TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Introduction 1 



Acknowledgments 2 



Areas 2 



The menhaden fishery 



Fishing gear and methods 2 



Fishing seasons in different localities 3 



Fishing grounds 4 



The 1955 purse-seine fishery 8 



Sampling of the commercial catches 11 



Analysis of sampling methods 12 



Collection of ssimples 13 



Age composition 14 



Length and weight composition 16 



Summary 18 



Literature cited 19 



Appendix 21 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Figure 



Frontpiece: Measuring Atlantic menhaden in a sample from the 

 catch. 



1. Areas used in summarizing menhaden catch data 2 



2. Net-handling equipment raoxonted on a menhaden seine boat . 4 



3. Sample page from fishing logbooks issued to menhaden 



purse-seine vessel captains 6 



4. Sample chart of the Southern New England BanJts used to 



record areas in which menhaden purse-seine catches 



are made 7 



5. Distribution of fishing effort in the South Atlantic 



Area, 1955 8 



6. Distribution of fishing effort in the Chesapeake Bay 



and Middle Atlantic areas, 1955 9 



7. Distribution of fishing effort in the North Atleintic 



Area, 1955 9 



8. Age composition from single-school catches 13 



9. Age composition of samples from menhaden purse-seine 



catches (A) Middle Atlantic Area, 1952-54 and 



(B) North Atlantic Area, 1954 14 



10. Age composition of samples from Atlantic coast menhaden 



purse-seine catches, by area, 1955 16 



111 



