exists today, both as a recreational resource and as a livelihood for 

 those who service recreational fishing. NMFS has expanded its staff 

 at all levels to interface with the recreational fishing interests and to 

 communicate with the many conservation organizations. Through 

 the Migratory Game Fish Act of 1959, NMFS has conducted 

 extensive research on game fish in the marine environment. This 

 research has produced some excellent results that have been or will 

 be of direct benefit to the saltwater angler. A comprehensive survey 

 of marine recreational fishing activities was begun in 1974 to 

 determine how many people fish, what they catch, how much they 

 spend, what their fishing preferences are, and other appropriate 

 information. This initial survey covers only the northeastern United 

 States, and is being done through telephone interviews with 

 followup mail questionnaires. The first four sections of the long- 

 awaited Anglers' Guide to the United States East Coast, describing 

 marine recreational fishing opportunities and facilities, were 

 recently published. These publications are designed to aid fishermen 

 in their quest for both support facilities and for the habitat 

 preferences of various species. The remaining four sections are 

 scheduled for publication late in fiscal year 1975. A similar 

 publication is being prepared for the West coast. 



An exciting venture in early fiscal year 1974 was NMFS 

 participation in NASA's Skylab project. Six northwest Florida sport 

 fishing and charter boat organizations and a total of 325 anglers 

 turned out on the August 4 and 5 weekend to help gather 

 oceanographic and fishing information to compare with remotely 

 sensed oceanographic data acquired by aircraft and the Skylab 

 spacecraft. The analysis showed that certain oceanic characteristics 

 can be monitored from air and spacecraft and be used to determine 

 game-fish abundance and distribution. 



Since 1972, in cooperation with State and university groups, the 

 Northwest Fisheries Center at Seattle has conducted weekly 

 acoustical surveys of Lake Washington, from June through August, 

 to locate concentrations of sockeye salmon. After each weekly 

 survey, a chart showing the depth distribution of salmon concentra- 

 tion is issued to the news media for use by anglers. Response by the 

 fishing public has been enthusiastic. Anglers use the information to 

 improve fishing strategies for species previously thought un- 

 available. 



To relieve some of the sport fishing pressure on Pacific salmon, a 

 new project was begun in 1973 to locate, identify, and disseminate 

 information on the rockfish and flatfish of Puget Sound, as yet not 

 heavily used by sportsmen. In 1974, several popular articles were 

 printed to encourage sport fishermen to pursue these stocks. 



Some of the more widely sought game fishes on all coasts, except 



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