Cox, Keith W.

English

Aquatic Commons

Vessels: 
Dates: 
Locality: 
Purpose: 
Results: 
The Resources Agency of California
 
Department Qf Fish and Game
 
Marine Resources Operations
 
California State Fisheries Laboratory
 
Terminal Island, California
 
Cruise Reports 6285, 6256, 62Ml, 6~12 -- Abalone 
Prepared by Keith W. Cox 
N. Bo SCOFIELD
 
M0 V. lviOLLUSK
 
First Cruise August 15 - August 27, 1962 (62S5 and
 
62Ml).
 
Second Cruise September 5 - September 17, 1962 (6286
 
and 62}'12).
 
Mainland coastal areas of Avila and San Simeon; and
 
the Channel Islands of Santa Catalina, San Clemente,
 
Santa Barbara~ San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa,
 
and Anacapa.
 
iro examine areas of commercial and sport abalone fish­

ing.
 
To examine established stations.
 
To collect samples for maturity, and growth studies.
 
To tag a limited number of abalones for transplanting
 
experiment s.
 
First Cruise: 
Avila 
No abalones were found on any of the dives. There is 
no explanation for this since the bottom and general 
environment appeared suitable for them. 
San Simeon 
The abalones sampled here had well-developed gonads 
and appeared to be approaching spawning. Sizes ranged 
from 153 to 216 mm but most were between 190 and 198 
mm. All but two showed evidence of last season's 
growth. Several had added over 2.5 em of shell. 
This seasonvs growth appeared to be just starting; most 
of the sampled abalones had added 1 to 2 mm of shell. 
Because of rough weather plans for diving along the 
mainland coast were altered and operations were 
shifted to San Miguel and Santa Cruz Islands. 
San Miguel Island 
At Station ISM considerable bottom changes had taken 
place since last year. Sand had moved in over large 
areas, almost completely covering the rocks; most of 
the kelp was growing through the sand but no abalones 
... 2 -
were present. At the east end of the station, rocks 
were almost bare and covered with sea urchins. In 
the middle area, kelp was growing so thickly that it 
was difficult to get through, but no abalones were 
found. Abalones were finally located at the extreme 
west end of the area. Many young were found on the 
undersides of rocks. Forty abalones, 144 to 220 mm 
across? were collected for Marineland. Many of these 
showed evidence of last season's growth; only one or 
two had started this season's growth. 
Santa Cruz Island 
Dives were made at Scorpion Cove, a representative aba-
lone area. Almost all red and pink abalones collected 
showed considerable growth for last season. The ratio 
of 42 red to 17 pink abalones compared fav~rably with 
the trend first observed a year ago, (tha~ is, the red 
abalones are increasing in numbers on the north shore 
of Santa Cruz Island). Sizes in the sample of reds 
ranged from 148 to 201 mm but most were between 175 
and 190 mrn. 
Santa Catalina Island 
At Harbor l<.eef (Stati_on l(~) the ke Ip 11as cont inued to 
return and is now about as concentrated as it was in 
1957, before the influx of warm water. ~lany young 
abalones (pinks), all in good condition, were observed 
feeding. Most showed new shell growth but not an ex~ 
ceptiona1 amounte 
Second (Jruise: 
Santa Rosa Island 
An effort was made to inspect black abalones tagged 
in 1961 at ISR, but rough weather prohibited our sam-
pling them. 
Anacapa Island 
Diving was delayed because both divers had mild resper-
atory infections. First dives were made on the north 
side where bottom conditions appeared good but abalones 
were scarcec Skin and SCUBA divers frequent this area 
and as a result it is heavily fished, which may account 
for the scarcity of abalones. At Anacapa Station lA, 
on the south side, few abalones were observed. Kelp 
continues to return, but bottom conditions, adverse 
to abalones, appeared to be spreading (i.e. increases 
in sand and sea urchins). 
Santa Barbara Island 
At Station lSB, kelp was not as dense as last year, 
- 3 -
many abalones were close to shore and on the under-
sides of rocks; there was no evidence of unusual 
growth. Spot dives on the north side of the main 
islanrl in the thick growth of Postelsia palrnaeformis 
revealed only an occassional abalone but on the edge 
of kelp beds great concentrations of sea urchins were 
observed. 
San Nicolas Island 
A sample of 40 reds and 11 pink abalones was taken from 
Station ISN o Reds ranged from 65 to 230 mm across, 
with 25 between 200 and 230 mm. Considerable last 
year's growth was evident on almost all shells and only 
a small amount for the current season e 
Pinks showed recent growth of from 2 to 4 rome Both 
species had we11~developed gonads, approaching spawn-
ing condition The greatest abalone concentrationso 
were found in 50~ to 60-foot depths. 
San Clemente Island 
Abalones appeared to be less numerous at Station ISC 
than last yearo Last season's growth ranged between 
3 to 5 rom, and little .or no growth for this season was 
observed for pinks. Growth on green abalones was highly 
irregular, ranging from 0 to 2 inches e 
At Pyramid Cove (Station 2SC), pinks and greens were 
found in large concentrations, in some areas stacked 
two and three deepo Abalones were not present in such 
numbers last year in this area. Several of the greens 
"t\Tere in spawning condition but the pi'!lks were not" 
At China ;·.;ove (Station 3SC), commercial divers were 
working and v]e made dives in the immediate area. Legal 
size pink abalones were scarce. The divers had been 
working f or several hours and had only a few dozen e 
~his area has been worked heavily by the commercial 
divers during the last year. 
Santa Catalina Island 
Abalones at Station 2C were more numerous than last 
year with a noticeable increase in small (l~ to 3-
inch) individuals. 
A pink, tagged October 1958, wh.ich had grown 18 rom 
by September 1962~ was recovered from this station. 
All 145 abalones taken at San Nicolas, San Clemente, 
al1d Anacapa vlere measured, tagged and placed in Sta... 
tion 2C. At Station 3C (Avalon Harbor), approxi-
mately 30 abalones (pinlcs) tag[:~ed in 1957 with plas-
tic disks were found. The disks had completely de-
terioratecl:. ()nly the w-" re remained e 
Personnel: 
- 4 -
At Station IC 7 we recovered empty shells of two reds 
transplanted in 1956. Both were recovered in 100 feet 
of water, neither had grown after tagging. At a depth 
of 115 feet 7 three young white abalones H. sorenseni, 
(3/4, 1 1/2, and 4 inches across) were recovered from 
the und~rsurface of a rock. Kelp has returned on the 
reef and is 11.0vl abOtlt as thi.ck as in 1956. l·"1any young 
pinks were observed" all appeared to be in good con--
dition. 
Sumnlary of obser'vations: 
In~neral the environment of all areas showed a pro-
gressive improvement in food supply for the present 
abalone population. 'rhis is reflect2d in the increase 
in tl:e nurnbers of growing young in most areas. \~here 
cornrnercial fishing pressllr c3 has been heaviest, legal-
size abalones were scarce; where skin diving pressure 
has been re avy (l\nacapa), abalone s of all sizes were 
scanty. Most of tl~ abalones showed considerable 
grovJth for last season. This season t 3 growth is just 
beginning. 
Gonad examinations indicated that spawning had not yet 
occurred, although most were approaching ripeness. 
'fhe overall c'Jndi tic)n of the abalone res()urce is, from 
a biological standpoint, encouraging and if present 
conditions prevail, should remain so for the balance 
of the season. 
R. B. Mitchell-Captain, N. B. SCOFIELD 
Iv!. Ivlaza,ro vicll-Acting Captain 
K.\aJ'. CoxC)Biologist..,inaaocharge 
G. Bickford~Diver Deckhand 
W. Thomas-Diver Deckhand 
Dr. P.G. Orr-Santa Barbara 1"1useum -- guest 
t--__.._------------....-------------'.-...,----.. ---~,---.---. -_...._.. _~-. ,," ,.-,-_..-~ ---~ 
Simeon 
Location of Diving 
Stations-Abalone 
Cruise 62S5,62f':11 
A= Diving Site 
Hard Hat Gear 
'.fJorro 
Bay 
Pt'. Conception 
12,1 0 
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.. 
Location of Stations 
l><:::r 
s. Miguel 
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'lI .. ~1o:.s.:.<rl  __ 
nzt'"""'". C' 
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'cd::: I •. e 'AII' ::&: 
Abalone Cruise 
62116, 6~~ . 
~ = Station site 
o = Diving site SCUBA 
A = Hard Hat 
e = Scorpion Cove 
Anacapa 
and Diving Sites 
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Santa B~bara  ,'// Ie 
San Nicolas .2 5'" 
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Cruise Report 62S5,62S6, 62M1, 62M2 - Abalone

http://aquaticcommons.org/2512/1/CR_62-S-5%2C_62-S-6%2C_62-M-1%2C_62-M-2.pdf

Cruise Report 62S5,62S6, 62M1, 62M2 - Abalone

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