DESCRIPTION OF FACILITIES AND METHODS 



FISHING VESSELS, GEAR, AND 

 HARVESTING OPERATIONS 



The industrial trawler fleet consists largely 

 of vessels originally designed for the shrimp 

 fishery. They are about 50 feet long and have 

 an average fish capacity of 30 tons. They are 

 propelled by diesel engines, most of which 

 are rated at about 165 horsepower (hp.). They 

 usually make trips lasting from 1 to 3 days 

 and fish close to plants at Mississippi and 

 Louisiana ports (figure 1). Running time to 

 the grounds varies from 1 to 6 hours at an 

 average speed of 9 knots. Ice is used to pre- 

 serve the catch. 



from 63 to 125 tons. They generally make 4- 

 to 6-day trips of up to ZOO miles from 

 Mississippi ports to the Louisiana grounds 

 west of the Mississippi River Delta. Most of 

 the larger vessels are equipped with ammonia 

 and brine refrigeration units. 



All vessels are operated by two to three 

 men and are equipped with radio-telephones, 

 echo sounders, and power-driven winches. 



The resident bottomfish trawler fleet com- 

 prised an estimated 50 vessels during the 

 5-year study period. Transient vessels have 

 been and continue to be used to catch bottom- 

 fish for petfood and fish meal plants during 

 slack periods in the shrimp fishery. The pet- 



31 N.- 



90 89 88" 



Figure 1. — Fishing grounds of the industrial bottomfish fishery in the north-central 

 Gulf of Mexico. Heavy striped lines indicate limits of the West Delta and 

 East Delta fishing areas. 



Also included in the fleet are several larger 

 vessels which range from 60 to 94 feet in 

 length, are powered by diesel engines rated 

 at 185 to 578 hp., and have capacities varying 



food industry customarily places the fishing 

 vessels on regulated trip schedules to provide 

 a steady supply of fish when fish are abundant. 

 (Thompson and Haskell, 1960). The schedules 



