The Ragfish, Icosteus aenigmaticus Lockington, 1880: A Synthesis of Historical and Recent Records From the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea

Knowledge of the distribution and biology of the ragfish, Icosteus aenigmaticus, an aberrant deepwater perciform of the North Pacific Ocean, has increased slowly since the first description of the species in the 1880’s which was based on specimens retrieved from a fish monger’s table in San Francisco, Calif. As a historically rare, and subjectively unattractive appearing noncommercial species, ichthyologists have only studied ragfish from specimens caught and donated by fishermen or by the general public. Since 1958, I have accumulated catch records of >825 ragfish. Specimens were primarily from commercial fishermen and research personnel trawling for bottom and demersal species on the continental shelves of the eastern North Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean, as well as from gillnet fisheries for Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., in the north central Pacific Ocean. Available records came from four separate sources: 1) historical data based primarily on published and unpublished literature (1876–1990), 2) ragfish delivered fresh to Humboldt State University or records available from the California Department of Fish and Game of ragfish caught in northern California and southern Oregon bottom trawl fisheries (1950–99), 3) incidental catches of ragfish observed and recorded by scientific observers of the commercial fisheries of the eastern Pacific Ocean and catches in National Marine Fisheries Service trawl surveys studying these fisheries from 1976 to 1999, and 4) Japanese government research on nearshore fisheries of the northwestern Pacific Ocean (1950–99). Limited data on individual ragfish allowed mainly qualitative analysis, although some quantitative analysis could be made with ragfish data from northern California and southern Oregon. This paper includes a history of taxonomic and common names of the ragfish, types of fishing gear and other techniques recovering ragfish, a chronology of range extensions into the North Pacific and Bering Sea, reproductive biology of ragfish caught by trawl fisheries off northern California and southern Oregon, and topics dealing with early, juvenile, and adult life history, including age and growth, food habits, and ecology. Recommendations for future study are proposed, especially on the life history of juvenile ragfish (5–30 cm FL) which remains enigmatic

Bomb radiocarbon and tag-recapture dating of sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)

The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) was the cornerstone species of western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico large coastal shark fisheries until 2008 when they were allocated to a research-only fishery. Despite decades of fishing on this species, important life history parameters, such as age and growth, have not been well known. Some validated age and growth information exists for sandbar shark, but more comprehensive life history information is needed. The complementary application of bomb radiocarbon and tag-recapture dating was used in this study to determine valid age-estimation criteria and longevity estimates for this species. These two methods indicated that current age interpretations based on counts of growth bands in vertebrae are accurate to 10 or 12 years. Beyond these years, we could not determine with certainty when such an underestimation of age begins; however, bomb radiocarbon and tag-recapture data indicated that large adult sharks were considerably older than the estimates derived from counts of growth bands. Three adult sandbar sharks were 20 to 26 years old based on bomb radiocarbon results and were a 5- to 11-year increase over the previous age estimates for these sharks. In support of these findings, the tag-recapture data provided results that were consistent with bomb radiocarbon dating and further supported a longevity that exceeds 30 years for this species

The Ursinus Weekly, September 25, 1933

Character of Cyrus Curtis stressed in 64th opening academic exercises • Yearbook staff promises unusual Ruby this year • Grizzlies practice with LaSalle preparing for Villanova tussle • 32 frosh football men report for practice • Freshmen hear faculty and student council heads • Symphony orchestra to be organized by Leman • Hill and dalers report today for first practice • Treasure hunt features reception by YW and YM • Student council reception climaxes freshman week • Women\u27s student govt. meets for first time • Fall net tournament open to all tennis enthusiasts • Initial meeting of the men\u27s student council • Y.W.C.A. to hold sing at Glenwood memorial • Coeds begin practice for league hockey campaign • College Y to be host to district cabinet group • Activities council to meet Tuesday in Bomberger Hall • Important world events to be summarized by I.R.C. • Nine alumni and one prof. receive degrees from Penn • Inspection of freshmen delights upper classmen • Trinity Sunday school has reorganized college dept. • Vesper service features program of enrichment • Engraver to address staff of Ruby in meeting tonight • Few changes in grid rules effective in coming seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1998/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, December 11, 1933

Curtain Club produces hit • Directors hold fall meeting • Gridders close good season • Joint councils present dance • St. Joe\u27s first basketball foe • U. of P. professor discusses NRA • Wieneke to coach wrestling squad • Dr. Starr tells of interesting travels • Brian to be editor of 1935 Ruby • Dinner to feature Christmas party • Music Club will sponsor Christmas dawn service • Four three-day trips on men\u27s debate schedule • Club hears members on several world problems • Men to decide champion in contract bridge tourney • Student activities council grants meet night to club • Lantern Christmas issue to appear Tuesday night • Brotherhood of St. Paul discusses aspects of God • Dr. Bartholomew, church mission board head, dies • Frosh hockey team wins over upper class rivals • Y chorus to make bow at communion service • Biography reports feature meeting of English Club • Leaders for next season chosen for three sportshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2008/thumbnail.jp

Tracemaking Activities of Crabs and Their Environmental Significance: The Ichnogenus \u3ci\u3ePsilonichnus\u3c/i\u3e

Modem crabs are common inhabitants of shallow subtidal, intertidal, and supratidal environments, and many crabs are capable of producing traces that can be preserved in the rock record. The first crabs, Early Jurassic in age, probably were not fossorial. By Cretaceous time, however, diverse endobenthic lineages were established. Many representatives of these lineages undoubtedly produced domiciles that are preserved in shallow marine to quasimarine sediments and that should be useful in characterizing the depositional environment of the sediments. Nonetheless, most such dwelling structures have been studied little and remain essentially unnamed. The ichnogenus Psilonichnus Fiirsich is amenable to the taxonomic concept of several forms of crab burrows; presently recognized ichnospecies include P. tubiformis Fiirsich and P. upsilon (n. ichnosp.). Future work may reveal the need for further ichnospecific differentiation. The occurrence of Psilonichnus upsilon and related burrow forms should prove to be a useful criterion for the identification of marine-margin facies in the rock record. Certain crabs also produce domiciles referable to Thalassinoides, Gyrolithes, and Skolithos, and possibly Macanopsis and Spongeliomorpha. Except for Skolithos, such structures traditionally have been attributed to shrimp, lobsters, or stomatopods. Ethologic and taxonomic re-evaluation of these burrow forms is needed

The Ursinus Weekly, February 26, 1934

Three one-act plays presented • Dr. Hart to speak at week of prayer • Bears break losing streaks as Chase five downs Mules; matmen also win • Phila. alumni will honor Dean Kline • Plans to be formed for Varsity Club banquet • Frosh tumble Perkiomen and Hill School fives • Negative NIRA team completes three-day trip • Announcement made of scholarship awards • Music Club program features vocal and instrumental solos • Derr and Day are tied for top honors in league • Men debaters lose first home contest to Western Maryland • Women\u27s debating club discusses recovery act • Henry K. Boyer, Freeland Seminary graduate, succumbs • Freshmen receive colors at annual Color Day exercises • Dr. Goepp to speak Feb. 28https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2014/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, May 8, 1933

Colorful promenade and thrilling play feature junior week-end • Address on Prince William features Huguenot meeting • Mowrey hurls for bears in win from Bucknell, 9-4 • Magazine plans progress under Miller\u27s editorship • Martha Moore installed as president of WSGA • Women students present Wagner pageant Saturday • Prominent theologian to speak at chapel exercises • Track records smashed as teachers outrun grizzlies • Lehigh Valley alumni banquet in Allentown • Curtain Club to present The Young Idea Saturday • College presidents of Penna. convene at Ursinus Friday • Freshmen pound out win from Villanova yearlings • Grimm gets five firsts in conference championships • Dolores Quay to represent Ursinus at fete in Poconos • Villanova defeats Ursinus netmen in first home duel • Handbook editor elected • Groups to be photographed Thursday for 1934 Ruby • Organizations to elect new activities council members • Dr. John Herndon addresses International Relations Club • Notes on 1933 Ruby • Spring title of program presented at YW meeting • Swarthmore coeds defeat Ursinus girls in net match • Dr. Pierson of Hahnemann guest of pre-med society • Rev. R. C. Coates speaks at banquet of Brotherhood • Frosh discussion group hears woman physician • Classics group elects head • Humorous debate held at meeting of forensic clubs • Y.M.-Y.W.C.A. to sponsor doggie roast next Wednesdayhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2055/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, October 30, 1933

Dr. Omwake tells of trip to Europe during summer • Coeds honor Dean Kline by planting of oak tree • Bears defeat Drexel Dragons, 7-0; grizzly cubs trounce foe, 19-0 • Enrollment prospects for next year are promising • All proofs of Ruby pictures must be returned on Wed. • Swarthmore hockey team breaks bears\u27 streak, 3-2 • Temple harriers defeat bears in dual meet here • Senior class sponsors dance evening of Muhlenberg game • Professors lead freshmen in interesting discussions • Ursinus tries for x-country trophy at G-burg Saturday • Mitchell leads vespers in program featuring music • English group hears annual travel talk by Dr. Smith • Clean living subject of doctor\u27s speech to women • Philadelphia concert opens Glee Club season Tuesday • Student literary magazine to appear during Decemberhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2003/thumbnail.jp

Flight-Time Identification of a UH-60A Helicopter and Slung Load

This paper describes a flight test demonstration of a system for identification of the stability and handling qualities parameters of a helicopter-slung load configuration simultaneously with flight testing, and the results obtained.Tests were conducted with a UH-60A Black Hawk at speeds from hover to 80 kts. The principal test load was an instrumented 8 x 6 x 6 ft cargo container. The identification used frequency domain analysis in the frequency range to 2 Hz, and focussed on the longitudinal and lateral control axes since these are the axes most affected by the load pendulum modes in the frequency range of interest for handling qualities. Results were computed for stability margins, handling qualities parameters and load pendulum stability. The computations took an average of 4 minutes before clearing the aircraft to the next test point. Important reductions in handling qualities were computed in some cases, depending, on control axis and load-slung combination. A database, including load dynamics measurements, was accumulated for subsequent simulation development and validation