April 1951 COVIMERCIAL FISEffiRIES REVIEW I9 



MiaCELLANBOUS CAOm ; Drags in Teneikee Inlet yielded up to 150-pounds of flat- 

 fish, mostly long-jawed floimder ( Atheresthes atomias ) and flathead "sole" ( Hlppoglos- 

 sides elassodon ). Other fish conmoD in this area were stotes ( Raja sp. ), sculp ins 

 (Cottidae) , eel blennies ( Lumpenidae ) , eel pouts (Zoarcldae) , vAiiting ( Theragra 

 chalcogr aroma ) , eulachon ( Thaleichthys pacif icus ) , and sea poachers ( Agonidae ) . 



Marine life taken in Hood Bay included small whiting, starry flounder ( Plati- 

 chthys stellatus ) , ratfish ( Hydrolagus colliei ). and one female king crab. 



Drags in Peril Strait produced large numbers (up to I50 per drag) of Tanner 

 crab ( Chionoectes opilio ) , small numbers of greenlings ( Hexagrammidae ) . flatfish, 

 and black cod ( Anolopoma fimbria ). 



Marine life common in the Salisbury Sound and Sitka area included whiting, 

 herring ( Clupea pallasii ) , yellowf in sole ( Limanda aspera ) , and rex sole ( Glypto- 

 cephalus zachirus ). 



CONCLUSIONS 



Findings of the spring and fall surveys for commercial shellfish are applicable 

 only to the time of year they were carried on, as conditions in these areas might 

 bring about entirely different results during other months. The development of a 

 trap fishery for shrimp in suitable areas seems feasible, and local knowledge and 

 investigation could possibly lead to good catches in some regions where trawling is 

 impracticable. Spot and coon-stripe shrimp of high market value can be taken with 

 this type of gear, and with proper mesh size and rotation of traps, a continued 

 supply of shrimp would seem possible. 



Results of the spring survey indicate that the Claude Point area in upper Behm 

 Canal, Carroll Inlet, and Hassler Pass could possibly support a small scale beam- 

 trawl operation for shrimp. However, the limited areas available for dragging, to- 

 gether with lack of information as to the total stocks of shrimp available in the 

 areas, suggest the possibility of early depletion, in the event heavy fishing were 

 undertaken. More intensive explorations in the Gedney Pass Eirea might uncover pos- 

 sibilities for a small-scale trap fishery for spot shrimp. 



Results of the fall survey suggest that pink shrimp could probably be taken 

 in commercial quantities with a beam trawl in Katlian and Fish Bay, but the small 

 size of these two bays and the limited dragging area available would necessarily 

 limit the extent of any beam-trawl operation. Trap fishing for spot shrimp or 

 prawn in Tenakee Inlet and Peril Strait yielded good ccmmercial-sized catches of 

 this species. The large area suitable for trap fishing and the seemingly wide- 

 spread distribution of spot shrimp throughout these areas indicate a population 

 of spot shrimp of large enough numbers to support a commercial trap fishery. Fur-, 

 ther explorations are necessary to definitely determine the size of the population 

 of spot shrimp in Ifenakee Inlet and Peril Strait. 



Freezing temperatures and gale-force winds encountered during a considerable 

 portion of the fall trip indicate that weather conditions will probably be a factor 

 in the development of a winter fi shery in this area. 



NOTE: A MORE DETAILED REPORT DESCRIBING THE GEAR AND EXPLORATORY OPERATIONS WILL BE 

 PUBLISHED IN THE NEAR FUTURE BY THE SERVICE AS A FISHERY LEAFLET. 



