presented in a series of reports; 1962 is the 

 latest year for which data have been pubUshed 

 (Nicholson and Higham, 1965). 



The age composition of the annual catches 

 of Atlantic menhaden from 1955 through 1968 

 are shown in Figure 4. It is apparent that ^e-1 

 and -2 fish make up the bulk of the catch in 

 most years. Larger catches persist through the 

 older age groups only when an especially large 

 year class, such as 1951 or 1958, is present. 



®e 



Figure 4.— Age composition (%) of Atlantic menhaden 

 in purse seine catches, 1955-68. 



Figure 5 shows the catch per standard vessel 

 day by age group and fishing area for 1955 and 

 1966-68. The calculated catch by age for 

 the various fishing areas is listed in appendix 

 table 1. 



The average age of Atlantic menhaden varies 

 annually both between and within fishing 

 areas. In general, the average ^e tends to 

 increase from south to north through the 

 fishery (Fig. 6). 



The average age of the menhaden caught 

 annually in all areas combined as well as the 

 percentage of fish under 3 years of age (im- 

 matures) in the catch are shown in Figure 7. In 

 recent years about 90% of the total catch has 

 been immature fish. The mean age for 1955-68 

 was 1.67 years. Additional discussion on the 

 average age may be found in the appendix. 



Growth of Fish 



The apparent growth rate of Atlantic men- 

 haden varies in the different fishing areas. 

 Atlantic menhaden are relatively fast growing, 

 at least up to age 4 after which the growth 



Figure 5.— Catch of Atlantic menhaden per standard 

 vessel landing day, by age group and fishing area, 

 1955, 1966-68 (Shaded areas denote catch of 2-year- 

 old fish). 



f> 



< 



<i 

 2 



NORTH ATLANTIC 



14-YEAR 

 MEAN 



® 



MIDDLE ATLANTIC 



CHESAPEAKE BAY 



& 



SOUTH ATLANTIC 



NORTH CAROLINA FALL FISHERY 



© 



I9;j 1957 1999 1961 1963 1969 1967 



Figure 6.— Average age of Atlantic menhaden in the 

 purse seine catch by area, 1955-68. 



