October 1966 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 



55 



One factoryship and her 13 trawlers re- 

 mained on shrimp grounds near Pribilof Is- 

 lands throughout August. 



The three whaling fleets operated through- 

 out Aleutian Islands. One fleet departed for 

 Japan at month's end. 



Long-line operations for sablefish were 

 conducted in late August by 1 vessel in west- 

 ern Gulf, 2 vessels along western Aleutians, 

 and 1 vessel along 100 -fathom curve north of 

 Unimak Pass. 



Korean: The research vessel Baek Kyung 

 Ho of the National Pusan Fisheries College 

 was sighted south of Amukta Pass in central 

 Aleutians onAugust 13. A BCF agent boarded 

 vessel. Personnel reported being in Aleu- 

 tians area for about one month and planned to 

 sail for Korea on September 20. The vessel 

 fished for salmon using gill nets at preselected 

 stations. Samples of 50 salmon per day were 

 to be taken at each station, but catches were 

 said to be poor- -averaging 15 a day, mostly 

 small red salmon. The Koreans said they had 

 trawled but had taken no salmon. On August 

 25, the vessel was in northern Bering Sea, 

 north of St. Matthew Island. 



JUNK CARS MAKE EFFECTIVE ARTIFICIAL FISHING REEFS 



Abandoned cars and other refuse that clutter up our cities and countryside have proven 

 to be good material for building fishing reefs in the sea, according to a report published 

 by the American Littoral Society. 



The fish are attracted to the artificial reefs because some feed off mussels and other 

 organisms which attach themselves to the reef materials. Other fish find protection in the 

 holes and crevices, and still others simply like a place to call "home". A properly con- 

 structed reef in time becomes a veritable ' city of fish" --a collection point for year round 

 food fish as well as a seasonal haunt of migratory game fish. 



The growing acres of junk cars now plaguing cities may prove a blessing indisguise 

 to fishermen. Fishery biologists have proved with test reefs that a barren part of the sea 

 can be transformed into a favored haunt forfish. Between 1958 and 1960, a small car-body 

 reef was built at a depth of 50 feet in Paradise Cove near Malibu (California). Fish were 

 attracted only a few hours after it was down. Over a 30 -month study period, 49 different 

 species of fish were counted on the reef by SCUBA diving biologists. One of the best ex- 

 perimental reefs was built in Maunalua Bay, Hawaii, and tested from 1961 to 1963. Junk 

 cars were spread over a virtually barren bottom. Fish life boomed and within 7 months 

 10 tons of fish came to live on the 13 -acre reef made from 443 cars. 



The artificial reef tests results showed that the cars stayed in place at the bottom and 

 were not scattered by storms or currents. Junk car reefs, however, would have to be re- 

 plenished every few years since bodies rust away in 3 to 5 years. Biologists have also 

 tested some more permanent materials (quarry rock and concrete structures) for reef 

 building. However, these are more costly than junk car reefs and do not help in cleaning 

 up our countrysides. 



All reefs must have the approval of the District Army Corps of Engineers, the Navy, 

 and in most states, the Department of Conservation. Artificial reefs must also be prop- 

 erly buoyed so that they can be located easily and the buoys maintained. Bottom type, wave 

 action, depth, height and placement of the man-made reef affect the endurance and produc- 

 tivity of the project. Reef -building obviously is not a task for the amateur. 



The report, "Artificial Reefs - A Review", is available from the American Littoral 

 Society, Sandy Hook Marine Laboratory, Highlands, New Jersey 07732, for $1.00 a copy. 



