Biology and Management of the American Shad and Status of the Fisheries, Atlantic Coast of the United States, 1960

This paper summarizes current information on the American shad, Alosa sapidissima, and describes the species and its fishery. Emphasis is placed on (1) life history of the fish, (2) condition of the fishery by State and water areas in 1960 compared to 1896 when the last comprehensive description was made, (3) factors responsible for decline in abundance, and (4) management measures. The shad fishery has changed little over the past three-quarters of a century, except in magnitude of yield. Types of shad-fishing gear have remained relatively unchanged, but many improvements have been made in fishing techniques, mostly to achieve economy. In 1896 the estimated catch was more than 50 million pounds. New Jersey ranked first in production with about 14 million pounds, and Virginia second with 11 million pounds. In 1960 the estimated catch was slightly more than 8 million pounds. Maryland ranked first in production with slightly more than 1.5 million pounds, Virginia second with slightly less than 1.4 million pounds, and North Carolina third with about 1.3 million pounds. Biological and economic factors blamed for the decline in shad abundance, such as physical changes in the environment, construction of dams, pollution, over-fishing, and natural cycles of abundance, are discussed. Also discussed are methods used for the rehabilitation and management of the fishery, such as artificial propagation, installation of fish-passage facilities at impoundments, and fishing regulations. With our present knowledge, we can manage individual shad populations; but, we probably cannot restore the shad to its former peak of abundance.

Fisheries in a changing scene [includes section on proposed Morecambe Bay barrage scheme]: paper presented at Association of River Authorities, Annual Conference, Morecambe, 1967

The report looks at trends developing in the area of the Lancashire River Authority which will, by the turn of the century, bring tremendous pressures to bear on its natural resources, particularly land and water. It looks at difficulties maintaining an environment suitable for all, human or otherwise, including construction of energy plants and increasing population. It explores the scheme of harnessing water on Morecambe Bay, including fishery advantages and disadvantages. The report looks at fish deaths and diseases in Morecambe Bay and the Lancashire area, providing statistics.

A Review of the parasitic copepods of fish recorded from Ceylon with description of additional forms

The beginning of our knowledge of the copepods parasitic on fish from Ceylon is due to Bassett-Smith (1898 a) who, in a paper on "Further New Parasitic Copepods found on Fish in the Indo-Tropical Region", included seven species collected at Trincomalee and Colombo. Later in the same year, in a paper on "Some New or Rare Parasitic Copepods from the Indo-Tropical Region", he (Bassett-Smith, 1898 b) included three more species from Ceylon. Soon after, more of these parasites were obtained from Ceylon during Herdmann's investigation of the Pearl Banks. From this collection, one lot consisting of eleven species was described by Thompson and Scott (1903) and a second lot consisting of seven species was described by Wilson (1906). At that stage the number of species recorded from Ceylon made up to a total of twenty-eight and there the matter rested for another quarter of a century until, quite by chance, while collecting marine animals on a reef, Mr Kirtisinghe came across a newly dead half-beak with a learned parasite projecting from its body. Since then, in a number of occasional papers (Kirtisinghe, 1932-35, 1937, 1950, 1956, 1960) he has described thirty-eight more species of parasitic copepods from Ceylon. However, his collection included many more species which were put aside for later attention. In the present paper, while dealing with those forms in his collection which he has not recorded or described earlier, he has put together all the known forms of parasitic copepods of fish from Ceylon. A list of the host fishes with their respective parasitic copepods is also provided, types of new species, at present in the author's private collection, will be deposited in the Fisheries Department, Colombo, Ceylon.