Alewives are valuable for their commercial fisheries and also as 

 food for game fish. The alewife fishery in Maine is largely with dip nets 

 used during the spawning migration of adults. Migrating adults are 

 easily diverted into pools or runways where they are dipped and re- 

 moved. Necessary fish meal for fertilizers and the protein content of 

 animal foods provides the major markets. The small alewife converts 

 plankton into protein and is in turn eaten by game fish. This increases 

 the productivity of lakes to support game fish and improves our sport 

 fisheries. 



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