Figure 2. --Aircraft used In taking aerial photographs offish schools in north Gulf. 



speed, altitude, and atmospheric and sea con- 

 ditions. Two aircraft were chartered, and they 

 photographed schoolfish at altitudes from 1,500 

 to 10,000 feet in coastal waters from Missi- 

 ssippi Sound, off Mississippi and Louisiana, to 

 Cape Sable, Fla. 



During the year about 1,000 9|-inch- 

 squai. aerial photographs were taken of 

 schoolfish. We used four different types of 

 films --black and white, color infrared aero, 

 and two additional types of color films. School 

 fish were successfully photographed with all 

 films; however, the three color films produced 

 better results than the black and white film. 

 The false color distortions of the infrared aero 

 color film produced excellent contrast, and, 

 despite its infrared sensitivity in range, depth 

 penetration was good. 



The photographs indicate that the camera 

 has recording sensitivities beyond the capabil- 

 ities of the human eye. Enlargements of film 

 segments show individual sea birds floating 

 on the water, "Contrails" have been detected 

 extending long distances behind moving fish 

 schools. Oil slicks, photographed near fish 

 schools, reveal certain species may be 



emitting oils which might be used for identi- 

 fying species. 



Through the facilities of NASA at Houston, 

 Tex., we made isodensitracings of fish schools 

 from several selected photographs. The re- 

 sults suggest that we will be able to make 

 detailed assessments of schooling charac- 

 teristics for species identification and meas- 

 urement. 



Sonar equipment is to be installed on two 

 Bureau vessels that will work in coordination 

 with aircraft to provide verifying data. Sonar 

 configurations of fish schools, when compared 

 with aerial photographs, will innprove photo 

 interpretation. Capture of the recorded fish 

 schools by Bureau and chartered vessels will 

 give accurate species identifications and ton- 

 nage figures, which will assist us in imagery 

 interpretation. Applying the knowledge gained 

 from photography, we hope to develop one or 

 more remote sensing systems that can be 

 adapted for use in high-altitude aircraft and 

 eventually in satellites, to provide continuous 

 recording, monitoring, and transmission of 

 information to our investigators and the com- 

 mercial fishing industry. 



