Photo by H. W. Pratt
RESEARCH CRUISES "NOBODY DOES IT BETTER • • • " Research cruises in 1978 were conducted by staff biologists OVERVIEW OF 1978. aboard the Polish vessel RIV Wieczno and the RIV Geronimo from the St. Georges School in In 1978, 4,504 sharks representing 30 species were tagged and released Newport, RI. Cruises ranged from under the NMFS cooperative shark tagging program. Volunteer taggers ac Georges Bank to Cape Canaveral, counted for about 90% of all releases which also included 53 swordfish and FL. Activities included longlining 51 miscellaneous teleosts. During the same period, 216 fish were recap for sharks and other large tured from 14 species of sharks and a crevalle jack. No swordfish tags were gamefish for tagging; a food habit returned. Last year was indeed a record year in that the number of sharks experiment using longline and released, the number recaptured, and the recapture rate of 4.7% were all trawl nets in a 25 sq. mile study higher than in any year since the program began in 1963. Of the 216 tags area south of Montauk, NY; and remote tracking experiments on returned last year, 161 (75%) came from blue, 11 (5%) from mako, 11 (5%) mako sharks and swordfish using from sandbar, and 32 (15%) from other shark species. Rod and reel sonic tags. The sonic tracking ex fishermen returned 152 (70%) of the tags, longliners accounted for 45 periments were in cooperation (21 %), and 19 (9%) were recaptured by other methods. Foreign fishermen with Dr. Frank Carey of the Woods returned 17 tags, of which 14 were taken by longline fishermen from Japan Hole Oceanographic Institution, a (6), Korea (2), Spain (2) , Canada (2), Cuba (1) , and Mexico (1). An un world expert on underwater precedented aspect of 1978 tag returns was that 77 came from fishermen telemetry. participating in the tagging program. Moreover, 22 of these sharks (primari Results of two cruises on Wiecz ly blue sharks) were retagged after the original tag had been retrieved. The no and one on Geronimo ac counted for 548 tagged sharks and maximum time at liberty for a tagged shark in 1978 came from a sandbar teleosts. These included blue, shark recaptured after six years. The shark was released off Montauk, N.Y. , mako, sandbar, and smooth ham and recovered off Jesus Maria, Mexico, a distance of 2,000 miles. This is merhead sharks and a few sword 1,000 miles further than any previous recovery from a sandbar shark and it fish. That part of the catch that was is the second recovery to show movements of the species from the Atlantic not tagged was taken on board and into the Gulf of Mexico. The longest distance recorded for any species in examined for reproductive, food and age-growth studies. continued on page 2
continued on page 8
Newsletter of the Distribution of this newsletter is Cooperative Shark Tagging Program limited to active participants in the U.S. Department of Commerce NM FS Cooperative Shark Tagging National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Program. This information is pre National Marine Fisheries Service liminary and subject to revision . Northeast Fisheries Center Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882
Pr inted compliments o f the Bay Shore Tuna Club. 1978 continued shore fishing grounds (15-30 SUMMA RY OF SHARKS AND TELEOSTS TAGGED fathoms) during May and June. JAN. -DEC . 1978 Other returns showed longer nor thward movements between Cape TAGGED BY Hatteras, NC, and Cape Cod, MA, in early spring with a part of the SPECIES FISHERMEN BIOLOGISTS TOTALS (SPORT & COMM.) {NMFS & OTHERS) population continuing on to Georges Bank and into the Gulf of SHARKS Maine later in the summer. Although tagging has Blue shark 2,237 488 2,725 Sa ndbar shark 609 30 639 demonstrated a well defined pat Dusky shark 279 2 281 Mako s ha rk 83 22 105 tern of blue shark migrations bet Sea 11 oped ha11111erh ead 116 33 149 ween the margin of the Gulf Sioooth hammerhead 8 8 Great hanmerhead 9 9 Stream and the northeast coast, Bonnethead 30 30 some segments of the population Ha11111erhead (uni dent.) 38 38 Blacktip shark (Small Blk. tip) 84 84 travel much longer distances. In Spinner shark (Lar}e 8lk. tip) 11 11 1978 several tags were received Blacktip (unident. 14 14 Bull shark 16 16 which showed blue shark Reef shark 15 15 Atlantic s harpnose sh ark 62 62 movements in the 1,000-3,000 mile Lemon shark 15 15 range. Tags were returned from Nurse shark 20 20 Silky shark 82 87 blues taken in the Sargasso Sea, Bl ac knose shark 22 22 off Portugal, the West Indies, Tiger shark 56 59 Night shark 1 1 South America, and Cuba. These Oceanic whitetip shark 19 19 recoveries support the Sa nd tiger shar k 21 21 Thresher shark 7 11 hypothetical migratory patterns we Smoo th do gfi sh 10 10 have discussed previously, but Sp iny dogfish 5 5 Fi netooth shark 4 4 every year new information is for Basking shark 3 3 White shark 1 1 thcoming. Ca r charhini d shark (un i dent. ) 12 12 The 1978 recapture of a blue Other sharks* 28 28 shark tagged off New England and Tota 1 Sharks 3,917 587 4,504 recaptured off Portugal is the first to show west to east movements TELEOSTS between the North American and Swordfi sh 48 53 European coasts. Whether the blue Tunas 11 14 sharks in the western and eastern Bil lfi sh 32 32 Misc. Te l eosts 3 5 Atlantic represent }he same stock, Tota l Teleosts 94 10 104 or different breeding populations which intermi x, remains unclear. GRANO TOTAL 4,011 597 4 ,608 Additional tagging on both the U.S. and European side will help to *Includes species reported simply as "shark" . clarify this point. Currently, there is an ongoing shark tagging pro gram in Ireland. In the past British biologists have also tagged blue BLUE SHARKS sharks. Results of their studies in OVERVIEW OF 1978 - continued (161 RECAPTURES) clude three recaptures from the U.S. coast. The latest recovery of a 1978 was 3,000 miles by a The number of tag returns from European tag was by Irwin Klein, blue shark that was tagged off blue sharks in 1978 was higher one of our taggers, who on August Southern New England and recap · than the combined returns from all 27, 1978, caught no less than three tured a year later off Portugal. We species in 1977. The times at liber tagged blue sharks off Montauk, have had blue sharks recaptured ty ranged from a few days to nearly NY. Two of these bore NMFS tags over broad areas of the Atlantic in four years. About 85 % of the blues that had been at liberty for less cluding the offings of South were recaptured within si x months, than two months. The third shark America and Africa, but this is the 5% were at liberty from si x months had been tagged off southern first recovery to show west to east to a year, and 10 % were at Ii berty Ireland on July 11 , 1977 by transatlantic movements to the from one to four years. Nearly all of Ireland's Inland Fisheries Trust, coast of Europe. Additional infor the short term . recaptures (less Inc., (2 ,600 miles in 412 days). Truly mation on last year's results is in than one month) were caught off a remarkable day for Capt. Klein cluded in this newsletter, but we Southern New England and Long considering most fishermen never hope these few highlights provide Island, generally within 50 miles of catch a tagged shark. · some idea of the scope of the tagg where they were tagged. The high Severa l developments during ing program and how vital you numbers of short term recaptures 1978 offer some exciting fishermen have been to its continu is in part explained by an increase possibilities in the course of the ing success. As the song says: in the number of fishermen coupl Cooperative Tagging Program. For " Nobody does it half as good as ed with an increase in the example, last year over 20 blue you .. you 're the best." availability of blue sharks on in- sharks were recaptured by you tag- continued on page 3 2 OVERVIEW 1978 - co n ti nued are more commonly taken by sport Florida, Cuba, Gult c oast or yers. This offers a unique oppor smen on inshore grounds between Florida, and now this latest tunity for age studies (see page 8) 15 and 30 fathoms. This is but one recovery from the western Gulf. and also for obtaining repeated small part of the migratory pattern. These recoveries are from all parts observations on the growth and Makos are widely distributed and of the range of the sandbar shark in movements of the same shark over during the summer it is nqt the western North Atlantic but the several months or seasons. unusual to catch one almost -· relationship between the Atlantic Another welcome development anywhere between Cape Hatteras and Gulf populations is not clear. is that through the cooperation of and the Grand Banks. The species Only two sandbar sharks, tagged U.S. Fishery Observers (i.e., agents is truly pelagic and we have, in the on the Atlantic coast, have been who maintain surveillance aboard past, had makos tagged off New recaptured in the Gulf of Mexico foreign fishery vessels) sharks, England and recaptured off South (after 6 and 12 years at liberty). swordfish and other species are America and in the Central Atlantic These may represent individuals being tagged and released from a half way to Europe. that have strayed from the Atlantic variety of foreign vessels in the An understanding of the overall coast population. Additional tagg Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. We migratory pattern for the mako will ing of sandbar sharks in the Gulf of will discuss the Observer Program be slow in coming, in part because Mexico would help to clarify this and how the Fishery Conservation the species is so valuable. Mako point. and Management Act (200 mile sharks are not abundant and Tiger Sharks.--Only three tiger limit) is being applied to sharks in a because of their value as a food sharks were recaptured but all future newsletter. In the meantime and trophy fish it is very likely to be were interesting. One was tagged we wish to acknowledge the one of the first sharks to show and recovered off the Texas coast assistance of these trained signs of decline due to overfishing. after a year at liberty. Another was observers who freely give of their While there is no immediate pro tagged off Long Island, NY, and time to assist us. Incidentally on blem of overfishing makos, their recaptured almost in the same some of the foreign vessels large meat is finding more ready com place two years later. Ten or fifteen blue sharks were measured prior to mercial markets. In addition, peo years ago tiger sharks were con release. This is one more reason ple want jaws, · trophy mounts, sidered rare north of Cape Hat why we ask that you obtain precise photographs, or simply to bring a teras, NC. We now know that, while information on any tagged fish you mako to the dock. Moreover, not really abundant, some tiger catch. makos are taken on ·a variety of sharks are caught every year off fishing gear--i.e., rod and reel, har the northeast coast. One could not poon, and longline (both U.S. and help but wonder whether these MAKO SHARKS foreign). All of these factors com were strays that followed warm (11 RECAPTURES) bine to make the mako a prime can water north and did not return didate for overfishing. The "bottom south. This latest recapture sug Tagged mako sharks were recap line" in all this is that we ask that gests that they are not " lost" in tured after two years at liberty and you tag and release more of this. dividuals but a part of the popula over distances of 500 miles. Recap species. tion that commonly moves nor tures came from U.S. sport thward during the summer. fishermen (4), U.S. longliners (6) , MISCELLANEOUS SHARKS The third recapture came from a and one from a Japanese long liner. (33 RECA PTURED) shark tagged by Steve Connett off In recent years nearly all tag Fort Pierce, Florida, that was returns from mako sharks have Tags were returned from 12 addi recaptured in the Dominican been from fish tagged by tional species in 1978 (See Table Republic. The shark traveled 800 biologists. Of the 11 returns for Page 2). Although every tagged miles in 76 days, the furthest 1978, 8 were tagged during NMFS shark that is recaptured provides distance recorded for a tagged co-operative research cruises valuable information, those that tiger shark. At recapture the weight aboard the Polish research vessel show movements over long of the shark was estimated at 2,200 Wieczno. Six of these recaptures distances or have been at liberty lbs. Almost nothing is known were from a single cruise on which for long periods are of the most about the movements of tiger w.e tagged 74 makos off Cape Hat general interest. We, therefore, sharks, despite the fact that they teras in March 1977. The number of take the liberty of focusing on a were actively sought as the most mako recaptures from this cruise few of the more interesting recap valuable species in the commer (including 2 recaptures in 1977) tures in the miscellaneous cial shark fisheries during the represents a recovery rate of category. 1940's. 10.8% which is more than twice Sandbar Sharks.--Of the 11 sand Other returns.--The remaining the recovery rate for most species. bar shark returns, five were at liber tag recoveries were from species Returns from 1978 show ty for over a year. One was at liber such as hammerhead, nurse and movements in the spring and fall ty for six years and traveled 2,000 lemon sharks and sharks of the between Cape Hatteras and the of miles between Montauk, NY, and genus Carcharhinus. This latter fings of Cape Cod. In the southern Mexico. This is 1,000 miles further group, which includes the blacktip, part of this region, between Hat than any previous recovery from a spinner, dusky, sandbar, and silky teras and Hudson Canyon, makos sandbar shark and is the first to are the most difficult to identify. It seem to stay more offshore and demonstrate movements ac ross is for these sharks that we ask for follow the outer edges of the con the Gulf of Mexico. Previous your most expert identification ef tinental shelf (80-100 fathoms). In recoveries from sandbar sharks forts. the northern section, between mid tagged off the northeast coast New Jersey and Cape Cod, makos have come from the east coast of 3 TAG RECOVERIES: Jr\NUARY-DECDIUER 1978
MONTHS/ MILES & DI·R. MtfHOD SPECIES TAGGED RECAPTURED LIBERTY TRAV ELED TAGGING RE CAPT . TAGGE R RESIDENCE
B1 ue Shark S Mo nt auk, NY SE Block Canyon, RI 2. 5 114 SE RR LL Fran k Mundus NY S Shinnecock Inlet, NY E Cape Hatteras, NC 27 1397 E RR LL Harry Carter NY SE Shinnecock Inlet, NY ESE Cape Hatteras , NC 46 397 s RR LL Jo hn Hearst NY SE Moriches Inlet, NY SE Fi re Island Inlet, NY 2 2B SW RR RR Bruc e Haase NY "HA" Buoy off LI, NY Off Gre nada Island, BWI 8.6 1B41 SE LL RR Bi ol ogist Rl "HA" Buoy off LI, NY NNE Cape Hatteras, NC 4. 9 249 SW LL LL Biol og i st RI "HA" Buoy off LI , NY E Ca pe Hatteras, NC 3. 6 267 SW RR LL James Sc haefer NY ENE Cape Hen ry, VA E Ocea n City Inlet, MD 3.4 206 E LL LL Biologist RI ENE Oregon Inlet, NY NE Barranguilla, Venezuela 13 . 6 1402 s LL LL Biologist RI "HA" Buoy off LI, NY Off Granada Island, BWI 10 18iO SE LL RR Bi ologist RI "HA" Buoy off LI , NY Canada Oce an 5 LL LL Biologist RI Wilmington Canyon, MD SE Moriches, LI, NY 7 125 NE LL RR Biologist RI Off Montauk, NY Mud Hole off Block I sland,RI 2. 6 34 NE RR RR Pete Van Alst NY SE Montauk, NY SE Shi nne cock, NY 10. 9 23 SW RR RR Jordan Ha 11 NY SE Jones Inlet, NY Dom inica Island 12 1618 SE RR RR Gary Benkert NY Mud Ho le, RI Off Shinnecock, NY Blue Shark Mud Hole off Block ls. ,RI Montauk, NV <1 3g NE RR , RR John Wei go 1d CT Hudson Canyon Baltimore Canyon 2. 2 ll 3 SW RR . RR James Schaefer NV SE Fi re Isl and, NV SE Mo ntauk, NV 2.4 77 E RR RR Ron Mahoney NY S Fire I sland, NV SE Montauk, NV 2. 2 97 NE RR RR Herman Kornahrens NY S Shinnecock, NV S Montauk, NV <1 29 E RR RR Harry Carter NY Butterfish Hole off NV S Montauk, NY 1. 3 25 s FS RR John Weigold CT SSW Fire Island, NV SSE Montauk, NY 2. 5 89 NE LL RR Steve Connett RI SE Block Island, RI SE Shinnecock, NY l 44 SW RR RR Dominic Siano NY S Montauk; NY SE Sh innecock, NY llOTE : NR=Not Reported; GN=Gi ll Net; LL=Longline; RR=Rod & Reel; HS=Haul Seine; OB=Found on Beach; FS=Free Swimm ing; FT=Fish Trap; TO=Tag Only Found; HL~Hand Line; TN= Trawl Net; BH=By Hand; Obs. =Foreign Fl sheri es Observer. 5 FOOD HABITS OF THE miscellaneous food items. Re SHOHTFIN MAKO mains of a few benthic fish species such as cod, silver hake, ocean In 1972, a study of the food, pout, searobins, and scup were feeding behavior, and predator also present in a few stom9.chs prey relationships of sharks in the suggesting that makos sometimes western North Atlantic was in forage near the bottom. Bluefish itiated by Chuck Stillwell. The ob were by far the most common item jectives of this study are to deter and contributed almost 51 % of the mine the major prey species and total food remains by volume. SHARK ATTRACTION BY SOUND amounts of each consumed and to Captain Shaler Carrington and his Tunas and mackerels were the se son, Floyd, have been experimenting understand how the distribution cond most common fish consum with undersea sound for over six years and abundance of sharks might be ed. Squids were the most impor while tagging sharks off Long Island; influenced by changes in the They have developed what they claim is tant invertebrate prey. an inexpensive shark attracting system availability of important prey These results show that makos that works well as a fishing and tagging species on a seasonal and areal preyed heavily on bluefish during aid. Shaler does not sell his "shark caller" but is willing to provide details basis. In addition, attempts are be the warmer months when schools free of charge to taggers who wish to ing made to determine: rates of of bluefish were common inshore build their own. Fishermen who would digestion, feeding periodicity and like additional information can write to: on the continental shelf. Offshore, Shaler Carrington, 88 Sunset Avenue, selectivity; and what impact large along the outer edges of the shelf East Quoque, L.I., N.Y. 11942. sharks might have on the biomass the major prey species shifted to of major prey species along our squid and miscellaneous bony flesh. Calculations from a coast. fishes. measurement taken at the base of An understanding of feeding Although squid remains in the the sword (included with the behavior and the complex form of beaks, "pens" and remnant stomach contents) indicated that predator-prey relationships involv body parts were found in both in the fish had a live weight of ing large pelagic sharks requires shore and offshore stomach 400-500 lbs. long-term studies over broad samples, they were most prevalent Data from measurements of geographical areas. However, we in the offshore samples. Five body weights, food volumes, and will from time to time provide families of squid were identified by stomach capacities showed the preliminary results on the food characteristics of the beaks. average food in the stomach of habits of those species of interest Overall, squid made up 16% of the makos amounted to 2.6% of their to fishermen. total diet, based on frequency of body weight. The maximum Over the past six years occurrence of beaks in the amount of food measured in an in stomachs from 237 makos have stomachs. dividual mako's stomach was been collected and examined from Reports of predation on sword 10.2% of its body weight. What the area between Georges Bank fish by large makos are quite com this means is that the stomach of a and Cape Hatteras, NC . mon in the literature but we have 200 lb. mako would be expected to Preliminary analysis of the data observed this condition only once. contain about 5 lbs. of food, but shows that 175 of the stomachs The stomach from a 1,250 lb. adult theoretically could hold over 20 contained food consisting of female caught off New York in lbs. (10.2% x 200 lbs.). From these pelagic fishes, squid, and 1977 contained 80 lbs. of swordfish observations, the stomachs were only filled to an average of 20% of their maximum capacity. It may be that makos seldom fill their stomachs to capacity, or a more likely explanation is that those which are partially empty are feeding and therefore more susceptible to capture. Some evidence suggests makos may not feed continuously even in the presence of an abundance of food. Rates of digestion in natural populations of fish are difficult to measure, particularly for large predatory species. Some of our observations suggest that makos under normal conditions can pro bably digest a 12-14 lb. bluefish in 36-48 hours. Smaller fish and par ticularly squid may be digested to fragmented remains in 24 hours. Additional information relating to digestion, feeding periodicity and prey selectivity will be forthcoming from cruises planned for 1979. 518 lb. mako with its prey a 14 lb. bluefish. Photo by A. Lintala ~{ 6 Photo by H. W. Pratt SHARKS AND THE 200 MILE LIMIT 1979 OVERVIEW We have been asked whether foreign 1 fishermen are taking sharks within the 200 mile limit off the U.S. coast. The RECORD NUMBER OF SHARKS TAGGED IN 1979 answer is no, it is illegal for them to do so. In 1976 the fishery Conservation and lST TAGGED BLUE SHARK TRAVELS FROM U.S. INTO MEDITERRANEAN Management Act (FCMA), established U.S. jurisdiction over fishery resources (ex lST TAGGED MAKO SHARK TRAVELS FROM GULF OF MEXICO INTO ATLANTIC cluding tuna), within the 200 mile limit. Provisions of the Act are directed to TAGGED NIGHT SHARK SETS AT LIBERTY RECORD - 13 YEARS regulating both foreign and domestic fisheries in an attempt to optimize the use lST TAGGED TIGER SHARK TRAVELS FROM GULF OF l\~EXICO INTO ATLANTIC of fishery resources within the U.S. Fishery Conservation Zone (FCZ) . By law, SANDBAR SHARKS TAGGED OFF VIRGINIA AND NEW YORK RECAPTURED IN MEXICO Regional Fishery Councils are charged with developing Fishery Management lST SWORDFISH TAGGED OFF NORTHEAST COAST RECAPTURED IN FLORIDA Plans (FMPs) in consort with the NMFS, State Agencies, the fishing industry, and the general public. These plans define In 1979, a record 5,310 sharks representing 33 species were tagged and U.S. needs for particular fish stocks, set released under the NMFS cooperative shark tagging program. Volunteer catch limits, impose other regulations and taggers accounted for 973 of the releases which also included 65 sword Continued on page 7 fish and 34 miscellaneous teleosts. Of the 165 tags returned last year, 107 (653) came from blue, 12 (73) from sandbar, 5 (33) from mako, and 41 (253) from other sharks. One swordfish was also recaptured. Sport NHAT IS IT? SEE PAGE 6 fishermen returned 104 (633) tags, longline fishermen 37 (223), and "other" fishermen 24 (153). U.S. fishermen accounted for 136 tag returns, 29 were returned by foreign fishermen. The latter came from Mexico (8), Japan (7), Spain (5), Korea (4), Cuba (2), Italy (2), and Canada (1). Of the foreign recaptures, 17 were taken on longlines, 12 by other methods. Continued on page 2 Newsletter of the Distribution of this newsletter is Cooperative Shark Tagging Program nited to active participants .in the U.S. Department of Commerce M FS Cooperative Shark Tagging National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ·ogram. This information is pre National Marine Fisheries Service ninary and subject to revision. Northe,ast Fisheries Center Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882 Pr inted compliments of the Bay Shore Tuna Club. l Photo by J. Casey OVERVIEW 1979 continued RECENT BLUE SHARK RETURN SHOWS TRANSATLANTIC MOVEMENT FROM U.S. COAST INTO MEDITERRANEAN SEA Compared to 1978, fifty-one fewer A blue shark, Prionace glauca,tagged near Hudson Canyon (New York) on September 30, 1978, was tags were returned in 1979. Returns recaptured in the Straits of Gibralter on October 3, 1979, by a Spanish fisherman (5,060 km [3,145 from blue sharks accounted for the mi .] in 352 days). This is the longest recorded distance travelled by a tagged blue shark and is the first difference (54 more in 1978). One direct evidence to show movement of this species between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. explanation is that blue sharks re Previous long distance recaptures of blue sharks indicate that they orient to and move within the mained on the fishing grounds off clockwise flow of the major ocean currents in the North Atlantic. Long Island for a longer period in Based on an analysis of recapture data from tagged blue sharks, the "round trip" Atlantic route of a 1978 and a high number were recap shark tagged off New England would likely consist of a northeasterly movement in the Gulf Stream to tured from that area during June and the vicinity of the Azores, then southward in the Azores or Canary currents toward the African coast and into the North Equatorial Current, which flows westward from Africa toward the Caribbean and July. finally merges with the Gulf Stream. While this route provides a reasonable explanation for the long A night shark (Carcharhinus distance recaptures.other data suggest that the migrations of P.glauca may be more complex and include shorter and somewhat separate movements along the North American and European coasts. signatus) was recaptured in 1979 after a record thirteen years of eRECAPrURES FROM freedom. We tagged the shark off /' /' / Cape Hatteras, N.C., in 1966 and it U.S. TAGGING was recaptured off South Carolina in August 1979. At tagging we 45° estimated its total length at 5 ft. and at recapture its estimated total length was 8 ft. Until recently, the night shark was considered rare off t h e U . S . E x p e r i e-n c e d s h a r k 30° fishermen now recognize it as being common off S.E. Florida and longliners catch it in the Gulf Stream to the offings of George's Bank. 15° The longest distance travelled by a tagged shark was 3,145 miles by a blue shark. It was tagged near Hud son Canyon off New York and recap tured in the Straits of Gibraltar (see insert). This is a new distance record 90° 75° so• 45° 30° 15° o· Long distance recapture from blue sharks OVERVIEW 1979 Continued PLEASE REMEMBER by any shark tagged under our program, and is the first direct evidence of movements of blue sharks between the western Atlantic and the 1. Fill out tag cards com Mediterranean. Another long distance recapture came from a blue shark pletely, immediately after tag tagged off New Jersey and recaptured off Columbia, South America (1600 +mi. ging a fish. in 100 days). , 2. Report location by Tagging data is important in determining whether species distributed over latitude and longitude broad geographical areas are part of the same or different populations. whenever ·possible. Although the relationship between sharks in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico is 3. Record full address of unclear, tag returns in 1979 provided first evidence that mako and tiger sharks Captain or person who move from the Gulf into the Atlantic. The mako, tagged in the central Gulf in received the tags and is on our July 1978 was recaptured by a Korean longliner in the Sargasso Sea in February mailing list. 1979 (1350 mi. in 230 days). Interestingly the same fisherman caught another 4. Return completed tag tagged mako in the same place two days later. The second mako had been cards promptly. 1 tagged off George's Bank 2 /2 years earlier.The tiger shark that travelled from 5. Do Not transfer your tags the Gulf into the Atlantic was tagged near Dauphin Island, Alabama, and was to someone else. recaptured in the Straits of Florida a year later. We have relatively little data on tiger sharks but recaptures show their migrations extend along the Atlantic coast between Florida and The Mid SUMMARY OF SHARKS AND TELEOSTS TAGGED Atlantic States, and also from Florida several JAN.-DEC . 1979 hundred miles southeastward into the West In- TAGGED BY dies. · COOPERATIV E NARRAGANSETT Other 1979 long distancel)recaptures included SPEC! ES TAGGERS BIOLOGISTS TOTALS two sandbar sharks tagged off Virginia and New I·, Jersey that were recaptured off Mexico (1700 SHARKS 1 + miles in 2 and 4 years) : We have had only - - Sandbar shark 664 3 667 Blue shark 2,981 151 3, 132 two previous recaptures from sandbar sharks Dusky shark 329 0 329 tagged in the Atlantic and recaptured in the Bull shark 10 0 10 Bl acktip shark 90 0 90 Gulf and considered them as strays from the Spinner shark 7 0 7 Atlantic population. These latest returns in Oceanic whitetip shark 84 0 84 Si 1ky shark 45 9 54 dicate the movements of sandbar sharks into White shark 20 2 22 the Gulf may be qu ite common . Shortfin mako shark 147 2 149 Longfi n mako shark 2 0 2 Porbeagl e shark 2 0 2 The one tag return from species other than Sand tiger shark 29 0 29 Sp i ny dogfi sh shark l 0 1 sharks came from a swordfish tagged by Philip Smoth dogfish shark 3 0 3 Ruhle off Virginia in 1978. It was recaptured in Bonnethead shark 37 0 37 Great hammerhead shark 11 0 11 the Straits of Florida after 15 months. This is Sea 11 oped hammerhead shark 220 2 222 the first direct evidence of swordfish Smooth hammerhead shark 7 0 7 movements between northeastern and At l antic sharpnose shark 89 0 89 Blacknose shark 11 0 11 southeastern U.S. At tagging the total weight of Tiger shark 30 0 80 the fish was estimated at 50 lbs. and at recap Fi netooth shark 3 0 3 Lemn shark 29 0 29 ture it weighed 83 lbs. '(estimated from 68 lbs . Nurse shark 29 14 43 dressed wt.). A previous recapture also tagged Bi geye thresher shark 10 0 10 Corrvoon thresher shark 6 0 6 by Capt. Ruhle provided the first evidence of Iii ght shark 3 0 3 swordfish movements from the Gulf of Mexico Bi 9nose shark 4 0 4 Angel shark 10 0 10 into the Atlantic (George's Bank). No species is Basking shark 5 0 . 5 more commercially valuable or difficult to tag in Reef shark 35 0 35 Greenland shark 2 0 2 good condition than the swordfish. We are Hammerhead unspecified 43 0 43 grateful to those of you who have taken the Dogfish unspeci fied 1 0 1 Thresher unspecified 4 0 4 opportunity to tag them. Sand unspei: i fi ed 7 0 7 Blacktip unspecified 25 0 25 Obviously, 1979 was indeed a successful year Carcharhi nus unspecified 10 0 10 Unknown* 32 0 for the tagging program. We wish we could 32 more fully share the credit with each of you who Tota 1 Sharks 5 '127 183 5,310 made it possible. TELEOSTS IN 1980 WE HOPE FOR: Bi geye tuna 1 0 l Ye 11 owfi n tuna l l 2 Sunfish 3 0 3 1) INCREASED TAGGING EFFORT ON BLUE Dolphin l 0 1 AND MAKO SHARKS IN THE EASTERN Barracuda l 0 l Swordfish 64 1 65 ATLANTIC Sailfish 4 0 4 White marlin 14 0 14 Black marlin 2 0 2 2) ADDITIONAL RELEASES OF ALL SPECIES Blue marlin 1 0 l IN THE GULF OF MEXICO Striped marlin 3 0 . 3 Creva 11 e jack l 0 l Escolar l 0 1 3) PRECISE LENGTH MEASUREMENTS WHEN TAGGING SMALL SHARKS Total Teleosts 97 99 GRAND TOTAL 5 ,224 185 5 ,409 11 11 *Includes species reported simply as shark • 3 TAG RECOVERIES: JANUARY-DECEMBER 1979 GENERAL LOCATIONS CAPTURE METHOD TAGGED BY MONTHS/ DIST: & DiR. SPECIES TAGGED RECAPTURED LIBERTY TRAV'ELED TAGGING RECAPT. TAGGER RESIDENCE Blue Shark 100 mi NE Cape Hatteras, NC 30 Mi E of Montauk, NY 5 333 N LL RR Biologist RI " 40 mi S Marthas Vineyard,MA 54 mi SE Oregon Inlet, l~C 7 389 s LL LL Stephen Connett RI 90 mi E Cape May, NJ 40 mi E Oregon Inlet, NC 6 204 s TN LL NMFS Obs. MA 20 mi SE Moriches Inlet, NY Oregon Inlet 200 fath. 7 288 s FS LL Ulf Larsen NY Cox's Ledge, RI 38 mi E Cape Hatteras, NC 5 387 SW LL LL Stephen Connett RI 25 mi S Shinnecock, NY 190 mi E Bermuda 5 720 SE RR LL David Baldwin NY 10 mi S Block Island W. Lydonia Canyon 9 176 E RR LL Ed. Nielson NY 30 mi SE Jones Inlet, NY SE Fire Island Inlet, NY 4 GENERAL LOCATIONS CAPTURE METHOD TAGGED BY MONTHS/ DIST. & DIR. SPECIES TAGGED RECAPTURED LIBERTY TRAVEL¥D TAGGING RECAPT. TAGGER RESIDENCE Blue Shark 22 mi SE Shinnecock, NY 70 mi E Shark R. Inl, NJ cl 58 SW RR RR R. J . Cadorette IJY 44 mi S Nantucket , MA East Si de Hudson Canyon, NY 1 113 SW LL LL Stephen Connett RI 145° Jones Inlet 130' w~ter SSE Shinnecock, NY 2 63 E RR RR Capt. Arno 1d NY East of Hudson Canyon, NY B1 ock Canyo n 4 21 E LL LL Chris Cummings FL SE Manasquan Inlet, NJ S. Sh innecock Inlet, NY 2 66 NE RR RR J. R. Jeck NJ 46 mi SE Block Is 1and 211 mi E Cape Cod, MA 28 261 NE LL LL Stephen Connett RI Hudson Canyon , NY Str . of Gibralter, Spain 12 3145 E LL LL Biologist RI 52 mi NE Oregon Inlet 52 mi NE Oregon Inlet cl 4 s LL LL Scott Gillilany NMFS Obs MA 40 mi S Montauk, NY Hudson Canyon, NY 2 50 s RR LL Frank Mundus NY 8 mi SW NA Buoy , NY B2 rni E Cape Henelopen,DE 29 100 s RR TN Ray Schmidt NY 20 mi SE Montauk, NY 22 mi 135° Fire Is. Inlet cl 78 ENE RR RR Murray Roth NY 28 mi SW Nantucket Is. 109 mi E Cape Ann, MA 3 147 NE LL LL Stephen Connett RI 30 mi E Manasquan, NJ 35 mi SE Manasquan, NJ 10 18 s RR RR Wi 11 i am McFar land NY SE Jones Inlet, NY 330.mi E Cape Hatteras, NC 1 295 SE RR LL Capt. Ar nold NY 20 mi SE Montauk, NY 25 mi S Shinnecock, NY cl 45 SW RR RR John Ke ller NY Cox's Ledge 20 mi SE Fire Is, NY 12 92 SE HL RR Stephen Connett RI 25 mi E Manasquan, NJ 33 mi SSW Montauk, NY l 94 NE RR RR Robert Peters NJ 45 mi 140 ° Manasquan, NJ 28 mi SE Montauk, NY NA 105 IJE RR RR David Soleau NJ Sandbar Shark Key West, FL Fort Pierce, FL 3 260 N RR TN Ted Smits FL " 38 mi S Fire Is, NY Raccoon Key,McClellanville , SC 34 574 s RR TN Ray Wittman NY Off Fire Is Inlet, NY Nags Head, NC 10 306 s RR RR Capt. Bezold 1~Y Great Bay, NJ Brigentine Inlet, NJ cl 5 s RR RR Bob Mangold NJ 22 mi S Montauk, NY NE Tampico, Mexico 48 1787 s RR LL Dave Wi 11 is CT Great Bay, NJ Off Tuckertown, NJ cl 5 N RR RR Bill Figley NJ Folly Beach, SC 40 mi off Charleston, SC 11 17 ENE RR RR Wa llace Benson SC Great Bay Atlantic Co, NJ Beach Haven, NJ cl 5 N RR RR Bob Mango ld NJ 10 mi E Cape Charles, VA Off Veracruz, Mexico 26 1753 SYJ RR LL Bill Walker VA 27 mi ENE Barnegat Light .NJ 66 mi ESE Cape Henry, _VA.__ 14 205 SW RR TN Steve Urban NY Wassau Sound, GA Metanzas Inlet, FL 84 133 s RR OB Lee Greenburg GA 7 mi NW Cape Henlopen, DE Ocean City Inlet, MD cl 36 s RR RR Tom Watson PA Sa~dbar/Du~ky Shark 30 mi SE Manasquan, NJ Avalon Pier, IK 10 205 s RR RR J. Ortner NJ 4 mi N Indian River, DE Broad Kil 1, Del. Bay cl 12. 5 fj RR TN Hank Manfra iJJ SE Manasquan, NJ E Assateague, VA 4 121 s RR rn Al Hmielewski NJ Si~ ky Shark Miami Beach, FL 70 mi NE Cape Canaveral ,FL 4 204 SSW RR RR Ron Schatman FL 0 Cape Fear, NC East of Charleston, SC ' 72 73 N LL LL Biologist RI Miami Beach, FL Havana, Cuba 1 215 s RR LL Ron Sch a tman FL Miami Beach, FL SE Cape Canaveral, FL cl 129 N RR LL Ron Schatman FL E Eleuthera Pt, Bahamas E Eleuthera Pt, Bahamas 8 3.5 NW LL LL Stephen Connett RI Miami Beach, FL Lake Worth, FL c6 53 N RR RR Mark Quartiano FL Mako Shark 30 fath. Curve Ocean Cty,NJ Cape Fear,NC 8 443 s RR LL Kev in Mc Keever FL 130 mi SW Miss. R. Mouth Sargasso Sea, 650 mi Pa 1m Beach, FL 1350 E LL LL George Bell, NMFS Obs MA Hydrographer Canyon Sargasso Sea, 650 mi E Palm Beach, FL 30 660 s LL LL Stephen Connett RI 48 mi lff Oregon Inl , NC 28 mi ESE Manasquan, NJ 26 239 N LL RR Biologist RI SW Tip Grand Banks 175 mi \J Ta il Grand Banks 1 270 w LL LL Phil Ruhle RI 25 mi off Atl . Cty, NJ 630 mi E Manasquan, NJ 2 619 E RR LL Dave Moss PA Sc~llopped Ha~rhead Wilmington Canyon, DE Wilmington Canyon, DE cl 10 SW rn TN Bob Rupnick, NMFS Obs MA Jacksonville Beach, FL Jacksonville Beach, FL ci 0 0 RR TO Mike Chachos FL 90 mi E Cape May, NJ 90 mi E Cape May, NJ cl 5 s TN TN A. Poshkus, NMFS Obs MA N Wilmington Canyon, DE N Wilmington Canyon, DE cl 6 N TN TN W. Fazio, NMFS Obs MA N. Wilmington Canyon, DE NE Ylilmington Canyon, DE cl 33 E TN TN McMahon, NMFS Obs MA Tiger Shark 5 mi S Dauphin Is., AL 20 mi \J Matani 11 a Buoy, Ba hamas 12 757 RR LL Bob Hooker AL BB Reef, Jacksonville, FL 6 mi Offshore ,20 mi S Bel mar, IJJ 3 708 NE RR RR Mike Culbertson FL Summerhaven, FL St. Catherings ls, GA 13 126 N R TN Dan Hazlett FL Eleuthera Is., Bahamas Harbour ls, Bahamas 11 6.2 s LL NR Stephen Connett RI Nurse Shark Big Pine Key, FL Big Pine Key, FL 23 0 0 RR RR Dr. Jeff Carrier FL " Pompano Beach Pier, FL Pompano Beach Pier, FL cl 0 0 RR RR Brian Fulton FL So. Big Pine Key, FL No. Pine Channel, FL 1 6.3 N RR Dave Koenig FL Sebastion Inlet, FL Satel lite Bch, FL c3 50 N RR OB Bruce Ainbiner FL Du~ky Shark SE Jones Inlet, NY N Oregon Inlet, NC ~ 4 304 SE RR TN Howard Frankel NY E Oregon Inlet, NC E Oregon Inlet, NC 0 0 0 TN TN Roger Dow, NMFS Obs MA E Cape Hatteras, NC E Cape Hatteras, NC cl 5 s TN TN A. Poshkus, NMFS Obs MA Off Ocean City, NJ NE Oregon In let, NC c4 200 s RR TN Dave Moss NJ Leroon Shark Coupon Bight, FL Keys Cupon Bight, FL Keys <2 0 0 RR RR Jeff Carri er FL Fl a. Bay, Is 1amorada, FL N of Marathon Key, FL · 49 25 E RR TN Jeff Lohr FL Cupon Bight, FL Keys Big Pine Key, FL 7 2 s RR RR Jeff Carrier FL 3 mi NW Key West, FL 4 mi NW Key flest, FL 25 1 w LL RR Stephen Connett "RI NR Steps 60 mi S, Mobile, AL NR NR NR NR NR Randy Parr TX Fernandina Sch, FL N. Fort Pierce, FL <3 203 s RR RR Clark Kraz it FL Ni~ht Sh~rk 50 mi NE Cape Hatteras, NC E of Char leston, SC 156 212 SW LL LL Bio lo gist RI 90 mi E Cape May, NJ 90 mi E Cape May, NJ NOTE: NR=Not Reported; GN=Gill Net; LL=Longline; RR =Rod & Ree l; HS=H aul Seine; OB=Found on Beach; FS=Free Swimming; FT=Fish Trap; TO=Tag Only Found; HL =Hand Line ; TN=Trawl Net; BH=By Hand; Obs.= Foreign Fisheries Observer. 5 SOME RIDGE BACK SHARKS OF THE GENUS· CARCHARHINUS SILKY • FREE TIP OF 2ND DORSAL OVER TWICE ITS HEIGHT • SCALES TINY , SKIN FEELS SMOOTH • SNOUT BROAD-SLIGHTLY POINTED • PECTORALS THIN CURVED, AND POINTED • lST DORSAL BEHIND PECTORALS, ROUNDED, Sl • MAX SIZE 11 FT - OFFSHORE (SURFACE) • GULF OF MEXICO TO CAP E HATTERAS, N.C., + CAPE COD (RARE) DUSKY * 1ST DORSAL LOWER THAN SANDBAR * PECTORALS THIN, CURVED, AND POINTED * SCALES OVER LAP EXTENSIVELY • MAX SIZE 14 FT - INSHORE AND OFFSHORE • GULF OF MEX I CO TO MASS. (COMMON) SANDBAR • l ST DORSAL HIGH AND OVER PECTORALS * SCALES LARGE - NOi•-OVERLAP ING • SNOUT SHORTER TH AN MOUTH WIDTH * PECTORALS BROAD • MAX SIZE 8 FT - INSHORE AND OFFSHORE * GUL F OF MEXICO TO MASS. (COMMON) BIGNOSE • l ST DORSAL HIGH AND OVER PECTORALS * SNOU T LONGER THAN MOUTH WIDTH • SCALES TINY - NON-OVERLAPPING * PECTORALS BROAD ~\ BIGNOSE • MAX SIZE 10 FT - OFFSHORE IN DEEP WATER \ / • GULF OF MEXICO TO CAPE HATTERAS, N. C. \ / (RARE) 1 FOOT NIGHT * TEETH SHAR PLY ANGLED WITH LARGE CUSPS * LARGE EYES (GREEN) • LONG POINTED SNOUT * lST DORSAL LOW AND BEHIND PECTORALS * MAX SIZE 9 FT - OFFSHORE IN DEEP WATER • GULF OF MEXICO - FLORIDA (COMMON) TO NORTll CAROLI NA ( RAR t) 6 ----·------, SHARK IDENTIFICATION RESEARCH CRUISES Accurate species identification is In 1979 staff biologists participated in measurements. Both sharks swam off the most vital element in our four cruises aboard research and com shore (So. & S.E.) which, based on other Cooperative Shark Tagging Program. mercial vessels . These included cruises tag data, is indicative of their fall migra Tag and recovery information based _ aboard the Polish research vessel tions. Swimming speed was 1 knot or Wieczno, the commercial longline vessel less, or about 20 mi per day. This is on incorrect identification is either about the same daily rate shown by useless or creates more confusion Darana R. from Wanchese, N.C., and the RIV Geronimo from St. George's School recaptures of some blue sharks tagged than no information at all. Fishermen off New York and recaptured off South who recapture tagged sharks often in Newport, R.I. Fishing operations, America. During the tracking ex misidentify them, consequently the using pelagic longlines were conducted periments the sharks showed vertical along the continental shelf from the Gulf movements between the surface and 200 responsibility for correct identifica of Maine to Cape Hatteras during the tion rests squarely with you taggers. m (110 fathoms) at 2 to 3 hour intervals. spring, summer, and fall. Sharks and Dives during the day were deeper than at The ability· to identify several other large gamefish were either tagged lookalike sharks does not come night. The sharks commonly swam at or brought on board to examine depths of 250 meters (137 fathoms) dur easily. The most difficult to tell apart stomachs, reproductive organs, and to ing the day while at night the average are members of the genus obtain other biological samples. Dr. swimming depth was about 100 m (50 Carcharhinus which includes the Frank Carey, of the Woods Hole fathoms). During their vertical dusky, blacktip, bull, and about 10 Oceanographic Institution, conducted movements, the sharks swam through sonic tracking experiments on two blues water temperature changes of 7.5°C other species reported from the from the RIV Wieczno. . - Atlantic and Gulf coast. There is just (13°F). Changes in their muscle no quick way to identify all of them. temperature closely followed changes in During these cruises the total catch seawater temperatures. There is no In this newsletter we offer some addi was 525 fish, of which 193 were tagged, tional material on identifying these evidence that the blue shark is warmer and the remainder taken on board or lost than the water as Dr. Carey found in sharks. In future newsletters we will at the rail. The blue shark was the mako and porbeagle sharks. try to cover other difficult species or primary species of shark caught followed groups. by sandbar, mako, silky, and five other Vertical movements of the two blue species. Five spec-ies of teleosts, mainly sharks resembled those of a large mako swordfish and yellowfin tuna , were also and a number of swordfish tracked in The Confusing Carcharhinids - taken. "The Ridge Backs" previous experiments. Although the make and swords descended to greater A high priority on these cruises was to depths (500 meters) the vertical The presence or absence of a study the food habits of the major pelagic movements of the three species were distinct r idge aiong the back between species during their offshore migrations similar. the first and second dorsal fins in the fall. Analysis of stomach contents separates the carcharhinids into two from blue sharks showed that those major ~roups. Five of the most taken during the night contained more similar 'ridge backs" are the sand food than those captured during the day. Food found in blue sharks included sea bar, dusky, night, silky, and bignose herring, butterfish, gadids (cod and sharks. hakes), scombrids (mackerel, tuna), The photo shows just how similar unidentified pieces of fish flesh, and these are at about four feet long. cephalopods (squids and octopus). Dur Tooth shape, head shape, fin loca ing the fall cruise on RIV Wieczno the SHARKS AND THE 200 pelagic octopus, Alloposus mollis, occur tion, scale (denticle) types and max MILE LIMIT Cont. red in 813 ofthe stomach contents of the imum size are important blue shark. This is the first time we have characteristics, but a single feature found significant numbers of Alloposus in establish whether any surplus is will seldom separate one species any shark. Sandbarsharks fed primarily available for foreign nations. The from all others. For example, the on bottom species including anglerfish, development and implementation of an teeth are different in the night shark, red and silver hake, searobins, spiny FMP is an involved process during which but in the others shown, the teeth dogfish, and skates. Shortfin mako the various fishing interests usually are too similar to be of value for iden sharks fed almost exclusively on bluefish, argue against any regulation unless it is tification. The non-overlapping den with squid and tuna remains found in a being imposed on someone else. Never ticles are a good characteristic for few stomachs. The teleosts, especially theless, this new management system the sandbar shark and we will send swordfish and yellowfin tuna preyed on a seems to be working remarkably well. you a 4-power magnifyer if you will variety of squids and small fish species (jacks and triggerfish) associated with Foreign catches have been reduced and use it. The bignose also has non floating weed and debris. some stocks that were overfished in the overlapping denticles but on young 1960s and 1970s are recovering. Addi sharks they are too small to be seen, tional evidence that the system is work even with a 4-power magnifyer. The Dr. Carey's sonic tracking experiments ing is that U.S. sport and commercial longer snout (longer than the mouth were conducted on two blue sharks in fishermen, Regional Councils, scientists, early November off the edge of the con is wide) is the characteristic that best tinental shelf east of Chesapeake and foreign interests--all seem to be equally separates the bignose from the sand Delaware Bays. The first shark, a 6.5 ft. dissatisfied. bar. long female was tracked for 138 hours (approx. 6 days) over a southward, then In 1976 when the FCMA went into We are preparing a pictorial guide eastward, course of 147 miles. The se effect, Fishery Management Plans had to sharks that we hope will be useful cond, a male about 7.5 ft. long, was track not been written, so "Preliminary" for fishermen. It will take some time ed for 43 hours over a southerly course of Management Plans (PMPs) were to gather all the necessary material 42 mi les. The sonic tag used in these ex prepared as an interim measure. but we offer these preliminary periments was a single package compos Remember, foreign nations were elegible photographs for your interest and ed of a depth transmitter and a muscle to request an allocation of any "surplus" suggestions. We would be grateful temperature transmitter. Two different fish that were not being utilized by the for your comments on how we might frequencies broadcast by the tag provid U.S. and the amount of this surplus had improve on the idea. ed depth and temperature Continued on page 8 7 Photo by A. Lintala GREAT WHITE SHARKS STUDIED An unusual concentration of large On July 1, Dr. Frank Carey, of the White sharks continued to feed on the white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, whale carcass through July 6 and two occurred about 18 km (llmi) south of implanted a sonic tag in a 4.5 m white individuals about 5 m (15 ft.) long were Moriches Inlet, Long Island, on June 28, that was feeding on the whale carcass. tagged with standard NOAA/NMFS dart 1979. In the past, only solitary in The tag radioed measurements of water tags by Gene Kelly and Butch Maher, of dividuals or pairs of these sharks have temperture, muscle temperature, and the charter boat Sea Doll. Noted under been sighted . At least seven estimated depth while the shark was tracked for 93 water photographer, Stan Waterman , to be 4-6 m (13-19 ft.) in length were hours. We were fortunate in being able filmed feeding activity around the whale observed around the carcass of a 14.5 m to participate in this experiment which for the ABC Television show, "The (47 ft.) fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus. was the first time that a white shark has American Sportsman." been followed, utilizing sonic telemetry. Our cooperating taggers have always On June 29, a 943 kg (2 ,075 lb.) white The shark travelled approximately 160 ·been one of our greatest assets. In last 4.5 m (14 ft.) long was harpooned off km (112 mi .) from southeast of Montauk winter's issue we asked you for white Moriches by Tom Cashman, of the Point, along the Long Island shore, 35-55 shark sightings. We have had many charter boat Rogue. Bob Conklin , a km (22-34 mi .) off shore, to approximate interesting and credible reports since serious student of sharks, was aboard ly 90 km (56 mi.) south of Fire Island, then . When combined with our own the Rogue when the fish was landed. New York, where the experiment ended observations over the years, these data Through th.eir kind efforts and with the because of electrical problems on the will contribute to the understanding of help of other people at Moriches, we vessel. The shark travelled at an average these obscure and awesome animals, were able to measure and dissect this speed of 1-2 kts in a depth range of 9-18 hopefully without threatening their massive animal. Our examination m (30-59 ft .) and remained in a narrow existence. showed it to be a mature male with 26 kg temperature zone of 13-17°C (55-63°F) (57 lb.) of whale blubber in its stomach. which characterized the upper layer of Some chunks of whale were nearly 0.6 m the thermocline. There was no evidence (2 ft.) across. of a different day-night swimming pattern. SHARKS AND THE 200 MILE LIMIT Cont. Currently, the Gulf and Mid-Atlantic So for the time being, sharks are not be Councils are preparing FMPs for sharks, ing impacted by intensive fishing inside to be specified in these plans. In the case but these will not be implemented for at the 200 mile limit. This does not lessen of sharks, a PMP was written by NMFS in least several months. In the meantime, the need for basic biological data on 1977 and this plan is still in effect. It all species of large sharks caught inciden sharks; especially for those wide ranging specifies that only 1,150 tons of large tally by foreign fishermen must be species that migrate beyond the FCZ and sharks of all species are available to returned to the sea . The principal in are susceptible to international fisheries. foreign fishermen in the Atlantic (FCZ) cidental catches of sharks by foreign including the Gulf of Mexico. This vessels is by large squid trawlers fishing amount is so low that no foreign country off the Mid-Atlantic states, and by tuna has requested an allotation of sharks. longliners fishing in the Gulf of Mexico Although the Faroe Islanders have and in the Atlantic north of Cape Hat expressed an interest in fishing for teras. Last year U.S. Fishery Observers porbeagle sharks, no formal agreements tagged l, 100 sharks from these vessels. have been initiated. They estimate about 803 survival for sharks released from longline vessels. 8