New England boats engaged in mackerel purse seining operate light 

 seines which are set and hauled from accessory or seine boats „ Menhaden 

 purse seiners operating from Middle Atlantic anl South Atlantic ports, 

 while considerably larger than the mackerel seiners, also use acces- 

 sory boats, and generally these craft are rfot more suitable for conver- 

 sion to Pacific-style tuna seining than the smaller New England type 

 mackerel seiner. 



The Pacific coast tuna seiner is the proven and effective type 

 for this fishery. The use of present style menhaden and mackerel 

 purse seiners in a bluefin fishery might be moderately successful with 

 a few minor changes. Conversion of these craft to stern-set Pacific 

 coast seiners is probably impracticable » Estimates from shipbuilders 

 of the cost for installation of turntables, re-location of pilot houses 

 and changing the deck layout of a typical mackerel seiner are extreme- 

 ly high and in most cases approximate ^0 percent of the ship's value. 

 New England otter trawlers, typically with house aft, are likewise un- 

 suited for ready conversion to seining. It would probably be more 

 practicable and economical to operate VJest Coast tuna seiners than; to 

 attempt conversion of &st coast fishing boats. 



Most of the snBll and medium size fishing boats operating in the 

 Atlantic fisheries can be readily adapted to long line fishing opera- 

 tions. Installation of necessary equipment can be easily accomplished 

 in the majority of cases without necessitating major changes in deck 

 arrangements or machinery. Conversion costs would be relatively low 

 with procurement costs for gear, line hauler, and side roller repres- 

 enting the major outlay. Generally, small otter trawlers, line trawl- 

 ers, gill netters and similar craft ranging from 35 to 50 feet in 

 length and in the 5 to 40 net ton class would be suited for inshore 

 fishing within an operational distance of approximately 50 miles from 

 land. The offshore fishery would require larger boats such as medium 

 otter trawlers, scallop dredgers and mackerel seiners in the 60-100 

 foot range and from 45 to 95 net tons. 



Procurement and installation costs for line hauler, side roller, 

 minor accessory gear, and the long line required for equipping these 

 types of boats for long lining are approximately as follows; 



Line hauler and side roller, ... ,.., = „. ...... .... . .$800.00 



PoiTjer and transmission u nit for lire hauler,.., .. 400,00 

 Long line (per basket) ,..,,, ,.,,.,,,,. ,,..,.,... . 35«00 



Tuna long-line haulers are not manufactured in this countryj the above 



249 



