FISH IN THE AREA 



A phase of the investigation oonoerned itself with the capture 

 of fish from the aoid Disposal Area* TMs phase m.B prompted by the 

 question! what effeot does the waste sulphate liquor disposal have 

 on the nearby fisheries? To this end, on May 20 emd again on Norvember 

 4, 1948, the Albatross III was used. 



The Albatross III towed a large-sited otter trawl (No. l-l/Z Iceland 

 model) having a head rope 78 feet long, equipped with rollers on the foot 

 rope, and rigged with 30-foot cables between net and doors. In May, the 

 net was used as purchased with 4-lnoh stretched mesh in the back parts. 

 In the November tow, the top belly and ood end were lined with l-l/2 

 inoh mesh. The net was operated In a routine manner for each tow. 

 Setting the net near one corner of the area designated, it was towed 

 for one -half -hour diagonally toward the opposite comer. 



The species of fish trtiich were captured are Itemized in table 

 5 and include two species of Invertebrates. The catch, it is to be 

 noted^ included many of the demersal as well as some pelagic species 

 common to the New York-New Jersey Bight. 



Because of the difference in mesh used and the varying migrations 

 of the fish between May and November, a critical comparison of the 

 numbers of fish taken on the two occasions means little. In the 

 Immediate area where acid had been dtmped daily for some 7 months, 

 however, it is apparent that fish in considerable variety and 

 numbers were to be found. 



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