November 1966 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 



55 



Soviet: A gradual decline (first reported 

 in July 1966) in the number of Soviet fishing 

 vessels sighted off Alaska continued during 

 September. Only 30 to 35 vessels were sighted 

 by the end of the month. By mid-month, the 

 Gulf of Alaska oceanperch effort was reduced 

 to a few factory stern trawlers fishing south- 

 west of Chirikof Island. 



perch fishing along the Aleutian Islands 

 continued throughout September. About 15 

 large factory stern trawlers (serviced by a 

 few refrigerated fish transports and other 

 support ships) were scattered from the Fox 

 Islands to the western Aleutians, but fished 

 mostly south of Umnak Pass (in the Seguam 

 Pass region) and in the shoal areas west of 

 Kiska Island. One haul of 4,000-5,000 pounds 

 of Pacific ocean perch was observed aboard 

 a Soviet vessel in late September near Umnak 

 Pass. 



The shrimp fishery near the Shumagin Is- 

 lands was expanded during September. Re- 

 sumed in August, that fishery attracted about 

 10 medium freezer trawlers and 2 refriger- 

 ator vessels. Observers noted one haul 

 aboard a vessel of about 400-500 pounds of 

 shrimp (presumably mostly pink shrimp). 



Whaling fleets discontinued their opera- 

 tions off U. S. coasts during the month. 



OFF PACIFIC NORTHWEST 

 (Washington and Oregon) 



Soviet: The number of fishing and support 

 vessels (about 80) off the Pacific Northwest 

 did not change from August to September. 

 Two-thirds were medium side trawlers and 

 the rest stern trawlers and support vessels. 

 The number of large stern factory trawlers, 

 reduced in August and early September to no 

 more than 6, increased during the latter part 

 of September. By the month's end, about 12 

 stern trawlers operated in scattered forma- 

 tions from Cape Flattery (Wash.) to Heceta 

 Head (Oreg.). This was a considerable in- 

 crease in total fishing effort because astern 

 factory trawler fishes an average 6-7 times 

 more than a medium side tra-w;ler during the 

 same period. 



In the first week of September, most ves- 

 sels moved from the Oregon coast north to 

 the waters off southern Washington, where 

 they concentrated near the Columbia River 

 (18 vessels) and off Grays Harbor (60 ves- 

 sels). They apparently moved to where fish 



were concentrating and worked until the 

 schools were fished out or scattered. Then 

 the fleet moved to new locations. By mid- 

 month, almost half the fleet returned to Ore- 

 gon grounds. 



By September 20, 1966, the fleet was di- 

 vided into two major groups: 34 vessels (in- 

 cluding 6 stern trawlers) were fishing for 

 hake off Oregon's coast between Heceta Head 

 and Yaquina Head, or about 12 to 40 miles 

 west of Newport; another 48 vessels, also 

 taking primarily hake, were fishing off Wash- 

 ington's coast between Grays Harbor and De- 

 structionlsland. One pair of mid -water trawls 

 and 2 factory stern trawlers were observed 

 in the second group. This was the fleet de- 

 ployment also at the end of the month- -ex- 

 cept that on September 30, the fleet off Ore- 

 gon consisted of 40 vessels, most of which 

 came south from the fishing grounds off Wash- 

 ington. 



The species landed during September were 

 primarily Pacific hake. However, BCF agents 

 saw on occasion ocean perch and various 

 rockfish (orange, green, and others) mixed 

 with hake catches--but they comprised onlya 

 small part of the total catch. 



Early in September, the personnel carrier 

 Smolnii was sighted off the Pacific Northwest. 

 She brought replacement crews from the So- 

 viet Union. The Soviets use personnel car- 

 riers to transport replacement crews be- 

 cause they believe this method is cheaper 

 than having a fishing vessel return to port to 

 rotate crews. 



The fishery research vessel Ogon con- 

 ducted studies, mostly off Washington, through- 

 out the month. 



On September 25, 1966, a gear conflict oc- 

 curred near Destruction Island between the 

 U. S. troller Mermaid and a Soviet trawler. 

 In darkness, the Soviet trawler crossed Mer- 

 maid's bow and picked up her anchor line 

 with its trawl. Towing the much smaller 

 Mermaid for half an hour, the Soviet captain 

 did not see the Mermaid's signals to stop. 

 The latter finally worked herself free but 

 lost iier anchor. The case was reported to 

 U. S. Coast Guard authorities in Seattle. 



