He said one net set could yield $20,000 to $30,000 worth of 
fish, or one-third of an area's quota. This get-rich-quick 
opportunity lures too many fishermen into an already crowded 
fishery. But, he said the number of vessels and fishermen 
in Alaska's relatively static herring bait fishery is suffi- 
cient. 
Product development and processing 
Reduced abundance of Atlantic herring stocks available 
to U.S. fishermen has lessened industry willingness to make 
additional investments in processing facilities. Recovery of 
the stocks through better management should alleviate this 
problem. Low-fat content of adult herring at certain times 
during the year is also a problem. Fat content is one de- 
terminant of herring product quality. Herring with lower fat 
content than desired by European imports receives a substan- 
tially lower price. 
The southeastern Alaskan herring reduction fishery has 
been inactive since 1966. A disadvantage of the more recent 
and active herring roe fishery is that this valuable fishery 
operates on a later stage in the live history of the herring 
than a reduction fishery. Natural mortality will have taken 
an additional toll at this stage, and the total tonnage avail- 
able will be less than for a reduction fishery. Moreover, 
some of the stocks fished by a reduction fishery are not suit- 
able for a roe fishery. Consequently, the sustainable yield 
for a roe fishery is somewhat lower. 
Market development 
Developing domestic markets for adult herring products 
will take a long time, according to NMFS and industry offi- 
cials, because consumers are reluctant to eat fish with dark 
meat and bones, such as herring. Large increases in domestic 
landings appear dependent on satisfying international markets. 
The potential for expanding U.S. exports of herring might be 
adversely affected by herring stock recovery off European 
coasts or by increased use of European-caught herring for 
food production. 
Management controls 
Fragmented jurisdiction and inadequate knowledge about 
herring stock separation and migration among the Gulf of 
Maine, Georges Bank, and Nova Scotia stocks are problems af- 
fecting fishery management. NMFS biologists believe that 
there is some intermixture among these stocks but that its 
extent is not fully known. A herring tagging study involving 
NMFS and the States is being considered as a means Of providing 
additional data. Current ICNAF catch quotas are set for each 
LS? 
