Browsing by Author "Reigle, Norman J., Jr."
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Item Bottom Trawl Explorations in Green Bay of Lake Michigan, 1963-65(United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Commercial Fishes, 1969-03) Reigle, Norman J., Jr.A bottom trawling survey was made during 11 cruises operating for 36 days over the 3-year study period. Explorations were made at all possible fishing depths and during 8 months. The 179 exploratory drags made during this study represent the first attempts by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries to determine if bottom trawling in Green Bay is commercially feasible. The overall catch rate was at a level that would be commercially feasible for a trawl fishery based primarily on alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and smelt (Osmerus mordax) and supplemented by catches of suckers (Catostomus catostomus and C. commersoni), carp (Cyprinus carpio), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Game fish were taken infrequently in the trawl, and trawling would not jeopardize sport fishing in Green Bay.Item Bottom Trawl Explorations in Lake Superior, 1963-65(United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, 1969-01) Reigle, Norman J., Jr.Six exploratory fishing cruises, totaling 122 operating days, were made by the research vessel Kaho from November 1963 to October 1965. Most of the exploratory operations were in the central and eastern portions of the lake; however, limited surveys were made in the western area during 1965. This study is the first attempt to assess the potential for commercial bottom trawling in Lake Superior. Suitable bottom for trawling was found along about 65 percent of the south shore. Over 74 percent of the total catch by the Kaho were chubs (Leucichthys spp.) followed by American smelt (Osmerus mordax), 10 percent; suckers (Catostomus spp.), 6.5 percent; and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), 3 percent. Commercially significant catches, 250 pounds per one-half hour, of chubs were taken on every cruise and these fish, even if used mainly for animal food products, could apparently support a limited trawl fishery. Smelt, suckers, and common whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) were caught occasionally in commercially significant quantities and could greatly supplement production efforts. Most lake trout were caught in specific geographic areas and appeared to be segregated by size in specific depth zones. Abundant concentrations of small trout could easily be avoided after being located by fishing certain depths. With proper care, most trout were returned to the water alive. The alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), which is now the basis of a growing trawl fishery in Lake Michigan, and lake herring (Leucichthys artedi) were not taken in significant amounts during the study.Item Bottom Trawl Explorations in Southern Lake Michigan, 1962-65(United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Commercial Fishes, 1969-02) Reigle, Norman J., Jr.For 4 years the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base at Ann Arbor, Mich., surveyed the abundance, seasonal availability, and depth distribution of various fish stocks. The alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and chubs (Leucichthys spp.) were taken readily with the bottom trawl. Alewives composed 51.4 percent and chubs 44.0 percent of the trawl catch. Two other commercial species, yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and smelt (Osmerus mordax), were taken occasionally in commercial amounts. The alewife stocks have increased tremendously in recent years. The poundage of alewives in the trawl catch increased each year from 17 percent in 1962 to 74 percent in 1965. Alewives exhibited pronounced seasonal movements and generally were available to bottom trawls only at specific depths. The trawls caught alewives at depths of less than 5 fathoms to over 50 fathoms. Alewives appeared to be distributed universally in the study area during most of the year but were found only in some sections in winter. Alewives were more difficult to catch between July and the end of December than during January through June. Chubs were abundant all year throughout southern Lake Michigan. Chubs were caught over a wide depth range throughout the year, although bottom trawling indicated some horizontal dispersal shoreward in summer and back to deeper water in fall.