Table 8. — Calculated numbers of Atlantic menhaden (in millions) caught by purse seine 

 vessels fishing from North Carolina plants during fall fishery, 1955-71. 



Year 



Age 



8-10 



Total 



16.71 2.74 0.39 — 0.10 851.42 

 9.36 46,50 7.48 1.03 — 225.61 



20.72 14.74 11.07 0.95 0.08 383.26 

 7.20 8.60 4.04 2.48 — 273.48 



18.44 5.75 6.09 0.78 0.54- 178.96 



35.17 10.90 4.03 1.32 0.42 185.86 



5.76 10.00 0.62 — — 174.41 



22.10 4.15 1.82 0.50 — 61-03 



8.18 9.43 1.53 .45 .11 222.63 



3.03 .64 .17 .09 — 180.64 



1.57 — — — — 298.51 



.98 — — — — 340.08 



2.51 .20 — — — 168.05 



2.59 .32 — — — 209.42 



.55 — — — — 215.78 



2.29 .04 — — — 69.31 



.38 .03 — — — 58.43 



South Atlantic Area 



The annual catch in metric tons from 1963 to 1971 

 was of about the same magnitude as in previous years 

 and age-1 and -2 fish continued to supply over 99% of 

 the catch (Table 7). 



The number of vessel weeks, while fluctuating over 



the years, showed no substantial change. Although 

 vessel size did not increase, efficiency probably did, as 

 more fish pumps, power blocks, aluminum purse 

 boats, and nylon nets were employed after 1962 

 (Nicholson 1971). 



With the exception of 1965 and 1966 the CPUE was 

 greater from 1963 to 1971 than in previous years, and 



10 



