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Estimation Of Parameters Of Striped Bass Populations And Description Of The Fishery Of Lower Chesapeake Bay : Annual Progress Reports, George C. Grant

Reports

Contains 3 reports covering 1967, 1967-1968, Sept. 1968- June 1969 (third annual report)

Project Period: May 1, 1967 - Decemeber 31, 1969.

Treatment Of Shell With Polystream To Increase Survival Of Oysters (Crassostrea Virginica) In Virginia, Dexter S. Haven, James P. Whitcomb

Reports

Survival of oysters set on shells treated with Polystream* was investigated during 1963 and 1964. Treated and control shells were held in wire bags in the high-salinity intertidal seaside area of the Eastern Shore and in the moderate-salinity subtidal areas of the lower James River. Significantly more spat survived on treated shells than on controls. Differences in survival could not be attributed to absence of drill predation on treated shell.

Biology And Utilization Of Anadromous Alosids: Annual Progress Report (October 1, 1968 - September 30, 1969, Jackson Davis, Joseph P. Miller, J. Ernest Warriner

Reports

Estimates of average annual mortality rates were derived. from the decline in numbers of repeat river herring spawners each year. in the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers. The 1961 year-class contributed slightly more than 6 million fish to the fishery since 1965 while the 1962 year-class contributed nearly 5 million fish. Estimates could not be made for the James and York Rivers because the catch could not be measured. Fishing effort generally declined from 1968 in all major rivers with the Potomac River exhibiting the greatest decline. The catch of river herring in 1969 was generally lower than in 1968. Shad …

Special Report To Oyster Industry: Growing Oysters In Msx Areas, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

MSX is a microscopic parasite that kills oysters but is not harmful to humans. It is a protozoan, or one-celled animal which thrives in areas of high salinity water. Death of oysters occurs mostly in the warm season with minor losses occurring in winter. MSX is now in its tenth year in Virginia with no reduction of its activity.

Characterization Of Coastal And Estuarine Fish Nursery Grounds As Natural Communities, Willard A. Van Engel, Edwin B. Joseph

Reports

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Availability And Distribution Of Benthic Fishes Of Chesapeake Bight, Jackson Davis, John A. Musick, Edwin B. Joseph

Reports

In considering the potential for expanding the Middle Atlantic fishery, Virginia Institute of Marine Science estimated the seasonal distribution and availability of benthic fishes on the 15,000 square miles of continental shelf between Cape Hatteras and Cape May. The survey, which started in the winter of 1966 and continued through the winter of 1968, was conducted in two phases. The ·work in 1966 ·was devoted to determining the seasonal distribution of the various kinds of fishes, especially those which appeared to be under-utilized. For.this work a 45-foot semi-balloon shrimp trawl was employed to make 295 tows which were divided among …

Exploration For Schooling Pelagic Fishes In The Middle Atlantic Bight, Jackson Davis

Reports

An exploration for schooling pelagic fishes was conducted in the waters of the continental shelf between Cape Hatteras and Block Island during the period February 9 - May 14, 1969.

Fish schools detected by sonar were small and transitory. Rough seas, especially in February and March, make.two-boat purse seining of doubtful practicality (...)

Biology And Utilization Of Anadromous Alosids: Annual Progress Report (October 1, 1967 - September 30, 1968), Jackson Davis, J. Ernest Warinner, Joseph P. Miller

Reports

Scales were collected from alewife, blueback, American shad and hickory shad in each tidal river system in Virginia at weekly intervals. Reading of alewife scales is complete to date and the alewife catch from the York and Rappahannock Rivers has been analyzed for sex composition and spawning history.

Lack of catch records from the James and Potomac Rivers precludes analysis of these populations. Fishing effort in the major rivers during 1968 was equal to that of 1967. The catch of river herring increased approximately .4 million pounds over 19_67 increasing catch per unit of effort to the highest level on …

Biology And Utilization Of Anadromous Alosids: Annual Progress Report (March 3 - September 30, 1967), Jackson Davis, Joseph Miller

Reports

Scales were collected from alewife, blueback, American shad and hickory shad in each tidal river system in Virginia at weekly intervals. Analysis is underway to determine age composition and mortality rates of the stocks. Catch rates of river herring indicate that the fishery is in satisfactory condition. Catch by pound nets was estimated to be 4.1 million pounds of river herring and 204,000 pounds of shad in the Rappahannock River. In the York River, pound nets caught a minimum of 159,000 pounds of river herring and 36,000 pounds of shad and stake gill nets caught an estimated 238,000 pounds of …

Investigation Of Oyster Larvae And Spat And Certain Important Environmental Factors In An Horizontally Stratified Estuary : Final Report On Project 3-7-R, William J. Hargis Jr.

Reports

Reasonable progress has been made toward attaining the objectives of this project (No. 3-7-R). Considerable additional and new knowledge of the physical structure and dynamics of a theoretically horizontally-stratified estuary and the movement of the larvae and setting (spatfall) of juvenile Crassostrea virginica has been developed. Sedimentary processes, flushing times and the spatial and temporal distribution of the biological entities have also been investigated. Of especial interest have been the design, construction and verification of an hydraulic model of the system and the use of this scientific device to simulate movement of larvae by dye and to make 11time of …

A Preliminary Assessment Of The River Herring Stocks Of Lower Chesapeake Bay : A Progress Report To The Herring Industry, Edwin B. Joseph, Jackson Davis, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

No abstract provided.

Drill Control Studies With Formulations Of Polystream And Sevin For 1963, Dexter S. Haven, Michael Castagna, Et Al

Reports

During 1963 , the Virginia Institute of Marine Science conducted a series of tests on oyster drill control with formulations of "Polystream", a chlorinated hydrocarbon and "Sevin", an insecticide .

The utility of these two compounds had previously been investigated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Long Is land Sound, in the laboratory and in field trials on commercial beds. Several of these earlier fie ld studies indicated that the treatment prescribed was effective in drill control. Consequently, application was made to the U. S. Department of Agriculture for an " experimental permit." The permit was granted …

Surface Trawl Surveys To Determine The Abundance Of Juvenile American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) In The Pamunkey And Mattaponi Rivers, 1952 -1956, William Henry Massmann, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

No abstract provided.

Winter Mortalities Of Oysters On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, 1959-1961, H. Dickson Hoese

Reports

During the winter of 1960-61 exceptional mortalities occurred among certain oysters on the Virginia Seaside. These mortalities were greatest among James River oysters held intertidally and South Carolina imports placed below low tide level. Intertidal native oysters suffered small mortalities but among subtidal native or James River oysters only the very oldest, with extensive disease histories, showed any winter mortality. (...)

Keys To Virginia Invertebrates, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Classification of algae --

• Key to the free-swimming animals of jelly (less Hydromedusa) of Chesapeake Bay / H. Cones
• Key to some Virginia hydroids / D. Calder -- Key to sea anemones of Chesapeake Bay / M. Wass --
• A key to the species of nemerteans of Virginia / W. McCaul --
• Key to the polychaetes of Virginia ... / M. Wass, J. Melvin, and J. Kerwin --
• Key to some marine gastropods of Virginia / J. Kraeuter --
• Key to the pycnogonida of Virginia / J. McCain-
• Key to some groups of crustacea / J. Curtis --
• Key to …

Supplement To The Public Oyster Grounds Of The Rappahannock River, Jay D. Andrews, Dexter S. Haven

Reports

In the spring of 1952 a summary was made of conditions on the Rappahannock River oyster grounds.for the previous five yea.rs. Five more years have passed but little change is noted in this river. The exceptionally heavy set above Towles Point in 1954 and an apparent decline in setting below the Point are the chief deviations from the patterns described in 1952. A severe loss of oysters in the Rappahannock from hurricanes in August 1955 accentuated a scarcity which appears to be general on the Atlantic Coast. A period of unfavorable weather in the form of hurricanes and high temperatures …

Effect Of Delaware River Flow On Oysters In The Natural Seed Beds Of Delaware Bay, Carol Coughlin

Reports

The Delaware River and Estuary flow through or border four states, New York,11 New Jersey"' Pennsylvania and Delaware. The use of their waters is intimately connected with the economies of each State. The use, however, is varied and different for each State. Any major change in the conditions of the river and estuary, while it may benefit one or more States, may also create conditions detrimental to others. The river from headwaters to Marcus Hook furnishes water used mostly.for domestic and industrial purposes. In the lower part of the river and estuary is the environment that supports the oyster, a …

Studies On The Relation Between Black Mud And Mortalities In The Rappahannock River, Virginia, In 1953, Jay D. Andrews

Reports

Following the reappearance of "black mud" in May 1953, a meeting was held at Tappahannock to diacuss possible causes of the condition and the steps which might be taken if there was a recurrence of mortality such as followed the "black mud" in 1949. Lacking any clear cut evidence that pollution or physical factors caused the mortality, we suggested that a newly discovered fungus disease called Dermocystidium marinum be studied as a possible causal factor.

A study has been made of this disease in the Rappahannock River in the past year.

The Public Oyster Grounds Of The Rappahannock River, Jay D. Andrews, Dexter S. Haven

Reports

The Rappahannock River includes some of tho best oyster grounds in the state. The public grounds comprise a poorly used natural resource of great potential value to the state. At present oystermen gather the "wild" crop which, unf'ortunately, represents only a small portion of the oysters which could be raised by intensive management.

In a single phrase, the Rappahannock can be described as a river where oysters "grow fast but set poorly". The chief factor limiting production is the lack of adequate set of young oysters each year. It is not likely that biologists will learn in the near future …

Weekly Oyster Spatfall On Shellbags, 1951 & 1952 In The James River Seed Area, J. D. Andrews

Reports

Data sheets for one station, Wreck Shoal, in 1951 and eight stations in 1952. Notes within.

Weekly Oyster Spatfall On Shellstrings, 1950, In The James River Seed Area; : Data Sheets Showing Actual Counts On 10 Shellfaces And Fouling Organisms Also Counted, J. D. Andrews

Reports

Data sheets for eight stations monitored weekly [in 1950]: Brown Shoal, Gun Rock, White Shoal, Wreck Shoal, Rainbow Rock, Horsehead Rock, Point of Shoals, Deep Water Shoals.

The Importance Of Catch Records In The Management Of The Fisheries Of Virginia With Recommendations For The Establishment Of A Fishery Statistical Laboratory, Ralph C. Hammer, Willard Van Engel, Clinton E. Atkinson

Reports

(...) We, as a special committee, were instructed to consider the need of a statistical system that would :provide for a detailed record of fish and shellfish taken from the waters of Virginia.· We have reviewed the development of catch records now obtained by state and federal agencies; their original :purpose and use; and their inadequacies and limitations. We have studied the application of catch statistics to practical management problems; their relation to the economic security of the fishing industry'; and their value to law-makers in formulating wise and adequate legislation. We have compared the statistical systems successfully in operation …

Weekly Oyster Spatfall On Shellbags, 1948 & 1949 In The James River Seed Area, J. D. Andrews

Reports

Data sheets for Wreck Shoal in 1948 and Brown Shoal, Wreck Shoal and Deep Water Shoal, 1949.

Notes within.

Oyster Setting Records For Rappahannock River, Jay D. Andrews

Reports

1. The Rappahannook River probably never did get a consistent set of oyster spat.

2. In the year 1941 occurred the best set in recent years. No quantitative data.

3.The set for 1942 was practically nil.

4. The set for 1945 was very small or none.

5. The 1944 set was probably the second best in recent years with an average of 176 spat per bushel for the whole river.

6. No set of consequence occurred above Towles Point· in 1945, and a very light set occurred below this point.

7. Limited records indicate a year similar to 1945 for …

The Food Of Juvenile Leiostomus Xanthurus And Roccus Sa:Xatilis Taken In The York River, E. Tresselt

Reports

The stomach contents of 37 spot and 40 rock taken in the York River over a five week period were examined and the organisms present were identified as nearly as possible.

Weekly Oyster Spatfall On Shellbags, 1947, In The James River Seed Area, J. D. Andrews

Reports

Data sheets for three stations monitored weekly in 1947: Nansemond Ridge (in Hampton Roads), Wreck Shoal, and Deep Water Shoal.

Notes within.

Early History Of The Crab Industry In The U.S., Sewell H. Hopkins

Reports

No abstract provided.

Crabs Are Abundant In Bay This Year, Sewell Hopkins

Reports

Crw oatob records arc being collected. now from the winter dredge fishery by the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory. The crab dredge boats are finding crabs more abundant than for many years. The dredging season opened November 29 and will last until March 3l. During the first month, crab dredgers averaged about 25 barrels per trip, with some boats making occasional catches of 70 to 80 barrels.

A Study Of Oyster Strike On The Seaside Of Virginia, John G. Mackin

Reports

The Seaside oyster producing grounds of Tidewater lie between the string of off-shore islands and the mainland. The area is made up of a series of wide shallow bays and marsh islands cut by channels through which the tide ebbs and flows. Streams emptying into these bays from the mainland side are short and, excepting in extremely unusual wet weather, have little effect on the salinity of the bay waters which varies from 28 to 30 parts per thousand. The tidal range is nearly 5 feet, and at high spring tides cover the highest points of the marsh islands. At …

Preliminary Report On Crab Investigations In Va. Waters Conducted By The Va. Fisheries Laboratory, Virginia Fisheries Laboratory

Reports

Crab studies conducted by the Va. Fisheries Laboratory during 1943 and 1944 have included several lines of investigation that are reported here.