Craig, William L.

Aquatic Commons

State of Cali Forni a = The Rescur'ces Agency 
Department of Fish and Game 
Marine Resources Operations 
California State Fisheries LabofatOf.Y 
Terminal Isldnd~ Ca'} ifornlCi 
Cruise Report 67-5-4 - Albacore 
Prepared by Wll1i am L Cra j 9 
Vessel~	 N. B. SCOFIELD 
Datesg Departed from San Pedro May 25; returned June 21~ 1967 
Localityg Up to 1~000 miles offshore between the latitudes of Guadalupe 
Island and San Francisco. 
PUI'pose~ I.  To intercept incoming albacore schools and determine their 
coastward migration route. 
2.  To gather environmental dar:a D both physical and biological~ 
that might be related to the albacore migration. 
Resultsg L (a) Most of the 3~000 mile track was covered during day-
light D while trolling assorted jigs on '7 lines. 
(b) Four albacore (Thunnus aZalunga j were caught in widely 
separated locations. The first~ a 16 pounder~ was 
taken on June 6~ approximately 920 miles west of the 
Mexican Border (lato 32007vN.~ long o 135009~W.). The 
following day two weighing 9 and 6 pounds were caught 
60 and 100 miles respectively~ north of the first. 
The last albacore was caught 8 days later (June 15) 
some 750 miles west of Guadalupe Island o Chumming 
with live anchovies ~ circling the catch area and back~· 
tracking on the coarse provided no second strikes and no 
visual sign of surface fish o None of the fish was 
tagged. 
Three small dolphinfish (CoY'yphaena hippuru.s) averaging 
5 pounds each~ also were caught. 
(c) Sea'~surface temperatures at albacore catch locations 
ranged between 15.80 and 19.ZoC (6004° and 66060F); 
surface salinities were between 34.3 and 34.9 0/00. 
(d) The data indicated that the 1967 albacore migration had 
not reached the survey area during this cruise. 
2.  (a) Bathythermograph casts to 270 meters (900 ft.) depth 
were made at 139 stations. We took BT casts at 40-mile 
intervals~ except however~ in the transition area where 
the number was more than doubled. All BT slides were 
read~ coded and transmitted to the Navy Fleet Weather 
Facility~ Monterey~ via Government radio station WWD. 
- 2 -
(b) Ten-meter Nansen bottle casts were made at 40-mile in-
tervals throughout the cruise. Seventy-five casts pro-
vided water samples for salinity analysis and reversing 
temperatures at depth. 
(c) Salinity at keel depth was monitored continuously by a 
Hytech salinograph. This provided an invaluable reco~d 
of salinities in the transition area. 
(d) Sea temperatures also were monitored closely. At BT 
stations, surface temperature was measured by bucket 
thermometer; at keel depth, by a mercury-bulb thermometer 
placed in the intake line of the salinograph reservoir 
and by a Taylor thermograph. 
(e) The EDO or the Simrad depth sounder was operated at BT 
stations, at fish catch locations, and on Erben Bank. 
(f)  A night~light station employing a 1,OOO-watt bulb, was 
occupied when drifting at night. Seventeen collections 
were made, consisting primarily of invertebrates. Saury 
(Cololabis saira) were present in varying density at 
every station. Myctophids were not common, however, 
several small collections were obtained. Jack mackerel 
(Trachurus symmetricus), usually a common fish under a 
bright light, were seen or collected only 2 or 3 times 
this trip. 
(g) The most common organisms seen during daylight were 
Velella and pelagic snails (Janthina spp.). Tremendous 
numbers of snails were observed in the transition area. 
They occurred free floating and associated with Velella. 
A large collection was obtained in all stages of develop-
ment, from eggs to adults. 
One group of 12 to 15 medium-sized whales was observed 
about 860 miles west of San Geronimo Island. 
Two glass long line floats were retrieved. Both were in 
the transition area and were covered with barnacles 
(Lepas sp.). 
(h) Standard marine weather observations were recorded every 
6 hours. However, we were able to transmit only one 
summary each day to the U. S. Weather Bureau, San 
Francisco. 
Personnel:  William L. Craig, Biologist in charge 
John J. Geibel, Assistant 
Richard B. Mitchell, Vessel Captain 
7-28-67/125 
MRO-TI/lm 
- 3 -
track of the 
C40 ~-_t_------.----4-----.--.-------.--- N. B. SCOFIELD 
Cruise 67S4-Albacore 
May 25-June 21, 1967 
C!)- Albacore 
@- Dolphin 
35·l--......J--iC---+-----..f-----
CD Erben 
,) )Bank 
CD 
o 
Guadalupe Is. 
120 


Cruise Report 67-S-4 - Albacore

http://aquaticcommons.org/2376/1/CR_67-S-4.pdf

Cruise Report 67-S-4 - Albacore

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