LAUNCE OR SAND EEL EXPLORATIONS OFF NEW ENGLAND COAST INITIATED: In order to initiate exploration for commercial concentrations of launce or sand eels (Ammodytes sp.) off the New England coast, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries chartered trawler Metacomet departed from East Boston during the week of May 19, 1958. The Metacomet

was to utilize a fine mesh otter trawl of a design now used in the Holland and Denmark sand-eel commercial fisheries.

A commercial reduction fishery now exists off the coasts of Holland and Denmark for sand eels, and in 1957 over 75 million pounds were caught by small and medium draggers from April through July. This fishery has developed since 1953, when the Danes first started to fish the sandeel resource with phenomenonal success. The fish meal and oil product of this fishery is said to be of unusually fine quality.

Since sand eels are known to exist off the coast of New England in substantial quantities, the exploratory and gear tests should give further information on the commercial possibilities of this type of fishery in the New England area.

TUNA FISHING EXPLORATIONS IN WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC CONTINUED (M/V Delaware Cruise 58-2): This cruise is the first tuna long-line exploratory cruise of the 1958 season and continues the program initiated in 1957 to investigate the pelagic offshore resources of the western North Atlantic.

60°

550

Tuna long-line gear, of nylon construction, similar to that being M/V DELAWARE CRUISE 58-2 (APRIL 16 TO MAY 14, 1958). used commercially in the Gulf of Mexico, was used on all stations. The normal exploratory set during this cruise was 60 baskets (1 basket--826' long, 10 hooks per basket). On all sets frozen sea herring

(Clupea harengus) was used as tuna bait. No gear was reported lost during the cruise.

Bluefin was the primary tuna species taken during the cruise, with an occasional capture of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack (Euthynnus pelamis). The major captures of bluefin were made on stations 11 and 14 utilizing 60 baskets of gear at each station. The size of bluefin tuna averaged about 175 pounds each on station 11, and 130 pounds on station 14. A total of 79 bluefin--the largest number captured--were taken at station 11, equalling 13 fish for each 100 hooks.

Surface water temperatures ranged from 62° F. in the area south of the Grand Banks to 73° F. in the area of 38° 26' N. latitude, 59°40' W. longitude with principal catches of bluefin tuna being made in the areas where the surface water ranged from 66° F. to 73° F. Bathythermograph casts were made at all fishing stations and the results are being analyzed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Incidental species taken during the long-line operations consisted of 13 blue sharks (Prionace glauca), 11 lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox), 1 white-tipped shark (Pterolamiops longimanus), and 1 silk shark (Eulamia floridan). No white or blue marlin were taken during the cruise.

North Atlantic Fisheries Investigations

HADDOCK SAMPLES COLLECTED FOR ECOLOGICAL STUDIES (M/V Silver Mink): During a one-day cruise (May 12, 1958), the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries chartered vessel Silver Mink made observations and collected data for the haddock ecology study. The area covered by the cruise included the Highland Grounds north-northeast of Cape Cod Light, in 58-64 fathoms. The area fished was 21⁄2 miles wide (east to west) and 41 miles long (north to south). Three tows were made with an otter trawl having a 1-inch mesh cod end liner. Two bathythermograph lowerings were made. All species were identified and enumerated in one sample tow and the important species were measured. A sample of dabs was collected for age and growth studies.

The total of 315 haddock taken was measured and scale samples were obtained from 84 male and 59 female haddock. A total of 53 haddock was tagged.

In a sample of 52 male and 48 female haddock, fish weight, liver weight, gonad weight and state of development, and drumming muscle length, weight and color were recorded. Scales, fin rays, and stomach contents were collected.

Red hake were most abundant in the catch; whiting, haddock, and dabs were next in order of abundance. Compared to previous cruises the average size of haddock was larger and there was a marked increase in the number of whiting captured. A few haddock were in spawning condition but the greater majority were spawned out.

LIFE HISTORY STUDIES OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF INDUSTRIAL FISH AND SCALLOPS INITIATED (M/V Jacquelyn): The first of a series of regular monthly trips using the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries chartered vessel Jacquelyn began on May 21, 1958. These one- and two-day trips were designed to obtain periodic data for life history studies of various species of industrial fish and scallops.

Although fog hampered operations for most of the trip, a considerable amount of sampling was done and a bed of scallops was located for year-round study.

Samples of scallops, red hake, scup, fluke, and yellowtail were brought back to the Woods Hole laboratory for detailed study.

UNDERWATER TELEVISION RESEARCH OFF CAPE COD (M/V Albatross III Cruise 109): Underwater television research on the Cape Cod fishing grounds was conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel Albatross III on a three-day cruise that ended April 24.

The research was concerned with the possible future use of television as a tool for estimating sizes of populations of fish. The area off Cape Cod was selected for

North Pacific Exploratory Fishery Program

COMMERCIAL SHRIMP CATCHES OFF COAST OF WASHINGTON (M/V John N. Cobb Cruise 37): Additional shrimp fishery grounds with good commercial fishing possibilities were found off the coast

of the State of Washington by the U. S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries exploratory fishing vessel John N. Cobb during a four-week cruise that ended on May 23, 1958. The grounds discovered by the vessel were in areas unexploited by commercial shrimp fishermen.

Best catches of "cocktail" size pink shrimp were made in the area between Destruction Island and Quillayute (see chart) at depths from 60-68 fathoms. Depths between 64 and 67 fathoms produced consistent catches at a rate of 400 to 1,500 pounds per hour. The discovery of this ground extends the present area of commercial fishing about 18 miles further to the north.

Six drags made about 20 miles west of Cape Flattery, Wash., at depths from 68 to 107 fathoms caught shrimp at a rate of 290 to 630 pounds per hour, and averaged close to 300 pounds per hour. Pink shrimp caught in this area were larger and averaged about 85 to the pound (heads on), however, a considerable amount of incidental fish were mixed with the shrimp. Incidental fish catches consisted of Pacific ocean perch, Dover sole, smelt, turbot, black cod, and other flatfish.

-48"

-47°

LEGEND:

SWIFTSURE

Shrimp trawl drag.

⭑- Snagged shrimp
trawl drag.

- 790 lbs. per hr.

- 420 lbs. per hr.

-110-122 lbs. per
hr.

125

Oregon

CAPE FALCON

1247

A number of drags were made in deep water at depths from 100-200 fathoms in an attempt to locate the larger side-stripe shrimp. No commercial quantities of the species were located, although one 30-minute drag made northwest o Swiftsure Lightship yielded a catch of 30 pounds. These shrimp averaged about 35 to the pound heads on).

M/V JOHN N. COBB CRUISE 37 (APRIL-MAY 1958).

A total of 66 drags was made during the cruise at depths ranging from 49 to 203 fathoms. The area of operations included the offshore waters between Cape Falcon, Ore., to the Swiftsure Lightship, northwest of Cape Flattery. All drags, each of 30 minutes duration, were made with a 43-foot Gulf-of-Mexico flat-type shrimp trawl.

This cruise by the Bureau's exploratory fishing vessel was the second in a series of shrimp surveys being conducted in the North Pacific during 1958. The first exploration revealed good commercial beds of "cocktail" size pink shrimp off the northwest Oregon coast. Further explorations this year will be undertaken along the central and southern coasts of Oregon and in the Kodiak -Cook Inlet area of Alaska. These surveys are being made in cooperation with the fisheries agencies of Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.