Figure 18. — Side view of rotary culling machine for sorting live scallops from the catch, 

 installed aboard 86-foot factory-type scallop vessel. 



segments is constantly changing. Negotiations 

 involve risk capital ranging from individuals 

 to large corporations. The trend toward larger, 

 more efficient vessels has resulted from trial 

 and effort with shrimp-type boats. 



Vessels 



Construction of four new factory-type scal- 

 lop vessels was initiated in 1968. The vessels 

 were to be equipped with onboard culling and 

 shucking and eviscerating machines. Concur- 

 rently, the acquisition of other vessels suitable 

 for factory-type modification is constantly un- 

 der negotiation. 



The four new factory-type vessels entered 

 the fishery in early 1969. Initially, operations 

 consisted primarily of fishing gear and pro- 

 cessing trials with modifications required on 

 a continuing basis. Due to labor problems, the 

 largest vessel left the fishery for combination 

 shrimp and scallop fishing in Central America 

 with two small catcher vessels. 



The more successful vessels worked a 24- 

 hour day, and by September maximum produc- 



tion had reached 4,000 pounds of processed 

 meats per day (fig. 19). For a description of 

 processing see Cummins and Rivers (1970). 

 The largest single vessel landing of 12,000 

 pounds occurred in October. In November two 

 vessels working together landed about 20,000 

 pounds of processed meats during four fishing 

 days (exclusive of 2 days running time) for 

 an average of 2,500 pounds per vessel day. 



RUFAS 



Technical assistance was provided by the 

 Bureau to reduce search time and thereby pro- 

 vide maximum sea time for processing equip- 

 ment repair and development. To accomplish 

 this a survey cruise utilizing RUFAS (Remote 

 Underwater Fishery Assessment System) (fig. 

 20) was conducted off the Florida east coast 

 during July and August. Motion pictures of 

 the bottom were taken along 7 transects cov- 

 ering a distance of 70 miles from northeast of 

 Flagler Beach to northeast of Cape Kennedy. 

 The results of the survey were presented in 

 graphic form showing areas of scallop concen- 



18 



