PREFACE 



This is the first of a series of reports, based on the work of 

 the Albatross IIT, concerning hydrographic conditions of, and fishing 

 operations in, southern coastal watGrs. Reports on hydrographic 

 conditions encountered during the present survey l/ and on the 

 distribution of plankton TO-II appear later. 



The objectives of this survey vrere (l) to exanine the possi- 

 bilities of e:-rpanding local fishery resources in southern coastal 

 waters, principally these of North C^irolina betrreen Cape Hatteras 

 and Gape Fear, by exploring mth an otter travi the area outside 

 the 20-fathom line, and (2) to obtain detailed data on the hydro- 

 grajihy and planl<:tcn of the area covered by the sv.Tvef, 



The survey was conducted in May and June, 19^9, under a 

 cooperative agreenent between the Institute of Fisheries Research 

 of the University of North Carolina and the Fish s.nd Yfildlife 

 Service of the United States department of the Interior. The 

 Institute gave financial assistance to the amount of JjA, 000*00, 

 suTDolied scientific personnel, and replaced Service-ouned gear 

 which was lost or became unserviceable. The Service furnished, 

 operated, and maintained the research vessel Albatross III for the 

 survey. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution lent hiydrographJ.c 

 equipment and detailed tvro scientists to collect and interpret the 

 hydrographic date. 



V 



Earlier hydrogTaphic conditions have been reported on by Dean F. 

 Bumpus and T. J. Wehe, "Coastal Yfeter Circulation off the East 

 Coast of the United States between Cape Kattaras and Florida", 

 Techjiical Report No. 16, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 

 Woods Hole, Massachusetts. 



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