An Investigation of Herring (Clupea harengus L.) Spawning Using Free-Diving Techniques

Abstract
Free-diving (Scuba) techniques were used to survey a herring spawning bed near Blanchard Point, Chaleur Bay, N.B., in May 1962. The spawning bed occupied a long, narrow area running parallel with and near the shore in depths of 4–20 feet (1.3–6 m). The total area surveyed was 448,800 square yards (375,200 sq m) and the total number of herring eggs was estimated to be 35.46 × 1011. The number of spawning herring was calculated to be 185 million fish (54.7 million pounds or 24,812 metric tons). The commercial fishery took 2.2 million pounds (998 metric tons) in the vicinity of the survey area which represents a fishing mortality rate of 4.0%. Hatching started about May 24 when large numbers of herring larvae 5–7 mm long were captured with plankton nets.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: