Table 6. — Calculated numbers of Atlantic menhaden (in millions) caught by purse seine 

 vessels fishing from North Atlantic plants, 1955-71. 



Year 



Age 



8-10 



Total 



5.17 0.43 — — — 746.46 



741.76 



0.22 0.08 — — — 1,239.37 



0.90 0.39 — — — 1,059.66 



— — — — 2,435.94 



812.16 



0.32 0.16 — — — 746.82 



35.29 0.27 -- — — 685.46 



.75 — — — — 609.19 



.64 — — — — 740.45 



.37 — .08 — — 698.93 



.65 .17 — — — 724.52 



.27 — — — — 409.77 



.38 .09 — — — 454.07 



.97 — — — — 255.38 



1.42 .08 — — — 791.31 



4.83 .88 — — -- 511.98 



(Nicholson 1971). Although part of the decrease 

 probably was due to a decrease in menhaden abun- 

 dance, part also was due to the increase in the number 

 of vessels and the concomitant increase in fishing ef- 

 fort and vessel competition. From 1955 to 1961 the 

 number of vessels generally was less than 25 each 

 year, but from 1962 to 1968 the number ranged from 



25 to 38 and generally was greater than 31 (Nicholson 

 1971). Since vessel competition from 1963 to 1969 was 

 intense (Nicholson 1972), fewer fish were apportioned 

 among a greater number of vessels, and a drop in the 

 catch per vessel week was inevitable. 



The low CPUE in 1969, following a decline in effort 

 to 500 vessel weeks, probably reflects a scarcity offish, 



