men has resulted. The processor who depends 

 upon the U. S. fleet for his supply finds it 

 difficult for his products to compete with 

 imports of equal or superior qualit}'. 



The processing segment of the industry 

 is vexed with seasonal and annual fluctua- 

 tions in supply, high labor and processing 

 costs, and rising foreign competition for the 

 American market. It is difficult for small- 

 plant operators to obtain the capital neces- 

 sary for plant modernization, product diver- 

 sification, or for the development of new 

 markets. This has resulted in a radical change 

 in the makeup of the industry. Processing 

 plants depending upon traditional methods, 



THE MENHADEN FISHERY 



products, and markets are only marginally 

 stable; while those who have fully converted 

 to new sources of supply, have mechanized 

 their operations and diversified their prod- 

 ucts, are operating at full capacity. The for- 

 eign registered freighter and the white- 

 capped and aproned woman attending the 

 mechanized processing lines are replacing 

 the traditional New England trawler and the 

 oil-skinned handler of fish in the plants. 



To provide adequate solutions to these 

 problems, there is a need for better definition 

 of the resource, improved harvesting and 

 processing methods, higher product quality, 

 easier financing, and expanded markets. 





Menhaden support the largest com- 

 mercial fishery in the United States. Since 

 1952, the menhaden catch has increased tre- 

 mendously, reaching a peak of over 1 million 

 tons in I960, or roughly 41 percent of the 

 Nation's total fish production. This resource 

 is utilized along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 

 About 70 percent of the Nation's total land- 

 ings annually comes from Atlantic waters, 

 and roughly one-half of this is from the 

 waters bordering Region 3- The fishery from 

 Chesapeake Bay northward is seasonal and 

 is confined primarily to the summer when the 

 migrating schools of fish are concentrated in 

 coastal areas. 



Menhaden are caught by several types 

 of gear. The vast majority of Atlantic coast 

 menhaden are taken by purse seines. During 

 the early spring, pound nets in Chesapeake 

 Bay and the coastal waters of northern New 

 Jersey and southern Long Island harvest 2 

 percent of the total catch. There are about 

 90 purse seine vessels and approximately 

 2,000 fishermen in the Atlantic fishery. This 

 fishing fleet is augmented by some ground- 

 fish trawlers, which are converted for men- 



haden fishing in seasons when the fish are 

 abundant in New England waters. 



From its inception, the menhaden fishery 

 has had great variations in yield. Catches in 

 various areas of the coast differ markedly, 

 both within and between years. Seasons of 

 high production in certain areas often are 

 followed by several years of marginal fishing. 



The menhaden industry has increased 

 significantly in size and scope in the past 

 century. Particularly noteworthy is the rapid 

 growth made in the last 10 years. Develop- 

 ment of new and more efficient processing 

 equipment has resulted in the construction 

 of new reduction plants and modernization of 

 existing plants. New high-capacity purse 

 seining vessels have been constructed to 

 replace older, less efficient fishing craft. 

 Fishing efficiency has been increased greatly 

 through the use of new and improved gear 

 and aerial scouting. All of these improve- 

 ments have resulted in a high level of exploi- 

 tation of available stocks. 



At present virtually all menhaden caught 

 are reduced for meal, oil, and condensed 

 solubles. Fish meal is produced in a wet- 



