October 1966 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 



72 large "fireball" schools were observed. 

 Midwater trawl tows sampled small and me- 

 dium size fish (95-125 millimeters, or 8.7 to 

 4.9 inches). 



In southern California waters 1,494 miles 

 were covered and 700 anchovy schools de- 

 tected. An additional 62 "breezing" schools 

 were visually observed. The population bulk 

 was distributed 25-80 miles offshore near the 

 outer northern Channel Islands (includes 

 Santa Rose, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, and San 

 Nicolas). The center of abundance was Santa 

 Cruz Basin, where up to 62 schools were de- 

 tected in 45 minutes. Many large schools 

 were also found south of San Miguel Island. 

 No schools were found more than 80 miles 

 offshore. 



Fish were quite scarce in coastal waters 

 from San Diego to Point Conception. The few 

 schools detected were located much deeper 

 than offshore fish. Samples consisted of 

 predominately small fish 90-110 millimeters 

 (3.5 to 4.3 inches) long compared to off- 

 shore fish which averaged about 130 milli- 

 meters (5.1 inches). 



JACK MACKEREL: Most of the 17 jack 

 mackerel schools detected were located over 

 rocky shoal areas on Tanner and Cortes 

 Banks. Identification was made by hook and 

 line fishing and observation of purse seiner 

 catches. Attempts to sample with midwater 

 trawl failed because fish avoided net. 



PACIFIC HAKE: All but one of the 9 hake 

 schools detected were located in northern 

 Baja California. The other school was lo- 

 cated near San Miguel Island in southern 

 California. 



For nearly 3 weeks in July, the M/V 

 Alaska surveyed the smaller pelagic fish of 

 the California current system for distribu- 

 tion and density. It sought to determine size 

 and age composition of these species and to 

 develop better survey methods. It operated 

 in the coastal waters of central California 

 from Point Reyes to Point Arguello from 

 shore to the 1,000 -fathom depth contour. 



An echo sounder operated continuously 

 over transect lines spaced about 20 miles 

 apart perpendicular to the coast. Schools 

 appearing on the echo sounder were identi - 

 fied by midwater trawl sampling or echo 

 trace characteristics, and a record was also 



kept of visually observed schools. All work 

 was conducted during daylight hours except 

 for two nights. 



The echo sounder traversed 933 miles and 

 detected 102 anchovy ( Engraulis mordax) , 73 

 whitebait smelt ( AUosmerus elongatus ), 7 

 rockfish ( Sebastodas sp.), 2 Pacific hake 

 ( Merluccius productus) , and 55 unidentified 

 schools. Night visual scouting accounted for 

 29 anchovy schools. Many small scattered 

 echo traces of hake, whitebait smelt, and vis- 

 ual anchovy scatters were also recorded but 

 were too small or dispersed to be counted as 

 schools. The inshore areas were most pro- 

 ductive in marine life. Most fish schools, 

 birds, and porpoises were located within 15 

 miles offshore. 



ANCHOVIES: Anchovies were found from 

 Pigeon Point to Point Arguello. Their dis- 

 tribution was patchy, with no extensive areas 

 of heavy concentration found in southern Cali- 

 fornia in June. Most school groups covered 

 less than 3 linear miles and contained from 

 2 to 6 schools. The largest numbers of schools 

 were recorded off Cape San Martin and Point 

 Sal, where 19 and 22 schools were logged, 

 respectively, per 10 miles of transect. The 

 only evidence of a continuous distribution was 

 between Point Buchon and Point Arguello. 

 There, schools were distributed over an area 

 extending 30 miles offshore. All visual sight- 

 ings and surface scatters were found there 

 along with many birds, porpoises, and sea 

 lions. A smaller area of concentration was 

 found 10 miles off Cape San Martin. No other 

 concentrations of fish were detected. 



Anchovy echo traces were considerably 

 larger than those of previous surveys in south- 

 ern California. All schools were located with- 

 in 20 fathoms of the surface and appeared as 

 "plumes." Most fish sampled were large 

 adults ranging from 125 to 150 millimeters 

 (4.9 to 5.9 inches) long. 



WHITEBAIT SMELT: Locally abundant 

 near mouth of San Francisco Bay--73 

 small schools plus uncountable scattered 

 echo traces were detected. Fish were easily 

 sampled by midwater trawl with catches of 

 up to 100 pounds per 20 -minute tow. 



ROCKFISH: Schools were detected over 

 many shallow rocky areas of Monterey Bay 

 and Point Sal. Midwater trawl tows at Point 

 Sal produced small shortbelly ( Sebastodes 

 jordani), juvenile chilipepper (S. goodei) and 



