
Public Service.
Appeal to Atomic Energy Commission
The Businessmen for the Public Interest
called on Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Atomic En-
ergy Commission chairman, to ban new con-
struction permits for nuclear power plants.
It asked toothat he close 11 of those already
operating in U.S, untilnew emergency cooling
systems have been designed.
The conservationist group reminded Dr.
Seaborgthat AEC's own studies showed pres-
ent emergency cooling systems might not pre -
vent catastrophic atomic discharge if break
occurred in a reactor's normal cooling sys-
tem.
a
17
U.S. & CANADA AGREE TO
END GREAT LAKES POLLUTION BY 1975
Meeting in Washington on June 10, the U.S.
and Canada agreed on a common program to
end Great Lakes water pollution by 1975.
The $2-billion program's object is to pro-
duce over the next 4 years waters ''clean
enough for any fish to live in."
Unprecedented Scope
Russell E. Train, chairman of Environ-
mental Protection Agency, described agree-
He stated that its
provisions were "unprecedented in scope" and
ment as "historic first."
could be model for international agreements
everywhere.
Canada's Sharp
Mitchell Sharp, Canada's External Affairs
Minister andaformer fishery minister, noted
"most far-reaching
that agreement was the
ever signed by 2 countries in environmental
field."
Sharp had pointed out earlier that Great
Lakes pollution had reached level where "two
of the richest societies on earth are knowingly
and wantonly poisoning this unique resource,
and by extension, each other."
18-point Communiqué
At end of meeting, an18-point communiqué
announced U.S. & Canada would set up and
carryout "common water quality standards"
for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
They agreed to conclude before end of 1971
an executive agreement on water-quality con-
trol to embrace these programs:
18
e Build treatment facilities for municipal
and industrial wastes and animal husbandry
operations.
e Reduce phosphorus discharges.
e@ Eliminate mercury and other toxic heavy
metals from discharges.
e Control thermal, radioactive waste, and
pesticide pollution.
The Cost
Implementing these controls is expected to
cost U.S. about $2 billionover next 4 years--
half paid by U.S., the rest by State and local
governments.
Sharp said he did not know exact cost to
Canada, but that it would run to "hundreds of
millions of dollars.'' Canadian share is far
less because industrial development on north
shore of lakes is less advanced.
Combat Oil Spills
U.S. & Canada will coordinate steps to
combat oil spills in Great Lakes. A joint
response center willbe activated when major
spills occur.
The 2 countries will adopt compatible rules
for ship designs and construction to prevent
spills.
International Joint Commission
U.S. & Canada will enlarge authority of
This body
It has been
International Joint Commission.
was set up under 1909 treaty.
studying for 6 years pollution problems in
Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and parts of the St.
Lawrence that forms international boundary.
1970 U.S.-CANADA GREAT LAKES
COMMERCIAL FISHERY FELL 10%
In 1970, the Great Lakes catch by com-
mercial fishermen of the U.S. and Canada was
110.5 million pounds worth $11.7 million--a
drop of 10.5% in weight and about 3% in value.
U.S. landings rose from 67 million pounds
in 1969 to 70.4 million in 1970, but the in-
crease was due principally to a larger ale-
wife harvest in Lake Michigan. Last year,
productioninlakes Erie, Huron and Superior
dropped to record lows.
The Canadian decline from an all-time high
of 56.5 million pounds in 1969 to about 40.1
million in 1970 was caused primarily by a
sharp dropincatch of yellow perch and smelt
in Lake Erie. Thesetwospecies were a little
under 80% of total Canadian Great Lakes catch
in 1969 and 73% in 1970. Another factor was
the ban on commercial fishing in Lake St.
Clair (permitted only in Canadian waters) in
early April 1970 following discovery of sub-
stantial mercury contamination.
The 1970 data come from National Marine
Fisheries Service office in Ann Arbor, Mich.,
and from preliminary statistics of Ontario
Department of Lands and Forests.
The catch in waters of the Great Lakes
states in 1970 was (in 000s of pounds):
Illinois 405.2 New York 533.6
Indiana 334.6 Ohio 8,420.0
Michigan 21, 168. 8* Pennsylvania 505.5
Minnesota 1,306.5 Wisconsin 37,714. 8*
*A lewives:
Michigan 5,981.4; Wisconsin 27, 478.7.
19
LAKE MICHIGAN
The lake's share of U.S. Great Lakes fish-
ery production was 75% of 1970 total. Due to
major role of low-value alewife--used for
fish meal, oil, and pet food--the lake's share
of catch value for all U.S. waters was 60%.
The 33.5 million pounds of alewivesin 1970
was second only to1967 record of 41.9 million
pounds; in 1970, alewife was 48% of U.S. Great
Lakes catch.
Lake Michigan alsoprovides a large share
of U.S. production of chubs and lake whitefish,
the most valuable commercial species in U.S.
section of Great Lakes. In1970, the 9.6 mil-
lion pounds of chubs and 1.7 million pounds
of lake whitefish were 21% of total lake catch;
their landed value of $2.7 million was 71% of
The whitefish catch
was highest for lake since early 1950s.
receipts for all species.
Lake trout, the high-value species nearly
eliminated by sea lamprey, provided a com-
mercial catch of over 87,000 pounds in 1970,
the greatest since restocking of this species
began in Lake Michigan in 1965,
The coho salmon, first planted in Lake
Michiganin1966, has won an important place
in lake's commercial and sport fishery. In
1970, the coho available to commercial out-
To
a large degree, the fish marketed are bought
lets reached a record 2.2 million pounds.
from surplus stocks takenby Michigan's fish-
ery agency during heavy fall spawning runs.
This procedure permits use of huge number
20
of coho that cannot be taken by any sporting
method--and would otherwise die in the
streams after spawning.
1969 1970 1969 1970
(000 lbs.) (000 $)
U.S. total 66, 968 70, 389 5,968 6, 338
Lake Ontario 294 333 44 79
Lake Erie 11,050 9,546 1,428 1,265
Lake Huron 2, 897 2,411 493 404
Lake Michigan 47,489 53,091 3,028 3, 819
Lake Superior 5,239 5,009 975 771
Canadian total 56, 496 40,131 6, 128 5,391
Lake Ontario 2,270 2,905 330 429
Lake Erie 48,026 31,722 4,244 3,769
Lake St. Clair 919 87 332 41
Lake Huron 2, 329 2,120 819 734
Lake Superior 2,951 Sy CEY/ 403 418
U.S. -Canada total 123,464 110,520 12,096 11,729
LAKE ERIE
Although Canadian landings dropped one
third from 1969 to 1970, the 31.7 million
pounds in 1970 were 77% of lake total. In
1969, the Canadian share was 81%. U.S. 1970
production for the 4 states bordering Erie
was a new low of 9.5 million pounds, less than
half the catch in 1961 and 1962.
In Canadian catch, yellow perch and smelt
are dominant species--together 93% of 1970
Erie total. For yellow perch, a strong 1965
year-class was prime factor in 1969 record
catch. But hatches after that have been weak
So fade-out of 1965 class was re-
flected in 1970 landings. The high Canadian
smelt catch of 1969 was dominated by a large
to fair.
1967 hatch, which has not been repeated.
LAKE HURON
Commercial 1970 landings by U.S. and
Canadian fishermen--about 4.5 million
pounds--hit an all-time low. The downward
trend results from the decline of several
species. However, the Canadian catch of lake
whitefish gained a fraction and reached nearly
a million pounds, highest since 1960.
Pounds
1970
(000s) Total (000s)
U.S. total 66, 968 100 70, 389
10-species 63,513 95 66,927
Alewives 29,248 44 33,461
Chubs 10, 156 15 10,934
Carp 6, S07 10 6, 582
Yellow perch 4,905 Th 4,271
Smelt 3,614 5 3,555
Whitefish 2, 323 3 2,352
Coho salmon 1, 144 2 2,243
Lake herring 2,321 3 1, 364
White bass 1,221 2 1, 103
Sheepshead 2,074 3 1,060
Canadian total 56, 496 100 40,131
5-species total 50, 205 89 35, 463
Yellow perch 30, 468 54 21,241
Smelt 15, 226 27 9,571
Lake herring 2,453 4 25.897,
Whitefish 1, 142 2 1,233
Carp 916 i 561
Dollar Value
% of 1970
Total (000s) Total (000s) Total
100 $5,968 100 $6, 338 100
95 5, 156 86 5,621 89
48 332 6 381 6
16 1,550 26 1, 842 29
9 266 4 397 6
6 677 13 761 12
5 116 2 96 2
3 1,412 24 1,331 21
3 39 1 315 5
2 296 5 170 3
2 365 6 275 4
1 103 2 53 1
100 $6, 128 100 $5, 390 100
88 4,776 78 4,795 89
53 3, 313 54 3,419 63
24 561 9 437 8
7 195 3 232 4
3 621 10 639 12
1 86 1 69
LAKE SUPERIOR
The 1970 catch was 8.3 million pounds,
only slightly above 1969's 8.2 million, lowest
figure since 1900. The1970 catch was a rec-
ord lowfor U.S. waters. The major factor in
Superior's decline has been the sharp drop in
U.S. landings of lake herring. The annual
catch has decreased steadily from about 11.5
million pounds in 1961 to about 1.3 million in
1970.
1.6 million pounds in 1970.
Smelt production in U.S. waters was
For first time,
it became leading species in Superior catch.
LAKE ONTARIO
Commercial landings in 1970 were 3.2
million pounds, the greatest since 1941 (3.7
million), The major part of lake's catch is
taken inCanadian waters. A prime factor in
1970's gain here was the increase in yellow
perch landings; the 1970 figure of nearly a
million pounds were more than double 1969's.
This gain was stimulated partly by arise in
sale price, which spurred fishing effort.
LAKE ST. CLAIR
Commercial fishing is limited to Canadian
waters. Inrecent years, the annual catch has
ranged from about 800,000 to1 million pounds.
However, in1970, the discovery of mercury in
St. Clair waters closed fishery early in the
year; production was only 87,000 pounds.
21
OCEANOGRAPHY
NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE CUTS
GUESSWORK IN SEDIMENT STUDIES
The U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (NOO)
has eliminated much guesswork in investiga-
ting sediment deposits in harbor and coastal
areas by uSing a special survey instrument.
This was reported by Captain F.L. Slattery,
NOO Commander.
The device is a high-resolution, high-
frequency seismic profiler. Ithas been used
successfully aboard small survey craft to
measure the thickness and extent of subsur-
face layers.
How It Works
The instrument, said Newell Stiles, who
directed the trials, generates continuous
wave fronts on frequencies of 5 and 12 kilo-
hertz. It records the time required for the
sound pulse to travel through the water and
the sediment cover. It plots these travel times
automatically to produce cross-sectional out-
lines. These are coordinated with precise
positioning data to make contoured maps.
Stiles noted: ''As the wave fronts encounter
materials of contrasting acoustic impedance
(in the sediment cover), portions of the trans -
mitted sound are returned, in the form of
echoes, to the (water's) surface where they
are sensed bythe profiler's transducer. The
materials of contrasting acoustic impedance
are normally manifestations of geologic
stratification or boundaries."
Contoured Maps Made Quickly
He said contoured maps showing thickness
of muds and clays between the boundaries can
be constructed easily in the field. The maps
can be forwarded immediately to ocean sci-
entists studying sediment cover.
The maps can eliminate the need to initiate
tight survey patterns, the present method for
adequately charting sediment deposits.
22
WATER-CIRCULATION STUDIES
AID POLLUTION CONTROL
NOAA is conducting a detailed 2-year study
of the dynamics of water circulation in Boston
Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. Itis part of a
larger NOAA program of similar studies in
coastal and estuarine waters.
The survey will provide necessary datafor
pollution-control authorities to maintain and
preserve the marine environment. The latest
information on current speed and direction in
the Boston Harbor area also will contribute
to navigation safety.
NOAA's National Ocean Survey's ‘Ferrel!
is being used.
Ferrel's Gear
The Ferrel's primary means of observing
currents is the TICUS (Tidal Current Survey).
The system, which is being used extensively
in the program, employs current meters sus-
pended from buoys at preselected stations
throughout the Boston Harbor area, Observa-
tions of the current's speed and direction at
various depths at each station are recorded
for study by the National Ocean Survey at
Rockville, Md.
Also, scientists are using a photographic
recording current meter to record on 16 mm
film the current's speed and direction. Other
instruments include sensors for observing
water temperature, salinity, and depth.
The survey results will appearintwo Na-
tional Ocean Survey publications.
NOAA has scheduled circulation studies of
the entire coastal area from southern Maine
to Rhode Island during the next 3 to 5 years.
NOAA SUPPORTS
SALT-MARSH RESEARCH IN GEORGIA
NOAA has awarded a $216,700 Sea Grant to
the University of Georgia to study the use
and conservation of salt-marsh estuaries in
Georgia. Part of the program will be con-
ducted by the Skidaway Institute of Oceano-
graphy at Savannah.
There isareal need for salt-marsh ecol-
ogical and utilization studies. For abouta
hundred years, the-Georgia coastal region,
except around Savannah and Brunswick, has
had a low population and very little develop-
ment. As the timber-and-plantation economy
diminished, then died, many sea islands re-
turned to a wild state.
A Period of Change
The status of the coastal region has been
changing rapidlyin recent years. Certain sea
islands have been bought by or donated to the
U.S. or Georgia. Planning for other islands
and close-in areas includes resort develop-
ment, strip-mining sites, and mariculture.
A nuclear power plant is being built. Coast-
line and estuarine development is gathering
momentum --yet there is little information on
the effects changes might have on organisms
and other resources within the marshes.
What Scientists Will Study
Scientists will investigate the natural and
biological factors affecting growth and re-
production of marsh organisms, and the eco-
nomic potential of salt marshes. Diseases
that affect man's use of estuarine species will
be studied. Thescientists will monitor 4 fin-
fish and 4 shellfish species and examine them
for pathogenic microorganisms and parasites.
Using existing findings by NMFS and fish-
ermen, the researchers will try to increase
fishery production. They willfocus on abun-
dant fish species off Georgia that are not being
fully used.
SATELLITES MEASURE SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE
IN U.S.-MEXICO SURVEY
The results of a U.S.-Mexican oceanogra-
LITTLE WINDOW II, are ex-
pected to tell scientists how accurately two
phic survey,
meteorological satellites--NOAA I and
ITOS I--can measure changes in the ocean's
surface temperature and monitor the weath-
er. This was reported by Rear Admiral W.W.
Behrens Jr., Oceanographer of the Navy.
LITTLE WINDOW II was an oceanographic
survey of a100 by 100 mile square in the Gulf
of California. It tested the ability of infrared
sensors aboard the NOAA and ITOS satellites
to measure the ocean's surface temperature
from space.
U.S.-Mexico Survey
LITTLE WINDOW Il was larger than a sur-
vey in the same area in March 1970. During
early May 1971, U.S. and Mexican scientists
used 3 specially equipped research aircraft
and 5 survey vessels to run oceanographic
transects of the window region. The tempera-
ture information will be compared with in-
frared readings collected simultaneously by
the satellites during their twice-daily pass-
age over the area.
Participating in this cooperative venture
were Mexico's Navy and Instituto Nacional de
Pesca; the Inter-American Tropical Tuna
Commission; and FAO.
The U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (NOO)
coordinated LITTLE WINDOW II. Coopera-
ting were NOAA's National Marine Fisheries
Service, National Environmental Satellite
Service, National Weather Service, and Na-
tional Oceanographic Data Center; NASA and
its Ames Research Center; and Scripps Insti-
tution of Oceanography.
Gulf of California Unique
NOO says the Gulf of California is uniquely
suited for this type of experiment. It has an
extremely dry atmosphere witha minimum of
clouds, land masses distinctive enough to po-
sition spacecraft results within desired
oceanographic tolerances, and a fairly uni-
form sea-surface temperature.
Significant If Successful
LITTLE WINDOW's success would show
that satellites can provide continual sea-sur-
face temperature for any ocean. Such infor-
mation would be very helpful: to fishery
scientist to predict distribution of tempera-
ture-oriented fish, such as tuna; to meteor-
logist, who studies warm and cold ocean fronts
and their relationships to short-period mete-
orological changes and seeks reliable long-
range weather forecasts; to oceanographer
searching fora quick way to look at tempera-
ture conditions over broad seasurfaces: The
meteorological and water-mass condition im-
plications are especially interesting to the
Navy.
23
24
CHESAPEAKE BAY HARD CRABS
WILL BE SCARCE THIS SUMMER
Hard crabs will be scarce in the Chesa-
peake Bay until August, say scientists of the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS),
Gloucester Point, Va. They conduct regular
surveys of blue-crab stocks. They predict
the crab-pot and trotline catch this summer
will be 8to10 millionpounds, near the lowest
since 1960.
The average catch from June through Au-
gust over the past 11 years was 16 million
pounds. The average was exceeded in 7 of the
11 years; in4 years, the catch was below av-
erage. The largest landings, in 1967, totaled
almost 22 million pounds; the smallest was 8.5
million pounds in 1969,
Blue Crab
(Callinectes sapidus)
Present Crabs Hatched in 1969
The crop of commercial-sized crabs now
available was hatched in 1969. Routine sur-
veys of some Virginia rivers revealed few
smallcrabs infall1969. Thecrop failure was
believed caused by heavy rains during August
1969. Low supplies of the 1969 hatch were
reported by VIMS in spring 1970 and again
in the fall. The summer scarcity was ex-
pected.
The scientists add an optimistic note:
there should be many soft crabs and peelers
this summer, possibly more than at any time
during the last 10 years. These crabs, hatched
in 1970, will produce the bulk of the commer-
cial hard-crab catch from September 1971
through August 1972.
VIMS STUDIES INCREASING
PRODUCTION OF SOFT BLUE CRABS
A NOAA Sea Grant is enabling scientists
of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
(VIMS), Gloucester Point, Va., to study meth-
ods of increasing soft blue-crab production in
the Chesapeake Bay.
Soft crabs for food and peeler crabs for
fishing bait have high public demand--but are
only a small part of total blue-crab landings
in Chesapeake Bay.
The 10-Year Record
During the past 10 years, anannual average
of 3.5 million pounds of soft and peeler crabs
were produced worth $1.2 million. Although
these landings were less than 5% of the bay
catch of crabs, they earned 20% of the dollars.
Records show fluctuations inhard and soft
crab production, says Paul A. Haefner Jr.,
marine scientist in VIMS Crustaceology De-
partment, The dollar value of hard crabs re-
mains fairly constant; that of soft crabs varies
according tonumber produced. Although dol-
lar value of hardcrab fishery exceeds that of
soft crab, the latter is worth more per pound.
Haefner noted thatif more soft and peeler
crabs were taken, there would be fewer crabs
to become mature hard crabs--but income
from soft crabs would increase without chang--
ing markedly the value of hard crabs.
Adequate supplies of peeler crabs are
available for harvesting. What has kept pro-
duction of soft crabs at low levels has been
absence of guidelines for efficient construc~-
tion and maintenance of holding facilities.
Sea Grant Project's Aims
Haefner saidthe primary aim of the VIMS
Sea Grant project is development of plans for
physical plants for shedding crabs in tanks
with open-flow or recirculated sea water.
The scientists also will establish guidelines
for acceptable levels of water quality, and for
the condition and quantity of crabs that can be
handled. Another project aspect is the study
of crabmortality and, perhaps, ways to pre-
vent this loss to industry.
HARD CLAM CLEANSING IN NEW YORK
Robert B. Mac Millan and James H. Redman
The State of New York (NY) has approxi-
mately 400,000 acres of underwater marine
lands suitable for the cultivation of shellfish.
Thirteen percent of this area is closed to the
harvesting and marketing of shellfish due to
microbialpollution. Many ofthese areas, in-
cluding Jamaica Bay, Raritan Bay, Manhasset
Bay, Hempstead Harbor and portions of Long
Island Sound lying within Westchester County,
support abundant populations of hard clams
(Mercenaria mercenaria), These shellfish
constitute a natural resource which is not
being utilized and a public health menace if
harvested and marketed illegally.
Interest and concern have been expressed
by Federaland state regulatory agencies and
members of the shellfish industry to exploit
these areas. As a result, the N.Y. Depart-
ment of Environmental Conservation initiated
a transplant program in 1964; shellfish were
removed from closed areas and placed in cer-
tified waters for a minimum of 30 days to
achieve purification. An alternate process
known as depuration offers purification under
more stringent controls. Although the general
concept of this process is not new, only lim-
ited laboratory data have been accumulated
relative to the effectiveness of this process
in cleansing hard clams.
New York initiated a study in 1964 to gath-
er datafor proper evaluation of a hard-clam
commercialdepuration plant operation. Fol-
lowing the preliminary investigations, funding
was obtained in1965 from the Bureau of Com-
mercial Fisheries (BCF) under Public Law
88-309 to conduct a pilot-plant study of the
depuration of hard clams.
Pilot Plant for Hard-Clam Depuration
The depuration plant has four essential
components, including controlled dry storage
for untreated and treated shellfish; depura-
tion tanks; and sea-water treatment. Office
and laboratory facilities are optional depend-
ing on a particular situation. A typical plant
layout is shown in Figure 1.
The pilot plant was located on the Great
South Bay at West Sayville. Great South Bay
is located on the south shore of Long Island
(Figure 2) andis ahighly productive area with
1969 commercial landings of 6,280 million
pounds of hard clams valued at $6,850,000.
This site had been used in the initial 1964
studies. However, several modifications had
to be completed prior to the operation of the
plant.
A boiler-burner combination and heat ex-
changer were installed with the assumption
that raw sea water taken from the bay would
require a significant amount of heating for
winter operations. The hard clam ceases to
feed with water temperatures below 45 de-
grees Fahrenheit (°F). The recommended
water temperature for the depuration process
is 59° F, Since the water temperature for
Great South Bay approaches 30° F. during the
winter months, a 29° F. increase would be
required prior to use in the system.
The clam holding tanks were redesigned
and rebuilt to improve the flow of water
through the system. Three tanks, each 9.1
feet long, 9.7 feet wide, and 1.375 feet deep,
were built with sea water entering each tank
at the rate of 20 gallons per minute (GPM).
Twosettling tanks alsowere built adjacent
to the holding tanks, Initial plans were pre-
pared on the premise that sea water for the
system would be drawnfrom Great South Bay.
Since this water normally contains high levels
of suspended particulate matter, the settling
tanks were planned to remove this material
prior to passage through the heat exchanger
and sea-water sterilization units.
Mr. Mac Millan is Assistant Sanitary Engineer and Mr. Redman Senior Aquatic Biologist (Marine), N.Y. State Department of Environ-
mental Conservation, Division of Marine and Coastal Resources, 4175 Veterans Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. 11779. The
study was conducted in cooperation with the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National
Marine Fisheries Service under Public Law 88-309, Project 3-68-D. Contribution No. 71-3, Division of Marine and Coastal Resources.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 908
26
INITIAL
WASH
& CULL
RECEIVING INITIAL
SEA WATER
SUPPLY
SEA WATER
TREATMENT
DISCHARGE
Fig. 1 - Schematic diagram of a depuration plant.
A sea-water well was installed as a sup-
plementary water supply for the operation of
the plant. Figure 3 shows the plant arrange-
ment used throughout the test program,
Sea-Water Well System
Four experimental wells were driven.
Each consisted of a 12-inch slotted point
coupled to 5-foot lengths of 1.25-inch gal-
vanized pipe, At each well site, water samples
were collected at 5-foot intervals and an-
alyzed for salinity and temperature.
Following the completion of each well, a
centrifugal pump was connectedto the system
and operated for approximately 1 hour to de-
termine flow characteristics and water qual-
ity at each site. A brief summary of the av-
erage data obtained at the four sites follows.
Summary of Experimental Well Point Data
Pum ping Rate - 30 GPM.
Water Temperature - 54.5 -55.5° F.
Salinity - 24.0 - 25.5 parts per thousand (°/o0).
Bacteria/milliliter (ml) - None readily detectable.
INOTE: These data are summarized from a well point depth range
of 20 to SO feet below tidal water level.
As a result of these data, a 4-inch-dia-
meter well was installed in the plant adjacent
to the settling tanks, This system included
a 4-inch-diameter stainless steel intake
screen, 10 feet in length, coupled to 35 feet
of 4-inch-diameter steel well casing.
The pumping rate for this system of ap-
proximately 225 GPM was reduced by insert—
ing a 2.5-inch diameter polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) pipe inside the steel well casing and
perforating the lower 6 inches of this pipe with
0.25-inchdiameter holes. The flow rate was
further controlled by the addition of a 2.5-inch
diameter ball valve located on the discharge
side of the pump. The final installation is
shown in Figure 4.
The wellproved to be extremely effective
and offered several important advantages
when compared to drawing sea water from
Great South Bay. The advantages include:
1. Constant salinity.
2, Constant temperature year round,
3, Elimination of heating requirements for
the water,
27
NEW
JERSEY
ATLANTIC OCEAN
LEGEND
/ PLANT LOCATION
2 FLANDERS BAY
3 JAMAICA BAY
4 RARITAN BAY
5 HEMPSTEAD HARBOR
6 Ll. SOUND- WESTCHESTER
COUNTY
Fig. 2 - Location of New York State Depuration Plant and areas where hard clams were harvested.
28
SEA WATER SUPPLY
(45 ft. WELL)
@
SETTLING
TANKS
CLAM
HOLDING
TANKS
LABORATORY
[ULTRA VIOLET
STERILIZATION |
UNIT
HEAT
EXCHANGER
BOILER |
OFFICE
SEA WATER TREATMENT
WASH & CULL
STORAGE
RECEIVING
Fig. 3 - Layout of the New York State Depuration Plant.
4, A minimum amount of ultra-violet ster-
ilization since the well water is practi-
cally free of detectable bacteria.
5, Elimination of fouling organisms and
growth withinthe sea water distribution
lines because these organisms are re-
moved by natural sand filtration.
6, Elimination or reduction of settling
tanks since no suspended matter is
present.
Operation of the Depuration Plant
Following the completion of modifications
onthe depuration plant, a series of 42 experi-
ments was conducted. Lot sizes varied from
5 to45 bushels of hardclams per experiment,
depending upon the availability of clams.
Hard clams for the experiments were ob-
tained from several growing areas, including
portions of Flanders Bay, Jamaica Bay, Rari-
tan Bay, Hempstead Harbor, and portions of
Long Island Sound lying within Westchester
County.
The initial step inthe pilot-plant operation
required a prewashand cull of the clams be-
fore loading them into baskets. This opera-
tion is necessary to remove foreign matter
attached to the shellfish that might impair
water quality inthe holdingtanks. The opera-
tion was performed using a mechanical clam
washer similar to that designed by the State
of Maine for use in the soft clam (Mya aren-
aria) industry. The washer consists of achain
link conveyor belt and a series of spray noz-
zlestoremove mud or other matter that might
be attached tothe shellfish. Following a high
pressure spray, injured shellfish and other
debris are removed from the belt. It should
be noted that the design of this particular
washer must be modified for use with the hard
clam. The hopper portion of the washer uses
aninclined plane, which is too steep for hard
clams (see Figure 5),
After the prewash, the clams were loaded
in baskets 20 inches long, 18 inches wide, and
6 inches deep. The baskets were made of wire
coated with plastic (PVC) and held one-half
bushel whenfilledto adepth of 3 inches. The
shellfish were placed in the shellfish holding
29
FLOW 40GPM
ub
2% DIA. PVC BALL VALVE
CONCRETE FLOORING
2%" DIA. PVC PIPE SCH 40
4" DIA. STEEL CASING
NOM. 4" DIA. STAINLESS STEEL
INTAKE SCREEN.
PERFORATED WITH " DIA. HOLES
Fig. 4 - The sea water well system.
30
{
¥
‘
3
Fig. 5 - Mechanical clam washer used to remove muds and de-
tritus from clams prior to loading in clam tanks.
3
Fig. 6 - Depuration tanks with clams loaded in plastic
coated baskets.
tanks inthree separate rows perpendicular to
the flow of water and stacked two baskets deep
(see Figure 6). The holding tanks were de-
signed for a capacity of 15 bushels of hard
clams each.
Zero hour for each experiment was re-
corded as that moment when water was ob-
served flowing over the exit weirs of the hold-
ing tanks. At this time, a zero-hour sample
of clams was collected for bacteriological
examination. A secondsample was collected
at 24 hours and a final sample at 48 hours.
These samples were to determine the degree
of purification achieved during each experi-
ment.
Depuration and the Public Health
Since the purpose of depurationis to obtain
shellfish free of bacterial and viral pathogens,
itis desirableto search for these organisms
during the purification process, Unfortu-
nately, this is impractical. Currently avail-
able laboratory methods may require from
days to weeks to obtain results. Therefore,
as with milk, water, and most foods, sanitary
indicator bacteria are used.
Sanitary indicator bacteria are usually
microorganisms which normally inhabit the
intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals and
are excreted in large quantities with the feces.
There presence in foods may indicate fecal
pollution and contamination with pathogens.
The indicator bacteria have a notable safety
feature. They are almost invariably more
numerous in the feces and the environment
than the pathogens.
In shellfish sanitation, much emphasis is
placed upon fecal coliforms as bacterial indi-
cators of dangerous contamination. These
organisms have the rare capacity of being able
to ferment lactose with gas production when
incubated at 44,5° Celsius (°C) for 24 hours.
The usual procedure (American Public Health
Association, 1962) for enumerating fecal coli-
forms in shellfish requires 3 days. The use
of this test could delay the marketing of de-
purated shellfish until evidence of their safety
is obtained. To minimize this delay, we
adopted a pour plate procedure, with a modi-
fied Mac Conkey Agar!, (Cabelli and Heffer-
nan, 1966) which offers results within 24
hours.
Our monitoring practice was to collect 12
clams at 0, 24, and 48 hours depuration proc-
esstime. Each 12-clam sample was shucked
as aseptically as possible into a sterile food
blending jar and homogenized for 13 minutes.
Tenmilliliters (ml) (approximately 5 grams)
of the homogenate were pipetted into ascrew-
capped test tube containing 100 to 120 ml of
the modified Mac Conkey Agar. The tube was
gently inverted several times to insure ade-
quate mixing and the contents distributed
among 6 Petriplates which were incubated in
Ingredients, modified Mac Conkey Agar: Gelysate, 17.0009; Polypeptone, 3.000g; Lactose, 10.000g; Bile Salts #3, 0.750g; Agar,
13.500g; Neutral Red, 0.30g; Crystal Violet, 0.0019; Sodium Chloride, 5.000g; Distilled Water, 1000ml.
31
Table 1 - Fecal Coliform Colony Forming Units per 100 grams for
Hard Clam Samples collected during the Depuration Process
Fecal Coliform
Date Trial Initiated Process Time In Hours CFU/100 g.
7-9-68 1000
120
CFU = COLONY FORMING UNITS.
32
an air incubator at 45°C, for 24 hours. Fecal
coliform colonies were totaled for the six
plates, multiplied by 20, andreportedas Fecal
Coliform Colony Forming Units per 100
grams of sample. Results of 9 hard clam de-
puration trials are included in Table 1.
Bacterial monitoring of hard clam depura-
tion is most successful during the warm
months. Hardclams harvested in December,
January, February, and March are practically
free of fecal coliforms, regardless of the
water quality of the growing area.
When sea-water temperatures fall below
a certain value, the clams cease feeding and
accumulating bacteria. We have, however,
observed that a structure called the crystal-
line style is absent from winter -harvested
hard clams but may be detected when the
clams are exposed to sufficiently warmed
water. Thecrystalline style is a semitrans-
parent, cone-shaped organ found in the vi-
cinity of the stomach.
Several winter trials were conducted to
determine the value of the crystalline style as
a measure of hard clam activity during the
depuration process. Results of these trials
are detailed in Table 2, They indicate that,
while all clams lacked a style initially, the
structure was visible in 50% to 92% of the
clams after exposure tothe purification proc~-
ess.
ate Trial Depuration Process
Initiated Time in Hours
1-7-69. 0
24
48
1-14-69 0
24
48
1-21-69 0
24
No. of Clams
Table 2 - Development of a Crystalline Style in winter harvested Hard
Clams Subjected to the Depuration Process
No. of Clams Possessing
Examined a Crystalline Style
24 0
24 18
24 22
24 0
24 19
24 16
24 0
24 17
24
24
24
24
2Red or Pink Colonies }mm. or more in diameter usually surrounded by a zone of precipitated bile salts.
2
Summary and Conclusions
The term ''depuration", as related to shell-
fish and the shellfish industry, involves a
process whereby shellfish harvested from
certain restricted areas are placed in a con-
trolled environment for a specified period of
timein order toremove any bacterial or viral
contamination that may be present. These
shellfish may then be placed on the market
for human consumption.
A program to evaluate the feasibility of
depuratinghardclams, utilizing a pilot-plant
operation, has been completed by the State of
New York. Hard clams were harvested by
commercial methods from closed growing
areas and subjected to a 48-hour process
using sea water obtained from a wellsystem.
Shellfish samples were analyzed at 0, 24, and
48 hours to evaluate the effectiveness of the
depuration process.
An analysis of the data gathered during
this study indicated that the depuration proc-
ess may use hard clam resources in re-
stricted waters. The term "restricted wa-
ters'' is defined in Part I, National Shellfish
Sanitation Program Manual of Operations, as
waters wherethe coliform median MPN does
not exceed 700 per 100 ml.--and not more
than 10% of the samples exceed an MPN of
2,300 per 100ml. Furthermore, the area may
not be so contaminated with radio-nuclide or
industrial wastes that consumption of the
shellfish located therein might be hazardous.
33
As this definition implies, the depuration
process is used only to remove bacterial
and/or viral contamination, Contaminates
suchas heavy metals, pesticides, and radio-
nuclides are not eliminated in the 48- or 72-
hour process time.
The sea-water supply for the depuration
process is of vitalimportance. Theuse of the
salt-water well system in this program
proved tobe extremely effective; itis recom-
mended that this source be considered and
used, if available, at future depuration sites.
Data are presented for depuration trials
conducted during the summer and winter sea-
sons. The presence of the crystalline style
does indicate hard-clam activity during the
winter season, although the enumeration of a
microbialindicator during this season would
be more satisfactory in evaluating the proc-
ess's effectiveness.
The program was terminated in 1969, An
analysis of the dataindicates that the depura-
tion process may be used to cleanse hard
clams taken from restricted waters. Asa
result, New York will authorize use of this
process by private concerns. Specific grow-
ing area locations and plant designs will be
considered and reviewed on an individual
basis. New York willalso provide laboratory
support to ensure proper operation of the
plant.
LITERATURE CITED
AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
1962. Recommended procedures for the bacteriological ex-
amination of sea water and shellfish (3rd edition).
Amer. Publ. Health Assn., N.Y., Rec. Proc. I-VI,
1-51 p.
CABELLI, V. and HEFFERNAN, P.
1966. Modified Mac Conkey Agar Pour Plate Technique for
Fecal Coliform Determination. Northeast Marine
Science Laboratory, Narragansett, Rhode Island. Un-
published, 5 p.
FURFARI, S.
1966. Depuration plant design. U.S. Dept. Health, Ed.,
Welfare, Publ. Health Serv., 119 p.
DISEASE IN THE LIVES OF FISH
The Role of Pollution Is Now Being Assessed
Richard Wolke
Ichthyopathology, or the study of fish dis-
eases, is a discipline that bears out the pro-
phetic words of Rudolf Virchow, who said in
the late 1800's, ''Between animal and human
medicine there is no dividing line..." Al-
though still in its infancy, the discipline is
rapidly awakening the interest of such diverse
investigators as the comparative pathologist,
the cancer researcher andthe ecologist. This
interest was reflected in the establishment
last year of a small diagnostic and research
histopathology laboratory at the University of
Rhode Island where fishtissues are examined
microscopically for evidence of disease.
The sudden popularity of the field can cer-
tainly be attributed in part tothe world's rapid
increase inpopulation, which has called upon
all scientists to find new means of resource
conservation and tofeed this growing mass of
humanity. But the primary stimulus for its
new popularity canbe attributedto two groups
until recently rather widely separatedin their
interests--the aquaculturists and the com-
parative pathologists.
Aquaculturists Concerned
Aquaculture has been animportant and in-
tegral part of agriculture for many centuries,
especially insuchcountries as China and Ja-
pan, where fish make up a good proportion of
the daily diet. As in any intensive livestock
operation, be it with birds or mammals, the
bringing together of large numbers of animals
in a confined area lends itself to the rapid
spread of disease processes, Aquaculture is
notimmunetothis phenomenon. So it was the
aquaculturist whofirst began to ask pertinent
questions about fish mortality, and it was the
aquaculturist whofirst beganthe study of fish
diseases.
As the field of human medicine became
more sophisticated, it became apparent that
diseases of lower vertebrates, long studied
by veterinarians, could add much to the body
of knowledge collected by the physician. The
words of Virchow, who is considered the fa-
ther of modern pathology, were indeed pro-
phetic. The veterinary pathologist was ina
position to supply the physician with animal
models of human diseases. It was only aques-
tion of time before these veterinarians began
to see the importance of fish diseases and to
study these diseases inan attempt tohelp both
the physician and the aquaculturist.
Do Fish Suffer Disease?
For the uninitiated, the field of ichthyo-
pathology may raise a number of questions.
For instance, do any fish diseases of conse-
quence in fact exist? Are diseases respon-
sible for some of themass mortalities--fish
kills--we occasionally read about in our
newspapers? Do they have an effect upon
population dynamics or fluctuations of fish in
the wild? Are they involved in mortalities
connected with aquaculture projects? The
answer to all of the questions is yes. Dis-
ease plays an important role in the life of all
species of fish.
Infact, our investigations indicate that fish
suffer from much the same kinds of diseases
as man andthe other higher vertebrates. Fish
contract viral, bacterial and fungal diseases.
They, like man, are neither immune to dia-
betes nor leukemia. Some of their diseases
reach epidemic proportions and are respon-
sible for mass mortalities of natural popula-
tions. One of the most important killers of
fresh-water fish is the bacteria Aeromonas
liquifaciens, an ubiquitous organism which,
under the right environmental conditions, may
increase rapidly in numbers and virulence.
Marine fish, too, are no exception to epidemic
disease processes. Acaseinpointisthe 1933
mass mortality of herring in New Brunswick
due to the fungus Icthyophonus hoferii.
At present we are unable to state posi-
tively what proportion of fish kills are due
solelytodisease. Weare unable to do so be-
cause sofewkills are examined by competent
pathologists. Qualified investigators are not
often called to the scene of the kill and, if
Dr. Wolke is Assistant Professor of Animal Pathology, University of Rhode Island. His essay appeared in 'Rhode Island Resources!
April 1971.
objective investigations are made, they are
usually concerned only with water quality. If
the water meets approved standards, the
cause of mortality usually goes undetermined.
Pollution Kills Many Fish
There can be little question that present
day pollution of our streams and rivers is
responsible for many mass kills of fresh-
water fish. Pollutants that affect acidity, al-
kalinity or dissolved oxygen, or which in-
crease the heavy metal content of the water
may be responsible for sudden kills of mas-
sive numbers of fish and other aquatic fauna.
Dr. Wolke examining a lesion, or abnormal change within tissue,
in a filet of an ocean pout. About 25 years ago these lesions
caused the disappearance of ocean pout from the fresh fish mar-
ket for esthetic reasons. There is no reason tobelieve thedi-
sease is communicable to man.
35
Of interest tothe pathologist, however, is
the relationship between low levels of pollu-
tion and disease processes. There is much
evidence in the literature that this relation-
ship is synergistic, meaning that the com-
bined effect of these factors may be more
devastating than any of them acting alone. For
instance, the added stress of lowered oxygen
tension may increase the risk of fish contract-
ing various infectious bacterial diseases.
Other controlled experiments have showna
higher incidence of disease in fish exposed
to low levels of insecticides.
Poor Year-Class
In some instances, heavy infestations with
intermediate (developing) stages of tapeworm
parasites, while not responsible for mass
mortality, may be responsible for sterility,
leading topoor year class production and defi-
nite effects onpopulationdynamics. The best
example of this disease type is the fresh-
water bass tapeworm, Proteocephalus am-
bloplitus. The bass normally harbors the
adult worm inits intestines with no ill effects.
However, inareas of dense tapeworm popula-
tions, the bass may serve as its own inter-
mediate host and be infected by the larval or
plerocercoid stage of the worm. Under these
circumstances, the plerocercoid may take up
residence in the ovary, resulting in destruc-
tion to potential and actual ova.
Diseases of Wild Populations
If the diseases of wild populations of fish
were surveyed by randomly sampling them
throughout the year, a broad spectrum of dis-
eases would be found, caused by a number of
agents. Most commonly, the lesions obser-
ved may be classified histopathologically, but
willbe ofunknown origin. Thisis a reflection
on the serious lack of knowledge in the field
of ichthyopathology andcan be overcome only
by patient observations anddescriptions. The
comparative pathologist must collect base
data in order to become aware of the many
diseases that certainly exist in the fish, but
are presently unknown,
In such a survey, the majority of known
lesions will probably be due to the larval
stages of migrating worms of the helminth
parasite group. This is not to say that para-
sites are responsible for killing large num-
bers of fish, for it is indeed a poor parasite
that kills its host. There can be little ques-
tion, however, that such larval migrations are
36
responsible for decreasing the efficiency of
organs infected. In those isolated instances
where overwhelming infections do occur, they
are responsible for fatalities.
Probably the second most important causa-
tive agent recorded would be protozoa (one-
celled animals). Fish suffer from a wide
number of protozoa, which are both internal
and external parasites. This is not surpris-
ing, because their aquatic environment is
ideal for the reproduction and passage of such
organisms, The survey would also include
bacterial and fungal diseases, instances of
disturbed metabolism, congenital anomalies
and, on rare occasions, tumorous processes.
It is an unfortunate fact that such a survey
would miss many of the older, diseased and
weakened fish because of the nature of this
environment, where predators and scav-
engers are quick to dispatch the slow and
unhealthy specimens.
Fish Diseases in Aquaculture
It is, however, under aquaculture condi-
tions that we see the most striking examples
of fish diseases. In warm, fresh water cul-
ture, protozoan external parasites such as
Ichthyophthrius multifilis, Chilodenella sp.
and Trichodina sp. are responsible for large
losses of fish. Bacteria, especially Aero-
monas sp. are also serious pathogens. In
cold, fresh water husbandry of salmon and
trout, a number of viral diseases have been
described such as infectious pancreatic ne-
crosis, Egvedt disease and infectious hema-
topoietic necrosis. Bacterial agents respon-
sible for heavy mortalities have also been
incriminated in salmon and trout production.
These include the causative agents of furun-
culosis, Aeromonas salmoncida and Cyto-
phaga psycrophilia, the probable cause of
‘cold water disease.' In addition, aquaculture
projects are not free of nutritional imbalances
or of toxins introduced with the feed, such as
aflatoxin, which proved responsible for
hepatomas in trout.
Methods for the farming of marine fish
(maraculture) are now being seriously ex-
plored. Here, too, agents responsible for
disease are being regularly recovered. They
are the same kinds of etiologic agents we
face in fresh water environments, but are
adapted to higher salinities.
It is not enough, however, for the aqua-
culturist simply to know what kind of disease
his fish have contracted. If he is to be a suc-
cessfulproducer, he must be able to prevent
and cure these diseases. Much research is
presently being done in the field of therapeu-
sis. We know that many fish pathogens are
susceptible to antibiotics commonly used in
human and veterinary medicine. Nonetheless,
problems arise in dosage rates, means of
efficient administration and in treatment of
viral and parasitic diseases that are resistant
to antibiotics.
Immunizing Agents
One of the most exciting areas of thera-
peusis is production of biologicals or im-
munizing agents. It hasbeen known for some
time that higher fish are capable of producing
antibodies. But only recently has it been
shown that these antibodies are able to pro-
tect fish against diseases. One major prob-
lem is the temperature-dependent nature of
the antibody-producing mechanisms of the
fish. That is to say, below 50 degrees Fahr-
enheit antibody production essentially ceases,
so that diseases contracted at low tempera-
tures may be resistant to active immuniza-
tion. The ideal situation would be the devel-
opment of an oralimmunizing agent that could
simply be added to tank or pond water to
produce a solid and long lasting immune
response.
Fortunately the fish, like higher verte-
brates, has natural protective mechanisms
against many of its diseases. Inflammation
is, in fact, the body's response to invading
organisms. The inflammatory response of
fish is quite similar to the inflammatory
response of manand othermammals. The fish
is capable of ''walling off'' a TB nodule or
producing cells capable of ingesting and
destroying invading bacteria, so that in the
wild the disease is not always successful. It
is these very inflammatory responses so im-
portant to the health of the fish that are also
of such vital interest to the comparative
pathologist in his study of human and animal
diseases.
Fish Diseases Spread to Humans?
An area as yetunstudied is the relation of
fish diseases to human health. A disease
transmissible from animal to man is known
asazoonose. Weare aware of a few zoonoses
of fish origin such as the broad tapeworm of
man Dibothociphalus, and the bacteria Ery-
sipelas sp. Work in 1968 by investigators
studying fish in Chesapeake Bay indicated
that fish close to densely populated areas of
human habitation had antibodies against a
number of human pathogens. The exact sig-
nificance of this work has not been determined,
but it is indicative that fish may serve as
monitors of human disease organisms and
therefore may be of public health significance.
Recent work by this author (1970) indicates
that striped bass, white perch and mummic-
hogs carry a psittacoid agent, which isa
microscopic organism similar in some re-
spectstoboth virus and bacteria. It is simi-
lar inappearance tothe agent responsible for
parrot fever in man. However, interest in
the public health aspects of fish diseases has
been limited and they must be more intensive -
ly investigated.
Diagnostic & Research Lab
The diagnostic and research histopathology
laboratory for the study of fish diseases was
37
set up at the University of Rhode Island
through the cooperation of the College of Re-
source Development and the Graduate School
of Oceanography, with financial assistance
from the Sea Grant program of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This laboratory offers diagnostic services to
aquaculturists throughout New England, Dis-
eases under investigation include, 'cold water
disease' of salmon, Plistophora infections of
ocean pout and psittacoidinfections of marine
fish. By means of a continuing survey of ma-
rine fish, both normal and abnormal tissue
sections are being collected, classified and
storedtoserve as base data for teaching and
future research projects. The laboratory is
alsoworking in conjunction with the Interna-
tional Congress Against Cancerin an attempt
torecover and classify neoplastic processes
of bottom feeding fish.
TAIWAN’S USE OF FISHERY RESOURCES
Yung C, Shang
The fishing industry is among Taiwan's
most vitalassets, Exploitation of fishery re-
sources has grown rapidly during the past
decade. The annual average production
growthrate is about 11.6%, This article ex-
amines the industry's place in Taiwan's econ-
omy, development trends, and the major fac-
tors that may account for the industry's rapid
growth.
Fisheries in Taiwan's Economy
Fish production affects income, foreign
markets, employment, and food intake.
In 1969, fishery landings increased toa
record 560,918 metric tons worth about $146
million--about 3.07% of the Gross National
Product. Between 1960 and 1969, catch and
value more than doubled.
In 1969, fish exports were more than 146
times those of 1960. They totaled 101,284
metric tons valued at $44.7 million and pro-
duced a favorable balance of trade of marine
products of about $38 million, The larger the
export surplus, the more foreign exchange is
available topurchase capital goods necessary
for fishery development. Moreover, the ex-
pansion of fish markets, both internal and
external, is a powerfulincome generator that
stimulates the growth of supplementary in-
dustries. In 1969, some of those to benefit
were: 60 ship building and repair yards,
417 fish-processing plants, 341 ice-making
plants, and 275 cold-storage and freezing
plants.
Fishing operations provide many jobs. In
1969, nearly 286,404 people were fully or
partly employed, about 6% of all workers.
Moreover, the fisheries are an alternative
livelihood for the farm population living in and
around coastal villages.
The increase in fish production also as-
sures Taiwanese of an adequate supply of an
important source of nutrition. The Food Bal-
ance Sheet of 1962-1968 shows that fish con-
sumption accounts for about 55% of animal
protein intake.
Development Trends
There are four classifications of fisheries
in Taiwan: deep-sea, inshore, coastal, and
culture. These classifications differ primar -
ily in the relative distance from shore of the
fishing areas, and in craft and gear used.
Deep-sea fisheries use powered vessels of
50 or more tons and operate as far out as the
Southwest Pacific, the Indian, and Atlantic
Oceans. Inshore operations use primarily
medium and small powered craft usually with-
in 30 nautical miles of shore. Sampans and
bamboo rafts--the working fleet of coastal
fisheries--operate along shores and onrivers
and lakes. Fish culture concentrates on the
resourcesto be found in brackish and fresh-
water ponds, shallow water, and paddy fields.
Decade of Progress
Between 1960 and 1969, the total catch more
than doubled (Table 1). Intensified exploita-
tion of deep-sea and inshore fisheries ac-
counted for the large increase. Deep-sea and
inshore fishery production increased 199%
and 134%, respectively, between 1960 and
1969; production of these two fisheries was
about 85% of the total 1969 production com-
pared with 70% in 1969. The relative impor-
tance of coastal fisheries is declining because
of the limited fish resources in inner coastal
areas and increased competition from the
rapid expansion of deep-sea and inshore fish-
eries.
Table 2 indicates that the number of fisher -
men declined between 1960 and 1969 primarily
because of the mechanization of fishing opera-
tions. However, the number of full-time fish-
ermen shows no Significant change. This im-
plies that the number of part-time fishermen
decreased. The expanding powered fleet has
permitted the transfer of many part-time
fishermen to full-time status.
The author is an Assistant Economist, Economic Research Center, University of Hawaii.
38
39
TABLE 1
ANNUAL FISHERIES PRODUCTION, * 1960-1969
(in thousand metric tons)
Deep-sea Inshore Coastal Fish
Year Total Fisheries Fisheries Fisheries Culture
1960 259 (100) 85 (100) 95 (100) 30 (100) 49 (100)
1961 312 (121) 106 (125) 117 (123) 32 (105) 57 (117)
1962 327 (126) 114 (133) 132 (140) 32 (107) 49 ( 99)
1963 351 (135) 120 (141) 144 (152) 37 (123) 50 (102)
1964 376 (145) 127 (149) 161 (170) 32 (107) 56 (115)
1965 382 (147) 136 (160) 161 (170) 31 (102) 54 (110)
1966 425 (164) 169 (199) 172 (182) 25 ( 84) 59 (119)
1967 458 (177) 189 (222) 187 (197) 26 ( 88) 56 (115)
1968 531 (205) 241 (283) 208 (219) 25 ( 83) 57 (115)
1969 561 (217) 255 (299) 222 (234) 27 ( 90) 57 (116)
“Numbers in parentheses are indexes, 1960 = 100.
Source: Taiwan Fisheries, published by Taiwan Fisheries Bureau, 1969.
TABLE 2
INDEX OF FISHERMEN AND VESSELS, 1960-1969
(1960 = 100)
Fishermen Vessels
Powered
Total Full-Time Total Number Number Tonnage Horse Power
100
97 98 111
96 94 111 117
95 95 117 126
94 99 89 130 147
88 85 88 150 173
86 90 89 181 213
87 94 91 174 224 283
89 101 90 182 261 302
90 101 97 189 294 337
Source: Derived from Fisheries Yearbook, Taiwan Area, 1969, published
by Taiwan Fisheries Bureau, 1970.
40
Since production more than doubled be-
tween 1960 and 1969, while number of fisher-
men declined 10%, productivity per man in-
creased Significantly, Similarly, a decrease
intotal number of fishingvessels and a large
increase in number of powered boats indicate
the substitution of powered for nonpowered
craft; alsothey suggest anincreasing capital-
labor ratio asthe chief reason for increased
productivity.
Examining the composition of Taiwan's
fishing fleet during these years, Table 3 veri-
fies that the change in new technology was
more capital-using than capital-saving. That
is, all tonnage classes of powered vessels
showed increases in number except the 50-
99.9class;the largest increase was in over-
100-ton class.
A sharp rise inthe number of vessels over
100 tons can be explained by the high profit-
ability ofinvestment inlarge ships. This con-
clusion is verified by the results in Table 4
based on a sample survey in 1965 of produc-
tion costs of private fishing.
There is no significant change in the av-
erage product per boat-tonfor the class over
100 tons. The production cost per boat-ton,
however, is much lower for boats in the large
classes. In addition, the large vessels typi-
cally exploit fish of high value, which usually
are exported at high prices and generate
greater net profit,
Moreover, ships in fishing operations not
only increased in size between 1960 and 1969,
but alsoin power per gross tonnage (Table 2).
The number of powered vessels increased
89%; gross tonnage increased 194%; and
horsepower increased 237%. A more power-
ful engine increases the potential number of
fishing trips at the margin, thereby increas-
ing potential profit.
TABLE 3
INDEX OF POWERED FISHING VESSELS BY GROSS TONNAGE, 1960-1969
BNO) 8)
tons
Less than
5 tons
Source:
20-49.9
tons
50-99.9
tons
Derived from Fisheries Yearbook, Taiwan Area, 1969, published
by Taiwan Fisheries Bureau, 1970.
41
TABLE 4
AVERAGE PRODUCTION AND COSTS PER BOAT TON BY VESSEL SIZE
Average Production
Per Boat Ton
(M.T.)
Size Class
(tons)
100
200
500
1000 3.4
a/
New Taiwan dollars.
Source:
Fisheries in Taiwan, 1965
Bureau, 1966.
Factors Favorable for Rapid Growth
The trends of industry development have
resulted in the modernization of equipment
and technique. Emphasis was placed on sub-
stitution of capitalfor labor. This is a costly
process. Itcannot be accomplished on a large
scale with rapid growth unless the basic re-
source, fish stock, is plentiful enough to jus-
tify large investment; the government is will-
ing and able toprovide technical and financial
aid andtoassistin research and training; the
institutional structure is favorable for devel-
opment; and markets, domestic and foreign,
show promise for expansion.
Abundant Natural Resources: Taiwan's
1,600-Km.-long coastline and its favorable
marine environment leave little doubt as to
the abundance of fishresources. Deep water
abutting precipitous cliffs along the Eastern
Coast forms a favorite highway for migratory
fish from both South and North; and a grad-
ually inclining western shelf, abounding in
biological nutrients, provides an excellent
habitat for fishpropagation, This convenient
accesstofish resources, limited arable land,
and a rapidly growing population largely
account for the increasing attention toward
exploitation of marine resources as an im-
portant part of Taiwan's economic recon-
struction,
Average Production Cost
Per Boat To
(N.T. $)=
$1 = N.T. $40.10.
Report on the Sampling Survey of Production Costs of Private
» published by Taiwan Fisheries
Government Assistance; Rapid fishery
growthalso has benefited from an active and
vital role played by the government.
The significant addition since 1960 of pow-
ered fishing boats, for example, is a direct
result of a governmental plan: ''Concentrative
Utilization of Capital for the Exploitation of
Marine Resources,'' By 1968, more than 100
new ocean-going fishing vessels, 150-1,500
tons, were built with government funds, Ac-
cording toa 5-year program launched in 1968,
the projected fish catch in 1972 is 800,000
metric tons; toachieve it, $29 million will be
investedin 131 new fishing boats, The loans
are obtained primarily by, or through, the
government fromthe World Bank, Asian De-
velopment Bank, American Aid funds, or
authorized bank loans.
Government funding also has been impor-
tant in financing technological innovations in
fishing technique and equipment. During the
1940s, most fishing boats used semidiesel,
electric-ignition engines; at present, nearly
80% of all powered boats are equipped with
diesel engines. The substitution of electric
generators for conventional batteries and the
use of synthetic fiber net also have enhanced
fishing efficiency. Most deep-sea fishing
craft contain the most up-to-date navigation
42
and electrical equipment, including fish find-
ers, direction finders, radiotransmitters and
receivers, line haulers, cold-storage and
freezing facilities, and radar and loran,
Government services used by the fishing
industry are an equally important factor in
the rapid fishery growth. For example, the
fishing harbor at Kao-Shiung in Southwest
Taiwan has been expanded and its facilities
improved by the government to accommodate
600 vessels in the 100-ton class, Radio sta-
tions have been established with government
assistance to disseminate oceanographic,
meteorological, biological, and marketing in-
formation. To further the development of
deep-sea fishing, the government has estab-
lished 50 foreign bases in the South Pacific,
the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and in the
Mediterranean Sea, Fishermen using these
facilities canunload and resupply locally and
thereby reduce operational costs.
Government impact on fishing-industry
success is noted too in recent attempts to
coordinate fishing development programs
with education, training, and research. At
present, 3 colleges, 5 fishery vocational
schools, and 3 fishery research institutes
exist in Taiwantofurther marine studies. The
colleges emphasize navigation, marine en-
gineering, fish processing, shipbuilding, fish-
ing technology, and fish management. Re-
search and experimentation in fishing tech-
niques, fishing biology, fish preservation,
exploration of fishing grounds, and collection
of fishing data are carried on at fishery re-
search institutes.
Also, the Taiwan Fisheries Bureau has
conducted short-term training classes to im-
part fundamental knowledge and skills to po-
tential fishermen, and to those transferring
from inshore to deep-sea fishing. These
courses include instruction for deep-sea
long-liner skippers, deep-sea mechanical
technicians, deep-sea fisheries! radio opera-
tion of new navigation and fishery apparatus.
These classes have improvedthe productivity
of the labor force and increased the supply of
skilled workers for mechanized high-sea
fishing.
Fishermen's Associaticns: The extent to
which fishermen have organized to enhance
their own welfare has contributed much to the
success of the fishing industry.
As in agriculture, there is often a feeling
that the producers of raw materials are not
adequately rewarded for their labor, while
wholesalers andretailers receive more than
their share of profit. The fishermen's desire
to increase their bargaining power has been
a major factor in the formation of 68 fisher-
men's associations at the district/city level,
and one at provincial level. These associa-
tions have influence, as can be seen in the
"Regulation Governing the Wholesale Market
of Agricultural Commodities in Taiwan Prov-
ince.'' According to this law, all first-hand
sales of fish must be made through a whole-
sale fish market near where the fish are
caught; an exception is remote fishing vil-
lages, where the catch generally is sold at
landing site.
Wholesale marketing is one primary func-
tion of fishermen's associations, which op-
erate the market and provide the site and
facilities. The market transaction generally
is by auction, and only licensed dealers can
bid, If the owner is not satisfied with the bid
price, he retains the right to reject it and
place his fish into cold-storage provided by
the association, After the transaction, the
association deducts 2.5% of sales value to
cover operation, improvement of marketing
facilities, andfishermen's welfare activities.
The associations are required to collect
another 2.7% of sales value to cover stamp
tax, business taxes, the fishermen's share of
a harbor maintenance fee, and collective fish-
ermen's insurance incontract with the Labor
Insurance Bureau of the Taiwan Government.
Covered by the fishermen's insurance are
ehild birth, sickness, death, old age and dis-
ability.
The associations serve other functions.
They assist fishermenin purchasing fuel and
oil from government-operated Taiwan Petro-
leum Company; they assist fishermen in nego-
tiations with manufacturers for the purchase
of engines, fishing gear, and navigational
equipment; they negotiate loans from the gov-
ernment and banking institutions, and re-
extend at their ownrisktomembers who can-
not provide sufficient collateral to meet the
requirements of banks. Bait fish is bought
and sold within the association by member
fishermen. In foreign purchasing, applica-
tions for import permits and foreign exchange
usually are made through the associations.
The associations also are extension ser-
vices through which the government can help
the fishermen increase efficiency. Study
groups may be setup to exchange information
on fishing grounds, fishing gear, and tech-
niques. Fishing contests, navigation safety
facilities, net-treating facilities, cold-
storage facilities, harbor improvements,
etc., are other services contributing toward
improving fishing efficiency and boosting
fishery production,
Expanding Markets: Expanding foreign
markets and high export profitability reflect
Taiwan's growing fishing industry.
Traditionally, Japan has been the world's
leading country in fish export. The compet-
tive position of Japanese fish exports is based
mainly on cost factors. Production costs
(largely labor cost) of the Japanese tuna fleet
have risen sharply in recent years with gen-
eral rise in Japan's economy. Japan faces
increasing competition from Taiwan and South
Korea. The latter's lower labor costs have
strengthened their competitive positions in
world markets. Also, domestic consumption
of tunain Japanis rising as income rises. A
larger proportion of its catches is consumed
at home. Therefore, Japan, has lost part of
its world market, especially U.S., to South
Korea and Taiwan, Due to increased world
demand for fish, the world prices of frozen
tuna and shrimp have become much higher
than domestic prices in Taiwan. The high
profitability of tuna and shrimp export to the
expanding world market contributes muchto
the rapid expansion of Taiwan fisheries.
A Look Ahead
Whether or not Taiwan's fisheries con-
tinue to grow rapidly in the future will depend
upontheir ability to adapt to changing condi-
tions. Biological studies indicate that the
potential increase in the world tuna produc-
tion, excepting skipjack, is very limited. Also,
43
fleet labor costs have risen significantly in
recent years due to the rapid growth of the
industrial sectors. These suggest: (1) Tai-
wanese fishermen, if they are to increase
their share of a limited supply must rely upon
superior technique and efficiency to reduce
production and marketing costs; (2) Since the
potential yield of albacore, yellowfin, and blue-
fin is limited, deep-sea fisheries development
should be diversified; and (3) Attention should
be directed toward exploitation of skipjack
resource, which remains underexploited.
Whatever direction the industry takes, it
will always have to operate under the con-
straint of being part of a worldwide fishing
community. After all, commercial fishing is
carried on primarily in international waters
where producers from all countries compete
for a limited, fugitive resource. The fish be-
longs to no one until captured. Exploitation
in any region may exceed maximum sustain-
able level of catch, The effect is to raise the
aggregate costs of fishing. This dissipates
the potential economic rent through a larger
effort thanis necessary tocatch the allowable
maximum yield; it results in a loss to every-
one's economic welfare. Therefore, it is de-
sirable to encourage international coopera-
tion and coordination of research efforts--as
wellas international regulatory measures to
limit catch in a region to a level that would
maximize the potential economic yield.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The following specialists were kind enough
to review a draft of this paper: Professor
Walter Miklius, University of Hawaii; Mr.
Tamio Otsu, Hawaii Area Fishery Research
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service,
NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce;
Messrs. T.P. Chen and §8.J. Lu, Fisheries
Division, Joint Commission on Rural Recon-
struction in Taiwan; and Mr. H.C. Huang, Tai-
wan Fisheries Bureau,
REFERENCES
TAIWAN FISHERIES BUREAU
Fisheries Yearbook, Taiwan Area.
Taiwan Fisheries,
1966. Report on the Sampling Survey of Production Costs of
Private Fisheries in Taiwan
CHEN, T. P. and C, C. YANG
1968, Case Study of a Selected Fisherman's Cooperative--
Tung Kang Fishermen's Association, Fisheries Divi-
sion, Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction,
COMITINI, SALVATORE
1966. Marine Resources Exploitationand Management in the
Economic Development of Japan, Economic Devel-
opment and Culture Change, July.
BELL, FREDERICK W,
1969, Economic Projectionof the World Demand and Supply
of Tuna, 1970-90, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries,
Division of Economic Research, Working Paper No. 18.
CASAC
HOW TO INSTAL AN ECHO SOUNDER IN
A SMALL FIBERGLASS BOAT
Larry D. Lusz
The standard technique for installing an
echo sounder ona vesselis tomount the trans -
mitting/ receiving transducer on the exterior
of the hull. For large displacement vessels,
this method of installation does not create
many problems because the boats operate in
deep water at relatively slow speed. However,
the externally mounted transducer generates
several problems onsmaller boats. The most
significant problems are the tranducer's vul-
nerability todamage when operating in shal-
low water or placing the boat on a trailer, and
reduced performance of the boat hull.
In small boats, a more practical place to
mount the transducer is inside the hull. Many
smaller boats are constructed of reinforced
fiberglass plastic; therefore it may be pos-
sible totransmit and receive acoustic signals
through the hull's bottom. An internal trans-
ducer mounting would offer several advan-
tages over external mounting by solving the
abovementioned problems--and allowing easy
access tothe transducer for maintenance and
repair. However, boat hulls with air bubbles
or filler materials in the fiberglass could
present a problem by reducing the echo soun-
der's performance.
This paper reports the results of the in-
stallation of an echo sounder in a fiberglass
boat. Thetransducer was mounted inside the
hull in a watertight well.
THE BOAT AND ECHO SOUNDER
The boat, a Thunderbiral! (model Iro-
quois), is 23 feet 9 inches long at the center
It has
a cathedral-style hull with a small enclosed
line, and 8 feet wide across the beam.
cabin forward. It is powered by an inboard/
outboard drive unit with a 200-horsepower
engine.
The boat is constructed from reinforced
fiberglass plastic with wood structural mem-
bers. The manufacturer says the hull was
constructed from a combination of polyester -
type resinand glass fiber that was relatively
free of air bubbles and filler materials.
The echo sounder was a Ross Fineline
Model No. 200 operating at a frequency of
105 kHz. Maximum range of the system was
200fathoms. Power at12 v.d.c.was supplied
tothe transmitter/ receiver from the boat bat-
teries. The readout was of the dry -paper type.
The piezoelectric transducer was con-
It had a dia-
meter of 5 inches and a length of 3 inches.
structed from barium titanate.
The beam angle was 8 degrees.
ECHO SOUNDER INSTALLATION
A watertight well was designed for mount-
ing the transducer inside the boat (Figure 1).
Initially, the well was filled with sea water to
conduct tests of sound level measurements;
but oil or other viscous incompressible fluids,
The author is an Electronics Engineer, Exploratory Fishing & Gear Research Base, NMFS, NOAA, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle,
WA 98102.
1/Trade names referred to in this publication do not imply endorsement of commercial products.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 909
45
3/8" X 11/2"
BOLT 8 PLACES
TRANSDUCER
N
ZZ WUD WU Bez
‘mean 9
NNNANAANAN
SSS!
(I PD OSOAOOAS
Fig. 1 - Well design for installing transducer inside boat hull.
46
TRIGGER
TRANSDUCER
TEST
OSCILLOSCOPE
Vp-p IS VOLTAGE GENERATED
ACROSS TEST HYDROPHONE.
t IS TIME FOR SOUND PULSE
TO TRAVEL FROM TRANS-
DUCER TO HYDROPHONE.
HYDROPHONE
Fig. 2 - Block diagram for determination of separation distance between transducer and hydrophone and for source
level measurement,
with sound transmission characteristics sim -
ilar to sea water, could be used to couple the
acoustic energy into the water.
The readout and transmitter/receiver
were mounted onthe port bulkheadinthe cabin
of the boat. Theseunits could be installed in
weatherproof boxes for external mounting on
cabinless boats.
TESTS TO DETERMINE
TRANSDUCER EFFICIENCY
Tests were conducted to determine the rel-
ative efficiency of an internally mounted ver-
The
source level at a distance of 1 yard can be
sus an externally mounted transducer.
calculated from the following equation: S = 20
log Vhydro - M+ 20 log R where S is the
source level in db/u bar, Vhydro is the rms
voltage across the calibrated hydrophone,
M is the open circuit receiving sensitivity at
one yard for the calibrated hydrophone, 2/ and
R is the distance in yards between the trans-
ducer and calibrated hydrophone3/,
The source level was measured with the
circuit Shownin Figure 2 with the transducer
installedinthe boat. The measurements were
performed in water that was 30 feet deep with
the boat tied to a dock. A calibrated test hy-
drophone was lowered into the water beneath
The hydro-
phone was adjusted until its acoustical axis
the echo-sounder transducer.
2/M = -112.8 db/u bar (calibrated by Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington).
3/Kinsler, Lawrence E., and Austin R. Frey, "Fundamentals of Acoustics," John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1962.
was aligned with the acoustical axis of the
transducer asdetermined by maximum signal
The peak-to-
peak voltage generated across the test hydro-
deflection on an oscilloscope.
phone and the exact distance between the hy-
drophone and transducer were then measured
with the oscilloscope.
The source level measurement was re-
peated with the transducer located on the ex-
terior of the hull. By comparing the two
measurements, the effect of transmitting
through the hull and, subsequently, the rela-
tive efficiency of each transducer configura-
tion could be determined.
47
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
The results of the source level measure-
ments aretabulated intable. The similarity
in source level measurements when the trans -
ducer is mounted either inside or outside the
boat show that the transducer can be mounted
inside the boat hull without a reductioninsen-
sitivity. The advantages of aninternal mount-
ing are significant. Maintenance time and
repair costs are less due to ease of access
to the transducer. Also, the vulnerability of
the transducer to damage is reduced.
Source level measurements of transducer configurations
Location of
transducer
Vhydro
Transducer mounted
inside boat 06
Transducer mounted
outside boat
(V peak-to-peak)
R Ss
(db/u bar @ 1 yd)
(yds)
8.2 95.9
95.6
THE SEPARATION OF CRAB MEAT FROM
SHELL & TENDON BY A CENTRIFUGAL PROCESS
Wayne I, Tretsven
In alaboratory study of improved methods
for removing shell fragments and tendon from
hand-picked Dungeness crab meat, research-
ers at the Seattle Fishery Products Technol-
ogy Laboratory examined the application of
centrifugal forcetothe problem. Trials with
an industrial, solid-bowl centrifuge indicated
that a machine of this type had great potential
for the separation of meat from Shell.
The centrifuge, a Bird Machine Co.* solid-
bowl machine, designed primarily for the
classification and separation of materials like
gravel, had a rated capacity of 0.7 cubic foot
of solids per minute and required a 30 hp
motor to overcome the starting inertia. The
unit required 15 hp for normal operation after
starting.
Inthese studies, the machine (Figure) was
fed with chopped crab or crab shell in a sat-
urated brine slurry. The separated meat was
CHOPPED CRAB
CRAB MEAT
CRAB SHELL
INLET
PIPING RECIRCULATING MEDIUM
CENTRIFUGE
Diagram of centrifugal process for separation of crab meat from
shell.
screened fromthe brine as it left the centri-
fuge. Thebrine was recirculated at rates up
to 15 gallons per minute.
Separation of Picked Meat from Shell &
Tendon
The centrifuge was first tried with fresh,
commercially picked Dungeness crab meat
obtained from the "shaking" table. This meat
contained pieces of shell and tendon that are
removed by brine flotation in normal plant
practice. The material was slowly added to
the hopper from whichit was carried by sat-
urated brine at approximately 12 gpm into the
bowl that rotated at 2,000 rpm. Within 2 or
3 seconds, pieces of meat appeared in the ef-
fluent. Pieces of shell and tendon were thrown
from the solids discharge end of the centri-
fuge. Little ornomeat was carried over with
the shell or tendon and, aside from the pieces
of tendonthat were attached to meat, no shell
ortendon remained in the meat. If pieces of
gill were mixed with the meat, they remained
withthe meat during centrifugation, Usually,
pieces of gill are removed at the time of butch-
ering. Although the recovered meat was
shredded and excessively salty to taste, the
first trials showed that it is feasible to sep-
arate crabmeat from crab shell by means of
a centrifuge.
Recovery of Meat from Crab Shell Scrap
Dungeness crab shell scrap (the shell re-
maining after the removal of meat by hand)
was chopped into pieces ranging in size from
about } to Z inch and fed into the hopper in
saturated brine, The centrifuge separated the
slurry into meat-free shell and shell-free
meat. In three different lots of scrap used,
the meat recovered ranged from 14 to 20 per-
cent of the weight ofthe scrap. This is roughly
equal to 15 percent of the weight of the meat
removed by hand picking.
The author is Research Chemist, Fishery Products Technology Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, 2725 Montlake Blvd.E.,
Seattle, WA 98102.
Trade names referred to in this publication do not imply endorsement of commercial products.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 910
The meat from the shell scrap was of small
particle size, perhaps inpart because of chop—
ping. However, it was darker in color and
flakier than the pieces of muscle described in
the previous section. This meat could be
valuable alone, but it appeared to us that its
greatest value was as aningredient for blend-
ing with larger, more fibrous pieces of meat
for use inmanufactured products suchas crab
cakes.
Anexample of recovery of meat from scrap
in a "typical" Dungeness crab plant might be
useful in pointing out the potential significance
of this procedure. If we assume a plant with
20 pickers or shakers, each of whom produces
100 pounds of meat an hour for six hours per
day, the total shell scrap produced per day is
approximately 12,000 pounds. Using a real-
istic figure of 15 percent yield of meat from
the scrap, it is clear that about 1,800 pounds
of meat are recoverable. Assuming further
that the quality of the recovered meat is such
as to yield a return only half that of easily
shaken meat, using May 1971 prices for Dun-
geness crab meat, the 12,000 pounds of scrap
shell produced daily contains recoverable
meat worth about $1,400.
Centrifugal Recovery of Edible Meat from
Other Crab Species
In separate experiments, Dungeness crab
body and leg sections, blue crab claws, and
snow crab legs and bodies were chopped and
49
Yield of meat obtained by centrifugal treatment of
blue crab claws and snow crab body sections and legs
Source of meat Yield of meat
Percent by weight
Blue crab claws (cooked) 31
Snow crab bodies (cooked) 52
Snow crab legs (cooked) 29
then fed intothe centrifuge in a saturated salt
solution slurry. In all cases, the meat was
free from shell and tendon, and the shell was
free from meat. As was the case in other
tests, the meat was shredded and more salty
thandesirable. Yield data were not obtained
for Dungeness crab. Yields from blue crab
claws and snow crab legs and snow crab body
sections are shown in table.
Recent Developments
Since the completion of the work reported
here, a centrifuge designed specifically for
the separation of crab meat from shell and
tendon has been designed and constructed.
This machine is being tested at the Fishery
Products Technology Laboratory at Glouces-
ter, Massachusetts. The results of early tests
are highly favorable and show that the new
centrifuge produces a considerably better
product than that produced by the centrifuge
used for tests carried out in Seattle.
VESSELS OF FAO FLEET
Three of the nearly 100 FAO vessels
searching for food the world over are pic-
tured here. (See also CFR, April 1971.)
The 56 -foot, British-built 'Fregata'is one
of 3 FAOvessels to dramatically change the
Caribbeanfisheries. The other 2 are the 81-
foot twins, 'Alcyon' and 'Calamar', built in
Japan in 1966 to cross Pacific under own
power. (FAO photos)
50
51
Since its 1968 launching, the 102-foot 'Cruz Del Sur! has set fishing records, reports Argentina. The vessel operates from Mar del Plata
as a combination stern trawler and purse seiner.
FISHING-TRAINING VESSEL
Two Japanese-built fishing-training ves-
sels are training young South Koreans to in-
crease their country's production, The 2 are:
'Chin Dal Le,' a 320-ton tuna longliner, and
stern trawler 'Kaenali'.
The vessels sail from Pusan Deep-Sea
Training Center, a $2-million, 5-year project
sponsored jointly by UN Special Fund and
Korea, and FAO administered.
Pusan Center graduates are becoming
backbone of growing high-seas fleet.
The 'Chin Dal Le', which means 'wild rose!
in Korean, is combination training vessel and
tuna longliner., It carries 16-man crew, 40
trainees, and FAO instructors on 4-month
trips. Itfishes richtuna grounds near Samoan
islands.
53
Trainees in engine room
of Chin Dal Le.
Trainee at the bridge.
Kare Larssen of Norway, FAO officer,
inspects repairs. (FAO: P. Boonserm}
FAO GROUP APPROVES INDIAN OCEAN
FISHERY PLAN
A 5-year plan to develop Indian Ocean fish-
eries tohelpfeed millions of Asians has been
approved by the Executive Committee of In-
dian Ocean Fishery Commission. The com-
mission is a 26-nation FAO regional body.
The committee met in Rome April 26-29.
The program provides for a comprehensive
effort to develop these fishery resources by
developed and developing countries, and by
international agencies, suchas U.N. Develop-
ment Program (UNDP).
Indian Ocean's Vast Potential
A 78-page report emphasized the vast po-
tential of the Indian Ocean, which covers a
fifth of the world's marine area. The ocean's
annual yield is 2.4 million metric tons of fish.
This could be increased to 14 million tons
The world catch
of marine fish is just under 60 million tons.
using existing technology.
Annual growth rates of 5% to 8% over 20-
year periods were foreseen for bottom (de-
mersal) and open-water (pelagic) fisheries.
In tuna and shrimp fisheries, already well
developed and enjoying strong international
demand, the full potential could be achieved
in 10 years. The total potential yield was
valued at about US$1.8 billion a year at re-
tail level.
54
Benefit Billion People
The billion people of the Indian Ocean
countries--about a third the world popula-
tion--wouldbenefit. East Africa and southern
and southeastern Asia have substantial pro-
tein deficits. Population growth is higher
thanelsewhere. Per-capita national incomes
vary from under $100 to $500 a year.
Fisheries would provide valuable protein
food for local use and for export, especially
tuna and shrimp. These would bring more
jobs and investment opportunities.
Program's First Objectives
The program calls initially for technical
staff under Indian Ocean Fishery Commission.
It would identify and coordinate existing de-
velopment projects and promote the gathering
It would help
launch national and regional projects:
of statistical information.
ex-
ploratory fishing, fishermen training, and
introduction of better methods of fish handling,
distribution, and marketing.
Other Indian Ocean Projects
FAO already is carrying out fishery de-
velopment projects in Indian Ocean region.
Also, studies are underway or being planned
along coast of Tanzania, Gulf of Jedain Saudi
Arabia, Seychelles Islands, and Maldive Is-
lands.
FAO REVIEWS SIGNIFICANT
FISHERY DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 1958
FAOhas reviewedthe significant develop-
ments insea fisheries since the first UN Con-
ference onthe Law of the Sea in 1958. World
fisheries have been developing rapidly. The
production of marine fish (including shellfish)
increased from 27 million tons in 1958 to 56
million tons in 1969. Problems of over-
exploitation have intensified. This has in-
creased the need for conservation and man-
agement measures.
In 1955, virtually all fish stocks outside
the North Atlantic and the North Pacific were
underexploited, or not exploited at all. Now
there are few stocks of fishreadily caught and
marketed that are not heavily exploited. Many
of these are caught by large fleets of long-
range vessels capable of fishing anywhere.
The number of countries fishing well be-
yond their own coasts also is increasing. It
includes several developing countries, often
as a result of assistance programs. This is
animportant development since the 1958 Con-
ference because more countries with strong
and sometimes conflicting fishery interests
will take part in the new conference in 1973.
Many Resources Underexploited
Though many of the more valuable stocks
are overexploited, some seriously, the sea's
total living resources are still underexploited.
Accordingtothe FAO Perspective Study of
World Agricultural Development, the total
demand for fish for humans and for animals
is projected at 74 million tons in 1975, and
107 milliontonsin 1985, This compares with
an estimated potential from conventional ma-
rine species of a little over 100 million tons.
Among the policies required to reach such
a target, the study emphasizes the importance
of management measures aimed at more ra-
tionaluse of fish stocks, This is because the
full potential can be achieved only if each
stock is harvested at optimum rate.
More species are being fished, so man-
agement has to account more for ecological
interactions between different species insame
region, Effective use of fish resources re-
quires more than maintaining at high level the
yield from certain individual stocks.
55
Particularly for capital-scarce developing
countries, the costs of harvesting must be
kept low. There is increasing emphasis on
economic considerations in management
schemes of governments either individually
or within regional fishery bodies. The in-
troduction of certain restrictions on fishing
will not necessarily be economically benefi-
cial. Some limitation of entry into a fishery
is required if fisheries are to be exploited
most profitably.
Many Improvements
Improvements in fishing equipment and
methods, fish handling and processing, and
development of new products and markets
since the first conference have brought more
resources within range of commercial ex-
ploitation; they have led to important cost
reductions. Technical progress, however,
has not always been an unmixed blessing for
fisheries--because it is accompanied by in-
tensified exploitation.
Fish Location
The most important developments prob-
ably have been in fish location, particularly
in sonar inpurse seining and aimed trawling.
The industry also has adopted new fishing
gear and gear-handling techniques, such as
midwater trawls, mechanized devices for net
handling, andfish pumps. The generalized use
of synthetic fibers for net construction has
had a significant impact on the development
of fisheries.
New freezing and processing techniques
make it possible to handle and store fish on
board. A large fleet of freezer and factory
trawlers has beenbuilt and equipped to oper-
ate anywhere. Other characteristics of the
long-range fishery are mothership opera-
tions, with one large factory vessel supported
by smaller catchers, and a worldwide network
of fishing ports for unloading, bunkering, re-
pair, or exchange ofcrews. In the traditional
small-scale fisheries, the most significant
changes have beenthe use of synthetic fibers,
mechanization of small craft, and the use of
glass-fiber and ferro-cement as hull mate-
rial.
56
Other Developments
There have been developments in other
uses of the ocean, including waste disposal,
and inindustrial exploration and exploitation
of resources of seabed and its subsoil. Many
of these activities affect fishery resources
and fishing activities. This increases pos-
sibility of conflicts between various uses. It
becomes necessary toconsider measures re-
quired to minimize any harmful interference
with fishing, especially from pollutants.
More Known Today
Today, scientists know much more about
the sea's living resources, and the effects of
fishing onthem, than they knew in 1955, Many
species migrate. Fishing them in one national
jurisdiction affects them in other jurisdic-
tions and onthe high seas. There is need for
an integrated approach to management,
FAO Committee on Fisheries
In1965, FAOCommittee on Fisheries was
setup. It is the only global forum concerned
with the development of fisheries. One of its
mainfunctions isto review fishery problems
of an international character. It appraises
the problems and possible solution in order
to concert action,
More Management Bodies
More fishery management bodies have been
established tocover specific areas of the high
seas or species: the Joint Commission for
Black Sea Fisheries; the Northeast Atlantic
Fisheries Commission; the Joint Commission
for Fisheries Co-operation; the Japan-Re-
public of Korea Joint Fisheries Commission.
The Regional Fisheries Advisory Commis-
sion for the Southwest Atlantic, the Fishery
Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic,
and the Indian Ocean Fishery Commission
were created within the framework of FAO,
FAO also convened two Conferences of
Plenipotentiaries that adopted Conventions
for establishing, outside FAO, the Interna-
tional Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas and of the International Com-
missionfor the Southeast Atlantic Fisheries.
Regional fishery bodies promote and co-
ordinate research and ensure rational man-
agement of resources in their area of com-
petence,
JAPAN
FROZEN SHRIMP MARKET FORECAST FOR DECADE
Japan will have to import an estimated
120,000 metrictons of frozen shrimp by 1980
at twice the average 1968 price (US$2,217 per
The cost: about a half billion
This was predicted in a report,
metric ton).
dollars.
"Frozen Shrimp Import Vision,'' prepared by
an advisory body of Ministry of International
Trade and Industry.
This is a summary:
Demand Trends: Demand for shrimp is
rising rapidly. During 1966-1970, annual
growth averaged about 9%. If trend continues,
demand likely will increase to 122,000 tons
in 1975, and to 156,000 tons in 1980.
Price Trends: Demand is increasing
faster than supply. There is ''excessive com-
petition among Japanese shrimp importers."
So it is estimated that prices will double by
1980 over 1968 prices.
Production: More shrimp grounds can be
developed and harvesting methods improved.
Unloading facilities at many fishing ports still
inadequate. Processing facilities and quality
standards in southeast Asia and Middle East
are poor; only India and Australia have quality
control.
System of Exports in Producing Countries
and Imports by Japan: Exports in most
shrimp-producing countries are handled by
processors, not by export agents. Few gov-
ernments are involved in administering ex-
ports. In Japan, quality standards are rela-
tively uniform for frozen shrimp imports;
about 70 importers are involved.
57
Resource Underused: Despite many rich
grounds, the resource is not used effectively
because of inadequate surveys. Japan must
assist others financially, technically, provide
vessels, gear, and train fishermen,
Quality Improvement: The following
measures are needed in producing countries
and in Japan: (1) complete removal of heads
from shrimp aboard vessel, and use of ice to
store catch; (2) construction of cold storages
at ports of landing; (3) refrigerated railcars
and trucks for land transportation; and (4)
thorough export inspection.
Import Cost Redi ction:
shrimp imports, Japan must reduce costs:
To increase
(1) remove import tariff; (2) reduce ocean
freight (very high); and (3) buy at reasonable
price.
Establish Order:
zoom whenever importers concentrate heav-
Raw material prices
ily in certainareas and bidup prices. These
measures are necessary to avoid excessive
competition: (1) develop uniform purchase
contracts; and (2) work with industry to im-
prove quality.
Government Measures Needed: (1) Elim-
inate import tariff onfrozen shrimp; (2) pro-
vide more financial help tofirms losing money
developing resources in foreign countries;
(3) more loans for resource development and
for frozen-shrimp imports; and (4) help with
surveys and technical problems, ('Shin Sui-
san Shimbun Sokuho!, Apr. 28; 'Nihon Suisan
Shimbun', Apr. 26.)
58
Current and projected value of
frozen shrimp imports
c
°
dl
Col
Lon
‘cl
=
a
=)
Ur
i]
Al
1965 1970 1975
*
*
%
WILL AID PERU'S FISHERY
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Major Japanese firms, including Mitsubi-
shi Shoji and Mitsui Bussan, plan to help
develop Peru's shrimp, crab, and coastal
resources and modernize the fishing industry.
The Japanese-Peruvian plan was disclosed
by Fisheries Minister Tantalean during his
visit toJapan as a guest of fishery and trad-
ing firms.
The Plans
Plans include capital investment of over
US$10 million, jointly by Mitsubishi Shoji and
Nihon Hogei, and similar investment by
Mitsui Bussan. The operation will develop
fishery resources and handle freezing, proc-
essing, storage, and export of fishery prod-
ucts.
Also planned are fishing bases and ship-
building facilities to modernize the industry.
Although Peruharvests mostly anchoveta,
its other coastal fishery resources, such as
shrimp and crabs, are almost untouched.
Japan plans to develop those resources by
providing capital and up-to-date fishing
techniques. ('Minato Shimbun', May 2.)
% OK OK
SHRIMP CATCH OFF
GUIANAS INCREASES
The Japanese shrimp fleet fishing off the
Guianas in South America consists of 70
trawlers owned by 7 firms and is based at
Georgetown, Guyana; Paramaribo, Surinam;
and Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The catch was 1,630 metric tons in 1968,
2,500 tonsin 1969, and 3,839 tons in 1970. Of
the 70 trawlers, only 10 of the 15 owned by
Shinyo Gyogyo are licensed by Japan for reg-
ular commercial fishing. The other 60 are
fishing ''experimentally" under a 1-year re-
newable permit. The shrimp is processed
in Georgetown and exported tothe U.S. and
Japan.
Plans for Joint Ventures
In Dec. 1969, the 7 Japanese firms formed
the South American Marine Development Co.
with authorized capital of US$278,000 (100
million yen), and paid-up capital of $69,400
(25 million yen).
The company was negotiating with the
Guyanan Government and the British-owned
Guyana Industrial Holding Co. to establish a
joint shrimp freezing and processing plant in
Georgetown. Guyana has one freezing plant:
Bookers Merchants Ltd, 100% Guyanan-
owned and operated, with a daily capacity of
30,000 pounds.
Similar negotiations were under way in
Paramaribo, Surinam. The proposed under-
taking there will not be possible until after
Nov. 1971, when the exclusive processing
rights held by Surinam-American Industries
Ltd. (SAIL) expire.
SAIL built a freezing and processing plant
in 1956 and obtained a 15-year exclusive con-
cessiontoexport shrimp from Surinam. The
plant, rated very good, has a daily freezing
capacity of 55,000 pounds, SAIL processes
catches of Japanese shrimp fishermen under
special agreement prior to export to Japan.
("Suisan Shuho')
CATCH OF SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA
WILL BE REGULATED VOLUNTARILY
The Japan Tuna Fisheries Cooperative
Associations (NIKKATSUREN) and the Japan
Tuna Fisheries Association (NIKKATSUK-
YOKAI) have agreed on voluntary measures
to protect stocks of southern bluefin tuna
(Thunnus maccoyii).
The plan will go into effect on or before
Oct. 1, 1971.
in these areas:
It will include a closed season
Between 120° E. and 140° E.
longitudes, and between 40° S.
latitude and Australia: Oct. 1 - Mar. 31
Between 95° E, and 110° E.
longitudes, and between 35° S.
and 40° S, latitudes: Dec. 1 - Mar. 31
Between 145° E. and 151° E.
longitudes, and between 35° S.
and 40° S, latitudes: May 1 - July 31
Between 15° E, and 35° E.
longitudes, and between 38° S.
and 45° S. latitudes: Oct. 1 - Jan. 31
The decisionto establish voluntary indus-
try regulation is important in promoting ra-
tionaluse of the resource. It was due partly
todisclosures by the Government's Far Seas
Fisheries Research Laboratory at Shimizu
that southern bluefin resources might be de-
pleted in South Pacific, Indian and Atlantic
Oceans if fishery continued. Normally, 150-
200 tuna longliners fish year round for the
species,
59
Rapid Catch Drop
During past 3 years, the average daily
Off Australia,
catches dropped from 3 metric tons in 1968
to 0.7 ton by Feb. 1969. Off Tasmania and
New Zealand, the average daily catch de-
catch has decreased rapidly.
creased from 10-20 tons inearly 1960sto less
than 1 ton in 1970.
In 1971, the laboratory called for drastic
measures to preserve the species because it
takes6-7 yearsfor southern bluefin to reach
adulthood.
maguro Tsushin', May 17; 'Suisancho Nippo',
April 16.)
('‘Suisan Tsushin' and 'Katsuo-
60
MAY REDUCE SAURY FISHERY OFF
U.S. WEST COAST
The Japanese have had little luck with saury
fishing off the U.S. West Coast since they be-
gan exploring these waters infall 1969. It has
dampened their interest.
In 1970, the Japanese Fisheries Agency
received applications from more than 50 ves-
sels. Only 33 received permits, and only 15
actually fished. The deadline for filing was
May 31,1971, and only a few applications had
been received a month before deadline.
First Vessel's Plan
The first saury vessel, Nihon Suisan's
"Tone Maru!', 535 gross tons, was scheduled
to leave Hakodate in late June. In 1970, the
vessel used a modified ''boke-ami" (stick-
held dip net). In 1971, it will use a fishing
method combining stick-held dip net with
"hiki-ami' (a type of drag net).
The Tone Maru plans to fish eastwards
from central Pacific towards San Francisco,
then proceed northward. ('Suisan Tsushin',
Apr. 28.)
OK OK
AUTOMATIC SKIPJACK-TUNA
FISHING POLE IS SUCCESSFUL
The automatic skipjack-tuna fishing gear
developed in 1970 by Suzuki Ironworks is
proving successfulintrials conducted by bait
boats. Previously, small vessels were con-
Angling Pote
Robot Machine
Bulwark
Robert skipjack tuna angler based on the drawing by the manu-
facturess, K. K. Suzuki Tekkojo, 7, Mikawa-cho, Ashinomaki,
Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
sidered unsuitable for mechanized fishing;
now they are experiencing amazing results
with the automatic gear. Its use is spread-
ing in Japan.
Fishing Effective
Ordinarily, 4 to 8 units are installed
aboard a vessel. But one 384-ton vessel
scheduled for launching in Oct. 1971 will be
rigged with 16 units.
With proper chumming, fishing with the
automatic gear is highly effective. The unit
can lift albacore of 16-20 kilograms (35-44
pounds) the way skipjack are poled by hand.
The Federation of Japan Tuna Fisheries
Cooperative Association is considering the
effect widespread use of such gear would
have on wage structure. Itis studying proper
wage scalesforfishermen, ('Katsuo-maguro
Tsushin', April 26)
OK OK
SARDINES RETURN TO NIIGATA
AFTER 15 YEARS
The Igarashihama port, in Niigata City,
bustles as fishermen haul in large sardine
catches. Sardine had all but disappeared from
Japanese waters. The catch by about 15 boats
on May 13 was large enough for fishermen to
be jubilant. It was the largest in 15 years.
("‘Yomiuri', May 14.)
NMFS Comment: The 15-vessel catch
does notseem large. The Sea of Japan sar-
dines, which "disappeared" mysteriously
after World War II, may be making a come-
back. The same may be happening off the
Soviet coast, where a sardine fishery flour-
ished 20 years ago.
ok Ok
SALMON INDUSTRY AGREES ON
1971 PROFIT SHARING
On May 5, Japanese salmon-catcher owners
and mothership operators agreed on distri-
bution of proceeds during 1971 season. Terms
include: (1) 63.5% of net proceeds will be for
catcher vessels and 36.5% for mothership
firms (62% and 38% in 1970); (2) the two
groups will consult on selling prices and do-
mestic sales; (3) a sales committee will be
formed toimprove sales system. Item 3 was
JAPAN (Contd.):
inserted because of poor 1970 salmon mar-
ket in Japan. This had resulted in delays by
several mothership firms in settling accounts
with catcher vessels.
1970 Joint Fishing Management
In 1970, the two groups had agreed to joint
management of fishing operations to provide
more equitable profit sharing. Before that,
the salmon fishermen had concluded prede-
parture price agreements eachyear. ('Suisan
Keizai Shimbun', May 10.)
OK OK
FRENCH ORDER
JAPANESE SEED OYSTERS
French oystermen in the Charante area
have ordered more than 50 tons of seed oys-
ters from Japan. They hope the strain will
prove more resistant thanthe French oyster
tothe mysterious disease expected to destroy
over 50% of 1971 crop in Vendee region of
northwest France. French oyster culture an-
nually produces US$2 million worth.
Oyster Breeders Warned
Claude Maurin, Director of France's Tech-
nicaland Scientific Marine Fishing Institute,
has warned French oyster breeders against
importing Japanese oysterstoreplenish their
beds of Portuguese oysters hit by a myster-
ious disease in1971. He said: ‘Although the
Japanese variety grows more rapidly, it runs
the danger of adversely affecting its marine
environment for it filters more and consumes
more. . Above all we must avoid an ill-
timed reseeding."" ('Japan Times', May 3.)
KK
BRAZIL'S 200-MILE FISHING ZONE
WILL HURT JAPANESE SHRIMPERS
Brazil's recent extension of her terri-
torial sea to 200 miles willseriously hurt the
Japanese shrimp fishery there, Japanese
sources say. Some 72 shrimp trawlers of
South American Marine Development Com-
pany (SAMDC), formed by 7 Japanese firms,
annually catch off northeastern coast of South
America about 3,000 tons (headless weight) of
shrimp worth about US$11.1 million.
61
30% Within 100 Miles
About 30%(900 tons worth about $3.3 mil-
lion) comes from within 100 miles of Brazil's
coast; according to new regulations, only Bra-
zilian vessels may fish there.
SAMDC has asked Japanese Government to
negotiate with Brazil to ensure continuation
of shrimp fishery in those waters. ('Suisan
Tsushin', May 27.)
OK OX
TO FISH SKIPJACK TUNA
WITH AUSTRALIANS
The Kyokuyo firm plans a joint skipjack-
tuna-fishing venture with Australia's Gollin
Company in July 1971. Kyokuyo will put up
55%, and Gollin 45% of capital. Headquarters
will be Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea.
Plans in progress are for a canned tuna
and "arabushi'' (sun-dried skipjack loin)
processing plant in Kavieng, New Ireland Is-
land and, later, a cold-storage plant.
Preparation Underway
At present, Kyokuyo has 4 pole-and-line
vessels conducting "exploratory'' skipjack
fishing from Kavieng. The vessels were land-
ing 5-ton average and up to 20 metric tons
per vessel per day's fishing. In June, two
more vessels were scheduled to join fleet,
By 1974, the fleet will be 15-16 vessels, in-
cluding purse seiners; and annual landings
are projected to 50,000 tons.
1966 Joint Venture
In 1966, the 2 firms formed Gollin Kyokuyo
Fishing Co.to shrimp in Gulf of Carpentaria.
The venture progressed steadily. In June
1970, the firm distributed 15% dividends to
shareholders.
Scheduled for June 1971 was an increase
in capital from present $56,000 to $400,000.
In 2 years, the Gulf of Carpentaria fleet will
be expanded from 10 to 15 vessels; annual
landings are estimated to reach 1,000 tons.
("‘Suisan Keizai Shimbun', May 31.)
Kk ok
62
JAPAN (Contd.):
FISHING FAMILIES DECREASE,
OLDER FISHERMEN INCREASE
The number of fishermen in Japan is de-
creasing and their average age is increasing,
according to Ministry of Agriculture and For-
estry's survey: ''Fishing Family Employ-
ment Situation in 1970."
In 1970, there were 363,100 fishing fam-
ilies (3.2% below 1969). These consisted of
about 1,723,000 family members (down 5.4%).
The number of workers in the fishing in-
dustry was 691,400 persons, down 6.4%; of
these, 548,700 (down 4.1%) were offshore
workers.
Young Group Declines
By age group, the number of fishermen
15-39 declined more (6.1%) than those 40 and
over. This indicates that proportion of older
fishermen is increasing.
Among fishing families, junior high school
graduates totaled 43,700--22,700 were males.
Of male graduates, 40.7% advanced to higher
schools, 55% chose work in fishing industry,
and 4.3% was unemployed.
Among male graduates entering a fishing
career, 12,485, only 4,000 became offshore
fishermen. ('Shin Suisan Shimbun’, May 17.)
Ie
TAIWAN
REMOVES IMPORT CONTROLS
ON MARINE COMMODITIES
Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade re-
moved over 650 items from the controlled
import list during Jan.-Mar. 1971. About 50
marine commodities are included. These now
can be exported to Taiwan as "permissible
import" items, including salted, dried, or
smoked croakers, Spanish mackerel, tilefish,
lizardfish, sea catfish, sauces, tortoise and
mother-of-pearl shells, and seaweeds.
xO OK
1970 CATCH ALMOST 10%
ABOVE 1969's
Taiwan's 1970 catch was 613,000 metric
tons, almost 10% above 1969's 560,000 tons.
The largestincrease was infish culture, 27%
more than 1969; the absence of typhoons and
government programs helped to produce it.
The second largestincrease came in dis-
tant-water fisheries (9%), especially from
Taiwan-based vessels. Without these, there
would have been no increase in distant-water
catch because non-Taiwan-based fleet caught
less in 1970 than in 1969 (93,000 vs. 94,000
tons).
Tuna Fleet Growth Slowed
In past years, tuna fleet grew fastest. But
notin1i970. Tuna stocks probably were less
available in 1970 than before. In heavily ex-
ploited waters off Taiwan, catch increases
were held to about 6% in outer coastal waters,
and only 2.5%ininner coastal waters, where
pollution problems are beginning to be felt.
(‘China Fisheries Monthly', Feb. 1971.)
1971 Fleet Building Plans
Only moderate expansion of fleet construc -
tion is planned in 1971: 40 tuna longliners
(250 GRT each).
The hulls will be constructed in Taiwan,
the engines and other equipment imported.
Delivery is expected at end of 1971. No more
tuna vessels will be built for several years.
Construction of 12 pair trawlers (minimum
150-ton refrigeration capacity), partly fi-
nanced by a $1 million government loan to
fishing companies. Construction contracts
have not been concluded. (U.S. Embassy,
Taipei, April 15.)
EUROPE
USSR
1966-1970 SOVIET FISHERIES
REVIEWED BY DEPUTY MINISTER
The Soviet Deputy Fisheries Minister has
disclosed some of the accomplishments of
Soviet fisheries during the 1966-70 Five-Year
Plans (FYP).
The catch was 34 million metric tons (up
55% over 1961-1965), edible fishery products
output 17 million tons, fish meal 1.7 million
tons. In 1970, the catch was 7.7 million tons.
Among edible fishery products, fillet pro-
duction increased the most (440% over 1961-
65), canned products the least (48%). While
catch rose 55%, per-capita consumption of
fish and fishery products rose only 36.5%.
Three-fourths of all fish processing was
done onthehighseas. This is significant be-
cause it helps to maintain and improve the
quality of fishery products.
1971-75 Plans
For 1971-75, Mr. Studenetskii indicated,
the Soviets will move their fisheries away
from the Continental Shelf into the deep
oceans. This will require re-equipping the
fleet with improved gear and building new
vessel types.
Research
Mr. Studenetskii, a researcher, stressed
the need for expanded and improved explora-
tion and research for new species, fishing
grounds, and better gear. He will push for
more efficient and profitable techniques to
fish sparsely schooling fish and other marine
creatures.
Red Tape
It was apparent that red tape and other
problems continued to plague the fisheries
because the Deputy Minister said he planned
to ''weed out unnecessary bureaucracy,’
would demand the application of cost account-
ing at all managerial levels of the Ministry
and industry, and pledged "improvement of
quality and management of research"' and
planning for fleet operations. ('Vodnyi
Transport')
63
SOVIET BLOC TO SURVEY
VALUABLE MINERALS ON OCEAN FLOOR
The Soviet Union andits allies have agreed
on a program to survey and extract valuable
minerals onthe oceanfloor. At present, there
is no international authority on the exploita-
tion of seabed resources. The Soviet-bloc
plan was reported from Moscow to The New
York Times on April 23, 1970.
After a 4-day conference in Riga, Latvia,
a Baltic sea port, the geologists decided to
establish an International Coordinating Center
of Marine Exploration in the Soviet Union.
The center will be designed toinsure "ra-
tional use of mineral resources of the oceans."
It will be open to members of the Council of
Mutual Economic Assistance, or Comecon,
the economic alliance of the USSR and Eastern
Europe.
A published interview with G.A. Mirlin,
head of Soviet delegationat Riga meeting, dis-
closed that joint expeditions are being planned
to select possible sites for mineral exploita-
tion.
Oil & Gas Fields
Mirlin heads the Geology and Mineral Re-
sources Department of the Soviet State Plan-
ning Committee, the economic planning
agency. Hesaidthat exploration would aim at
finding oil and gas fields, and deposits of gold,
nickel, tin, titanium, cobalt, and zirconium.
The Soviet land mass has limited supplies of
these.
The Soviet bloc action comes after the UN
General Assembly agreement in December
1970 that the seabed's riches belonged to all
nations. The assembly adopted a resolution
creating an international body to direct ex-
ploitation efforts.
The resolution calls for a law-of-the-sea
conference in 1973 to write governing regu-
lations. The conference will try to agree on
a definition of the seabed area that would be
outside national jurisdiction and under the
proposed world authority.
Published reports of the Riga conference
did not mention UN efforts to regulate use of
seabed resources.
The conference was attended by delegations
from the USSR, Hungary, East Germany, Po-
land, Bulgaria, Rumania, and Czechoslovakia.
Kk 3K
64
USSR (Contd.):
FISHERIES MINISTRY'S COMPUTER
WATCHES FLEET OPERATIONS
The Soviet Fisheries Ministry's MainIn-
formation Center in Moscow has a huge, elec-
trically illuminated world map divided into
22 squares. These represent the principal
Soviet fishing grounds. The Center follows
Soviet fisheriesin all oceans. It can tell po-
sitions of fleets or individual vessels at any
time.
The Ministry's control room is connected
by teletype with the headquarters ofthe 5 Main
Fishery Administrations all over USSR. A
computer stores information fed daily by the
Main Fishery Administrations on fishery op-
erations. The computer also is fed data on
vessels in ports or en route to the grounds.
The data, retrievable instantly, are transfer-
red to the map for visual examination.
Worldwide Hookup
The Director showed a Moscow reporter
the efficiency of his Center by projecting on
the map the exact location of the Soviet Far
Eastern (DAL'RYBA) fleet in the Sea of
Okhotsk; the Northern Administration
(SEVRYBA) fleet in Barents Sea; the north-
west Atlantic (off Labrador and Nova Scotia),
and around the Azores--with catch data for
that day.
The center is inconstant radiocontact with
allmajor Soviet fishery vessels. During the
interview, the Director established voice con-
tact with captain of whaling factoryship 'So-
vetskaia Rossiia' in the Pacific en route to
Vladivostok.
Center Fully Operational
The Main Information Center was estab-
lishedin1969 as part of the Ministry's Divi-
sion forCoordination of Computer Operations.
It is fully operational. Experimental com-
puting centers in the USSR's Main Fishery
Administrations are feeding the Main Center
withdata onfleet operations, catch, and catch
projections,
NORWAY
NORDIC GROUP EXPANDS FOREIGN
MARKETS FOR FROZEN FISH FILLETS
Sales of frozen fillets to the U.S. by the
Nordic Group have increased considerably,
reports its director. The group is composed
of 13 independent fish processors in Norway.
In mid-March, indications were that 1971
sales would reach 20,000 metric tons, com-
pared to 13,000 tons in 1970.
The Nordic Group was granted Norwegian
export rights in April 1968. It packs under
the labels of several U.S. processors,
Frionor, which packs under its own label
for shipment to its plant in New Bedford,
Mass., sold 30,000 tons to the U.S. in 1970.
The director also reported considerable
progress inexports to the U.K. ('Fiskaren)
SWEDEN
IMPORTS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS
ROSE IN 1970
In 1970, Swedish imports of fishery prod-
ucts increased to 81,000 metric tons worth
US$73 million--up 5,370 tons and $13 million
over 1969.
Imports of fresh fish decreased 500 tons
to 12,500 tons; their value rose $0.2 million
to $8.5 million. Frozen fish in the round
reached 4,600 tons valued at $7.6 million, up
$1.1 million.
Salmon was more than $9 million of total
fresh and frozen imports of $16 million.
Other leading imports were halibut, plaice,
ling, and mackerel.
Another large import item was frozen fil-
lets, 17,000 tons worth $12 million--2,700
tons and $3 million above 1969.
Canned Shellfish No. 1
The largest share inimport value was can-
ned shellfish (5,600 tons) worth $13 million;
this was increase of $5 millionfrom 1969. Im-
ports of shrimp were $7 million, and crabs al-
most $3 million, ('Fiskets Gang', Apr. 1971.)
ITALY
TUNA SALES FROM JAPAN
ARE AT A STANDSTILL
In early April 1971, Italy established a
provisional mercury guideline of 0.7 part per
million, plus a 10% allowance--maximum
limit of 0.77 p.p.m.--for all fresh, chilled,
or frozentunaimportedintoltaly. A 3-month
trialinspection period was begun, From then
until mid-May, the Japanese had not received
a single inquiry for tuna from Italian
packers.
65
Italian Market Uncertain
The uncertainty of the Italian market may
soonaffect Japanese, South Korean, and Tai-
wanese fleets fishing for yellowfin in the
Atlantic Ocean. These fleets switched from
albacore to yellowfin in Dec. 1970 following
the discovery of mercury in canned tuna in
the U.S. Large quantities of tuna, already
aboard, were due to be unloaded in Italy in
late May and in June, Fleet owners feared
that a sharp price decrease in Italy would
adversely affect the profitability of Atlantic
operations, ('Suisan Tsushin', May 11.)
Fish stall in Rome Market.
(Robert K. Brigham)
BRITISH SHRIMPING DWINDLES,
PUZZLING FISHERMEN AND BIOLOGISTS
Bernard Weinraub
The shrimps are barely running on Bri-
tain's northwest coast.
Along the jagged 500-mile stretch from
Silloth to Rhyl in North Wales--which ac-
counts for half the country's shrimp yield--
the rubber-booted fishermen are returning
glumly each morning with either empty nets
or just a few pounds to sell to local trades-
men,
"Disastrous, it's absolutely disastrous,"
said Alan Spencer, managing director of one
of the area's chief shrimping cooperatives,
Lytham and Morecambetrawlers. ''Normal-
ly in this spring run we'd have caught five
tons of peeled shrimp by now. Well we've
caught only a ton so far."
Across the entire northwest coast, less
than two tons of peeled shrimps have been
caught during the current spring season,
which runs from March to May. Last year
the figure was 8 to 10 tons. Shrimps are
normally most profuse in the late autumn
from September toDecember. Last year 125
tons of peeled shrimps were caught in the
autumn season, compared with 250 tons in
the previous year.
Fisherman here refer to the shrimp as
"beeled" or "picked," because the shells are
quickly removed by local workers after the
catch is hauled on to shore and weighed. One
ton of peeled shrimp is about the same as
four tons of "rough shrimp,'' whose shells
have not yet been removed.
66
Biologists Move In
Teams of biologists have moved into the
towns of gray stone houses and cobbled streets
to check the waters of the surrounding Irish
Seafor pollution. The biologists, of the Min-
istry of Agriculture as wellas the Lancashire
and WesternSea Fisheries Joint Committee,
express confusion,
"The shrimp landings have been declining
over the past year and the decline is wide-
spread but. we have no evidence of simple
pollution,'' said A. J. O'Sullivan, a senior
biologist with the fisheries committee, which
is the offshore protection and conservation
body.
lutant thenI expect the effects would be quite
"Tf the decline was caused by a pol-
severe in areas where the pollutants are in
effect."
"But the decline is too widespread," he
said. ''We're thinking now that this could be
a natural low periodfor shrimps and the gen-
eral pollution in the area is decreasing their
viability even more. We're thinking that this
natural low period is being accentuated by
pollution-induced effects."
Inthe tiny office of the shrimp cooperative
in Lytham, 220 miles from London, Mr.
Spencer shook his head and said: ''No, we
don't think it's due todirect pollution. Wheth-
er it's due indirectly to pollution is some-
thing else. It may be that pollution has killed
off the weeds in the grass that the shrimps
feed on. It may be that pollution has killed
off a certain amount of oxygen."
Although the northwest coast yields about
half of Britain's shrimps--the rest are pro-
duced in The Wash, a broad inlet on the east
coast--housewives and restaurants will not
suffer since most of the shrimps eaten here
are imported. The total amount of shrimp
production in Britain is valued at about
$480,000. Imports of frozen shrimp are worth
$4.8-million while imports of canned shrimp
amount to $6-million,
Mysterious and Confusing
What worries the biologists is that the
causes of the skimpy shrimp harvest remain
mysterious and somewhat confusing. What
worries the fishermen here is that business
keeps falling and unemployment climbs.
Between 800 to1,000 shrimp processors and
fishermen have been laid off, including hun-
dreds of part-time "pickers" who peel the
shells.
small "bed and breakfast" hotels in nearby
Some have been hired to work in the
Morecambe Bay, a summer golf and seaside
resort.
The gloom around Morecambe Bay has
deepened even further by the failure of the
whitebait--young herring--catch this sea-
Reprinted from The New York Times, May 30, 1971.
67
son, the secondary delicacy on the coast and
a favorite appetizer in British restaurants.
"I've got orders for 16 tons of whitebait
but so far this season we've seen only 90
pounds,"
Charles Bartle, manager of the
Flookburgh Fishermen's Association, said,
walking near the chilly surf in Flookburgh,
40 miles north of Lytham.
"Last year, the year before, we'd catch a
ton each day, we'd have to ration the men,"
said the gray-haired fisherman.
"I'm 59 years old,"he said, "I've been in
this business all my life but I've never seen
anything like this."
Evidence of the gloomy fishing season here
is everywhere: the mensitinpubs in Lytham
and Flookburgh at mid-day; the $17-a-week
part-time shrimp pickers, mostly women,
stand in the spotlessly clean processing
rooms of factories in Lytham, bored at the
absence of anything to do.
"Every day people go out two hours after
high water and hope, you know, that this day
will be different but they come back with
nothing,'"' said Bill Irving, a solemn, gray-
haired fishing manager from northern Silloth,
"It's eight hours out there and bloody nothing
and it's been like that for too long now."
TO BRITISH FISHERMEN, TRADE BLOC IS NO PRIZE
Anthony Lewis
ALDEBURGH, England. In this North Sea
village you can buy your fish direct from the
fishermen, at little huts on the rocky beach.
W.V. (Billy) Burrell sells skate, sole, lob-
ster, crab. On the side of his hut, just over
the pile of crabs, is a sticker: 'Common
Market? No.'' Thatis probably a fair read-
ing of the state of mind in Aldeburgh and all
around this beautiful bleak old part of Eng-
land, the bulge of East Anglia into the sea.
People are talking a lot about the Heath Gov-
ernment's effort to bring Britain into the
European Common Market, and no one sounds
happy.
Billy Burrell, 46 years old and rugged,
looked up from the lobster pot he was mend-
ing and explained that for him it was strictly
a matter of economic survival.
"This is one of the finest fishing grounds
about,'' he said. ''As it is, there are boats
from all over just beyond the 10-mile limit--
Polish, German, French, Spanish, Portu-
guese, Belgian.
"If we get into the Common Market, you
know they are going to come on in, With our
little boats, we'll be in trouble."
The Aldeburgh fishermen go out in small
open boats--18 feet long, but with so much
ballast tocope with the rough water that they
weightwotons. Thereisno harbor; the boats
are winched right up on the beach.
"There are not enough fishermen in Alde-
burghto get in the paper," Mr. Burrell said,
but it's been going onfrom father to son a long
time, catching fish the same way.
"T work 7 days, 18 hours a day. I'm not
complaining. We get our living--a good living.
But it's our livelihood that's at stake."
In fact, the British Governmentis far from
oblivious tothe fishermen. Their worries are
a major issue for the next and, it is hoped, the
last round of the Common Market negotiations
to be held in Luxembourg. The Government
is insistingthat British fishermen be allowed
tokeep exclusive rights out toa six-mile limit,
Reprinted from The New York Times, June 16.
68
(The New York Times)
Would a regulation like that satisfy Mr.
Burrell?
"Yes, I think so, And I believe they will
have a regulation. It's only as it affects our
livelihood that I object."
Not everyone is so moderate about it, so
readytoadapt. Tim Forge, co-director of the
Uplands Hotel, makes clear that it is a philo-
sophical matter withhim. Mr. Forge, 65, was
a rugby star, aschoolmaster anda teaplanter
in Assam before he got into hotels.
Did he agree with the objectors?
"Yes,'' the vicar said. "I feel strongly in
sympathy withthem, I thinkifit does happen,
it will be the end of the Conservative party as
we know it."
"This part of England has been invaded 11
times, you know, and people don't like stran-
gers much," he added.
But wasn't the last of those invasions hun-
dreds of years ago?
'Yes,'' he said, but you have to live here
a time to know how people still feel about it.
They have long memories."
It is hard to say how many are really ir-
reconcilable, how many looking for reassur-
ance fromthe Government, But there clearly
are a lot of people who are ready to be per-
suaded.
On the road from Aldeburgh, at a railway
crossing inthe village of Leiston, was James
Callaghan of the Labor Party, a critic of the
market, who was speaking to a handful of the
faithful in the pouring rain.
On the fringe of the small crowd two house-
wives whodid not give their names said it was
prices that worried them about joining. But
they thought it was probably going to happen
anyway; they just wished Prime Minister
Heath or someone could explain it better.
69
The other big subject of conversation
around here, unavoidable at thistime of year,
is the Aldeburgh Festival. That again is not
only aninternational musical event but some-
thing intensely local, intimate, with the flavor
of this fishing village.
Billy Burrell has known the festival's in-
spirer and director, Benjamin Britten, for
many years and, through him, others who have
takenpart. E.M. Forster, who worked on the
libretto for Britten's opera ''Billy Budd," used
to spend weekends in the Burrell home.
"T knew Forster 25 or 30 years,’ Mr. Bur-
rell said. 'He was one of the best, always
willing to listen. A man so great and yet so
humble --nothing put on, onhis side or mine."
"Peter (Pears) and Ben are the same--
they've never got above themselves," he con-
tinued. ''My son is a godson of Ben's, I
remember he gave me a copy of the ''Billy
Budd" score, inscribed: 'To Billy B., for
B.B., from B.B.'"'
Each plastic fish box aboard this small English vessel holds 50 kilos.
70
SOLE FOOD--SPECIALTY FOR SLIMMERS
Diet time can be pleasure time with fish and shellfish on the menu. All fishery prod-
ucts offer high nutritive values and most of them are low in fat and calories. Fish fillets
are especially appropriate for dieters because they can be easily portioned to conform with
diet plans. Andthey are readily available either fresh or frozen.
Sole fillets are fine eating with firm,
white, delicately flavored flesh. They cook
quickly because they are rather thin and
adapt well torolling or stuffing. Sole fillets
vary in weight from 2 to 4 ounces, occasion-
ally up to 8 ounces. One might say that sole
fillets are filler-slimmers because their
high protein content fills you up while you
are slimming down.
Sole are members of an amusing fam-
ily of fish called flatfish, whose character -
istics make them distinctive from other
species. These funny fish, shortly after be-
ginning life, change from the average fish
shape to a flat shape that, strangely enough,
resembles a flying saucer. Their bizarre
shape, however, does not alter their wonder-
ful taste or exceptional food values.
Saucy Sole, a National Marine Fisheries
Service recipe, presents the fillets broiled
with a tasty sauce to keep them moist. The
sauce, believe it or not, uses mayonnaise
(diet) and chili sauce blended together with
celery salt, dry mustard, and wine vinegar
for added zest. About 8 to 10 minutes cook-
ing is all that is needed, and this feast of
Saucy Sole is ready to enjoy. So good--
you'll forget that it's diet recipe until you remember the calorie content which is only an
approximate 175 calories per serving.
SAUCY SOLE
2 Se ae on other thin 2 teaspoon celery salt Thaw frozen fillets. Skin fillets and cut into 6 portions. Place fish
ish fillets, fresh or frozen in a single layer on a well-greased bake and serve platter, 16 by 10
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, 2 teaspoon dry mustard inches. Pour butter over fish. Combine mayonnaise and seasonings.
an melted ; : > teaspoon paprika Broil fish about 4 inches from source of heat for 5 minutes. Spread
2 cup low calorie mayonnaise i i & mayonnaise mixture over fish. Broil 3 to S minutes longer or until
2 tablespoons chili sauce 2 teaspoon wine vinegar fish flake easily when tested with a fork. Makes 6 servings.
Live it up while slimming down--it's easy with seafoods! For 22 slimming moods with
seafoods, send for ''Seafood Slimmers,'' a NMFS full-color booklet designed especially for
you, the dieter. For your copy, send 25¢ to the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Govern-
ment Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 and ask for ''Seafood Slimmers,'' Fishery
Market Development Series No, 7 (I 49.49/2:7).
Also available, and this time it's free, is a colorful little brochure containing four
slimming recipes from the well-known Weight Watchers International, Inc., as well as
five Bureau seafood recipes. For your copy, write to Stay Slim, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, John H. Reagan Bldg., Austin, Texas 78701. (National Marketing Services
Office, NMFS, U.S. Dept. of Commerce,100 East Ohio St., Rm. 526, Chicago, Ill. 60611.)
ak
START CRABBING--THIS IS THE YEAR!
Mother Nature is ina bountiful mood--she has gone all out this year in providing a good
supply of blue crabs for our eating enjoyment. Excitement is running high all along the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts where fishermen are pulling the tasty crabs out of the waters of bays
and sounds. Gourmets have their favorite recipes out, and crab kettles are steaming in
readiness for these treasures. It isn't necessary to be a crabcatcher, however, in order
to be a crabeater. Seafood markets will soon reflect this abundance and the succulent blue
crabmeat will be readily available.
Blue crabs, named for the bright blue on
the claws of the male crabs, are delicious
eating and are an excellent source of high-
quality protein, while being low in calories.
Blue crabmeat is marketed already cooked,
refrigerated, and ready to use in 12 or 16
ounce cans as lump meat, flake meat, a com-
bination of lump and flake, and as claw meat.
Blue crabmeat is also pasteurized, a method
that gives longer shelf life without altering
taste or texture of the meat. Pasteurized
crabmeat must be refrigerated, however, until
used. Hard-shell crabs are soldalive in some
areas. Soft-shell crabs, relished by gour-
mets, arebluecrabsinthe molting stage when
the hard shell is discarded in order for the
crab to grow.
Crab Melon Ring Salad, aNMFS recipeis
asummertime taste sensation. For this rec-
ipe and How To Cook Crabs (I 49.39:10) which
describes the different kinds of edible crabs
in the U.S. and gives information and recipes
for preparing crabmeat, send 20¢ to the Su-
perintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
CRAB MELON RING SALAD
1 pound blue crabmeat, fresh, frozen, or Salad greens
pasteurized, or other crabmeat
3 cup Lime Mayonnaise
6 cantaloupe or other melon rings Frozen Lime Mayonnaise Flowers
1 pint strawberries or other fresh berries
Thaw frozencrabmeat. Draincrabmeat. Remove any remaining shell or cartilage. Combine Lime Mayonnaise and crabmeat.
Chill. Place melonringsonsaladgreens. Place approximately 3 cup crab mixture in the center of each ring. Cut large strawberries
in half and arrange on melon. Place Frozen Lime Mayonnaise niower on top of crabmeat. Makes 6 servings.
|
Lime Mayonnaise
1 . P 5 G
4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 2 tablespoons lime juice
3 tablespoons heavy cream, whipped 13 teaspoons grated lime peel
Combine all ingredients, Chill. Makes approximately + cup dressing.
Frozen Lime Mayonnaise Flowers
Fcup Lime Mayonnaise Green food coloring
Combine Lime Mayonnaise and a few drops green food coloring. Spread 5 inch thick in a small shallow pan. Freeze until firm.
Cut into flowers. Makes 6 flowers.
(National Marketing Services Office, NMFS, U.S. Dept.of Commerce, 100 East Ohio Street,
Room 526, Chicago, Ill. 60611.)
Page
oe
CI0 6
INDEX
UNITED STATES
Pesticides Peril Ocean Life, Scientists Warn
Public Should Continue to Eat Fish & Shell-
fish, NOAA Administrator Says
Shellfish Situation, by Richard W. Surdi &
Donald R. Whitaker
A Sablefish Fishery May Be Possible Off
California
Juvenile Jack Mackerel Adapt to Food Dep-
rivation
NOAA Awards Grant for Pacific Advisory
Program
California's Anchovy-for-Reduction Season
Closed May 15
NMFS Predicts Good Albacore Fishing Off
Southern California
The Fisherman and the Metric System
Tax Regulation Benefits Commercial Fisher-
men
Boston to Host Fish Expo '71
NMF'S Helps Gloucester Fisherman Switch
From Trawling to Clam Digging
U.S. to Hold Up Discharges Into L. Michigan
Under 1910 Statute
U.S. & Canada Agree to End Great Lakes Pol-
lution By 1975
1970 U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Commercial]
Fishery Fell 10%
Oceanography:
Naval Gccanseneenie Office Cuts Guess -
work in Sediment Studies
Water-Circulation Studies Aid Pollution
Control
NOAA Supports Salt-Marsh Research in
Georgia
Satellites Measure Sea-Surface Tempera-
ture in U,S.-Mexico Survey
Chesapeake Bay Hard Crabs Will Be Scarce
This Summer
VIMS Studies Increasing Production of Soft
Blue Crabs
ARTICLES
Hard Clam Cleansing In New York, by
Robert B, Mac Millan and James H. Redman
Disease in the Lives of Fish - The Role of
Pollution Is Now Being Assessed, by Rich-
ard Wolke
Taiwan's Use of Fishery Resources, by
Yung C. Shang
How To Instal An Echo Sounder In A Small
Fiberglass Boat, by Larry D. Lusz
The Separation of Crab Meat From Shell &
Tendon By A Centrifugal Process, by
Wayne I. Tretsven
Page
DORs
OA er.
BB)6 6
BH 616
58 .
INTERNATIONAL
Vessels of FAO Fleet
FAO Group Approves Indian Ocean Fishery
Plan
FAO Reviews Significant Fishery Develop-
ments Since 1958
Asia:
Japan:
Frozen Shrimp Market Forecast For Decade
Will Aid Peru's Fishery Resource Develop-
ment
Shrimp Catch Off Guianas Increases
Catch of Southern Bluefin Tuna Will Be Reg-
ulated Voluntarily
May Reduce Saury Fishery Off U.S. West
Coast
Automatic Skipjack-Tuna Fishing Pole Is
Successful
Sardines Return To Niigata After 15 Years
Salmon Industry Agrees On 1971 Profit
Sharing
French Order Japanese Seed Oysters
Brazil's 200-Mile Fishing Zone Will Hurt
Japanese Shrimpers
To Fish Skipjack Tuna With Australians
Fishing Families Decrease, Older Fisher-
men Increase
Taiwan:
Removes Import Controls On Marine Com-
modities
1970 Catch Almost 10% Above 1969's
sue
1966-1970 Soviet Fisheries Reviewed By
Deputy Minister
Soviet Bloc To Survey Valuable Minerals
On Ocean Floor
Fisheries Ministry's Computer Watches
Fleet Operations
Norway:
Nordic Group Expands Foreign Markets
For Frozen Fish Fillets
Sweden:
Imports of Fishery Products Rose In 1970
Italy:
Tuna Sales From Japan Are At A Standstill
United Kingdom:
British Shrimping Dwindles, Puzzling Fish-
ermen And Biologists, by Bernard Wein-
raub
To British Fishermen, Trade Bloc Is No
Prize, by Anthony Lewis
RECIPES
Sole Food--Specialty For Slimmers
Start Crabbing--This Is The Year!
: . INDEX
72
wx U. S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1971 435-343/11
BACK COVER: Alaskan king crab on last leg toward
the cooker at a Cordova, Alaska, plant.
(NMFS-Alaska Photo: J.M. Olson)
A UNITED STATES
| DEPARTMENT OF
| COMMERCE
PUBLICATION
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
SMITHSONIAN a
Ke, evVvltew
JUNE 1971
VOL. 33, NO. 6
fe
f/'
U.S.
DEPARTMENT
OF
COMMERCE
National
Oceanic and
_ Atmospheric
‘Administration
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Maurice H. Stans, Secretary
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Robert M. White Howard W. Pollock Dr. John W. Townsend Jr.
Administrator Deputy Administrator Associate Administrator
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Philip M. Roedel, Director
COVER: Shrimp catch in Gulf of Mexico off New Orleans.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Review
A comprehensive view of United States and foreign
fishing industries--including catch, processing, market-
ing, research, and legislation--prepared by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (formerly Bureau of Commer-
cial Fisheries).
FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL--GLOUCESTER, MASS.
IT
Editor: Edward Edelsberg
Production: Jean Zalevsky
Alma Greene
Throughout this book, the initials NMFS stand for the
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, part of
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Address correspondence and requests to: Commercial Fisheries Review, 1801 North
Moore Street, Room 200, Arlington, Va. 22209. Telephone: Area Code 703 - 557-9066.
Publication of material from sources outside the Service is not an endorsement. The
Service is not responsible for the accuracy of facts, views, or opinions of these sources.
Although the contents have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely, reference
to source is appreciated.
Use of funds for printing this publication was approved by the Director, Bureau of the
Budget, April 18, 1968.
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S$. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402.
Price 60 cents (single copy). Subscription Price: $7.00 a year; $2 additional for foreign mailing.
Til
CONTENTS
Page
UNITED STATES
Eventstand irendse -au-w-iremlcurien cnet .) anepeeieitismtonest melee 1
ARTICLES
Distribution of Some Coastal Pelagic Fishes In The
Western Atlantic, by Edward F. Klima......... 21
The Atlantic Surf Clam Fishery - 1969, by Allan M.
Barkeriand: John W. Ropes) 3 0/5 2 622 32s ee 35
Trapping Sablefish, by William L. High......... 43
Coho Shaker Problem & Incidental Catch Concept In
Droll hishery, by SameWright =... 26 1. 2 © 48
TEXOXONSES)". Gea yi tame bho Gio keno td bee cen usr ate ena cer rons ance a, 0 51
IV
go « Bo he Forse Ay Sigs Tae OS
« veh Se ae Lear
ee eee » e eee
= <tr - = ~ oN
sean
An Alaska fur seal family on St. Paul Island, Pribilof Group, Alaska. (Photo: V.B. Scheffer)
SEC. STANS REPORTS FAVORABLY ON
SEAL HARVESTING IN PRIBILOF ISLANDS
Secretary of Commerce Maurice H. Stans
reported, July 14, 1971, his conclusions on
methods usedtoharvest seals after a visit to
the Pribilof Islands off Alaska in the Bering
Sea on July 8 and 9.
He went to observe fur-seal management,
conservation practices, and to review har-
vesting methods because of recent criticisms.
He consulted with 6 veterinarians named
by the American Veterinary Medical Associa-
tion to study the harvest methods; the admin-
istration of St. Paul, the major Aleut com-
munity in Alaska, located on one Pribilof
island; representatives of the American Hu-
mane Association, the International Society
for the Protection of Animals, and the Humane
Society of the United States, who were observ-
ing the harvesting; officials responsible for
Canada's seal harvesting; the National Marine
Fisheries Service, responsible for harvesting
and preparing the seal skins.
The Secretary said: ''The issue is not
whether we willor will not continue to manage
the fur seal herd. The issue is how we will
manage the seal herds at their optimum levels
most humanely."
The Secretary said present management
practices were reached after the near ex-
If the in-
ternationally negotiated management pro-
tinction of the herd 60 years ago.
gram were stopped now, it would very likely
result in the same catastrophic effects. These
could include resumption of high-seas hunting
with indiscriminate slaughter, andavery high
mortality rate of the pups on shore.
STANS!' CONCLUSIONS
"As a result of my meetings and my per-
sonal review of the situation,'' he said, "I can
report the following conclusions:
"1. There is no molestation or harvesting
of the female seals, the pups or the male bulls
associated with the harems in the rookeries.
The only harvesting that takes placeis of male
seals three or four years old who situate them -
selves atadistance from the breeding herds.
"2, Except for the fact that the operation
takes place in the open, the method of harvest-
ing is very similar to that which takes place
The herd of male
seals is removed about 100 yards from the
in a meat-packing plant.
beach, sorted into groups of from six to ten,
and each animal in a group is then rendered
unconscious by a quick blow to the head and
immediately killed by bleeding. The entire
process, including the skinning of the dead
animal, takes about one minute.
"3, Investigations have been conducted over
aperiod of years todetermine whether or not
there is a more efficient method of harvest-
ing. None hasbeen found. The six veterinar-
ians on the spot have been asked by me to make
any recommendations for a more humane
method of harvesting, and their report will be
made to me upon the completion of the assign-
ment. If their scientific studies establish that
a better method is practicable, it will be
adopted.
"4, The annual period of harvesting and the
number of seals harvested is determined
carefully on a basis that will maintain the
population of the seal herd at its optimum
level. As a result of this process, the num-
ber of seals on the Pribilofs is currently
estimated at 1,300,000, compared to only
200,000 in 1911. There is no present danger
whatsoever of extermination of the herd under
these policies.
"5 The harvesting of the seals is the source
of practically all of the income of the 700 Aleut
residents of the Pribilof Islands. To deprive
them of this income would make them depend-
ent on the government. The local officials
make it quite clear that they want the harvest -
ing to continue so that the residents can earn
a living and that under no circumstances do
they want to move from the Islands.
"6, Anyimplications, such as those recent-
ly published, to the effect that baby seals are
harvested, that harvesting is depleting the
herd, that harvesting methods are inefficient
or inhumane, or indiscriminate, are totally
unfounded. The crop of these animals is being
managed and harvested under scientific prac-
tices justas domestic animals are raised and
harvested.
"Ending the program would not be in the
interest of a sustained seal population, the
Aleut workers, or the federal government. I
repeat, if and when more humane methods of
harvesting are found and satisfactorily tested,
they will be adopted."
Secretary Stans noted the fur-seal manage -
ment program is one of the most effective
wildlife conservation and management pro-
grams in history.
NMFS STUDIES HEAVY-METAL CONTAMINATION
OF FISH
NMFS scientists are working to define the
nature and extent of heavy-metal contamina-
tionin fish found in coastal and offshore wa-
ters. The program involves 6 NMFS labora-
tories and the cooperation of other Federal
agencies and the fishing industry.
The scientists are concerned over the de-
cline insalesin New England of tuna and lob-
ster. During the recent mercury scare, the
two were withdrawn from the market for test-
ing by Federal and state governments.
Fish eatersin New England have received
strong assurances that they can buy with safe-
ty any fish item--swordfish excepted--from
the shelves or in restaurants.
Swordfish was not included because the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
citing the too-high mercury content, warned
the public not to eat it.
The NMFS research program has 3 phases:
1. In April, research vessels began gath-
ering offshore species. Inshore gathering of
shellfish and fish already was underway. Spe-
cialists will be trained for analytical work,
highly specialized equipment set up for testing
heavy metals, and fish samples submitted by
commercial and sport fishermen cooperating
with NMFS,
2, As many marine and freshwater fish as
possible are being surveyed and tested in the
laboratory. In1969, the FDA set a maximum
permissible limit of 0.5 ppm in food in a daily
diet. Most scientists believe this criterion
provides a considerable safety margin.
Another aim of the testing isto pinpoint the
body parts that store and carry the contami-
nants. Questions that have tobe answered in-
clude: Are metals isolated, or evenly distrib-
uted in all body parts? What is the signifi-
cance of fleshcolor? Are size and weight of
fishimportant factors? How do heavy-metal
levels inthe whole fish relate to product con-
sumed? Toanswer this last question, 30 fish-
ery products will be analyzed--such as fish
sticks, fish portions, fish cakes, and fish for
frozendinners,. Earlier this year, frozen fish
blocks (compressed fish) were tested with
very favorable results. The blocks are made
from the edible portion of cod, haddock, flat-
fish, and pollock that run the North Atlantic
waters, The U.S. consumes annually 270 mil-
lion pounds, 98% imported from about 50
countries and processed in Massachusetts,
Maine, and New Hampshire.
3, This phase is more complex. Existing
garbage-dumping stations were selected
along the coast from Connecticut, Long Island,
Fish and shellfish taken
shoreward from these ocean dumps--and
south to Delaware.
‘those near the dumping areas are being tested
in relation to current flows, water samples,
natural and unnatural environmental living
conditions of the fish, levels of comparative
change, physiology, and mortality rates.
All NMFS lab test results are being sent
to FDA.
Much fishing industry money that once went
for market promotionnow goes for research,
A voluntary inspection program, a sampling
of the finished fish product, is financed by the
industry, mostly processors and shrimp mar
ufacturers. Inspection stamps provide a rea-
sonable degree of assurance to the consumer.
Private firms are running spot checks, re-
checking, and then monitoring regularly.
The traditional FDA market -basket survey
NMFS says
this is ''just another step to protect the con-
now includes fishery products.
sumer,"
This is still a crisis period, NMFS scien-
tists caution. The swordfishindustry has been
virtually destroyed; the industry was made
eligible in May for "product disaster assist-
ance'' from the Small Business Administra-
tion in the form of low-interest loans.
Tuna has fared much better. Only a few
lots have been condemned. ''There is no
health hazard involved in eating tuna now held
on retail shelves or in the household,'’ NMFS
scientists emphasize.
MERCURY
Mercury, a metallic element knowntoo as
quicksilver, is the only heavy metal that re-
mains liquid at ordinary temperatures. Since
the start of the Industrial Revolution, it has
been used in everything from barometers to
pesticides andfungicides, Itis found in three
forms: metallic mercury; inorganic mercury
(mercury chlorides, sulphides and nitrates);
and the organic mercury compounds (phenyl
mercury acetates, phenyl mercury nitrates,
methylmercury andethylmercury). The last
are the most toxic form.
Inthe biological chain, the two first forms
convert intothe methyl or ethyl mercury com-
pounds, which are alsovery soluble. Normal-
ly, the effects of significant contamination by
most mercury compounds are reversible,
short lived, and excreted from the body over
a period of time.
With methyl-ethyl mercury compounds,
however, effects are not reversible. If the
ingestion levelis high, there can be irrevers-
ible damage tothe brain and, possibly, death.
Mercury occurs innature--inthe sea, soil,
and all naturalfoods, It has always beenthere.
The important thing now istotryto lessen and
prevent increased pollution of the environ-
ment.
Dr. Fred Stare, Chairman, Department of
Nutrition, Harvard Medical School, has said:
"There really are no safe or unsafe sub-
stances, only safe or unsafe levels, and safe
and unsafe ways of using any substance. This
requires a certain amount of common sense
as well as scientific sense and the two are
not always the same."
[Information for parts of this NMFS story
is based on an interview with Dr. J. Perry
Lane, supervisory research food technologist,
NMFS Technology Laboratory in Gloucester,
Mass., conducted by Wanda Howard, assistant
editor, monthly publication of New England
Marine Resources Program.]/
NMFS PROTECTS MORE
‘CONTINENTAL SHELF CREATURES’
The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) actedin June to prohibit foreign ves-
sels from taking 10 more species of marine
animals it classified "creatures of the Con-
tinental Shelf.'' An amended regulation be-
came effective when published in the 'Federal
Register' on June 23.
These creatures are defined in the 1958
Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf;
at the harvestable stage, they ''are immobile
or are unable tomove except inconstant phys-
ical contact with the seabed or subsoil of the
Continental Shelf." The U.S. is party to the
Convention.
This Conventionis implemented by a 1964
U.S. law, the ''Bartlett Act". Underit the U.S.
can reserve to its own nationals the right to
harvest certain marine resources determined
to be creatures of its Continental Shelf--ex-
cept if an international agreement provides
otherwise.
Additions to List
The animals added in June include: pre-
cious red corals and black coral; surf clams
and ocean quahog; and these crustacea: Dun-
geness crab, deep-sea red crab, northern
stone crab, golden king crab, and two species
of California king crab (Paralithodes rath-
bune and Paralithodes californiensis).
Species previously listed included: tanner,
king, and stone crabs; red and pink abalone;
Japanese abalone; queenconch; and 4 kinds of
sponges.
NMFS Director Philip M. Roedel said the
list can be modified from time to time.
Dungeness Crab
(Cancer magister)
U.S.-SOVIET FISHERY SURVEY
CONTINUES OFF U.S. WEST COAST
The 'Ogon,' of the Soviet Far Eastern Seas
Fisheries Research Institute (TINRO), out of
Vladivostok, docked in San Pedro, Calif., on
June 30 to meet U.S. scientists and plana 5-
month series of cooperative survey cruises
off the U.S. West Coast. This was disclosed
June 23 in a joint announcement by Dr. D.L.
Alverson, NMFS Biological Laboratory, Seat-
tle, Wash., and Dr. A.R. Longhurst, Director,
NMFS Fishery-Oceanography Center, La
Jolla, Calif.
Moscow Meeting Nov. 1970
At a Moscow meeting in November 1970,
attended by Drs. Alverson, Longhurst, and
other U.S. fishery scientists, it was agreed:
1) Ogon would conduct a hydroacoustic survey
and do biological sampling of Pacific hake
population between 37° N and 50° N latitude;
2) also, a biological research program on
oceanperchand feeding habit studies of hake
and other fishes.
The Ogon displays a large sign, ''NAUKA
TINRO SSSR" (Science-TINRO-U.S.S.R.), to
help identify her research status.
Interest in Hake Estimates
The NMFS laboratories in Seattle and La
Jolla are interested particularly in estimates
of hake abundance the Soviets will make using
ahydroacoustic survey method, and in a plan
to put U.S. scientists aboard vessel in July
and August. The Soviets have agreed in prin-
ciple that on all cruises designated for co-
operative U.S.-USSR research, they would
accommodate U.S. scientists.
The Ogon has worked off West Coast for
the past two summers. It is part of a con-
tinuing research program on fish species of
commoninterest. The program includes pe-
riodic meetings to exchange data and to re-
view andplan research. In recent years, the
Soviets fished hake heavily. Information is
necessary to provide both nations with sci-
entific bases for agreements to protect this
resource,
The Ogon is captained by Alexander Bols-
hakov. Itis a190-foot, blue-gray, side trawl-
er carrying 42 persons. It will work off west
coast until November, then be replaced by a
larger Soviet vessel.
NMFS WOODS HOLE AQUARIUM
BEGINS SECOND DECADE
On June 12, the NMFS aquarium at its
Woods Hole (Mass.) Biological Laboratory
began its second decade of public service.
During the first decade, 23 million persons
saw the fish and educational exhibits.
The aquarium is open year round. It is
visited by student groups of all levels: from
headstart and preschool to college and post-
graduate scholars. More than 40,000 young-
sters have come in these groups, mostly in
spring and fall. Some students have been
helped with science projects and thesis re-
quirements.
Cooperation With Scientists
The aquarium also serves marine scien-
tists andaquarists. Many times, it has pro-
vided living material and tank space for ex-
periments in physiology, animal behavior, and
other fields. Aquarium staff has kept daily
records of seawater and air temperatures
for nearly 10 years. These helped investi-
gators.
A water-quality monitoring project to be-
gin soon willincrease the aquarium's value to
the NMFS Woods Hole lab and the scientific
community.
NMFS MIAMI LAB RELEASES
MORE DRIFT BOTTLES
Contributions by the Miller Brewing Co.
of 40,000 bottlesinthe past 4 years to NMFS
Tropical Atlantic Biological Laboratory
(TABL, Miami) have helped oceanographers
study the currents in the Caribbean and Gulf
of Mexico.
During July and August 1971, oceanogra-
phers again will ''pepper''the Gulf and Carib-
bean area with thousands of bottles from 8 U.S.
and Mexican research vessels participating
inthe ''Cooperative Investigations of the Car-
ibbean and Adjacent Regions."
Bottled Information
The bottles are ballasted with sand and con-
tain a fluorescent orange cardimprinted with
a number and instructions in 4 languages.
People who find the bottles washed up on
beaches return them to TABL with informa-
tion ontime and locality of recovery. Returns
have beenreceived from nearly every country
bordering the Caribbean, and from every state
bordering the Gulf of Mexico andthe U.S. South
Atlantic coast. The oceanographers calculate
the speeds androutes of currents from these
widely scattered returns.
U.S. FISHERY PRODUCTS TO BE
EXHIBITED AT COLOGNE FOOD FAIR
U.S. fishery products will be promoted at
the world's largest food show in Cologne,
Germany, Sept. 24-Oct. 1, 1971. The exhi-
bition, attended primarily by food trade, is
held every 2 years. U.S. fishery products
have been promoted successfully since 1965.
In 1969, 46 nations sponsored exhibits.
There were commercial exhibitions from 16
more countries. A total of 1,876 European
exhibitors participated.
Germany is thriving and is an excellent
market for U.S. foods. Consumption of frozen
and convenience foods is growing rapidly as
more housewives take jobs.
<— sn 4
ay |
ees eS
GULF & CARIBBEAN FISHERIES INST.
MEETS NOV. 14-18 IN MIAMI
The annual meeting of the Gulf and Carib-
bean Fisheries Institute will be held at the
Sheraton Four Ambassadors, 801 Bayshore
Drive, Miami, Florida, Nov. 14-18, 1971.
Two sessions will be devoted to topics of
specific interest tothe fishing industry. Two
sessions willemphasize current research in
fisheries of Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean,
The International Game Fish Conference
will hold its annual meeting Nov. 19 and 20.
For more information: Executive Secre-
tary, Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute,
10 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida
33149.
Lh Hey 3
aN
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT BEGINS
NEW STORM INFORMATION SERVICE
The Commerce Department's National
Weather Service and National Bureau of Stan-
dards have established a new storm informa-
tion service for deep-water sailors in the
Atlantic and the Pacific. The service for the
Atlantic is functioning; the Pacific operation
is scheduled to begin August 1.
The new service consists of hourly broad-
casts, upto42 seconds each, providing infor -
mation about major storms that might mean
trouble for ships. The weather broadcasts are
superimposed on Bureau of Standards time
Signals carried by stations WWV and WWVH.
Round the Clock
The broadcasts will be round the clock.
Station WWV will carry information about
storms inthe western North Atlantic, 16 min-
utes after every hour, on radio frequencies
2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 MegaHertz.
WWVH will list storms in the eastern and
central North Pacific, 49 minutes after every
hour, on2.5, 5,10,15 and 20 MHz. The ocean
areas covered are those for whichthe U.S. has
warning responsibility under international
agreements.
If there are no storm warnings in these
areas, the broadcasts will indicate that. The
brief messages willtell marinersif there are
storm threats in their areas; they will not
provide complete information. Mariners are
expected tocheck with one of the regular ma-
rine broadcasts for details.
What Broadcast Covers
This is a hypothetical broadcast showing
type of information mariners can expect to
receive in the new service:
NORTH ATLANTIC WEATHER, WEST OF
35 DEGREES WEST, 1500 GMT. . .HURRI-
CANE DONNA, INTENSIFYING, 24 NORTH,
60 WEST. ..MOVING NORTHWEST, 20
KNOTS. . .WINDS 75 KNOTS. . .TROP-
ICAL STORM EVE, 17 NORTH, 50
WEST. . .MOVING EAST, 10 KNOTS. . .
WINDS 50 KNOTS. . .STORM, 65 NORTH,
35 WEST. . .MOVINGEAST, 10 KNOTS...
WINDS 50 KNOTS... .SEAS, 15 FEET.
(Photo: Robert K. Brigham)
FISHERY PRODUCTS SITUATION
Donald R. Whitaker
NMFS Current Economic Analysis Division
The market for fishery products in the
United Stateshas maintained strength during
the first half of 1971.
species are slightly below.year-earlier fig-
ures but, inthe first half of 1971, this has been
Sales of some major
attributable primarily to shorter supplies.
Conditions indicate a ''seller's'' market in
most sectors. Prices have advanced sharply
inface of tighter supplies of both shellfish and
finfish.
Supplies of most shellfish are running be-
low a yearago. Imports, as well as domestic
landings, are down; declines in imports of
shrimp have particularly affected the market.
Tomeet market requirements in face of adrop
in imports and domestic production, inven-
tories of frozen shellfish have dropped sharp-
ly since the first ofthe year. Thus, the avail-
ability of stored supplies has made it possible
for shellfish consumptiontohold at nearly the
same level as a year ago.
Groundfish Industry
Supply shortages have similarly affected
the groundfish industry this year. The U.S.
market for groundfish products is 83 percent
supplied by imports. Imports are off from a
year ago but, unlike shellfish, the groundfish
industry did not have relatively large inven-
Thus,
prices have advanced significantly, and
tories on hand at the start of 1971.
groundfish sales are down from a year ago.
The shortage has had a particularly heavy
impact onthe fortunes of the ''fish and chips"
restaurant chains. The fast growth in the
number of fishand chips outlets in the United
States--from 500 or so in early 1969 to about
1,100in early 1971--resulted in an unprece-
dented increase in demand for cod fillets.
With supply shortages, prices began to sky-
rocket and adjustments in menu prices and
portion sizes became necessary. The com-
bination of short supplies and high prices may
have temporarily halted the growthinfish and
chips outlets. (See Canadian report page 9.)
Other Products
Halibut salesin the first half of 1971 have
been consistent with last year. Prices
changed little. Halibut production likely will
be lower this year. Upward pressure on
prices may build because of relatively lower
supplies.
Canned salmonmovements have been ona
par with 1970. The 1971 pack will likely be
below last year. Soprices will gradually move
up.
Frozensalmon sales have improved over a
year ago, and prices have been firm. Inven-
tories have dropped sharply since the first of
the year but are still above normal.
Canned tuna movement has picked up con-
siderably since the early months of 1971.
Prices are expected to average higher than a
year ago.
On balance, a slight decline in per-capita
fish consumption in expected in 1971 after 3
consecutive years of increase. The major
factors behind the decline will be higher
prices accompanied by shorter supplies.
THE U.S. FOOD MARKET
How Trends Affect Outlook
for Canadian Groundfish Products
There are important trends inthe U.S. food
market that affect the ''future profitability and
export opportunities of Canadian producers of
groundfish products."'!/ A new Canadian re-
port evaluates these trends and opportunities.
It was prepared in the Agriculture, Fish-
eries,and Food Products Branch, Department
of Industry, Trade and Commerce, by G. W.
Raynes under the supervision of A. J. Hem-
ming. Itistitled: ''Developments inthe Unit-
ed States Food Market and Their Significance
for Canadian Groundfish Products." The
sponsors hope it will help Canadian industry
adjust to the changing structure of U.S. mar-
ket.
The report discusses the traditional retail
sector--but focuses on the booming food-
service market, particularly the dynamic
fish-and-chip industry. After only 5 years,
this industry exertsa significant influence on
the demand for cod."
The Canadian investigation of trends in the
U.S. food market and their implications for
groundfish products is based largely on 132
interviews in major geographic regions in
1970.
The investigation was directedtoward ma-
jor retail food chains, food-service operators,
and the fish-and-chip franchises in particu-
lar. For the Canadian processing industry,
these are primary sources of present and
future demand for groundfish products.
The 34 retail chains surveyed operated
19,000 stores and accounted for over 35% of
U.S. retailfood sales. Eleven of the 12 lead-
ingchains were included. Dominant firms in
major sectors of the expanding food-service
market were Surveyed; in fish-and-chip
sector the companies interviewed accounted
for an estimated 75% of the industry's total
sales.
one major groundfish species are cod,
haddock, flounder.--Ed.
THE UNITED STATES FOOD MARKET
Trends in Food Consumption
The proportion of the per-capita disposable
income U.S. spent on food is declining steadily,
but the absolute level of food spending con-
tinues to grow as population and disposable
income grow. Between 1950 and 1968, U.S.
population increased at annual rate of about
1.7%; disposable income expanded 185% to
$590 billion. These trends more than offset
a 23% decline in the proportion of per-capita
disposable income spent on food; total con-
sumer spending on food and beverages in-
creased 116%. In recent years, spending for
food and beverages has been increasing about
5% a year.
- Relative Importance of Food-Service Industry
Retail food stores are selling about $62 bil-
lion of food, excluding beverages. The com-
parable figure for food-service2/ sector is
about $28 billion per year. The latter, how-
ever, is expanding more rapidly. Between
1960 and 1966, the average growth rate in
food-service sales was about 10% per annum.
By 1977, it is estimated, food sales by food-
service industry will be about $50 billion com -
pared with $87 billionin sales by retail sector.
By 1980, the food-service market could
achieve over 60% of all food sold in U.S.
There is a growing trend in the U.S. to
"eat out.’ Many factors are responsible, in-
cluding especially:
(a) Higher disposable incomes and raising
of median income. In 1967, the median
family income was $7,974, compared
with $4,611 in 1950. By 1980, 50% of
U.S. households are expected to have
incomes of at least $10,000 per year
and account for 75% of personal income.
(b) More women are working. By 1980,
their number will have increased by 4
million to about 20 million.
oioodeservice sector included 370,000 es-
tablishments in1966: table-service res-
taurants, cafeterias, counter service,
drive-ins, drug and retail stores, etc.
10
Almost one of every three dollars spent on
foodinthe U.S. is spent on food eaten outside
the home.
More Demand for Convenience Foods
There has been a Significant shift toward
convenience foods. These are products ready
to serve, or require only secondary heating
or other preparation. Estimates are that re-
tail sales of convenience foods alone reach
$36 billion a year. This places them ina
dominant position in U.S. market. Sales of
foods with built-in convenience are growing
substantially faster than basic commodities.
The trend favors heat-and-serve convenience
foods inretail and food-service sectors, par-
ticularly in the latter.
The Frozen Food Market
Frozenfood is the category most affected
by boom indemand for convenience foods. It
has been growing fastest. Between 1960 and
1968, the retail value of frozen food sales in-
creased 115%; totalfood sales, up 28%. More
significant, there are important shifts in re-
lative importance of frozen-food categories
and in food-service sales relative to retail.
Demand is shifting from relatively basic
commodities to products with greater con-
venience. In 1967, per-capita spending on
frozen foods increased just over 2%; spending
on prepared foods rose almost 9%. This rate
of per-capita increase exceeded greatly all
frozen-food categories, except meats. Within
the product class, frozen dinners attracted
highest per-capita expenditures and grew
faster than any other prepared food.
The food-service frozen-food market is
growing in importance. In 1967, per-capita
spending on food-service frozen foods in-
creased over 4%, compared with under 1% for
retail frozen foods. The food-service share
of current annual market for frozen foods is
$2.6 billion, compared with $7 billion in re-
tail sector. Annual food-service sales of
frozen prepared foods, such as entrées, are
now $249 million.
The minimum percentage growth in sales
of prepared foods between 1968 and 1980
should be 84%; for all frozen foods, a 67%
rate of growthis projected. Prepared foods
are the major category of frozen foods. In
1968, sales were $1.14 billion; projected min-
imum sales of $2.37 billionin1980 would re-
tain this position.
The motivation for industry's increasing
orientation to frozen convenience foods
comes primarily from need to minimize labor
costs and from problems connected with un-
skilledkitchenhelp. Industry views these as
major problems. For the housewife today,
the decision to buy convenience foods is
largely a matter of preference and tastes;
for food-service operators, the use of con-
venience foods isdollars and cents, the need
to remain competitive.
The shift to convenience foods is more
rapid in food-service sector than at retail
level. Inthe home, any additional cost is not
connected soclosely with labor saving as for
the food-service industry, where time saves
money. Convenience foods offer other ad-
vantage to food-service operators: "they
can provide the basis for expanded menus,
improvedcost and quality control, lower in-
ventories, savings in space, reduced cooking
time, more rapid service, and the efficient
use of unskilled labor."
The Frozen Seafood Market
The trends in the food market apply with
at least equal force to the seafood market.
More than half the seafood marketed is now
sold frozen; the conservative demand pro-
jection indicates sales of frozen seafoods
should expand by at least 107% between 1968
and 1980. Frozen convenience foods range
from ready -to-serve seafood dinners, entrées
and other precooked items to frozen portions
and fillets, where major growth potential is
concentrated. Between 1968 and 1969, esti-
mated retail and food service sales, inpounds,
of fish sticks rose by 24% and 20% respec-
tively, while fillets expanded by 16% and 17%.
Both retail and food-service sales of fish
portions expanded by 21%in 1969. This con-
trasted sharply with trend between 1960 and
1968, when average annual growth in frozen
seafood in dollar terms was minus 0.3%.
Whereas the United States retail sector is
the major source of demand for food as well
as for frozen foods in total, the food-service
sectoris already the major source of demand
for frozen seafoods. In1969, total food-serv-
ice sales of frozen seafood--excluding sea-
food specialties or bulk fish shipped and sold
fresh by dealers--were over $862 million,
compared with retail sales of $464 million.
Food-service sales of specialty seafoods are
now 48 million pounds a year; sales of entrées,
which include seafood items, are about 50
million pounds.
The demand for frozen groundfish products
is more evenly divided betweenretail and food
service. Combined sales of fish portions,
sticks, and fillets total estimated $140.3 mil-
lion infood-service sector and $197.8 million
in retail sector.
The Market for Groundfish Products
Like the market for frozenfoods generally,
the U.S. market for frozen seafoods, including
groundfish products, is growing dynamically
in area of convenience products. This is at-
tributed to combined stimulus of changes in
consumer attitudes andincomes, new markets
in food-service sphere, and more emphasis
on innovation by processors inthis age of con-
venience foods.
While retail food chains foresee expansion
in demand for frozen groundfish products, and
11
in breaded-and-battered items in particular
at retail level, the food-service industry, es-
pecially the fast-food fish-and-chip fran-
chises, will be the major source of future
growth. This was confirmed by wholesalers
and other distributive organizations: Some
now concentrate oncatering to requirements
of food-service users of frozenfish; and also
by the projected expansionary plans of the
fish-and-chip franchises.
This optimistic view of future demand for
maximum-convenience frozen groundfish
products contrasts markedly with attitude of
the great majority of retail food chains toward
fresh fish. Although 80% of retail chains in-
terviewed operated fresh-fish departments,
these were not expected to grow rapidly be-
cause consumers, more and more, prefer
frozen fishery products. Some fresh-fish
departments are nowunprofitable because of
rising labor costs but are operated as con-
venience to buying public. One reason the
fresh-fish department lacks growth potential
is that it has remained outside mainstream
of product innovation.
Fig. 1 - Production of Breaded Fish Portions. A series of cuts with high-speed saws turns blocks into uniform portions desired.
12
THE RETAIL FOOD MARKET
Frozen Foods
Frozen foods are the food category most
affected by upsurge indemand for convenience
foods. They have the greatest relevance for
groundfish products. They now account for
5.2% of totalfood sales of U.S. supermarkets.
It is estimated that this percentage will rise
to 7% by 1975, and to 8.3% by 1980. A major
impediment to growth of frozen foods at re-
tailis lack of display space, together with in-
sufficient zero-degree space in company
warehouses.
Freezer space inhibits sale of fish prod-
ucts. The freezer space allocated to fish by
First National Supermarkets ranges from 4
feet 2 inches by 7 feet, depending on total
freezer capacity of the individual stores. The
proportion of total space for fish products is
7%: fruit 3%; frozen meats 4%; potatoes 7%;
dinners and meat pies 11%; concentrates 12%;
bakery products 16%; frozen vegetables 27%.
The freezer space in new and remodelled
stores is being expanded substantially, up to
three times the old system.
Convenience Products
The retail food chains and other buyers
have connected expanding demand for frozen
groundfish products with the availability of
convenience -type products. Nearly all super -
market buyers interviewed believe conven-
ience foods will be the future growth center
in retail frozenfoods. Supportingthis growth
are: the continued introduction of new pre-
pared, frozen-food products, more working
women, and increasing income of U.S. con-
sumers. The eventual introduction of rapid-
heating equipment, such as microwave ovens
in the home, will make it still easier to use
convenience foods.
Introduction of New Products
About 18% of retail frozen-food sales did
not exist or were of minor importance in 1965;
this figure will be near 35% by 1980. One
major supermarket chain introduced 26 new
seafood products in1970; consumers were ex-
tremely receptive. By 1980, the average
supermarket will handle about 800 frozen food
items, compared with 375 to 450 now. Also,
there is a growing market for premium-
quality frozen foods.
Growth Potential for Groundfish Products
Precooked breaded-and-battered items,
especially portions, and dinners and entrées,
hold the greatest potential for groundfish
products. Retail sales of these products, with
some exceptions, were "buoyant''. New pre-
cooked convenience items with much con-
sumer appeal are largely responsible for
sales growth. They are of primary impor-
tance to future of seafoods in U.S. market.
Fig. 2 - Fish Portions.
Quality
There were nonegative comments on qual-
ity of convenience seafood products as such,
except for some onbatter-content. This con-
trasted sharply with situation in late 1950s,
when low quality checked growth in demand
for fish sticks.
Frozen Diet Dinners
Frozen diet dinners, unsuccessful when in-
troducedin1950s, noware popular. This re-
sulted from greater concernamong U.S. con-
sumers about coronary diseases and publicity
about fish's nutritional advantages. These’
dinners use such groundfish species as had-
dock, flounder, and cod.
Seasonal Fluctuations in Seafood Sales
The 6-week Lenten season remains the
peak selling period for seafoods. On national
basis, however, sales now are much more
evenly distributed over the year. Combined
Lenten sales of seafoods in 7 major markets
have been about 10% of annual sales; monthly
sales during rest of year ranged between 6.7%
and 8%. There were secondary peaks during
Thanksgiving and Christmas periods. Super-
market chains have spread their seafood pro-
motion over the year to coincide with these
trends.
However, within the U.S. pattern, monthly
distribution varies markedly from market to
market. In 1969, for instance, sales in De-
troit, Mich., peaked during Christmas season;
in Atlanta, Ga., annual sales were lowest then.
Supermarket sales used to peak on Fri-
days; now they are more evenly distributed
throughout week.
Distribution of Seafood Products
Except for private label, the supermarkets
do not carry anywhere near a full line of a
seafood brand. Nobrand, except Mrs. Paul's,
is distributed nationally. The chains with
private labels tend to view other brands as
complementary to theirs.
Impact of Food Service Sector
The retail sector is more concerned at the
growing diversion of potential retail food
sales to food-service industry, especially to
fast-food sector. Take-out sales now total
almost $1.5 billion ayear. Tosupermarkets,
take-out sales in particular are purchases
that traditionally would have been theirs.
As consumption of foods prepared away
from the home grows, the supermarket chains
are acting to get their share:
1. Some have established food-service di-
visions. The chains already have warehouses
and delivery facilities andcan offer one-stop
distribution.
2. They offer hot, ready-to-serve, take-
out foods. About 60% of supermarkets open
last year had these sections. Howevér, this
trend is still in its infancy.
13
If the present trend continues, delicates-
sens will be the focus of supermarket expan-
sion in take-out foods.
3. Competing directly with fast-food op-
erators. Several supermarket chains have
specialty restaurants.
Product Specifications
Animportant segment of buyers, the larg-
est retail buyers, insists that processed
groundfish products meet rigorous specifi-
cations, including packaging. All retail
buyers place importance on high quality, at
least equal to national brands, the adver-
tising and promotion, and the reputation and
consumer appeal of the brand. It is expected
that product will meet usual standards on
absence of bones and be covered by liability
insurance.
A new product normally is tested. There
are wide variations inthoroughness of testing
procedures. The general tendency is for
large retail buyerstotest product thoroughly
and for medium-sized chainstorely on brand
reputation.
Criticism of Canadian Groundfish
Criticism by retail buyers of Canadian
groundfish was not significant statistically.
It was confined to bones and texture. The
Canadian product was compared unfavorably
to Icelandic commodity. On eastern sea-
board, buyers for retail chains assume that
products are bonelessto a degree acceptable
tothe consumer. They merely require seller
to have liability insurance to cover claims
arising from sale of products containing
bones. In western states, buyers expect
products to be completely free of bones.
Purchasing Practices
Chains make little use of wholesale dis-
tributors. The major method of buying the
frozenproduct is direct buying--from proc-
essors or through their broker representa-
tives.
Merchandising
Eighteen retail outlets were inspected for
merchandising of seafoods. No clear pattern
emerged. Infreezer space and in-store mer -
chandising, the promotion of seafood could not
14
be rated "completely inadequate," simply
dull. Generally, management still considers
frozen seafoods low-interest items.
The expansion of retaildemand for frozen
groundfish products will depend heavily on
product innovation.
Private Label
Over half the retail food chains had their
own label in certain seafood items. While it
was found that chains of similar size had dif-
fering philosophies on private labelling, there
is a functional relationship between the size
of the chain and the use of private label by
major retail food organizations. Some 75%
of chains with over 90 retail outlets carried
their own private label; only 36% of smaller
chains. Whenmembers of Topco Associates,
a major group buying organization, are ex-
cluded, the latter percentage falls to 14%.
Selling Performance of Canadian Producers
Excluding the three largest chains, no ma-
jor retailers stated that Canadian or other
foreign producers of groundfish products had
established direct and significant relation-
ships with them. And none was critical of
this.
Canadian processors of groundfish prod-
ucts concentrate sales function in the hands
of brokers. This is how Iceland and other
producers supply retail food market. The
selling performance of Canadian producers
is as good as their foreign competitors’,
As demand turns more to sophisticated
processed products, volume sales are con-
centrating in hands of large food brokers,
especially those who service food-service
sector. These firms have specialized selling
techniques necessary for high sales perform-
ance. Solarge brokers are becomingthe ma-
jor selling channel for Canadian processors.
The small traditional brokers may be reduced
to a marginal role.
THE FOOD SERVICE MARKET
Scope of Market
The food-service market, in1966, had over
370,000 establishments: table service res-
taurants, cafeterias, counter service, drive -
ins, drug andretail stores; industrial, hotel,
motel, recreational and amusement places
for eating; hospitals, nursing homes, schools,
colleges, universities, and military estab-
lishments.
Public eating places account for about two-
thirds the total retail value of food sold by
food-service industry. Sixty percent of these
places are separate establishments; the re-
mainder are part of other businesses--va-
riety stores, hotels, motels. Nonpublic eating
places account for about one-third the retail
value of food sold by food-service industry:
schools, hospitals, and homes for children,
the aged and the mentally ill.
Fast-food service offers some convenience
in eating. It accounts for 80% of U.S. food-
service business; the value of annual food
sales by service restaurants is only 20%.
Service restaurants provide table service in
a dining room, have extensive kitchen facili-
ties, a professional chef, and offer full
courses.
The food-service industry is growing about
twice as fast as the retail food sector. The
industry is substitutingcapital for labor, and
production-line labor for skilled labor.
Average sales per employe infood-service
sector is $8,500; they are about $18,000 for
supermarket employe, and $22,000 in average
retail outlet. Wages are rising at 2.3% annual
rate, considerably above growthin productiv-
ity. The upward trend in wagesinthe food-
service industry is accelerating.
The evidence pointsto steadily increasing
use of convenience foods, particularly frozen
form. Inlongrun, this probably will be prod-
uced incommercial processing plants instead
of commissaries.
Demand for Seafood
The consumption of seafood, excluding
seafood specialties, by food-service sector is
estimated at 680 million pounds a year; of
these, 250 million pounds are used by res-
taurants, 115 million pounds by school-feed-
ing sector.
Frozen groundfish sticks, portions, fillets,
entrees and other convenience products of the
heat-and-serve variety are gaining increas-
ing acceptance among food-service operators.
However, the major growth in volume is con-
centrated (except for fish sticks) in uncooked
breaded portions and fillets.
Fig. 3 - Fish sticks passing from batter to breading.
At present, the primary growth area for
groundfish products is the fast-food sector of
the industry: drive-in and take-out restau-
rants. The fish-and-chip sector of this in-
dustry uses only frozen fillets and uncooked
unbreaded portions; other fast-food opera-
tors, much less oriented toward use of fish,
primarily use breaded or battered portions,
generally uncooked.
There has been growing demand for fish
portions, now 15 times that for fish sticks in
food-service sector. Major reasons are:
popularity of fish sandwich, introduced in
1964; portions permit precise serving and
cost control. The rise in U.S. consumption
of fish portions closely parallels growth of
drive-in restaurants.
The large chains inthis category, Mc-
Donalds and Burger Chef, use substantial
amounts of fishportions: each about 10 mil-
lion pounds a year.
The demand for groundfish fillets and por -
tions developed spectacularly with growth of
fish-and-chip franchises in U.S. The story
began in 1965, when Haddon Salt established
his first outlet at Sausalito, near San Fran-
cisco. By the end of 1970, the industry had
an estimated 1,150 outlets use groundfish at
annual rate of 54 million pounds. Industry
consumption in 1970 is estimated at 46 mil-
lion pounds,
15
Fig. 4 - Broiled Breaded Shrimp.
The Fish-and-Chip Industry
Like other sections of the U.S. fast-food
industry, the fish-and-chip firms are fran-
chise operations. The franchise concept per-
mits companies with limited capitalto expand
rapidly.
There is a trend toward company owner-
ship of units because this offers the pros-
pect of much greater net returns than roy-
alties from independent franchise operations.
The largest concentration of fish-and-chip
outlets is in the western United States; the
lowest in the midwest.
The companies cater tosit-down and take -
out trade.
16
Raw Material
The species of fish used almost every-
where by the fish-and-chip industry is cod,
primarily because it is relatively low cost.
The Coldwater Seafood Corp. is the dom-
inant supplier of cod to the industry because
of the high quality of the Icelandic product
andits aggressive development of this mar-
ket from its inception."
Nofirms were located withinthe fish-and-
chip industry that knowingly use cod from
Canada. The companies reported that Ca-
nadian suppliers had no interest in servicing
the industry.
The feeling within the trade is that Cana-
dian cod is inferior to Icelandic and Norwe-
gian cod. Burger Chef, with over 1,000 out-
lets and annualuse of over 10 million pounds
of cod portions annually, will not knowingly
buy Canadian cod.
"The defects cited range from the presence
of parasites, pinbones, skin, black spots,
belly-flaps and napes in fillets and blocks, to
soft texture and unsatisfactory flavour."
The great majority of companies inter-
viewed did not have first-hand experience
with Canadian cod.
The Icelandic block of fillets is smooth.
The Norwegian product contains fillets out of
shape and difficult to portion. This impedes
development of anefficient in-store portion-
ing technique.
The industry believes Iceland can supply
all requirements for the foreseeable future.
The smaller companies have tended to accept
this assurance at face value. Three major
companies are very concerned about the fu-
ture availability of cod; two of them have at-
temptedtofind more sources of supply. The
industry is more receptive to the prospect of
using Canadian cod--providing minimum
specifications can be met.
It isestimatedthat by 1975 the annual raw
materialrequirements of the industry will be
155 million pounds, over 3 times the estimated
level of demand in 1970.
Itis estimated that there will be 3,250 fish-
and-chip outlets in the U.S. by 1975.
The fast-food industry, the major user of
groundfish in the food-service sector, has
been largely neglected by Canadian proces-
sors.
SURVEY FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION
(1) Demand
The food-service sector will be the focal
point of long-run growth in demand in U.S.
foodmarket. Convenience foods willbe prod-
uct group with greatest growth potential.
"This conclusion is also applicable to the
long-run demand for groundfish products."
The important factors in U.S. demand for
groundfish products are:
(a) The fresh-fish market is relatively
static. Growth in demand for ground-
fish products is concentrated in frozen-
food sector.
(b) Retail and food-service demand for
frozen groundfish is expanding, but
growth potential is much greater in
latter area. This results from growth
of institutional catering and fast-food
franchises based on the sale of batter-
ed-and-breaded fish products.
(c) The products in growing demand are
primarily those with high degree of
convenience and product innovation.
More consumers like them and they
meet specialized requirements of food-
service buyers. The major exception
tothe rapidly growing demand for pre-
cooked breaded-and-battered ground-
fish products is the fast-food industry.
But eventhis sector requires the con-
venience of precut portions, breaded or
raw, as well as standardized fillets.
Another convenience food, fish sticks, is
experiencing a slower growth rate than por-
tions. But it is second only to portions as
groundfish product in greatest demand in dol-
lar and volume terms on U.S. market. U.S.
production of portions and fish sticks, based
on supply of foreignraw material, rose from
60,061 tons and69,903 tonsin 1960 to 216,453
tons and 113,338tonsin1969. Portions, stim-
ulated by expansion in food-service demand,
showed uninterrupted annual growth.
U.S. imports of fish sticks and portions
from Canadian sources have been insignifi-
cant in terms of total market demand. The
situation resulted primarily from tariff bar-
riers. It may now be opportune for Canadians
to examine thoroughly ''the economic feasi-
bility of greater processing of convenience
eG cag products for sale in the U.S. mar-
et.
The bulk of the demand in the future may
be for completely bone-free fish. This and
demand for premium products suggest that
Canadian producers should up-grade their
standards.
Product Innovation
Improved quality and product innovation to
meet buyer desires for more convenience in
food products are the "prerequisites for the
expansion and maximization of the market
We
share of the Canadian groundfish industry in
the U.S. market."
"The available statistical evidence sug-
gests that the market importance of many
high-value seafood products, such as floun-
der, sole and halibut, in their predominant
retail forms canbe expected todecline within
the next decade. This long run trend can be
expected to continue unless new and more
popular products are developed, particularly
frozen, highly processed convenience items. '
Inthe U.S., most of the companies that were
engaged directly inthe supply of fresh fish 20
years ago have gone out of business. Firms
that relied on the markets for frozen fish
and/or fillets have had trouble remaining
solvent. But specialty companies that have
used the basic raw material to produce the
precooked fishery products have thrived. The
largest seafood processors are product man-
ufacturers rather than packers of commodi-
ties. ''Such growthas the U.S. fishery indus-
try has achieved over the past 20 years is
directly attributable to the introduction of
convenience type products."
Flounder
Haddock
OCEANOGRAPHY
INTERNATIONAL STUDY OF
CARIBBEAN CURRENTS IN JULY & AUGUST
The 3-year, 15-nation oceanographic in-
vestigation of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mex-
ico has a new phase scheduled for July and
August. U.S.scientists and ships are partic-
ipating. Its main objective is an intensive
study of the circulation patterns to determine
which processes cause them. The U.S. ef-
forts, mainly by NOAA, will concentrate in
the western Caribbean, Yucatan Channel, and
southeastern Gulf of Mexico.
Trade Winds & Ocean Currents
Scientists think the trade winds over the
tropical Atlantic and Caribbeanare the prime
movers of the ocean currents in the Carib-
bean, Gulf of Mexico, andthe Florida Straits.
It is unclear, however, how this input of wind
momentum is organized into anocean current,
One assumption is that the input first drives
a series of eddies which, in turn, drives the
larger-scale currents. An older hypothesis
is that the western Caribbean currents are
driven directly by the winds to flow uphill
against gravity. Andthere are other assump-
tions.
The Operation
"The extent and nature of the ocean cur-
rents will be determined by radar tracking of
radio-equipped parachute drogues deployed
120feet below the surface. The temperature,
salt content, and depth of the water also will
be measured, plotted, and studied and exami-
‘nations made of the distribution of certain
trace metals. The deep-water tides will be
studied by current meters moored close to
the ocean bottom. And the temperature,
18
speed, direction, and humidity of air currents
and the nature of clouds will also be investi-
gated to provide background for an under-
standing of the interaction between the sea
and the atmosphere."
Dr. Harris B. Stewart Jr., of NOAA's At-
lantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab-
is U.S. National
Coordinator for the project, known officially
oratories in Miami, Fla.,
as the Cooperative Investigation of the Carib-
bean and Adjacent Regions(CICAR). He said
that in previous efforts little more than one-
ship scientific work had been done.
"The Caribbean Sea with its adjacent Gulf
of Mexico is, oceanographically speaking, still
poorly described and even less well under-
stood,'' he stated. ''Now, its dynamics, its
contained life, its bottom topography and tec-
tonic framework, its interactions with the
overlying atmosphere, and the dynamics of
the atmosphere above itare the subjects of a
cooperative international investigation spon-
sored by the Intergovernmental Oceanogra-
phic Commission."
International Study
The August study of circulation will include
ships from Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, the Unit-
ed Kingdom, Venezuela; NOAA's National
Ocean Survey and the National Marine Fish-
eries Service; and from the U.S. Coast Guard.
About 15 NOAA scientists will work aboard
two floating oceanographic laboratories of the
National Ocean Survey, the 'Discoverer' and
'Researcher',
CLAMS: Resources Are Healthy, Says J. P. Wise
[The April 1971 Commercial Fisheries
Review (CFR) included: ''Ocean Quahog Be-
comes More Important As Surf & Bay Clams
Dwindle."
mation from the New England Marine Re-
The article was based on infor-
sources Program. The program is supported
by the Sea Grant College and Program Act,
the State Technical Services Act and the
Ed./
John P. Wise, NMFS Tropical Atlantic
Biological Laboratory, Miami, disagrees
University of Rhode Island...
with the statement that clam resources are
dwindling. He writes: ''... this is in fact
CATCH (MILLIONS OF POUNDS)
not the case. I have enclosed some tables
and graphs on surf clams, hard clams, and
soft-shell clams, extracted from official
NMFS statistics, that seem to show that the
fisheries are in healthy shape with increas-
(The
apparent decline in hard clam catches in the
ing catches over the last several years.
early 1950's was caused by a temporary up-
surge inlandings inthe late 1940's and early
1950's.)
"A minor point is that Spisula soldissima
is almost universally known as 'surf clam'
!
not 'sea clam!.'
Fig. 28A.1 - Surf clam catches in certain states, 1951-70 (smoothed by moving average of 3).
19
20
Table 28A.1 - Catch of surf clams landed in various states,
1945-70
Table 28B.1 - Catch of various tlams, 1950-69
Year New York New Jersey Delaware
Ocean
millions of pounds (whole) quahog
1945 2.8
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
42.7
41.1
33.4
25.8
23.3
23.3
27.8
26.0
30.0
32.5
39.0
33.5
42.8
44,4
50.2
Sito)
54.2
44.7
47.2
61.3
PNWWWNUNADARDOUON un
ee
Peery oe
qd. 0.0.0 . dedi O-cno. 6
DAUNANDONNOWOHWNOUR UO
NWWwrenwrre
eo.
Be
FORNNWODANONARPREREAANOAG
°
PWUWOAPRPRPENEPRPRPENEUQANWHA
YPWwWHNNNrw
sehemtoite
mW W WN) 10 00
Ge - oe. ele .
PRPRPRPNRFPNNUWAAAUY
. oe .
ue
wh
co a_o O 0-0
(Conversion factors (meats to whole): Hard clam 8.454
Soft clam 4.551
Razor clam 2.334
Ocean quahog 8.000
Other clams 5.000
@ less than .05 million pounds
WRNAONONDUO FHL HOUPRYN
PRPRPRP
aonROON
. CMOLG
Conversion factors (meats to whole)’ New York 4.706
New Jersey 5.294
Maryland 4,092
Delaware 4,092
Q less than .05 million
Hard clams
CATCH (MILLIONS Ol POUNDS
Soft clams
Fig. 28B.1 - Hard and soft clam catches, 1951-69 (smoothed by moving average of 3).
DISTRIBUTION OF SOME COASTAL PELAGIC FISHES
IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC
Edward F. Klima
The coastal pelagic resource of the Gulf of
Mexico and South Atlantic is presently under -
utilized--mainly because it occurs in many
small, fast-traveling schools that cannot be
harvested by conventional fishing. The Pas-
cagoula Exploratory Fishing and Gear Re-
search Base has been developing harvesting
systems for this vast resource (Klima, 1970).
This paper summarizes the scant information
available on its distribution and abundance.
I have used the exploratory catch data col-
lected since 1950 by the Pascagoula Fishery
Center toprovide some idea of the magnitude
and distribution of the coastal pelagic re-
source inthe Gulf of Mexico and western At-
lantic. The Atlantic, including the Gulf of
Mexicoand Caribbean Sea, is subdivided into
27 exploratory fishing zones (Figure 1). Un-
fortunately, sufficient data are not available
to describe seasonal distribution within any
one year, so the catch data for 1950 to 1969
were combined by season within subareas.
Variation within a year was assumed to be
unimportant interms of seasonal distribution
trends. To describe roughly the seasonal
depth-distribution trends, the records of all
exploratory fishing with gill nets and bottom,
shrimp, and midwater trawls were combined.
Quantitative data are not available for the
species discussed, and each fishing record
represents a valid identification. Grouping
these data, however, is assumed as an index
of the relative availability of a species. In
addition, commercial landing statistics pro-
vided additional distributional data for Span-
ish sardine, thread herring, and round scad,
COASTAL PELAGIC FISHES
A preliminary acoustical survey of the
coastal schooling fishes from North Carolina
to Florida was conducted in 1968. Selected
data (Drummond, MS) provide an overall pic-
ture of the seasonal north-south distribution
of the midwater schooling fishes from Cape
HatterastoCape Kennedy. Figures 2, 3, and
4 show the north-south distribution for March,
July, and November. In the spring, midwater
schools are most commonly located between
St. Simons Island, Georgia, and St. Augustine,
Florida (transects 17 to 21), and from south
of Jacksonville to south of Cape Kennedy
(transects 24 and25). Generally, few schools
occurred north of St. Simons Island.
Summer and Fall
During the summer, midwater schools
were found throughout the entire survey area
but with much greater frequency in the south-
ernportion, Fishschools were most common
off South Carolina; St. Simons Island, Georgia;
Mayport and St. Augustine, Florida. There
seemstobe a slight shift northward in school
concentrations from spring to summer. In
the fall, there isless frequency of schools in
the extreme northern portionfrom Cape Hat-
teras southwardto Georgia; there is a signi-
ficant increase in frequency in the central
portion off St. Simons Island, Georgia, and a
slight increase southward from New Smyrna
toFort Pierce, Florida. Apparently, there is
a southward shift in the population during the
fall; adefinite aggregation of its major portion
is off St, Simons Island, Georgia, and central
Florida,
SCALED SARDINE
(Harengula pensacolae)
This species is widely distributed from
Florida southward to Brazil, including the
Gulf of Mexico. Itis a near-surface, school-
ing, plankton feeder along coasts, but it is
sometimes found several miles offshore. Ex-
ploratory records indicate that this fish is
usually found withinthe 20-fathom curve but,
on occasion, it has been seen as far offshore
asthe 165-fathom curve in the northern Gulf
of Mexico (Figure 5) andthe 257-fathom curve
Dr. Klima is Acting Base Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base, P.O. Drawer 1207,
Pascagoula, Mississippi 39567. Contribution #248.
21
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 911
22
Ov OS
*souoz Teunej Sutysty Atoyesojdxg - T “S14
09 sod ,08
°o °
VOINSWV HLNOS
SSNOZ IWNNWS
SALVLS
G3 LINN
pole)
off Colombia. It may be found with H. hum-
eralis and H. clupeolainthe Florida Keys and
along the north coast of Yucatan, but it is the
only species of Harengula inhabiting the Gulf
Coast of the United States.
Scaled sardines are not exploited in the
Gulf of Mexico, although they are harvested
off the coast of Venezuela (personal com-
munication, Rivas), where they are caught
with beach seines and canned for local con-
sumption. In Miami, Florida, they are caught
with lift nets aroundpiers and bridges in the
fall and winter and sold as live bait (Klima,
1959).
SPANISH SARDINE
(Sardinella anchovia)
It ranges from Cape Cod to southern Bra-
zil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean
Sea, Bermuda, Bahamas, and West Indies. It
is normally found close to the coast, well
within the 50-fathom curve, but it has been
caught as far offshore as the 200-fathom line
in the Atlantic.
Roithmayr (MS) has shown that the two
western Atlantic forms may be either valid
23
species or seasonalraces ofa single species.
Both forms coexist inthe coastal waters of the
Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad, and Brazil. Until
this taxonomic problem is solved, and for the
purpose of this report, it is referred to as
Sardinella anchovia,
This silvery-blue fish is harvested with
beach seines along the west and northwest
Florida coasts for bait in the sport fishery.
Yearly production is under 150,000 pounds,
worth less than $5,000 (Figure 6). The in-
creasing trend in yield from 1960 to 1968 is
more than likely due to an increase in sports
fishing; the species is one of the major
sources of baitin west Florida. The fishery
takes advantage of the numerous schools close
to the beach during spring and summer,
Usually in late fall and winter, the fish
move offshore and probably migrate south-
ward.
Diver observations around submerged
structures indicate that this species mixes
freely with round scad and, to some extent,
with scaled sardine. Fishing captains indi-
cate they catch Spanish sardine and round scad
together.
yn
=|
fe)
}
xr
1S)
n
«
=
q
=
2)
=
Ww
fo)
FREQUENCY
4
TRANSECTS
Fig. 2 - North-south distribution of midwater fish schools in March, Transect 1, Cape Hatteras through Transect 26, Cape Kennedy.
24
n
=)
(2)
(2)
a5
(Ss)
yn
a
2
az
=
S
=
ve
fo)
>
{S)
7
uJ
=)
Co
WW
oa
re
l2
TRANSECTS
Fig. 3 - North-south distribution of midwater fish schools in July, Transect 1, Cape Hatteras through Transect 26, Cape Kennedy.
a
NOVEMBER
FREQUENCY OF MIDWATER SCHOOLS
l2 14
TRANSECTS
Fig. 4 - North-south distribution of midwater fish schools in November, Transect 1, Cape Hatteras through Transect 26, Cape Kennedy.
oa
[e}
FREQUENCY
§
Oo
{oe}
20
L
fe)
I-10 11-20 21-30 31-50 51-100 10l-200 < 201
DEPTH (fathoms )
Fig. 5 - Depth distribution of scaled sardines in faunal zone 6.
300
zg S
e lie
3 200 mi
' co =~
5 =
3
3 3
§ a
wn
S 2
2 100 S
w o
= cS
fe)
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
YEAR
oe
Fig. 6 - Gulf of Mexico Spanish sardine catch.
25
26
Harvested in Venezuela & Brazil
The only other countries where this species
is commercially harvested are Venezuela and
Brazil. There, they are canned for human
consumption and/or iced for baitin tuna long-
line fishing (Simpson and Griffiths, 1967).
This species supports Venezuela's most im-
portant commercial fishery with annual catch
usually in excess of 40,000 tons valued at about
$700,000.
Sardines are fished by beach seines and,
usually, one set catches the entire school.
Sets of 400 tons have been reported, but sets
are usually under 100 (Simpson and Gonzalez,
1967). Simpson and Griffiths (1967) indicate
that although beach seines are well suited for
the Gulf of Cariaco, the fishery does not fully
exploit the resource. They recommend the
development of modern and mobile harvesting
gear to replace beach seines if there is an
increase indemand for the processed sardine
product (i.e., canned sardines).
ROUND HERRING
(Etrumeus teres)
The round herringis known to occur from
Maine throughout the Gulf of Mexicotoat least
the Yucatan Peninsula. Hildebrand (1963)
states that it rarely occurs north of New Jer-
sey but, several times since 1900, it has been
extremely abundant off Woods Hole, Massa-
chusetts; at least 200,000 pounds have been
landed along the coast of Maine. This fish is
fairly common along the eastern seaboard,
southward around Florida, and very common
throughout the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan
Peninsula. It has not been observed, however,
along the Central American coastline. It has
beencollected by exploratory vessels between
the 100- and 300-fathom isobaths off Colombia
and Venezuela in faunal zones 14 and 15.
In the northern Gulf, it occurs out to at
least the 200-fathom curve, but it is concen-
trated mainly between the 10- and 30-fathom
curves.
SILVER ANCHOVY
(Anchoviella eurystole)
The silver anchovy ranges from Woods
Hole, Massachusetts, southward to Beaufort,
North Carolina (Hildebrand, 1963), During
some summers, itis fairly common at Woods
Hole, while during other summers itis absent.
It appears only occasionally off Connecticut,
New York, and New Jersey.
Inthe northern Gulf of Mexico, it has been
caught occasionally withbottomtrawls. Dur-
ing the winter, it often has been caught with
nightlights and lift nets between the 20- and
30-fathom curves.
BUTTERFISH
(Poronotus triacanthus)
Butterfish are now important as food in
most areas along the eastern seaboard of the
United States. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953)
state that this is one of the better table fish.
It is alsousedas a commercial scrap fish in
various processed forms, and as a crab bait
and fertilizer. It is caught along the north-
east coast with pound nets, floating traps,
purse seines, and otter trawls. It is not har-
vested extensively in the Gulf of Mexico, ex-
cept as an insignificant part of the industrial
catchinthe northern part (Roithmayr, 1965).
According to Caldwell (1961) and Haedrich
(1967), this species ranges from the outer
coast of NovaScotia and Cape Breton, north-
ward as a stray to the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
and southward to Cape Kennedy, Florida. It
appears tobe absent around southern Florida
and, inthe Gulf, the species ranges from Cape
Romano along the coast tothe Yucatan Penin-
sula.
This beautiful silvery fish occurs at the
surface, in midwater, or at or near the bot-
tom, but itis classified as a midwater pelagic.
Exploratory records and Caldwell's findings
indicate that in the Gulf of Mexico butterfish
are found in shallower waters more frequently
thaninthe Atlantic. Table 1 shows distribu-
tion patterns by season and depth in zones 1
through 7, where no seasonal onshore -off-
shore movement is shown.
CHUB MACKEREL
(Scomber japonicus)
One of the smaller species of mackerels,
it grows to a length of 35 cm, or about 14
inches. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) agree
that its appearance, schooling, and feeding
habits are similar to that of the northern
mackerel, Scomber scombrus. It occurs in
warm and temperate parts of the Atlantic,
north to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and south
around the tip of Florida, and the Gulf Coast
toat least the Yucatan Peninsula. Chub mack-
erel have not beenreported from south of the
Yucatan Peninsula to the Venezuela coast
(zones 10 to 12), but its distribution is con-
tinuous along the northern part of South Amer -
ica(zones13to16). Before1951, this species
had never been reported south of Virginia, but
Rivas (1951) recorded it as S. colias from
Garden Key, Florida, and off Cuba, and Simp-
son and Griffiths (1967) off Venezuela.
The depth distribution of this species in
the northern Gulf of Mexico is from about 5
to 200 fathoms (Figure 7). In faunal zone 6,
27
it appears to concentrate between 11 and 30
fathoms; in zone 7, it appears to concentrate
between 11 and 50 fathoms.
Chub mackerel are occasionally caught in
the Gulf of Maine, but sporadic occurrence in
that areaprobably limits its commercial po-
tential. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) re-
ported that inthis areathere have been times
of great abundance followed by long periods
of scarcity. Itisnot harvested in other parts
of its range, except off Venezuela (Simpson
and Griffiths, 1967).
Table 1 - Butterfish catch records of exploratory fishing with trawl by
depth and season in faunal zones 1 through 7
Zone/ season 1-10 11-20 2-30
1 Jan.-Mar, = 1 4
April-June = 2 =
July -Sept. = 5 FS
@Octy Deck = =
2 Jan.-Mar. 32 AS -
April-June 9 1
July -Sept. 31 7 3
Oct.-Dec. ca = os
3 Jan.-Mar. 14 12 9
April-June = = 12
July -Sept. 4 9 2
Oct.-Dec. 10 4 2
4 Jan.-Mar. 2 11 oat
April-June = 1 ¢
July -Sept. 15 1 3
Oct.-Dec. 14 = 2
+) Jan,-Mar. il 2 8
April-June ? =
July-Sept. = 1
Oct.-Dec. = = =
6 Jan.-Mar. 41 43 Be
April-June 15 5 3
July -Sept. 6 23 22
Oct.-Dec. Zal 14 7
7 Jan.-Mar. 8 8 11
April-June 10 iba 9
July -Sept. 49 44 23
Oct.-Dec. il = 2
Depth (fms.)
31-50 51-100 101-200 201 +
5 4 = =
4 — o
= 3 2 =
5 6 6 =
6 3 il =
= 2 2 =
14 14 14 3
9 31 3
5 5 10 2
4 10 13 2
28 =:
6 = ot
6 - = S
3 = = -
2 = =
2 = = -
35 6 1 =
7 3 6 =
10 3 4
11 3 = =
45 5 1 =
2 2 = =
75 10 ae =
4 1 = =
28
25
4,
] vr
oN
Faunal Zone 7 1 N
Ge Tae / \
‘ \
U \
/ \
4 / a
oe /
22m hae / t 4
Ww
> \
Co \
re \
© 0 Ms
r a
.
S
~
~ .
5 4
Faunal Zone oe
5 | 1 eee eee ey
I-i0 11-20 21-30 31-50 51-100 101-200
DEPTH ( fathoms)
Fig. 7 - Depth distribution of chub mackerel in faunal zones 6 and 7.
ries
70 -—
60 |—
FREQUENCY
S a
{e) (oe)
|
w
[e)
|
20!
FaunaliieeZ0 ne in ele eee
1-10 I-20 21-30 31-50 51-100 101- 200 < 20!
DEPTH (fathoms )
Fig. 8 - Depth distribution of bumpers in faunal zones 6 and 7.
BUMPER
(Chloroscombrus chrysurus)
This very common fish occurs from Cape
Cod southward throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
Bumpers are also found in the Caribbean Sea
to Brazil (Ginsburg, 1952). It is commonly
caught with beach seines innorthwest Florida,
and with shrimp trawls throughout most of
the Gulf of Mexico, Although most commonly
found within10 fathoms, it occurs offshore to
at least the 1,000-fathom curve inthe northern
Gulf, and out to the 500-fathom curve off
northeast Florida. Throughout the rest of its
range, itis rarely found beyond the 50-fathom
isobath (Figure 8).
ROUGH SCAD
(Trachurus lathami)
Itis knownfrom nearly all warm and tem-
perate seas, and along our Atlantic coast from
Cape Cod southward to Brazil. The rough
scadis rare inthe northern part of its range,
but it is fairly common off the Florida Keys
and inthe northern Gulf of Mexico east of the
Mississippi Delta.
It is generally found slightly farther off-
shore than other coastal pelagic species,
most commonly betweenthe 30- and 50-fath-
om contours (Figure 9).
ROUND SCAD
(Decapterus punctatus)
This fishis usually found in small schools
along the Atlantic seaboard from Nova Scotia
to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the
West Indies, and Bermuda. Berry (1968) in-
dicates that its distribution is continuous.
Juveniles are pelagic and may prefer oceanic
rather than coastal waters, but they do occur
around oceanic islands, Throughout its range,
it canbefound fromthe shore out to the Con-
tinental Slope.
In faunal zones 6 and 7, in the northern
Gulf of Mexico, its seasonal depth distribution
is shown in Table 2 and Figure 10. During
the winter, it is found mostly beyond the 20-
fathom curve to 50 fathoms. In the spring,
however, it is concentrated within the 10-
fathom curve. In the summer, it appears to
move farther offshore and concentrate, at
least in faunal zone 6, between the 11- and
20-fathom contours, During the fall, it again
moves inshore close to the beach, but it is
more or less uniformly distributed from the
shore line out to about the 100-fathom contour.
29
Caught For Bait
Rough scad are caught for bait with beach
seines along the Florida panhandle from April
to November. Since 1960, production and
value have increased because of the increase
in demand for bait fish (as mentioned with
Spanish sardine), In1967, more than $ million
pounds worth slightly more than $65,000 were
landed (Figure 11). More than 60 percent of
the annual yield is produced in June and July.
During the summer, this species schools
off northwest Florida with the Spanish sardine
and, to some extent, with the scaled sardine.
Klima and Wickham (1971) have observed
dense schools of mixed round scad and rain-
bow runner, Elagatis bipinnulatus, around
submerged structures.
THREAD HERRING
(Opisthonema oglinum)
This tropical and subtropical fish occurs
intermittently along the eastern seaboard
from Cape Cod to southern Brazil. Itis
usually found from 4 to 50 fathoms, In the
northeastern Gulf of Mexico, it is most com-
monly found withinthe 20-fathom curve (Fig-
ure 12), Bullis and Thompson (1967) estimate
the density of thread herring in this area to
be one schoolper square mile, Observations
inthe northern Gulf indicate that thread her-
ring stocks are not as numerous there as off
Florida's west coast.
Commercialinterestinthe thread herring
stocks was stimulated by an off-season aerial
survey for menhaden conducted by the Bureau
of Commercial Fisheries during the winters
of 1963-64, 1964-65, and 1965-66 (Thompson,
1968). During 15 monthly flights, 5 each
winter season, over traditional menhaden
grounds along the west coast of Florida, al-
most 1,800 schools were observed, Almost
900 schools of thread herring were observed
south of 29° N latitude during these flights.
Other schools were comprised of scaled sar-
dine, Spanish sardine, and yellowfin men-
haden. Species identification of the schools
was made from coordinated gill-net samp-
lings.
Possibly Million Tons
Based on average catch rates of commer-
cial sets, anextrapolation indicates apossible
thread herring stock of about one million tons
(Bullis and Thompson, 1967). During the Bu-
reau's exploratory fishing, thread herring
30
>
oO
2
J
=)
oC
uJ
a
Le
Faunal
]
\
1! \“~—Faunal Zone 7
21-30 31-50 51-100 10|-200
DEPTH (fathoms)
Fig. 9 - Depth distribution of rough scad in faunal zones 6 and 7.
31
—
Table 2 - Round scad catch records of exploratory fishing with trawl by
depths and season in faunal zones 6 and 7
Depth (fms.)
Zones 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-50 51-100 101-200 200 + Total
6
Jan,-Mar. 2 25 32 34 6 1 < 100
April-June 11 4 1 1 2 1 = 20
July -Sept. 1 19 12 5 1 = 38
Oct.-Dec. 10 16 8 11 6 = ce 51
ite
Jan,-Mar. = 4 4 27 2 = = 3M
April-June 3 5 5 3 1 = = 17
July -Sept. 1 25 13 57 12 = = 108
Oct.-Dec. 13 12 11 13 = < = 49
PERCENT
21-30 31-50 51-100 101-200
DEPTH (fathoms)
Fig. 10 - Depth distribution of round scad by season in faunal zone 6.
32
o <
a) eS
e 500 e
fo}
oF m
is =
Zs
2 400}+— 3
3 3
S a
3 a
& 300;— Py
=
aa Qa
fo}
3 =
Ww 200} a
> —
| | | | | L | o)
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
YEAR
Fig. 11 - Gulf of Mexico round scad catch.
oy tae
FREQUENCY
~
o/,
.
~
=
Faunal Zone 6 .
11-20 21-30 SY Si0) 51-100 101- 200
DEPTH (fathoms)
Fig. 12 - Depth distribution of thread herring in faunal zones 6 and 7.
were caught in all areas of the Atlantic south
of Cape Hatteras, and throughout the entire
Gulf of Mexico. Catches occurred throughout
every season from the Mississippi Delta to
the east coast of Florida, and off Louisiana
and Texas in every month except June, July,
and December. Thread herring are most
numerous inthe summer and fall in the latter
area.
Thread herring has perhaps the best im-
mediate commercial potential because mod-
erate amounts already have been harvested
along Atlantic coast, off Fernandina Beach,
Florida, and off Fort Myers in the Gulf by
menhadenfishermen. Accurate catch statis-
tics are not available since small catches
and/or catches mixed with menhaden are
usually recorded as menhaden (Butler, 1961).
In addition to gear problems, perhaps the
greatest were the problems of disposing the
catch. The fish were transported to Apalachi-
cola, Florida, and Pascagoula, Mississippi,
for processing into fish meal and pet food.
The long distance between catching and proc-
essing areas added significantly to the raw
material cost and caused serious logistical
problems.
Some Industry Harvesting
Since 1958-1959, limited efforts have been
made by industry toharvest thread herring off
the west coast of Florida (Fuss, et al., 1969)
using lampara seines and one-and two-boat
purse seines. In1967, asignificant effort was
made toharvest the west Florida stocks when
a processing plant was built at Charlotte Har-
bor near Fort Myers, Florida, Fishing opera-
tions were conducted with standard two-boat
menhaden purse seiners and a modified
shrimp vessel. There were gear problems
33
and fishing was limited to small, smooth-
bottom areas close inshore from Gasparillato
Sanibel Islands.
In1967 and 1968, the vessels of three dif-
ferent companies produced about 15,000 tons
of threadherring. The limited-capacity plant
at Charlotte Harbor handled a good part, and
plants at Dulac, Louisiana, and Apalachicola,
Florida, also processed part. Catches were
transported tothe two distant plants in large
(up to 500-ton capacity) refrigerated men-
haden vessels.
Legal Restrictions & Weather
Legal restrictions and weather also limited
production in the area during 1967 and 1968.
Florida laws prohibit catching of foodfish by
purse seines within Florida's 10.5 mile juris-
diction, and insignificant catches of these
(usually predators) were made in the thread
herring sets. This greatly curtailed fishing
until catchmonitoring bythe Bureau of Com-
mercial Fisheries showed that foodfish rep-
resented less than one percent of the catch.
In February 1968, the State Board of Con-
servation permitted resumption of purse
seining for thread herring withinthose limits.
By then, however, those vessels withthe larg-
est harvesting capabilities had become dis-
couraged and returned to menhaden fishing.
Also, recent legislation has effectively
closed this fishery by prohibiting purse seines
in state waters along Florida's central and
lower Gulf coast. Kinnear and Fuss (MS)
stated that prospects for continuing the thread
herring purse-seine fishery from outside
state waters are discouraging because the fish
donot appear to schoolin offshore waters, and
present gear is not capable of harvestingthem.
LITERATURE CITED
BERRY, FREDERICK H.
1968. A New Species of Carangid Fish (Decapterus tabl)
from the Western Atlantic. Contr. Mar. Sci., Vol.
13, pp. 145-167.
BIGELOW, HENRY B, and WILLIAM C, SCHROEDER
1953. Fishesof the Gulfof Maine. U. S. Fish Wildl. Serv.,
Vol. 53, Fish. Bull. No. 74.
BULLIS, Jr., HARVEY R. and JOHN R. THOMPSON
1967. Progress in Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research in
Region 2, Fiscal Year 1966. U. S. Fish Wildl.
Serv., Bur. Comm. Fish., Cir. 265.
BUTLER, JOHNNY A.
1961. Developmentof a Thread-Herring Fishery in the Gulf
of Mexico. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Comm. Fish.
Rev., Vol. 23, No. 9, pp. 12-16. (Reprint No.
628)
CALDWELL, DAVID K.
1961. Populations of the Butterfish, Poronotus triacanthus
(Peck), with SystematicComments. Bull. So. Cal.
Aca. Scie, Vol. 60, Part 1, pp. 19-31.
DRUMMOND, SHELBY B.
(MS) An Acoustic Survey Method used in Assessing Fish
Stocks along the Southeastern United States.
34
LITERATURE CITED (Contd.)}
FUSS, Jr., CHARLES M., JOHN A. KELLY, Jr., and
KENNETH W, PREST, Jr.
1969. Gulf Thread Herring: Aspects of the Developing
Fishery and Biological Research. Proc. Gulf. Carib.
Fish. Inst., 21st Ann. Sess., pp. 111-125.
GINSBURG, ISAAC
1952. Fishes of the Family Carangidae of the Northern Gulf
of Mexico and Three Related Species. Inst. Mar.
Sci., Vol. II, No. 2, pp. 48-117.
HAEDRICH, RICHARD L.
1967. The Stromateoid Fishes: Systematics and a Classifi-
cation. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 135(2): 31-139.
HILDEBRAND, SAMUEL F.
1963. Suborder Clupeoida Characters and Key to Families.
Fishes of the Western North Atlantic, Part III, pp.
152-249.
KINNEAR, B. S. and C. M.j FUSS, Jr.
(MS) The Distribution of Thread Herring (Opisthonema
oglinum) off the West Coast of Florida.
KLIMA, EDWARD F,
1959. Aspects of the Biology and the Fishery for Spanish
Mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchill}, of
Southern Florida. Fla. St. Bd. Cons. Tech. Serv.
No. 27.
and DONALD A, WICKHAM
1971. Attraction of Coastal Pelagic Fishes with Artificial
Structures. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc., Vol. 100,
No. 1, pp. 86-99.
RIVAS, LUIS RENE
1951. A Preliminary Review of the Western North Atlantic
Fishes of the Family Scombridae. Bull, Mar. Sci.
of Gulf and Carib., Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 209-230.
ROITHMAYR, CHARLES M,
(MS) Contribution to the Taxonomy of the Western Atlantic
Spanish sardine of the Genus Sardinella.
1965. Industrial Bottomfish Fishery of the Northern Gulf of
Mexico, 1959-63. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Bur.
of Comm. Fish. Spe. Sci. Rep. Fish. No. 518.
SIMPSON, JOHN G. and GERMAN GONZALEZ G.
1967. Some Aspects of the Early Life History and Environ-
ment of the Sardine, Sardinella anchovia, in Eastern
Venezuela. Serie Recursos y Explotacion Pesqueros,
Volumen 1 - Numero 2, Republica de Venezuela,
Ministerior de Agricultura y Cria. Investigaciones
Pesqueras, 1967, pp. 39-84 Spanish, pp. 85-93
English.
and RAYMOND C, GRIFFITHS
1967. The Fishery Resources of Venezuela and TheirExplo-
tation. Serie Recursos y Explotacion Pesqueros,
Volumen 1, No. 5, Republica de Venezuela, Min-
isterior de Agricultura y Cria, Investigaciones,
Pesqueras, 1967, pp. 175-189 Spanish, pp. 191-204
English .
THOMPSON, JOHN Ro
1968. Progress in Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research in
Region 2 Fiscal Year 1967. U. S. Fish. Wildl.
Serv., Bur Comm. Fish., Cir. 267.
THE ATLANTIC SURF CLAM FISHERY - 1969
Allan M. Barker and John W. Ropes
The 1969 surf-clam fishery produced record landings of
49.6 million pounds of meats--9.7 million pounds more than
in1968. The New Jersey catch of 38.8 million pounds, an in-
crease of 7.0 million pounds, almost equaled the total landings
for 1968. Maryland and New York landings increased by 7.1
and 3.7 million pounds, respectively. The fleet size expanded
and the southward shift continued. The number of vessels de-
creased at Point Pleasant, N.J., but increased at Cape May-
Wildwood, N.J., and at Ocean City, Md.
FISHING AREAS
Cape May-Wildwood, N.J., and Point
Pleasant, N.J., were the major surf-clam
fishing areas in the middle Atlantic bight in
1969; Ocean City, Md., and Long Island, N.Y.,
provided the remainder of the catch. The New
Jersey fishery continued to contribute most
of the total landings, althoughthe 38.8 million
pounds landed were a smaller percentage
(78%) than in 1968 (Table). Landings from
the Cape May-Wildwood area were almost
twice those from Point Pleasant.
SURF CLAM LANDINGS BY AREAS (1969)
Number of
Vessels
Landings
Area (Millions of lbs.)
1968 1969 1968 1969
Cape May-Wildwood, N.J. 42 43 18.0 24.8
Point Pleasant, N. J. iO) = 13.8 14.0
Ocean City, Md. 5.2 Tel
Long Island, N.Y. Bok) Jaf
Total 39.9 49.6
The areas fished by New Jersey boats in
1969 (Fig. 1) were similar to 1968 (Yancey,
1970) but more trips were made to the south-
ern areas. The Ocean City, Md., vessels
worked mostly inshore and north of the Ocean
City inlet, asin 1968. The Long Island, N.Y.,
surf-clam landings were taken off Long Beach
and Fire Island.
FLEETS AND METHODS
The New York fleet remained at 7 vessels
(as in 1968) until late in the year, when one
moved to New Jersey. The fleet, based at
Freeport, L.I., consisted of 5 full-time and
2 part-time vessels; the latter landed clams
for fish bait. Average catch per trip for the
full-time vessels was 182 bushels (3,000
pounds of meats). Total landings of 3.5 mil-
lion pounds of meats for foodand 0.2 million
pounds for bait resulted from average monthly
landings of 180,000 to 575,000 pounds of
meats,
The Point Pleasant fleet decreased for the
third consecutive year--the 28 vessels were
2 less than 1968. Boats operating out of At-
lantic City were includedinthe 1969 total be-
cause they fished the same beds as the Point
Pleasant fleet. Depths fished ranged from 12
to 37 meters (40 to 120 feet); average depth
was 23 meters (76 feet). Most vessels made
1-day trips, but some overnight trips were
made tomore distant grounds, Hours fished
per boat-day ranged from 3 to 22, Monthly
averages are shownin Figure 3. The average
for 1969 was 9.5 hours, a decrease of 0.3 hour
from 1968.
The Cape May-Wildwood fleet increased
to 43, one more than 1968. Two large stern-
dredgers started operating in 1969. Depths
fished ranged from7 to 35 meters (22 to 114
feet); average depth was 14 meters (46 feet).
The authors are Fishery Biologists, NMFS Biological Laboratory, Oxford, Md. 21654.
35
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 912
36
0.05— 1.00 Trips 7 Sq. Mi.
1.05— 1. 40 Trips 7 Sq. Mi.
(0 1. 45— 3.00 Trips 7 Sq. Mi.
HB 3. 05— 8. 00 Trips / Sq. Mi.
OCEAN
CITY
aie
Fig. 1 - Area and intensity of surf-clam fishing by New Jersey fleet, 1969 (based on 1,955 interviews).
(Thousands of pounds)
it~] > wn
8 8 8
—
So
(=)
Y)
Y)
2
a)
2
<
=
>
—f
as
FE
2
fe)
=
37
MONTHS
Fig. 2 - Monthly landings of surf clams in New York, 1969.
Most vessels made 1-day trips and worked
during daylight hours. Monthly averages of
hours fished per boat-day are shownin Figure
3. Daily effort ranged from 2 to 20 hours.
The average for 1969 was 7.2 hours, a de-
crease of 0.7 hour from 1968. During the last
half of 1969, 2 to 4 boats landed clams at
Lewes, Del., the first landings there since
1962. These values were included with those
for Cape May-Wildwood because 2 of the ves-
sels were based at Wildwood and all of the
clams came from the areas fished by the Cape
May - Wildwood fleet.
The Ocean City fleet expanded to 14 ves-
sels, an increase of 7 from 1968. Landings
of 7.1 million pounds of meats in 1969 were
the direct result of additional vessels using
the port (Fig. 4). No interview data were
available to determine catch and effort by
boat.
‘fand New York, 8%.
NEW JERSEY LANDING STATISTICS
Interviews by a port sampler provided in-
formation on fishing areas and effort in New
Jersey. Landings inthe middle Atlantic bight
were supplied by the NMFS Division of Statis-
tics and Market News.
Record landings of 49.6 million pounds of
meats were 9.7 million pounds higher than in
1968 (Table). Most of the increase was due
to the greater poundage (6.8 million pounds)
landed by the Cape May-Wildwood fleet. New
Jersey produced 38.8 million pounds-~-7.0
millionpounds more than in 1968. Maryland
and New York landings alsoincreased (1.9 and
0.8 million pounds). New Jersey landings
were 78% of the 1969 total; Maryland, 14%;
Contributions by the re-
spective states in1968 were 80%, 13%, and 7%.
Less than 2% of the total catch was used for
bait.
AVG. HOURS FISHED ~ BOAT
o N o fe) ° =
—
iS)
e—e POINT PLEASANT
Org CAPE MAY- WILDWOOD
_
)
=
i=)
.:)
N
oa
1)
ey
Ww
| oad
<
uJ
=
LL
co)
nN
fa)
2
>
)
os
LL
fo)
22)
ra
uJ
jog
Q
Z
=)
a
M J J
MONTHS
Fig. 3 - Monthly averages of daily effort (upper) and catch per hour (lower) at Point Pleasant and Cape
May - Wildwood, N. J., 1969.
900
i)
So
(=)
iJ
fo]
S
O
me}
Cc
p=)
fe)
Qa
e
[o)
”)
TG
Cc
is]
2)
=)
je}
LS
is
i?)
oO
z
(a)
Zz
<x
|
ai
as
-—
2
Oo
=
M
J
39
MONTHS
Fig. 4 - Monthly landings of surf clams in Maryland, 1969.
Cape May-Wildwood Fleet
Contributions tothe total New Jersey land-
ings by the Cape May-Wildwood fleet have in-
creased markedly during the past 5 years.
The number of vessels at Cape May-Wildwood
and Point Pleasant was about the same as in
1968, but Cape May-Wildwood provided 62%
(24.8 million pounds) in1969--up from 57% in
1968. Much of the increase was due to the op-
eration of 2 large stern-dredge vessels based
at Wildwood.
At Cape May-Wildwood, landings per boat-
day ranged from 43 to 1,400 bushels (731 to
23,800 pounds of meats) and averaged 289
bushels (4,913 pounds). The average in 1968
was 225 bushels (3,825 pounds). Monthly land-
ings varied little except in March, when a
dense bed of small inshore clams off Atlantic
City was heavily fished (Fig. 5). Catch per
hour increased from 28 bushels (476 pounds)
in 1968 to 43 (731 pounds) in 1969. Figure 6
shows the catch per hour in the areas fished.
The catch rate dropped sharply in May when
the fleet moved offshore to fish for large (150
mm) clams (Fig. 5). About two-thirds of all
trips made in1969 weretoinshore areas. The
average catch rate for inshore and offshore
clams was 48 bushels (876 pounds) and 26
bushels (442 pounds) respectively. Monthly
average lengths reflected the seasonal shift
in effort from inshore to offshore beds (Fig.
5). Lengths of clams landed ranged from 109
to 187 mm (4.3 to 7.4 inches). The average
length of inshore clams was 131 mm (5.3
inches); offshore clams average 155 mm (6.2
inches) long; and the average for all clams
measured was 137mm (5.4 inches) or 10 mm
(0.4 inch) less than 1968.
Point Pleasant |
The Point Pleasant share of the New Jersey
landings decreased from 43% in1968 to 36% in
1969. Most of the decrease was due to the
higher landings at Cape May-Wildwood (36%
larger than1968). Landings at Point Pleasant
per day-trip ranged from 32 to 600 bushels
(544 to10,200 pounds of meats) and averaged
221 bushels (3,757 pounds). The average in
1968 was 233 bushels (3,961 pounds). Catch
40
a
°
100)
oe ~,
AVERAGE LENGTH(mm)
ry
So
o
°
@e——e POINT PLEASANT
Onrnng CAPE MAY - WILDWOOD
4.0
ww
(=)
8,
\)
LTT a 10
Y)
a)
Zz
=)
Oo
a
ue
\e)
“)
Zz
°
4
=
=
WY)
Oo
=
a)
Zz
<
a)
>
oJ
<=
fF
Zz
Oo
=
J J A
MONTHS
Fig. 5 - Monthly mean lengths of surf clams (upper) and landings (lower) in New Jersey, 1969.
74°
SANDY HOOK
POINT
PLEASANT
1— 29 Bushels ” Hr.
30 — 59 Bushels / Hr.
GS 60-— + Bushels / Hr.
dM, SCALE
: Wy)
Lf eG ee
oe ae f
Gia i Nautical Miles
Fig. 6 - Catch per hour within the area fished by the New Jersey surf-clam fleet in 1969 (based on 1,955
interviews).
41
42
per hour averaged 23 bushels (391 pounds) in
1969 and 24 bushels (408 pounds) in 1968.
Monthly catch rates and landings were rela-
tively stable in 1969 (Fig. 5). Most of the
variation was due tothe effects of bad weather.
Lengths of clams landed ranged from 116
to 203 mm (4.6 to 8.0 inches) and averaged
155mm (6.2 inches) long in 1969. This aver-
age was 2 mm (0.1 inch) greater than 1968.
Monthly average lengths were fairly constant
throughout 1969 (Fig. 5).
STATUS & TRENDS OF THE FISHERY
Fishing effort increasedin 1969. Although
hours fished per trip by New Jersey vessels
were Slightly less than in 1968, about 6 more
boats were added tothe entire surf-clam fleet.
The southward shift in effort, which started
in 1967, continued in 1969. The Ocean City,
Md., fleet expandedfrom7tol4vessels. The
Cape May -Wildwood fleet added 2 large stern-
dredgers. The New York fleet remained at 7
vessels.
The catch rate at Point Pleasant decreased
from 24 bushels per hour in1968 to 23 bushels
in 1969, but at Cape May-Wildwood the rate
increased from 28 bushelsto43 bushels. The
high rate at Cape May-Wildwood was due to
an intense effort by the fleet on beds of small
inshore clams andthe operations of the stern-
dredgers.
Average lengths of clams landed in New
Jersey in1969 were about the same asin 1968.
Monthly averages at Point Pleasant showed
minor variations during 1969; those at Cape
May - Wildwood fluctuated with season because
the fleet moved from offshore beds of large
(150 mm) clams to inshore beds of small
(120 mm) clams during the winter.
The gradual decline inlandings at the Point
Pleasant port will probably continue, but the
Cape May-Wildwood and Ocean City fleets
should expand and catch a greater percentage
of the total landings. The New York fleet will
probably stabilize at its present size.
LITERATURE CITED
YANCEY, Ro Mo
1970. The Atlantic Surf Clam Fishery (1968}.
OPERATION
FISHING IN 30-40 FT.
OF WATER
Commercial Fisheries Review 32 (8-9)}:40-46.
(Also Reprint No, 883)
HYDRAULIC
J SURF CLAM DREOGE
TRAPPING SABLEFISH
William L, High
Fishtraps have been aneffective capturing
gear used by both sophisticated and primitive
cultures for thousands of years. Recently,
the concept has enjoyed a renewed interest
because of improved construction techniques
and the prime quality of fish captured--and
because traps are often species-specific,
thereby reducing waste of unwanted fish.
During the past three years, the NMFS
Seattle Exploratory Fishing and Gear Re-
search Base has carried out experimental
fishing for sablefish (Anaplopoma fimbria)
with various trap designs. A collapsible
steel-meshtrap is nowused by the R/V 'John
N. Cobb! toestimate sablefish populations and
their distribution along the Washington and
Oregon coasts. The commercial fishing ves-
sel M/V 'Seattle' has fished traps for sable-
fish intermittently for two years.
The fish-catch rates of traps may vary
widely depending upontime of year and depths
fished,
produced 50,000 pounds with 1,077 trap liftings
The Seattle's most successful trip
in 14 days.
Fig. 1 - Sablefish(Anaplopoma fimbria), commonly called blackcod by west coast fishermen, are captured in deep water from Califor-
nia to Alaska. The fish has excellent flesh quality and is primarily kippered.
The author is a Fishery Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service, Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base, Seattle, Washington
98102.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW
Reprint No. 913
44
Fig. 2 - The collapsible trap currently used by NMFS is 34 inches by 34 inches by 8 feet long. Steel mesh is 2
inches square to allow small fish to escape. The trap will collapse flat for storage aboard a vessel. All trap
parts remain connected, so one fisherman can reassemble a trap in less than one minute.
SN li
Fig. 3 - Trap side and end pieces are constructed individually, then joined by coiled springs. After each coil is
spun into place by hand, the ends are crimped to prevent further movement. The coil also serves as a hinge
when the trap is collapsed.
45
Fig. 4 - A spring-loaded snap hook at the end of the bridle per-
mits the trap to be quickly connected or released from the
groundline. Small rope loops (beckets) are placed at intervals
(commonly 50 fathoms) in the groundline to space traps evenly.
Fig. 5 - Forty-five ready-to-assemble sablefish traps are shown
on the afterdeckof the R/V JohnN. Cobb. When appropriately
stacked for commercial fishing, a smaller vessel could carry
100 to 200 collapsed traps. Once assembled, traps are not
collapsed unless the vessel moves to a distant fishing area.
Trap strings are usually left to fish whenever the vessel returns
to port to unload the iced catch,
Fig. 6 - Chopped frozenherring is placed in a plastic jar for each
trap. Hundreds ofsmall holes in the jar and lid permit oils and
Juices to escape--but prevent the bait from being devoured by
sand fleas(anphipods), Bait handling isexpedited by placing the
jar into the trap loose rather rhan tying, as is done in other trap
fisheries. Itisdone this way because studies suggest there is no
increased catch fortied-up bait containers, and the used jar will
fall out of the trap as fish are removed.
46
Fig. 7 - Traps are set at intervals along the groundline as it pays out through the hydraulic line hauler. Set-
ing groundline under some tension tends to stretch the line along the ocean floor.
Fig. 8 - During experimental fishing, groundlines up to 600 fathoms long are coiled into a large wooden barrel
(tierce) to facilitate handling the single line in rough seas.
47
Fa Te
es et
Fig. 9 - Upon surfacing, each trap is unclipped from the ground- Fig. 10 - The hinged trap end piece is raised to dump both fish
line and lifted aboard with the ship's hoist. Note the unique, and the bait container. Before resetting, a fresh bait jar is
ungated, tunnel orifice. placed in the trap,
COHO SHAKER PROBLEM & INCIDENTAL
CATCH CONCEPT IN TROLL FISHERY
Sam Wright
The term ''shaker''is commonly applied to
Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) taken in ma-
rine waters by commercial troll or sport
hook-and-line gear but released due to closed
seasons, minimum size limits, and market
conditions. The problem stems from varying
rates of mortality suffered by released salm-
on due to physical injury and the physiological
trauma of being hooked. Without this loss, a
significant percentage of these fish would be-
come available tosalmonfisheries when sea-
sons opened, when they reached legal size, or
whenthey migrated to areas and fisheries of
differential regulations. Sublethal effects,
such as slower growth and poorer condition,
are also manifested.
incomplete data, the participants still agreed
that the Pacific coast shaker salmon catch
prior toJune 15 might exceed 1,000,000 fish;
up to 400,000 of these could be killed. Con-
tinuing research programs for British Co-
lumbia and California were bolstered by
initiation of logbook programs and onboard
observations in Oregon and Washington during
1970.
At 1970 meeting of Pacific Marine Fish-
eries Commission, past and present knowl-
edge was presentedinthree parts: magnitude
of catches, gear selectivity, and hooking mor-
tality. A background paper documenting ma-
jor regulatory statutes was presented at the
Silver (or Coho) Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Concern about the problem and sporadic
studies date back to early stages of marine
hook-and-line fisheries along the Pacific
coast. Large-scale coordination by coastal
salmon-management agencies began early
in 1968 with emphasis on small chinook
(O. tshawytscha) and coho(O. kisutch) in com-
mercial trollfisheries. Canada and Califor -
nia led with initiation of logbook programs and
gear-selectivity studies. These were due
mainly to the impetus generated by recogni-
tion ofserious problems with coho off the west
coast of Vancouver Island and northern Cali-
fornia.
Size of Problem
The magnitude of the problem was dis-
cussed in August 1968 at a Pacific Marine
Fisheries Commission ''Troll Salmon Work-
shop". Evenwithpreliminary and admittedly
1969 Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission
meeting.
These basic data convinced the Washington
Department of Fisheries that sufficient evi-
dence was available for immediate positive
action onthe coho shaker problem, at least on
a trial basis. It sponsored ''Trial Regulation
of the Troll Fishery to Reduce the Catch of
Coho Shakers", Resolution No. 17, adopted at
the 1970 Commission meeting.
INCIDENTAL COHO CATCH PROPOSAL
Although the general ocean troll salmon
seasonbegins April 15, it is illegal to retain
coho hooked until June 15 on all fishing
grounds north of California. The management
rationale is simply toprotect.a population in
its final year of life--while a tremendous
growth potential still exists. For California,
The author is a Fishery Biologist, Washington Department of Fisheries, Room 115, General Administration Building, Olympia, Wash-
ington 98504.
49
SALMON TROLLING
TROLLING GURDY
\
\
a 25-inch total length minimum is enforced
for coho throughout the troll season; however,
this falls at varying points inpopulation's nor-
mal size distribution curve, depending on time
of year and variations in growth rates. Dif-
ferential protectionto smaller fish of the same
age-maturity class is the illogical result.
One key recommendation of PMFC Resolu-
tion No. 17 was a pre-June 15 incidental catch
allowance for coho salmon poundage. This
concept was based on the hypothesis that a
coho's chances for survival could be deter-
mined reasonably well by visual observation
as trolling gear bringsthemin. Forexample,
recovery rates for three ''condition categor -
ies of live coho tagged during 1968 in outer
Juan de Fuca Strait were:
Percent
recovered
Number
recovered
Condition
category
"Good" 95
UFair!! 41
"Poor" 10
In the same study, 40 coho, or 6%, of total
catch,were completely expired when brought
onboard. The intent, then, was to allow re-
tention, and later sale, of coho brought onboard
| <
8
STABILIZER
CANNON - BALL
SINKER
PISA 5
SNAP-ON CONNECTOR
>
TROLLING SNUBBER
( RUBBER )—»
LEADER ARRANGE MENT
FOR PLUG
dead or badly injured--but to create no addi-
tional fishing effort (interms of terminal gear,
speed, depth, and/or area changes) specifi-
cally for this species.
TEST FISHERY
The incidental-catch concept received
mixed blessingsin nonsalmonid fisheries. It
generated considerable speculation among
Pacific coast management agencies. Soa
special test fishery was planned from June 1
to 5,1971, off Grays Harbor. This isthe cen-
ter of Washington's spring-season trolling
effort for chinook salmon.
Following a public information program,
special permits were issued to 70 licensed
troll vessels 16 to 50 feet long. These in-
cluded members from tripboat, dayboat,
kelper, and com-sport components and were
representative of the total Grays Harbor fleet.
The special permits stated: '...to retain
coho salmon which are brought onboard dead
or in a badly injured condition during his nor -
mal fishing effort for chinook salmon in the
period June 1 through 5, 1971. Total poundage
of these cohoin a dressed condition shall not,
however, exceed ten percent of the legal
dressed chinook salmon poundage in posses-
sion of the fisherman. Further, all such coho
50
retained must be landed at the port of West-
port, Washington, and relinquished to author-
ized Washington Department of Fisheries per -
sonnel. In compensation for the additional
work effort required, the fisherman will be
reimbursed at arate per dressed weight pound
equal to that established by industry for the
regular coho season opening. There will be
no minimum size limit for the coho."
From June 1to5, 51 permit holders landed
chinook salmon at Westport, and 41 of these
(80%) also landed coho. Weather conditions
were exceptionally favorable. Both species
were abundant throughout the 5-day period.
For 93 individual landings, the following
were recorded:
Number chinook - 2,313
Pounds chinook - 25,855
Average weight - 11.18 lbs.
Number coho = 941
Pounds coho SD PAKS
Average weight - 4.19 lbs.
Coho appeared in67 landirigs, 8.8% of chinook
catch on basis of weight, and 23.4% on basis
of numbers. Ice boats, in 16 deliveries, ac-
counted for 72.8% of chinook poundage, and
69.1% of coho poundage; day fishermen con-
tributed the remainder in 77 individual land-
ings. A few fishermenexceeded the 10% limit
on coho deliberately or accidentally because
they misunderstood terms of special permit.
Subtracting these from total indicates that
overall coho poundage level of 6% of chinook
poundage would be realistic for predicting out -
come of such a fishery on a regular basis.
In spite of a period for continued growth,
a sample of trollcohotaken off Grays Harbor
after the regular season opening on June 15
averaged only 3.80 lbs.dressed. It appeared
that terminal gear fished for chinook during
the test fishery was more Selective toward
larger individuals of the available coho popu-
lation.
Fisherman Reaction
In general, comments from fishermen par-
ticipating in the study were favorable. Most
learn quickly to estimate coho allowance per-
centage reasonably accurately during fishing.
The test fishery might have beenless success-
ful if either chinook or coho abundance had
been considerably less than prevailed. Most
trollers were consciously selecting dead and
badly injured cohofor retention, but little ob-
jective data could be obtained from landed fish,
particularly when dressed.
Unfavorable results from previous studies
plus the troller's natural aversion to wastage
("belly burning" of coho inthe round) prevent -
ed any request for landing coho uncleaned.
The adverse comments on incidental catch al-
lowance were mainly fears that landing of coho
before regular June 15 season opening might
have adverse affects on fishermen's price
negotiations with industry.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Toalleviate one specific component of Pa-
cific coastal shaker salmon problem (presea-
son coho wastage), it is recommended that
regulations be changed to allow a 10% coho
allowance prior to June 15 on 1-year trial
basis. During this full-scale test, detailed
evaluation should be conducted, particularly
through onboard observations of fishing op-
erations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The troll cohotest fishery was financed by
Project No. 1-55-R-1, OceanSalmon Fisher -
ies Sampling, Commercial Fisheries Re-
search and Development Act (PL 88-309).
LITERATURE
O'BRIEN, PATRICK; STEVENN, TAYLOR; and PAULT. JENSEN
1970. A Review of Chinook and Coho Shaker Catches in the
Pacific Coast Troll Fishery. Calif. Dept. Fish and
Game. 29 p. (processed).
REED, PAULH,
1970. A Review of Trolling Gear Studies on Chinook and
Coho Salmon. Fish. Comm. of Oregon. 20 p.
(processed).
WENDLER, HENRY O.
1969. Summary of Ocean Chinook and Coho Regulations
along the Pacific Coast. Wash. Dept. Fish., 5 p.
(processed).
WRIGHT, SAMUEL G,
1970. A Review of the Subject of Hooking Mortalities in
Pacific Salmon(Oncorhynchus). Wash. Dept. Fish.,
38 p. (processed).
1970a. Size, Age, and Maturity of Coho Salmon in Washing-
ton's Ocean Troll Fishery. Wash. Dept. Fish. Res.
Pap: 3(2): 63-71.
1970b. An Examination of Washington's Troll Salmon Fleet in
1967. Ibid: 3(2): S-17.
Soe Pro
FISHERY BIOLOGY
"Fishery Bulletin" of the National Oceanic
& Atmospheric Administration, National Ma-
rine Fisheries Service, Department of Com-
merce, Vol. 69, No. 2, April 1971, pp. 253-
453, illus., contains 19 technical reports on
investigations in fishery science.
Bulletins are distributed free to libraries,
researchinstitutions, State agencies, and sci-
entists. Some bulletins are sold by the Super -
intendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
"Swimming Speed, Tail Beat Amplitude,
and Size in Jack Mackerel, Trachurus sym-
metricus, and Other Fishes," by John R. Hun-
ter and James R. Zweifel, pp. 253-266.
"The objective of the study was to deter-
mine the relationships between swimming
speed, fish length, tail beat amplitude, and
tail beat frequency in a pelagic marine fish,
jack mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus. To
accomplishthis objective, dorsal cine photo-
graphs were taken of fish swimming in cur-
rents of different speeds ina specially de-
signed activity chamber, For comparative
purposes tests were also run on three other
marine fish: chub mackerel, Scomber japoni-
cus; Pacific sardine, Sardinops sagax; and a
shark, Triakis henlei."'
"Sustained Speed of Jack Mackerel, Trac-
hurus symmetricus,'' by John R. Hunter, pp.
267-202),
The purpose of this study was ''to deter-
mine the sustained speed threshold of jack
mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus, a pelagic
marine fish of commercial importance. The
body formand musculature of Trachurus ap-
pear tobe designedfor greater hydrodynamic
efficiency at high speeds than other species
heretofore studied. In Trachurus, lateral
musculature is concentrated in the anterior
51
portion of the trunk, andinserts by tendons on
a small deeply forked caudal fin,"
There is interest in comparing the sus-
tained speed capabilities of Trachurus with
that of fish with other bodyforms. Also, sus-
tained speed data are significant in predicting
migratory capabilities and physiological
limits.
"The Transplanting and Survival of Turtle
Grass, Thalassia testudinum, in Boca Ciega
Bay, Florida,'' by John A. Kelly Jr., Charles
M. Fuss Jr., and John R. Hall, pp. 273-280.
This article describes the procedures for
andresults of transplantation of turtle grass
into modified environments. ''Turtle grass
was transplanted to an unvegetated, dredged
canal and ahand-cleared portion of a flourish-
ing grass bed. Complete or partial success
was attainedin7 of 14 methodsused. The best
method, in which short-shoots (rhizomes re-
moved) were dippedina solution of plant hor-
mone (Naphthalene Acetic Acid) and attached
to construction rods for transplanting, was
100% successfuland may be suitable for gen-
eral application."
"Effect of Dietary Fish Oil on the Fatty
Acid Composition and Palatability of Pig Tis-
sues,'' by Robert R. Kifer, Preston Smith Jr.,
and Edgar P. Young, pp. 281-302.
This report deals with the problem of a
"fishy'' flavor inthe meat of pigs. This flavor
results sometimes when pigs are fed fishery
products--fish meal, for example, above a
certain concentration in the diet.
Pigs were fed diets containing fish oil to
investigate: (1) the effect onthe taste of meat
of feeding fish oil to pigs, (2) the effect, on
taste of meat, of withdrawingthe oil from the
52
diet at given times, (3) the fatty acid compo-
sition of the body tissues of the pigs, and (4)
the relation of composition to meat taste.
"Cetaceans from the Lesser Antillean Is-
land of St. Vincent,'' by David K. Caldwell,
Melba C. Caldwell, Warren F. Rathjen, and
John R. Sullivan, pp. 303-312.
The authors present a preliminary list of
cetaceans collected and observed in a fishery
for blackfish or pilot whales (Globicephala) in
waters of Lesser Antillean Island of St. Vin--
cent. Nearest published records in the west-
ern Atlantic are given; also, limited biological
notes on some species. The taxonomic re-
lationships of the two forms of Stenella are
suggested; both species are illustrated. Land-
ings of pilot whales in the fishery over a 9-
year period are included.
"Contributions to the Biology of the Royal
Red Shrimp, Hymenopenaeus robustus Smith,"
by William W. Anderson and Milton J. Lind-
NEG PDs olome JO.
The royal red shrimp, Hymenopenaeus
robustus, has beenlocatedincommercial con-
centrations inthree areas off the United States
about 250t0550m deep: (1) the St. Augustine
Grounds off Florida's east coast; (2) off Dry
Tortugas; and (3) off Mississippi River Delta.
The authors collected information inter -
mittently on the biology of the St. Augustine
species.
The reproductive systems of males and
females are described and illustrated. Bur-
rowing and swimming habits observed from
research submarine 'Aluminaut' are sum-
marized.
"Sex Pheromone Activity of the Molting
Hormone, Crustecdysone, on Male Crabs
(Pachygrapsus crassipes, Cancer antennar-
ius, and C. anthonyi),''by James S. Kittredge,
Michelle Terry, and Francis T. Takahashi,
pp. 337-344.
"The pheromone released by permolt fe-
male (Pachygrapsus crassipes) is a heat-
stable non-ionic polar lipid. The coincidence.
of the release of the pheromone and the nubial
molt suggested that the molting hormone,
crustecdysone, may also function as a sex
pheromone. Adult malecrabs were observed
to display typical precopulatory behavior
whenexposed todilute solutions of crustecdy-
sone.'' Threshold concentrations for behav-
ioral response were found. These provide
basis for a theory of the evolution of phero-
mone communication in the Arthropods.
"Characteristics of Sea-Surface Tempera-
ture Anomalies,'' by L.E. Eber, pp. 345-356.
"Sea-surface temperature anomalies inthe |
North Pacific Ocean, constructed from a 14-_
year series (1949-62) of monthly mean charts,
exhibit numerous instances of quasi-station-
ary behavior.'' Selected examples show a re-
curring pattern. The principal feature is a
positive or negative cellin anomaly field be-
tween lat. 30° N and 50° N.
"Induced Spawning of the Northern Ancho-
vy, Engraulis mordax Girard," by Roderick
Leong, pp. 357-360.
"This report describes a method for bring-
ing the anchovy to ripeness and the effective -
ness of various hormone treatments in in-
ducing spawning. Asfaras is known this was
the first successful attempt to artificially
mature and spawnthis pelagic fishin the labo-
ratory.’
"Gill Raker Apparatus and Food Selectivity
Among Mackerels, Tunas, and Dolphins," by
John J. Magnusonand Jean G. Heitz, pp. 361-
SO}.
This article describes quantitatively the
gillraker apparatus of certain scombrids and |
coryphaenids with respect to the gap between
gillrakers and filtering area of first gillarch;
compares differences in gillraker gap among
species and fish lengths; and considers prop-
osition that observed inter- and intraspecific
variations inthe diet are associated function-
ally with morphometrics of gill raker appa-
ratus.
"Nature of Free Radicals in Freeze-Dried
Fishery Products and Other Lipid-Protein
Systems," by William T. Roubal, pp. 371-377.
The article deals with recent research
using systems which, for first time, are fa-
vorable for detection and study of electron
paramagnetic resonance (ERP) spectrometer
signals that arise with onset of lipid oxidation.
Mechanisms for forming radicals and reac-
tions of radicals are discussed.
"The Relation Between Exercise and Bio-
chemical Changes in Red and White Muscle
and Liver inthe Jack Mackerel, Trachurus
symmetricus,'' by Austin W. Pritchard, John
R. Hunter, and Reuben Lasker, pp. 379-386.
This study reexamined the ''metabolic and
locomotor roles of red and white muscle by
measurement of glycogen, lactate, and fat
levels in the muscle and glycogen levels in
the liver in fish exposed to various velocity
treatments of known strength and duration.
Juvenile jack mackerel, Trachurus symmet-
ricus, were used because the maximum sus-
tained speed threshold for 6 hours of continu-
ous swimming had been established for it--
and allchemical measurements were related
to known levels of swimming performance.
"Sebastes variegatus, Sp. N. from the
Northeastern Pacific Ocean(Pisces Scorpae-
nidae),'' by Jay C. Quast, pp. 387-398.
"A new scorpaenid fish, Sebastes variega-
tus, from the Gulf of Alaskais characterized
by anelongate body that tapers symmetrically
anteriorly and posteriorly; presence of pre-
ocular, postocular, tympannic, and parietal
spines and lack of supraocular, coronal, and
(usually) nuchal spines; 18 (rarely 17 or 19)
rays inthe pectoral fin; a second anal fin spine
that is longer than the third; black membranes
in the spinous dorsal and caudal fins; a dark
brown to jet black peritoneum; and a dark
blotched pattern on the sides that is inter-
rupted over the posterior 2/3 of the body by
an unpigmented band along the lateral line.
The known geographic range is from Unimak
Pass (Aleutian Islands) to Queen Charlotte
Sound (British Columbia)."
"Calico Scallop Distribution, Abundance,
and Yield Off Eastern Florida, 1967-68," by
Richard B. Roe, Robert Cummins Jr., and
Harvey R. Bullis Jr., pp. 399-410.
In an 18-month period, Aug. 1967-Dec.
1968, the NMFS Exploratory Fishing and Gear
Research Base in Pascagoula, Miss., sur-
veyed the calico scallop (Argopecten gibbus)
grounds off eastern Florida, The survey dis-
53
closed aspects of life history, distribution,
abundance, and yield and annual variation in
geographical and depth distribution.
"Effects of Delayed Initial Feeding on Lar -
vae of the Grunion, Leuresthes tenuis (Ay-
res),'' by Robert C. May, pp. 411-426.
The purposes of this study were ''to de-
termine the effects of delayed initial feeding
on mortality, on growth, and on the ability of
grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) larvae to begin
feeding andtoutilize ingested food, and to as-
certain what changes in the morphology and
chemical composition of the larval body oc-
cur during starvation."
"The Relative Sampling Performance of
6- and 10-foot Isaacs-Kidd Midwater Trawls,"
by William A. Friedl, pp. 427-432.
This report deals with the relative sam-
pling abilities of two sizes of Isaacs-Kidd
midwater trawl (IKMT), a type of net used
widely in marine and freshwater investiga-
tions. The results apply toIKMT in general;
the assessment explains the degree to which
data obtained with different trawls are com-
parable.
"Studies onthe Use of Carbon Dioxide Dis-
solvedin Refrigerated Brine for the Preser-
vation of Whole Fish,'' by Harold J. Barnett,
Richard W. Nelson, Patrick J. Hunter, Steven
Bauer, and Herman Groning2r, pp. 433-442,
Storing fish in refrigerated seawater has
many advantages over storing them inice, but
the former alsohas disadvantages; one is the
difficulty in controlling growth of spoilage
bacteriainthe fish. This article reports the
effect on growth of bacteria in rockfish and
chum salmon of dissolving carbon dioxide in
brine. Storing fish in refrigerated brine
treated with carbon dioxide inhibited bacteria
growth, retarded rate at which fish decrease
in quality, andincreased their storage life by
at least 1 week.
"DDT Residues in Seawater and Particulate
Matter inthe California Current System," by
James L. Cox, pp. 443-450.
"Continuous samples of seawater and or-
ganic particulate material collected along
54
linear transects inthe California current sys-
tem were analyzed for DDT residues.'' DDT
residue concentrations in whole seawater is
determined. Geographical patterns in these
concentration values are discussed in rela-
tion to mechanisms of land-sea DDT residue
transfer. The author describes experimental
results that implicate adsorption as the uptake
mechanism for algal cells.
"Egg Loss During Incubation from Offshore
Northern Lobsters(Decapoda: Homaridae),"
by Herbert C. Perkins, pp. 451-453.
"Egg loss during incubation from offshore
northern lobsters, Homarus americanus
Milne Edwards, was estimated by counting the
eggs of 196 females. Thelobsters were cap-
tured along the continental shelf off southern
New England during October (eggs recently
extruded), April, and June (eggs nearly ready
tohatch). Egg loss during the period October
to June averaged 36% for females of all sizes
studied."
_——
THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, NA-
TIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION, NATIONAL MARINE FISH-
ERIES SERVICE, ARE AVAILABLE FREE
FROM DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS, NOAA,
CONNECTICUT AVE. & VAN NESS ST. NW.,
BLDG, 52, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234:
DISCOLORATION IN CANNED CRAB MEAT
"Blueing of Processed Crab Meat. II. Iden-
tification of Some Factors Involvedinthe Blue
Discoloration of Canned Crab Meat (Callin-
ectes sapidus),'' by Melvin E. Waters, SSR-
Fisheries No. 633, 7 pp., illus., May 1971.
An outbreak of blue discolorationin canned
¢rab meat occurred during 1969. Mr. Waters
reports the result of a study to pinpoint the
cause of blueing and suggest a remedy.
Results showed that iron was involved in
the discoloration. Also, that a buffered solu-
tion of citric acid (pH6.5-6.8) prevented for-
mation of the blue-colored complex.
MECHANICAL PROCESSING
OF BAY SCALLOP MEATS
"Influence of Mechanical Processing on
the Quality and Yield of Bay Scallop Meats,"
by N.B. Webb and F.B. Thomas, SSR-Fish-
eries No. 624, 11 pp., illus., April 1971.
The commercial method of shucking bay
scallops by hand is costly. A mechanical
method has been developed to reduce costs
while maintaining or improving quality of
processed meats.
Shell stock loadina conveyor for delivery to the
rotating metal rollers.
This study compared quality and yield of
bay scallops processed by mechanical means
with corresponding values of those processed
by typical hand method. The mechanical
method included heat-shocking of the shell-
stock, roller-vibration removal of the meats
and viscera, and later separation of viscera
from meats.
The results indicate that quality and yield
of meats from bay scallops processed me-
chanically "is equivalent to quality and yield
of those processed commercially by hand."
FLOATING LABORATORY
"Floating Laboratory for Study of Aquatic
Organisms and Their Environment," by
George R. Snyder, Theodore H. Blahm, and
Robert J. McConnell, Circular 356, 16 pp.,
illus., May 1971.
The National Marine Fisheries Service
built a floating laboratory to study environ-
mental problems in the Columbia River. The
barge that supports the lab was provided by
the U.S. Navy. Acomplex electrical and wa-
ter-Supply system, plus biological research
equipment, were installed aboard barge.
These made it possible to conduct research
near sites where problems are expected to
occur.
CALIFORNIA MARINE FISH CATCH
"The California Marine Fish Catch for
1969,'' by Leo Pinkas, Fish Bulletin 153, 47
pp., 2 figs., 24tables, and an appendix, 1970.
Department of Fish and Game, 1416 Ninth
Street, Sacramento, California 95814.
This bulletin provides records of amounts
and values of some living marine resources
taken by California's commercial fisheries in
1969. It summarizes catches by partyboat
sportfishing industry. The small quantities of
freshwater fish taken commercially in inland
areas are also detailed.
55
KING SALMON
"Migrations of Adult King Salmon(Oncor-
hynchus tshawytscha) inthe San Joaquin Delta
(As Demonstrated by the Use of Sonic Tags),"
by Richard J. Hallock, Robert F. Elwell, and
Donald H. Fry Jr., Fish Bulletin 151, 92 pp.,
22 figs., 11 tables, 6 appendices, 1970. De-
partment of Fishand Game, 1416 Ninth Street,
Sacramento, California 95814.
Each fall king salmon pass through the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta bound for the
Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems.
Starting in1961, salmon runs of the San Joa-
quin, but not Sacramento's, suffered disaster.
Monitor housed on an irrigation pump platform, San Joaquin River
near Bowman Road, fall 1965. (Photo: John A. Shaver)
This was due probably to water conditions in
San Joaquin part of Delta. From 1964 through
1967, salmontagged with sonic tags were re-
leased in Delta's central part to determine
their reaction to low oxygen levels and re-
versed flows. Electronic equipment enabled
researchers to follow tags and record their
movement past fixed points. Salmon avoided
water with less than 5 ppm dissolved oxygen
by staying farther downstream until oxygen
block cleared. Temperatures over 66° F, had
a similar, but less sharply defined, effect.
Page
UNITED STATES
Sec. Stans Reports Favorably On
Sea Harvesting In Pribilof Islands
NMFS Studies Heavy-Metal Contam-
ination of Fish
NMFS Protects More 'Continental
Shelf Creatures!
U.S.-Soviet Fishery Survey Continues
Off U.S. West Coast
NMFS Woods Hole Aquarium Begins
Second Decade
NMFS Miami Lab Releases More
Drift Bottles
U.S. Fishery Products To Be Exhib-
ited At Cologne Food Fair
Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute
Meets Nov. 14-18 In Miami
Commerce Department Begins New
Storm Information Service
Fishery Products Situation, by
Donald R. Whitaker
oie
MQ) 6.6
ak oo
SOEs
ATS aes
48...
56
UNITED STATES (Contd.):
The U.S. Food Market - How Trends
Affect Outlook For Canadian
Groundfish Products
Oceanography:
International Study of Caribbean
Currents In July And August
CLAMS: Resources Are Healthy,
Says J. P. Wise
ARTICLES
Distribution of Some Coastal Pelag-
ic Fishes In The Western Atlantic,
by Edward F. Klima
The Atlantic Surf Clam Fishery -
1969, by Allan M. Barker and
John W. Ropes
Trapping Sablefish, by William L.
High
Coho Shaker Problem & Incidental
Catch Concept In Troll Fishery,
by Sam Wright
- BOOKS
. INDEX
xU. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1971 435-343/12
BACK COVER: Drying longline gear at
Kewalo Basin, Honolulu. (H. Mann)
ee
10; 147NC
05/94 4ge115 ac)
INSTITUTIC
INSTITUTIC
\
NX
Saiyuvugd
INSTITUTIC
INSTITUTIC
BA
\
S31uVvyg
—————
S3J1YVvyd|
ALILSNI NVINOSHLIWS SSIYVUEIT_ LIBRARIES INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S:
NVINOSHLINS S3iuvud
z n ae Zz “ z a
= z f = 5 Gy: =
My iN = LYE a
ea Ke 7S Ma P27 DE
mrs 2 AEN E AS DAA TAG Zy
= > = E> = x >” Ss >a
) 2 n 7) 2 2 n =o
2ARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | NOILNLILSNI_NVINOSHLINS S34 1YVYdIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN IN
wo = = a =
re ty = Ww = Ww 2 oF 2a
= }]in, 9 = a eS ») = a
YG fi? 3 a WN < = < a |
< Wy Vie < e a NS = = < oe
[oe i VS 7 = oc a SN NS = ee a
eS 5 a Se 5 e 5
iy oD a z ; a) Zz = Za
SAIYVUdIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS §
= = i z = = rE 2)
(e) Es er Ns
o = o = aes] = wo =
2 = x eee) Ee = Pe) 5
= = 2 = gg > E 3 E
fe Ee eas - Gy = e x ee
m 2 in 9 “Vif m g m 2
BARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILMLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3INVYUAIT LIBRARIES ft
SSS = Soi = = Sey 4. S IW =a
Wa a A: S 2GD 3X 2 5
OE e Z e 2G4 ON 2 2
NYS Z E 2 & 2 ap = SNe El
ae : Een a tiene. = z
ALILSNI LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLIWS §
at ae é - é : Zs ©
on EMAL [sn = ent angen’ = MD pW =
= NSS o = a. ty fig = S = WS a
4 WS < = auf Z a < 4 WSN < |
EWR = : S Gey & = ER =
3 Te 3 a Ge xe a 5 . @
2 ae | 2 ay 2 a 2 Se
RARIES SMITHSONIAN_INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3SIYVYUSIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN II
z yi ta 3S Sas 5 ~ S Y =,
— $Y ® 5 s 5 > 5 a
=} ty Yj. > = D> => =>) a >
© Ok > E = E 2 E ‘oa
= YF fe Aaa KE aa FE a ae ee
2" : 2 a Z rm a Hy
= = = w = oO
NLILSNI SU nba tyvudit ~t! B RARI ES INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHILIWS |S.
ply, = = yi x: EA elg =
ED: ro) a5 fo) N ; x 5 \ : z =u
Gf ID w 7) NWA & QD ~WX Go a
OS ti, = fe) xz SS SA e) x: > INE to) oF
Vile Ni Ze; = Z E Nye Zo Z2y
5 : 2 we AOE: =
RARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLIWS Saluvyas LIBRARIES )
ta i
we A
<
(ae
faa)
ah
NOILNLILSNI
SaINYWUGIT LIBRARI
LIBRARIES
NOILNLILSNI
NOILALILSNI
INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS
S oe
6
~,
N
SMITHSONIAN | It
NLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYEIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN
INSTITUTION NOLLALILSNI
Saluvdadl
SAIYVudtt
INSTITUTION
INSTITUTION
INSTITUTION
RARIES SMITHSONIAN
NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYEIT_ LIBRARIES
NOSHLINS SJ1YVUSIT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN
THSONIAN
NOSHLINS
<
N
XY
THSONIAN
i
GY
NOSHLIWS
THSONIAN
NOSHLIWS
THSONIAN
= : _— ' _— = == >
(e) oO Fo oO as (e)
= ‘ = w = wo =
eS NXg 5 e F 2 \
sg) E YAWN E = Ee He = No
y = MS US 2 it — He ‘\
Zz xe ee a z a z a
117 LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILALILSNI NVINOSHLIWS S3tuVYudItT LIBRARIES SMITHS
NVINOSHLINS SJ1Yvusl
NVINOSHLINS S31uvuagl
2 ~. = n Zz wn Zz ~
< < \. = Uy < = =
oe, z z A =t v4 hy _2 =|
bie) é Nw 3 YP : — Ns
ie E BENS Shee Z, E NS
8 = as : s N
ON NOILALILSNI_NVINOSHLINS | S3 lYVdYd!IT LIBRARI op Slulitasstols Ua INSTITUTION pC ES ve NwINGS
o BU 3 Sa: a
Ww : uw , uw
Me a z Yi, ® : 2 4
B < a = y | xt o NS
2] See ‘S = Pre S &
J = SN = a = SN
oO fo) ~X Oo ry fos) fo) »)
E 5) S 5 g pe
117 LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3IYVYEIT LIBRARIES SMITH
S3IUVUSIT. LIBRARI
INSTITUTION
Saltuvydli
INSTITUTION
Se
saluvuagit
INSTITUTION
INSTITUTION
ION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3ZIYVYS!IT LIBRARIES NOILNLILSNI NVINO
f, wy
Jiy LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLIWS saluvagit
NVINOSHLINS SA1uYVUdIT_LIBRARIE
NVINOSHLINS
NS
SMITHSONIAN
SMITHSONIAN
NVINOSHLINWS
SMITHSONIAN
SMITHSONIAN
GL,
NVINOSHLIWS
LIBRARIES SMITHS
= n = 7) = a: n = n
2 B = Vist fig Q = e RN = a = fey f
AN, =a 25 8 Sp 4 J _ a os WAS ao = Caan Y v4
j) 2 Yip 3 < 2 HRS = 2 SG.
Sj oe Ge. = cc ca aN oc = a Wy
as a Nie 5 a = — 5 ao %G
= 3 2 am Ss N 2
JON NOLLNLILSNITNVINOSHLINS S31 ¥VYGI7_ LIBRARIES. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | NOILALILSNI_NVINO:
+2) = x te) = (eo) LY _ fo) — =;
= Miers = wo = Vy = wes
= 2 YS NS x 5 Gly, » = 2 iN
= > VASE > = jg = Bi
= 2 205 2 = GC Ki > = aN
2 7 ow 2 ; Se ace 2 aoe
— _— no = —
PIV EIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOLLALILSNI NVINOSHLINS SAIlYVYSIT_ LIBRARIES SMITH:
mao = in = IY z = ao ee =
Y z 4 Sl Xx =| LY fy 4 rs =
Y, zZ \ =| 4Y) =z =
Zo NN G go SNE ZZ? : 2 SA 2
yi NS Zz = NS 2,7 © z, Ee NYY 2
2 7S les 5 = ze
[ON Bees clits Satuvud IT_LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ee wNS
2 Zz ; > z
w Ww
a 4 Yia,* 5 a8
< a GRY \ Si Dy fs S < = ~
a =| RES Ss Y fo | IS a pa SS
faa} _ XY \ Sy y Wee a faa} = »
— [e) LESS fe) ro) ae fo) SS
— 2 Zz z a 2
di7 LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI SSIYVYSIT LIBRARIES SMITH
SaINVUSIT LIBRARIES
Salyuyvudl
INSTITUTION
INSTITUTION
INSTITUTION
Salavygi
INSTITUTION
NS
JON NOILNLILSNI NVINOSHLINS S3SIYVUEIT LIBRARIES
ath J ; 5 / y; 4 : RS
hp GY CX
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOILNLILSNI_ NVINO
OSHLINS SZIYVUYSIT LIBRARIES
HSONIAN
HSONIAN
30 NOD »
HSONIAN
OSHLINS
HSONIAN
\ASWAG »
Ne
i>
OSHLIWS
ISHLINS
REN
deers
5 Wes
BISA EGA Adie
ireeubasltinad
TWA a hPa
PE bob SD.
ENS AE OE NB aed
4
raaN Wie:
Mpa
AURA
Tues ioe
cards
Saveptm isons ele ath
te MENA NA NY,
ca bielate
PUI
avi
Toa sarangi, &
ri) oy ta
ier eceare teas
eee aah ‘ TARY
Cae ‘nye Wop aueisuene
Weepurinuuyranen tenors ates .
ST IZONNN Osu
vucvale hi ¥ WN
Mrvianuforushee a cwanloherenitaioerin X
sbexujatelviy tah teayiaterylae syigeny awed
Fa paemeve whee y eae TA arpa Pury raitan ey
Aerie aa Peat vrara tei
Wale FOR OTOP Toe rexaeatets
arn :
rt
iw
Rater i
lev MeN rusysnnona av utee® y euery suse)
ase rreteaere tigen i! be Soe neste rh
WI Selieere Satysrenrarares
Teby rect eRe
ebay Sy Rye ry ere
Sy ase ee ownicar
AU SE3UFy ya gt Woy
beara
Daa
i
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11