16 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 



Vol. 28, No. 8 



(6) Circular collapsible trap, frame con- 

 structed of g" and g" galvanized steel wire 

 covered by 1^" stretched mesh nylon web, 

 four 2-^ X 2^" oval tunnels spaced every 90° 

 with short leads (trap type #13). 



A total of 72 shrimp traps (12 of each mod- 

 el) was fished using the long-line method. A 

 long line consisted of 6 traps attached to the 

 groundrope by one -fathom dropper lines spaced 

 at five -fathom intervals. Of the 12 long lines, 

 one-half consisted of mixed gear (6 trap mod- 

 els), and the other half of identical gear (6 

 traps of one model). 



The gear efficiency study and spot shrimp 

 explorations were conducted simultaneously. 

 During the first portion of the cruise the em- 

 phasis was placed on the gear efficiency ex- 

 periment. Once a shrimp bed had been lo- 

 cated, the gear was continually reset in the 

 same area while gear placed in unproductive 

 areas was moved to new localities daily. This 

 procedure was followed while working in Hetta 

 and Klakas Inlets. 



Exploratory shrimp fishing was conducted 

 along the southeastern coast of Prince of 

 Wales Island and included the waters of Kasaan 

 Bay, Cholmondeley Sound, and Moira Sound. 

 During the latter part of the cruise, fishing 

 was not restricted to areas of high abundance. 

 The traps were moved to new fishing locali- 

 ties daily. 



Fishing operations were conducted between 

 the 8- and 103 -fathom isobaths. All 12 strings 

 of gear were hauled, emptied, rebaited, and 

 reset daily. Usually the traps fished or soaked 

 for 18 to 28 hours. 



Catches from the 38 stations revealed 

 large concentrations of spot shrimp in Hetta 

 and Klakas Inlets and Cholmondeley and Moira 

 Sounds. The catches ranged from to 313 

 pounds per set (72 traps), and averaged 132 



pounds per set. The total catch for the 38 sta- 

 tions was 5,018 pounds or 1.88 pounds per 

 trap per set. Small catches of coon-stripe 

 and pink shrimp(less than2 pounds) occurred 

 occasionally. 



Eight stations were fished in Hetta Bay at 

 depths from 12 to 103 fathoms. Good abun- 

 dance of spot shrimp was found in the depth 

 interval of 50 to 90 fathoms with the center of 

 abundance occurring at 60 to 70 fathoms. The 

 catch per station ranged from 45 to 263 pounds 

 and averaged 164 pounds (or 2.3 pounds per 

 trap per set). 



Eleven stations were made in Klakas Inlet 

 and just outside its entrance. Catches of spot 

 shrimp ranged from 1 to 313 pounds per sta- 

 tion and averaged 176 pounds (or 2.44 pounds 

 per trap per set). Operations were conducted 

 at depths from 15 to 92 fathoms and good abun- 

 dance was found from 15 to 65 fathoms while 

 the center of abundance was from 40 to 55 

 fathoms . 



Six stations were fished in Kasaan Bay and 

 Skowl Arm. Results indicated a low abun- 

 dance of spot shrimp in those waters. Catch- 

 es ranged from to 102 pounds per station 

 and averaged 35 pounds (or 0.49 pounds per 

 trap per set). Explorations were conducted 

 from 28 to 85 fathoms,' with good abundance 

 occurring between 46 and 62 fathoms. 



Six stations in Cholmondeley Sound showed 

 a high abundance of spot shrimp. Catches 

 ranged from 38 to 263 pounds per station and 

 averaged 126 pounds (or 1.75 pounds per trap 

 per set). Station depths ranged between 32 and 

 90 fathoms . Good concentrations were found at 

 depths from 35 to 90 fathoms, with the center 

 of abundance occurring at 50 to 75 fathoms. 



One station in Johnson Inlet and just out- 

 side its entrance resulted in a very poor j 

 showing (3 pounds). , 



Table 1 - Average Catch Per Station, Catch Per Trap Per Station, Depths Fished, 

 Depths of Good Abundance and Depth of the Center of Abundance 



Area 



-letta Inlet 



Klakas Inlet 



[Casaan Bay •...,, 

 ^olmondeley Soimd . 



lohnson Inlet 



Moira Sound 



Total 



Total 

 Catch 



Pounds 



1,310 



1,935 



210 



758 



3 



802 



5,018 



Stations 



No. 



8 

 11 



6 



6 



1 



6 



38 



Range 



of 



Catches 



Average Catch 

 Per Station 



45-263 

 1-313 

 0-102 



38-263 

 3 



38-238 



0-313 



. (Pounds) 

 164 

 176 

 35 

 126 

 3 

 134 



Average Catch 

 Per Trap 

 Per Set 



1/One (1) string producing 10 or more potmds of spot shrimp . 



132 



2.3 

 2,44 

 0.49 

 1.75 



1.86 



1.88 



Depth 

 Fished 



Good 

 Abundancel/ 



12 - 103 

 15 -92 

 28 - 85 

 32 -90 

 20-87 

 25-85 



12 - 103 



. . (Fathoms) 

 50-90 

 15 -65 

 35 -90 

 32 -90 



40-73 



Center; 



of 



Abundance 



15 -90 



60 -70 

 40-55 



50 -75 



50 -65 



40-75 



