To serve as a check on the pilot-house log records and to 

 increase the amount of statistical data on the catch an on-the-spot 

 interview system was employed. Sports fishing centers in New York 

 and New Jersey were visited regularly from July 8 to September 28, 

 1948» During this thirteen-week period, a total of 168 haphazard 

 interviews were collected on the catches made by charter and party 

 vessels* No records on the activities of private yachts were 

 obtained. 



A. THE CHA.RTER BOAT FISHERY 



a. DESCRIPTION 



1* The boata 



With the exception of private yachts, nearly all the boats 

 engaged in the charter boat fishery are chartered for the day by 

 parties of fishermen. The cost of the charter generally ranges 

 from $50 upwards, including tackle, for parties up to six persons* 

 Bait and chum are extra. The boats are cabin cruisers, usually of 

 the 25-to-45-foot class, and are equipped with "fighting" chairs 

 and all other necessary fishing gear. Nearly all boats have, in 

 addition, radio telephones which are constantly used in locating 

 fish, communicating with shore, and calling for assistance when in 

 distress. 



The total invesbnent in these boats and equipment is con- 

 siderable. The average fully equipped vessel in the New York and 

 New Jersey charter boat fleet represents an investment of at least 

 $15,000. This figure is based on $12,000 for the vessel, $2,000 

 for fishing gear, $500 for a radio telephone, and $500 for incidentals. 

 Inasmuch as there are about 600 charter boats employed in the sports 

 fishery of New York and New Jersey, the total investoent in charter 

 boats and equipment amounts to a minimum of $9,000,000* 



2* Nxsnbers and locations of charter boats 



The sports fishing fleet of New York and Now Jersey in 1948 

 were composed of approximately 1,000 vessels, of which 600 or more 

 were of the charter boat type. New York charter boats that reg- 

 ularly fish the Middle Atlantic Bight, that part of the Atlantic 

 Ocean within the 100 fathom curve extending from Cape Hatteras to 

 Cape Cod, are centered in Freeport, Long Island. Approximately 100 

 vessels operated out of Freeport during the height of the charter 

 boat season* Sheepshead Bay, an important sports fishing center, 

 had relatively few charter boats* 



