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M/V DELAWARE CRUISE 57-9 



otter Trowl Tow- 

 Sardine Catch 



Mature (sea) Herring Catch-« 



Figure 3.--Cruise No. 57-9 of the research vessel Delaware . 



made on Fippennies Ledge and 6 miles east 

 of Jeffreys Ledge. 



During this cruise, four tows were also 

 made along the Perry Shore of Passamaquoddy 

 Bay and near the center of St. Andrews Bay. 

 Only 48 large herring, measuring approxi- 

 mately 9 inches in total length, were taken in 

 Passamaquoddy Bay; all were taken in tows 

 near the inside (northern) end of Western 

 Passage. Thirteen tows were made on the 

 northern edge of Georges Bank using a No. 41 

 otter trawl equipped with rollers and a small 

 mesh cod end. Some herring were taken in 

 all but one of these, the largest catch being 

 approximately 350 pounds and the average 

 catch, 100 to 150 pounds. These herring were 

 large and mature, many showing evidence of 

 having spawned. This northeastern edge of 

 Georges Bank is a well-known spawning area 



of the sea herring, because many catches have 

 been reported there during autumn by both 

 fishing and research vessels. 



The catches from Cruise 57-9 of the /JeZauarc 

 indicate that many of the 1 -year-plus fish 

 (in their second year of life) remain in the 

 inside areas or relatively near the shore in 

 the Gulf, not schooled but apparently scattered 

 over a wide area. The fact that these fish 

 were taken with bottom trawls is evidence 

 that at least part of the herring population 

 remains near the bottom during this season. 



The inside waters of Casco Bay, Sheepscot 

 River, BoothBay Harbor, and Penobscot Bay 

 were fished again with otter trawl gear during 

 the winter of 1958-59 using the 38-foot Fish 

 and Wildlife Service research boat Blueblack. 

 Sardine-sized herring as well as smaller ones 



