HERRING IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA 
285 - 
These factors are shown in Figure 12 giving the total catch, the number of vessels 
engaged in the fishery (weighted by the length of time spent in Prince William Sound 
and the relative productivity of that time, estimated from the catch per 10-day 
period), the portion of the catch used for pickling, and the reduction plant capacities, 
plotted on a logarithmic scale to show comparative rates of change. Before entering 
further discussion, however, the regulations governing the fishery should first be 
considered. 
Figure 13 shows the opening and closing dates which have been in force in Prince 
William Sound. The regulations governing the opening dates of the seasons are the 
only ones which have measurably affected the catch, the closing dates having had 
little influence. (Fig. 7.) The effect which the shortening of the season has had on 
the total catch is difficult to measure because no accurate records were kept of the 
dates on which herring were taken prior to 1923, but the conclusions from the avail- 
able data are given in Table 14. 
Table 14. — Effect of closed seasons on the catch in Prince William Sound 
Year 
1924 > 
1925 
1926 
1927 
1928 
1929 
1930 
Per cent reduction of catch by closed seasons > j 
0.0 J 
22.9 
22.9 
8.9 
11.8 
27.7 
27.7 
i Closed seasons were not effective until 1925, * Computed from catch per boat per 10-day period. 
