Figure 15. — Single-boat-rig purse seiner used in thread herring fishery. 



DuLac, La. In May 1968, the original single- 

 boat-rig purse seiner was replaced by a men- 

 haden vessel. 



Fishing has been restricted to a relatively (ft 

 small area between Gasparilla Island and 

 Sanibel Island in nearshore waters 6 to 20 m. 

 deep (fig. 16). Poor bottom conditions to the 

 north and south and a scarcity of fish in off- 

 shore waters have restricted the fishing 

 area. 



Almost 5,100 metric tons of fish were landed 

 at the Fort Myers plant from August 1967 to 

 June 1968 despite a series of legal conflicts 

 concerning the taking of food fish that were 



incidental to the thread herring in the catches. 

 The food fish problem was eventually settled 

 with Bureau assistance by a court decision in 

 February 1968 that allows a small percentage 

 of food fish in catches of industrial fish. About 

 1,150 metric tons of thread herring were 

 landed in Louisiana during the winter. 



The new thread herring fishery is of great 

 importance because of the continuing decline 

 of menhaden stocks and an increasing demand 

 for animal protein. The commercial catch of 

 about 6,250 metric tons in 10 months despite 

 adversities shows that the fishery has capacity 

 for further development. 



19 



