SECTION 5 - SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES 



Commercial landings of fish and shellfish at ports of the South Atlantic States (North Caro- 

 lina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the East Coast of Florida) , including the commercial catch from 

 fresh-water areas of Florida , where 280.2 million pounds worth $29.8 million — a decline of 12per- 

 cent in volume and 18 percent in value compared with 1969. A sharp decrease in landings of men- 

 haden and shrimp was a major factor in the decline. 



North Carolina led all States with landings of 173.4 million pounds — 21 percent less than 

 in 1969 and the smallest production since 1951. Compared with 1969, South Carolina landings of 

 16.1 million pounds declined 22 percent and Georgia landings (14.4 million) declined 8 percent. 

 Landings along the East Coast of Florida, however, increased from 63.4 million pounds in 1969 

 to 76.3 million in 197 0, but the exvessel value of $12.0 million remained about the same as in the 

 previous year. The value in all other States declined sharply compared with 1969. The value of 

 North Carolina landings ($9 .4 million) declined 25 percent; South Carolina ($4.3 million) declined 

 19 percent; and Georgia ($4.1 million) declined 36 percent. 



Fishermen and vessels . Commercial fishermen numbered 8,881 in 1970 — 483 less than in 1969. 

 A decrease in the number of full-time fishermen in the shore and boat fishery from 3,320 in 1969 

 to 2,781 in 1970 was the principal cause of the decline. The number of fishermen employed on ves- 

 sels, however, increased from 3,339 in 1969 to 3,397 in 1970. The number of vessels (craft 5 net 

 tons or more) also increased to 1,211 in 1970--a gain of 25 compared with 1969. 



According to records of the U.S. Department of Transportation, 76 vessels with South At- 

 lantic home ports received first documents as fishing craft in 1970. Of this number, 68 were newly 

 constructed. Forty-six of the hulls were built of wood, 16 were of fiberglass, 5 of steel, and 1 

 of concrete. More than 20 percent of the new fishing vessels entered the shrimp fishery in the 

 Gulf of Mexico for part of the year. Owners of several vessels made them available to sportflsh- 

 ermen as charter fishing craft. 



Menhaden . Landings of 136.3 million pounds were 17 percent less than in 1969 and the smallest 

 production since 1932. The decline was caused by an unusually poor season in the North Caroli- 

 na fall and winter fishery. The weather was favorable for fishing, but the fish were not on the 

 grounds in their usual numbers. Consequently the North Carolina landings of 108. 2 million pounds 

 were 37.0 million pounds less than in 1969. A small production in South Carolina also declined 

 sharply. Farther south, landings along the East Coast of Florida were 28.0 million pounds — 44 

 percent greater than in the previous year. 



Food finfish . Landingsof finfish used principally for human consumption were 67 .0 million pounds — 

 compared with 71.4 million in 1969. The exvessel value of $8.9 million was slightly less than 

 in 1969. 



Landingsof several species declined in 1970. The principal decline was in alewife landings 

 of 11.6 million pounds — 10.1 million (47 percent) less than in 1969 and the smallest production 

 since 1964. In North Carolina, the major production area, landingsof 1 1 . 5 million pounds declined 

 42 percent compared with 1969 . South Carolina landings declined sharply, probably because of unus- 

 ually low water in the Tail Race Canal of the Cooper River at the time of migration. Croaker land- 

 ings of 886,000 pounds were 38 percent less than in 1969 and the smallest production since 1918. 

 Compared with 1969, landings of mullet (4.3 million pounds) declined 5 percent and shad (1.9 mil- 

 lion) declined 3 percent. As the fish were abundant in coastal waters, it appeared that lack of a 

 good market for them accounted largely for the volume decline . Other species with reduced catches 

 included bluefish and catfish and bullheads. 



The production of several major species increased in 1970. King mackerel landings were 

 a record 4.4 million pounds — a gain of 47 percent compared with 1969. Fishermen received an av- 

 erage price of 23 cents per pound for king mackerel — 3 cents more than in 1969. Spanish mackerel 

 fishermen also had a good year — landings of 3 . 6 million pounds were 48 percent greater than in 

 1969. The average price per pound increased from 11 cents in 1969 to 13 cents in 1970. Gray and 

 spotted sea trout landingsof 3.9 million pounds increased 51 percent compared with 1969. Land- 

 ings of flounders, king whiting, red snapper, sea bass, shad and spot also increased moderately. 



526-460 O - 73 - 12 



