Pacific Hagfish, Eptatretus stouti, and Black Hagfish, E. deani: The Oregon Fishery and Port Sampling Observations, 1988-92

In 1988, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife began sampling and monitoring the development of a new fishery for Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stouti, and black hagfish, E. deani. Hagfish landings by Oregon trap vessels have ranged from 11,695 kg in 1988 to 340,774 kg in 1992. Whole frozen fish were shipped to South Korea for the "eel skin" leather market. From 1988 through 1989, I sampled 924 Pacific hagfish and 897 black hagfish from commercial and research catches. Mean length of fish sampled from commercial landings was 39.6 cmf or Pacific hagfish and 34.5 cm for black hagfish. Weight-length relationships (W=aLb) were calculated for males and females of both species. Fifty percent maturity for male and female Pacific hagfish was 35 cm and 42 cm, respectively, while 50% maturityf or male and female black hagfish was 34 cm and 38 cm, respectively. Examination of gonads for both species indicated that spawning either occurs throughout the year or the spawning period is protracted. Mature females of both species had from one to three distinct sizes of eggs, but they usually carried only one group of eggs over 5 mm in length. Mature Pacific hagfish females averaged 28 eggs over 5 mm in length, and black hagfish females averaged 14 eggs over 5 mm in length. Hermaphroditism was found in 0.2% of the Pacific hagfish examined.

Lune, Wyre & Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee 5th May, 1975

This is the report from the Lune, Wyre and Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 5th May, 1975. It covers information on fishery byelaws, Eel trapping, and a report by the Unit Fisheries Officer on fisheries activities. This section includes work on stocking, fisheries management, fish mortalities, migratory fish runs for the Rivers Lune, Wyre and Furness during 1974. Catch returns and spawning information for 1974 are also covered aswell as biological work and the approval of River Leven work. Other areas looked at include licence duties and inportation of live freshwater fish. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee 7th May, 1975

This is the report from the South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 7th May, 1975. It covers information on fishery byelaws, eel trapping, and a report by the Unit Fisheries Officer on fisheries activities. This section includes work on stocking, fisheries management, fish mortalities including date, location, number, species and cause. Migratory fish runs for the Rivers Ribble and Hodder during 1974 are also added. Catch returns and spawning information for 1974 are also covered aswell as biological work undertaken. Licence duties and information on the importation of live freshwater fish are included. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Mersey & Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee 19th January, 1977.

This is the report from the Mersey and Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 19th January, 1977. The report contains information the construction of a new surface water drain to Pennington Flash, fisheries activities, fish stocking, eel fishing and estuarial waters, and infectious Pancreatic Necrosis. The section on fisheries activities includes brown/rainbow trout, roach, perch, bream, carp, tench and rudd stocking and fish mortalities. The section on Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis highlights its prevention on imports of salmonid fish and ova. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Lune, Wyre & Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee 17th January, 1977.

This is the report from the Lune, Wyre and Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 17th January, 1977. The report contains sections on angling information on the River Lune, fisheries activities, fish stocking, eel fishing in estuarial waters, and Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis which highlights its prevention on imports of salmonid fish and ova. The section on fisheries activities includes salmon and sea trout propagation in Middleton hatchery; fishing conditions/monitoring; and a proposed fish counter in the River Wyre. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee 12th January 1977.

This is the report from the South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 12th January 1977. The report contains sections on fish mortalities at Henthorn on the 10th July, 1976, fisheries activities, fish stocking, eel fishing on estuarial waters, and infectious Pancreatic Necrosis highlighting its prevention on imports of salmonid fish and ova. The section on fish mortalities looks at fish deaths on the River Ribble caused by a discharge from Clitheroe Sewage Works. The report on fisheries activities includes information on artificial propagation and numbers of fish passing through Waddow Weir, Winckley Hall and Locks Weir between January to November 1976. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Eden & District Fisheries Advisory Committee 11th January, 1977.

This is the report from the Eden and District Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 11th January, 1977. The report contains sections on netting on the Solway Firth, fisheries activities, fish stocking, eel fishing on estuarial waters, and infectious Pancreatic Necrosis. The section on fisheries activities includes general information on the River Eden and Esk; fish transfers; predators; disease; fish mortalities; restocking; and information of Holmwrangle hatchery. The section on Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis looks at this fish disease highlighting its prevention on imports of salmonid fish and ova. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South & West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee 10th January, 1977.

This is the report from the South and West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 10th January, 1977. The report contains information on water resources development in West Cumbria, Branthwaite Weir regarding the construction of a fish pass, fisheries activities, fish stocking, eel fishing on estuarial waters, and infectious Pancreatic Necrosis which highlights its prevention on imports of salmonid fish and ova. The section on fisheries activities includes general information on the River Derwent; diseases; fish mortalities; Holmwrangle hatchery and land drainage works. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee 19th July, 1976.

This is the report from the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 19th July 1976. The report contains the minutes of the last meetings of the Local Fisheries Advisory Committees, information on eel fishing in estuarial waters and netting on the Lune Estuary. The report also covers fisheries improvement work on the River Leven. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee 12th November, 1979.

This is the report from the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 12th November 1979. The report contains the minutes of the previous meetings of the Local Fisheries Advisory Committees, information on fishing licence duties, net and fixed engine licence duties and eel fishing in tidal and estuarial waters. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Central Area Fisheries Advisory Committee 7th September, 1981

This is the report from the Central Area Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 7th September, 1981. It covers information including the consultation paper on the review of Inland and Coastal fisheries in England and Wales, a paper on 'A National Salmon Policy' and information on the response to an application for a professional eel trapper to fish for eels with fyke nets on Lake Windermere. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee 9th November, 1981

This is the report from the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 9th November 1981. The report contains the minutes of the last meeting and recommendations for these committees, information on the restructuring of rod and line fishing licence duties, and information on commercial Eel trapping on Lake Windermere. Also covered is information on a fish trap on St. Johns Beck near Keswick, draft net licences in the Rivers Derwent and Ellen and options available to improve the access for unemployed persons to recreational facilities. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee 22nd May, 1989

This is the report from the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 22nd May, 1989. The report contains sections on fishing licence duties, Ombudsman’s investigations, prosecutions for netting offences, eel netting in River Ribble Estuary, fish mortality incidents and fishing licence sales. The section on Ombudsman’s Report looks at the complaint against the Authority relating to the allocation of haaf net licences for the Solway Firth. The section on fish mortality incidents focuses on fish Mortalities in River Laneshaw and Colne Water on 26/27 March 1989. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Effects of blood extraction on horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus)

Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are caught by commercial fishermen for use as bait in eel and whelk fisheries (Berkson and Shuster, 1999)—fisheries with an annual economic value of $13 to $17 million (Manion et al.1). Horse-shoe crabs are ecologically important, as well (Walls et al., 2002). Migratory shorebirds rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food as they journey from South American wintering grounds to Arctic breeding grounds (Clark, 1996). Horse-shoe crabs are also essential for public health (Berkson and Shuster, 1999). Biomedical companies bleed horse-shoe crabs to extract a chemical used to detect the presence of endotoxins pathogenic to humans in injectable and implantable medical devices (Novitsky, 1984; Mikkelsen, 1988). Bled horseshoe crabs are returned to the wild, subject to the possibility of postbleeding mortality. Recent concerns of overharvesting have led to conflicts among commercial fishermen, environmentalists acting on behalf of the shorebirds, and biomedical companies (Berkson and Shuster, 1999; Walls et al., 2002).

Recruitment season, size, and age of young American eels (Anguilla rostrata) entering an estuary near Beaufort, North Carolina

Net catches from 1985–86 to 1994–95 at Pivers Island, North Carolina, indicated that glass-eel stage American eels (Anguilla rostrata) were recruited to the estuary from November to early May, with peak numbers in January, February, and March. There was no declining trend in recruitment over the years of sampling. Except for one year, there was no clear seasonal decrease in mean length. But shorter glass eels were older than longer glass eels, as judged by age within the glass eel growth zone of the otolith, suggesting that smaller fish took longer to arrive. The mean age of glass eels collected from the lower estuary and a freshwater site 9.5 km upriver differed by 8.4 d (36.2 vs. 44.6, respectively). Outer increments (30–35) of the otolith growth zone of glass eels from North Carolina were significantly wider than corresponding increments of otoliths from New Brunswick. Mean total ages of North Carolina, New Jersey, and New Brunswick elvers were 175.4, 201.2, and 209.3 d, corresponding to mean lengths of 55.9, 60.9, and 58.1 mm TL, respectively. The mean durations of glass-eel growth zones (44.6, 62.3, and 69.8) were in close agreement with those from previous studies, but total ages were not. This suggested that perhaps some finer (leptocephalus stage) increments were not detected by light microscopy, differences occurred in seasonal increment deposition, or absorption of the otolith material may have taken place during metamorphosis, rendering the aging of larvae inaccurate. Judging from the long recruitment period and seasonal uniformity in both mean age and length found in our study, the spawning period of American eels may be somewhat more protracted than previously considered.