Introduction 
The fishery 
Distribution of fishing 
Catches 
Size and number of vessels 
Improvements in fishing methods 
Sampling procedure 
Age and size composition 
Age and size distribution by longitude 
Recruitment and relative abundance 
Literature cited 
CONTENTS 
Figure 
Location of reduction plants for the Gulf menhaden fishery in the Gulf of Mexico ........... 
Tables 
Numbers of operating plants, airplanes, vessels by size, vessels with fish pumps, power blocks, and 
retriperation, | Gulfsmenhaden fishery 19452730. = eet ee eo) cl ene ee eee 
Distribution of purse seine sets of Gulf menhaden by degree of longitude and relative distance from 
SHOTeW OG4=69) pice Sears ee nT, avery 2 hihi ae re aN Tnce take SAVORY tare. SNe eae 
Purse seine catch of Gulf menhaden, by State, 1945-73 ........... 20.0.0 25050220- 
Number of samples taken from Gulf menhaden catches by plant and location, 1964-73 ...... 
Estimated number of Gulf menhaden caught annually, by age and plant location, 1964-73 ... . 
Age composition, in percentage and numbers of fish, of Gulf menhaden in samples of the catch at all 
DOFtSICOMDINE OGL TS. es eer ey ee pe Uys RENCE UDEV TER: SOR iain, chica lyse gM 
Mean fork length and weight of Gulf menhaden in combined samples of the catch from all ports, by 
APOMPL IGA Seen ee ta, ee ON oe apa O) et a LONE MN eee Map ot Ptah sate Rog anny 2 tenth MM eS 
Estimated weights and percentages of each age of Gulf menhaden in the purse seine fishery and the 
actualiweight: Oftishucaughtl9G4-736) ons ck ore ey cia Meg Al outa neny yt)» er ea ne sR Reote 
Mean lengths of age-1 and -2 Gulf menhaden in purse seine catches, by degrees of longitude, 1964- 
THES. 6 Bint hee ecame ht Se SR a ec a eNom Cee Wee ea. oe feel 
Mean ages of Gulf menhaden byszmonth: and longitudel964-739 5 5 08 a see ces ie oe 
Mean lengths of Gulf menhaden of all ages and percentages of age-1 fish in samples of purse seine 
catches sb ypOrtsal 96427 3h y nena seats ene ca tas) CULT Koon eaten) ar ee cean ar e ore 
Catch per unit of effort of Gulf menhaden, at each age, 1962-72 year classes ........... 
ili 
'U 
sy) 
aq 
ts) 
OOAMNARHOWNHE 
Om ww 
