Pertintent Statistical Data for the Management of Maryland and Virginia Fisheries

Statistical records of the cpmmercial fisheries of Chesapeake Bayl, which have been compiled periodically since 1887 and annually since 1929, are the basis of our historical knowledge of commercial landings and fishing effort in Maryland and Virginia waters. The primary purpose of collecting commercial fisheries statistics has been to determine the number of fishermen, gear, and boats in the commercial fishery, and the total weight of each species landed. Prior to 1944, these statistics were estimated for both Maryland and Virginia fisheries from correspondence or interviews between federal and state personnel and large-scale commercial fishing operations, representative watermen, captains of licensed fishing vessels, wholesale fisheries firms, and packing and canning houses. ... morehttps://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/1149/thumbnail.jp

A Mark-recapture study of striped bass in the Rappahannock River, Virginia Annual Report 1988-1989

A total of 3,892 striped bass were tagged and released in the Fall 1988 and 1,316 fish in the Spring 1989 on the Rappahannock River. In the Fall, 77.6% of the tagged striped bass were less than 400 mm FL. In contrast, 81.5% of the fish were 400 mm FL or greater in the Spring. The available striped bass stock in the Fall is more vulnerable to fishing than is the available stock in the Spring. Recaptures per net day of tagged striped bass in pound nets in the Fall 1987 were seven times greater than in the Spring 1988, and 113 times greater in the Fall 1988 than in the Spring 1989. The latter value, however, is inflated to some degree because of recurring high river flows in the Spring 1989. With the occurrence of frequent freshets, the fish moved downstream below the location of the nets, thereby periodically reducing their availability

Striped Bass Research, Virginia: Characterization of Virginia\u27s Striped Bass Commercial Fisheries Annual Report 1988-89

The research reported herein (and in the 1982 through 1987 annual reports) is directly related to Priority III stated in the Action Plan (p. 15) of the Emergency Striped Bass Study (Anadromous Fish Conservation Act Amendment, Public Law 96-118). The amendment was the result of a decline in striped bass (Marone saxatilis) landings from Maine to North Carolina since the mid-1970\u27s. This report summarizes the results of the fall 1988 and spring 1989 sampling period and compares these results with the previous work

A Mark-recapture Study of Striped Bass in the James River, Virginia : Annual Report 1988

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. In the Spring 1988, 2,145 striped bass were tagged in the James River. 2. The mean size of striped bass tagged in 1988 (351.6 mm) was 117.9 mm smaller than mean size in 1987. The difference may be due to different locations and times of tagging. 3. The dominant age group in 1987 was the 1982 year class but in 1988 the dominant age group was the 1984 year class. This difference may also be accounted for by different locations and times of tagging. 4. The exodus of the mature fish out of the river after spawning and th8 absence of a commercial fishery resulted in only 34 tag returns from the Spring 1988 tagging. This proportion (0.016) of returns is small relative to the proportion of returns in previous tagging programs in the Chesapeake Bay when escapement was low due to high fishing pressures. There have been six returns from waters outside of Virginia when both 1987 and 1988 James River tagging releases are combined. Days-at-large range from zero (0) to 694, with 54% of the returns occurring within 60 days after release. v

A Mark-recapture study of striped bass in the Rappahannock River, Virginia Annual Report 1989-1990

A total of 6,203 striped bass were tagged in fall 1989 and 2,033 in spring 1990 on the Rappahannock River. In fall 1989, 63.5% of the tagged striped bass were less than 400 mm fork length (FL). In comparison, 86% of the fish were greater than 400 mm FL in spring 1990. Pound nets in the Rappahannock River account for 75% of the recaptures, while out of state recaptures account for only 0. 008% of the total returns

A Mark-recapture study of striped bass in the James and Rappahannock Rivers, Virginia Annual Report 1990-1991

A total of 1,903 striped bass were tagged in fall 1990 and 2,708 in spring 1991 on the Rappahannock River. A total of 2,405 striped bass were tagged in fall 1991 on the James River. In fall 1990, 47.2% of the striped bass tagged on the Rappahannock were less than 425 mm fork length (FL). In comparison, only 13.9% of the fish were less than 425 mm FL in spring 1991. Pound nets in the Rappahannock River accounted for 66.3% of the recaptures, while out of state recaptures accounted for only 2.65% of the total returns. In the fall 1990, the mean fork length of striped bass tagged and released in the James River that were captured by haul seines and fyke nets were 44 7 mm and 449 mm, respectively

A Mark-recapture study of striped bass in the James River, Virginia : Annual Report 1987

Internal anchor tags with external tubes were used to tag 1,986 striped bass in the James River in the Spring of 1987. The total number tagged was adjusted (at this time) to 823 because of observed and suspected tagging mortality. The available stock of striped bass in the Spring contained both young resident fish and mature nonresident fish which left the area of capture after spawning, presumably to migrate north in coastal waters. The exodus of the mature fish after spawning and the absence of a commercial fishery resulted in only 42 tag returns as of Spring 1988. This proportion (0.05) of returns is small relative to the proportion of returns in previous tagging programs in Chesapeake Bay when escapement was low due to high fishing pressures

A Mark-recapture study of striped bass in the Rappahannock River, Virginia Annual Report 1987-1988

Internal anchor tags with external tubes were used to tag 3, 319 striped bass in the Fall of 1987 and 2,024 in the Spring of 1988 in the Rappahannock River. The total number tagged was adjusted to 3,170 and 1,973 by removing from consideration all fish that were at large less than a week. The available stock of striped bass in the Spring contained both young resident fish and mature nonresident fish which left the area of capture after spawning, presumably to migrate north in coastal waters. The exodus of the mature fish after spawning was responsible, in part, for a low exploitation rate of 0.038. During the fall tagging a larger number of the striped bass tagged were the smaller resident fish which led to a higher exploitation rate of 0. 3

The Effect of Tropical Storm Agnes on Oysters, Hard Clams, Soft Clams, and Oyster Drills in VIrginia

Tropical Storm Agnes had a major effect on the molluscan fisheries of Virginia. One effect was the direct mortality of oysters, Crassostrea virginiaa, in the upper parts of many estuaries. Typical losses on leased bottoms were: the James River, 10%; the York River, 2%; the Rappahannock River, 50%; and the Potomac River tributaries (Virginia) 70%. Economic loss was in excess of 7.9 million dollars. There was a nearly complete absence of oyster larvae attachment (setting) in 1972. Other effects of Agnes included a nearly complete loss of soft clams, Mya arenaria, in the Rappahannock River. Hard clams, Meraenaria meraenaria, were killed in the upper part of the York River. Oyster drills, Urosalpinx ainerea, were eliminated from the Rappahannock and reduced greatly in numbers in the York and James Rivers.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/1074/thumbnail.jp