TIYCNCAL ASSiSTANCE PROGRAM USOM AGRICULTURAL REPORT No. 13

SEA FISHERIES

Report- to the Government of israel

Prepared by DR. ALFRED PERLMUTTER Sea Fisheries Specialist

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OPERATION1 MISSION TO ISRAEL Tel-Aviv - October, 1956 INTERNATIONIL COOPERATION ADMINISTRATION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OPERATIONS MISSION TO ISRAEL TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

12-14HAAKEVET ST. Tel Aviv, Israel October 26, 1956.

His Excellency The Minister of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Jerusalem.

Excellency:

I have the pleasure and honor of transmitting herewith the report "Sea Fisheries" as prepared by Dr. Alfred Perlmutter. The report points out the potentialities of Israel's fisheries resources, recommends a program to obtain better utilization of these resources and summarizes progress to date on the program.

Dr. Alfred Perlmutter has had extensive training in the field of Fisheries Biology and has worked on fisheries problems for the past eighteen years, both with the United States Bureau of Fisheries and the New York State Departmunt cf Conservation. He is in charge of fisheries research in the Marine District of New York and an adjunct assistant professor in the graduate school of New York University where he teaches ichthyology and fisheries biology. He presently is on leave of absence from these two posts. Results of his research have been published in various scientific and trade journals.

I have read this report and commend it to you with my endorsement and approval. It offers practical and sound procedures for the more complete development of Israel's fisheries resources.

Sincerely yours,

N-' Lincoln B. Hale Director U,S. Operations Mission to Israel Report

on

SEA FISHERIES

Project 71-18-062

Submitted

Technician's Completion Report

by

Dr. Alfred Perlmutter

Sea Fisheries Specialist

The United States Operations Mission to Israel

Tel Aviv October 1956 TABLE OF CCNTENTS

PREFACE Page

INTRODUCTION 1 SEA FISHERIES POTENTIAL 3 Total Catch Otter Trawl Fishery 3 Pelagic Fishery 8 Inshore Fishery 11 Sponge Fishery 16 Sea Turtle Fishery Shellfish 16 Fishery 17 Grey Mullet Fry Fishery 18 Miscellaneous Fisheries 18 Eylath Fishery 19

A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMEnT OF ISRAELIS SEA FISHERY RESOURCES 21 Otter Trawl Fishery Utilization of little used or discarded fishery products 23 Location of new fishing grounds 23 Seasonal availability of fish 23 Improvenents of gear 24 Improvements in handling mthods 25 Pelagic Fishery Better utilization of the present catch of sardines 26 Inshore Fishery Sponge 30 Fishery 31 Sea Turtle Fishery 31 Shellfish Fishery 31 Grey Mullet Fry Fishery 32 Miscellaneous Fisheries Eylath 32 Fisheries 33 RESPONSIBILITYT FOR THE PROGRAM 34 PROGRESS ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM 39

Otter Trawl Fishery Utilization of little used or discarded fishery products 39 iv

Location of new fishing grounds 41 Improvement of gear 41 Improvement in handling methods 42 Pelagic Fishery Better utilization of present catch 43 Improvements in present fishing methods 45 Inshore Fishery 45 Sponge Fishery 45 Sea Turtle Fishery 51 Shellfish Fishery 51 Grey Mullet Fry Fishery 54 Miscellaneous Fisheries 54 Eylath Fisheries 54

BIBLIOGRAPHY 56

ACKNOWLEDGEIENTS 58

APPENDIX I List of Commercially Important Fish I - . 2) APPENDIX II List of Commercially Important Invertebrates and Plants I - (1 - 2)

APPENDIX III Use of Estuarine and Sea Fish of the Family Mugilidae, Grey Mullets, for Pond Culture in Israel I1 -'(1 - 27) v

PREFACE

The following report is written after a twenty two month

aasignmet in Israel, as a member of the Research Foundation of the

State University of New York contract, working in close affiliation

with the United States Operations Mission to Israel. It involves not

only conclusions resulting from the work during this period but also

results obtained from investigations initiated by the writer in 1951,

when he had been invited by the Government of Israel as a consultant

on a development of their sea fisheries.

During nY stay in Israel I was ably assisted in my work by

various Governmental Agencies, kibbutzim, and private scientists.

I should like to thank especially, Mr. Moshe Shavit, Mr. Otto Oren,

Mr. Eliazor Gottleib, Dr. B. "omarovsky, Dr. Adam Ben-Tuvia, Miss

Lyka Bograd, Mr. Zvie Fried, Mr. Yoel Pruginin, Mr. Jonathan Chervinsky, and Mr. Zvie Arielli, members of the Sea Fisheries Research Station.

My appreciation and thanks to Mr. Albin D. Molohon, former

Chief, Agricultural Division and Water Resources, United States

Operations Mission to Israel, Mr. Paul B. Orvis, Chief, Israel

Project, State University of New York, and the secretarial staff, for their able assistance in carrying on the project.

The work on development of the Sea Fisheries has just begun and I hope to be able in the next few years to return at periodic intervals to assist in this task. INTRODUCTION

Israel, like many other nations of the world is seeking to develop its fishery resources to obtain a much needed supply of animal proteins for food as well as products suitable for foreign exchange. Both the Mediterranean, and to a limited extent the Red Sea, are available for harvesting. These seas are sub­ tropical and tropical in character and contain numerous species of delicate flavor and incidentally of indescribable beauty.

However, few if any of the fishes are found in quantities comparable to the great fisheries of more temperate seas as for example, the cod, haddock and herring fisheries of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Despite employment of the most modern fishing equipment and techniques, the yield-per-vessel and total catch-per-unit of fishing ground will continue to be relatively low in the Mediterranean and Red Sea compared with the rich temperate northern seas. Thus the Israel Fisherman's Union reports that in the Hebrew year 1953/1954 the average annual catch of an otter trawler was

74 metric tons. Boats of a similar size and engine power fishing out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, U.S.A. on the rich grounds of the Gulf of Maine and the Nova Scotian Banks regularly take this quantity of fish in at most two weeks fishing, and have commonly taken as much or more fish in one trip of from four to ten days.

For this reason it is essential that fishing operations in Israel be carried on with maximum efficiency, with a minimum of capital investment and that a use be found for most of the aquatic forms captured. All edible products must be utilized and no aquatic orgarLism having commercial potential can be ignored.

Where possible the unique environmental conditions existing in the

Easter Mediterranean and Red Sea must be exploited and attempts made to culture aquatic organisms, specific for or adaptable to these areas, which are in demand in the world markets. 3

SEA FISHERIES POTENTIAL

Total Catch

From the comparatively crude and incomplete information

on the history and statistics of the fisheries collected both

by the Mandate Government and the present State of Israel, certain

conclusions can be drawn as to the potential of the sea fisheries

on ground adjacent to the Israeli coast. Since 1927/1928 1/ the

total Israeli sea catch has risen from less than 500 metric tons

to almost 2700 metric torw in 1954/1955 2_/ (Fig. 1)

Otter Trawl Fishery

This increase in catch has been due largely to the

introduction of the otter trawlers which have been gradually

increasing both in numbers and efficiency. Thus in 1935/1936,

seven Italian trawlers were reported to be fishing in Jaffa and

two fishod for the first time out of Haifa. By 1949/1950, nine

Israeli and five Italian trawlers, worked by a mixed Italian and

Israeli crew, were fishing off the Israeli coast and 1093 tons

of fish were captured. In 1953/1954, seventeen trawlers took

1294 ton3 of fish. At the end of 1954/1955 there were twenty­

seven trawlers in the Israeli fishing fleet. Ten of these were

new German built vessels of the latest design. Engines of

1/ Mandate Government Statistics (before 1948) is given by fiscal year: April 1 - March 31

2_/ State of Israel Statistics (1948 and later) is given by Hebrew calendar year: approximately September 1 - August 31. tfoo ?4jaic. &a *rS6m~P

.o.0

I000 000

P~~i..dON ON~,A..

all Y e

April 1 - March 31; 19 94 - 1954, Hebrew yar, approximately September 1, - August 31.) 1. Hake 2. Maigre 3. Red Bream 4. Red and Yellow - stripped Mullet 5. Barracuda 6. Misce.lane ous. greater horsepower enabled these vessels to increase or maintain

the towing speed while using larger nets and thus to increase

their efficiency. As a result the otter trawl catch in 1954/1955

was 1656 tons or 63 percent of the total sea catch. It must be

noted that in 1954/1955 all of the ten new trawlers did not

fish the entire year but some started in February and others

in March and April of 1955 so that the yearly catch probably

would have been higher if the new vessels had fished the total

year.

Insofar as the adjacent Israel grounds and Turkish

grounds are concerned, the bulk of the trawler catch, 63 to 80

percent during the period 1950/1951 - 1954/1955, was comprised

of three species of fish !_/: The red bream, Pagellus erythrinus;

the hake, Merluccius merluccius; and the yellow stripped

mullet, Upeneus moluccensis, (Table 1); Page 8. This latter species

which entered the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, has in the

past two years almost completely replaced the Mediterranean

species, the red mullet, Mullus barbatus in the trawl catch.

Also during 1955, for the first time another Red Sea species,

the lizard fish, Saurida grandisquamis became an important part

of the trawler catch. Figures are not yet available regarding

the extent of its contribution to the catch nor can it be

predicted whether it will continue to be an important part of the future catches. Actually the major contribution of the trawl fishery has been to more fully exploit the three species of fish, l/See Appendix I for List of Commercially Important Fish. English, Hebrew, Arabic and Latin names are given. the red bream, hake and mullets which were underfished in the

Mandate period. Thus in 1940/1941 and 1941/1942, despite some

trawling by Italian vessels, only 155 and 140 tons of fish were

caught compared to 1037 tons taken in 1954/1955. In addition in 1954/1955 the trawLers took for the first time large quantities

of two kinds of fish, namely: The barracuda, Sphyraena sp.

and the maigra, Johnius hololepidotus. A total of 269 tons of

these fish were caught. Both of these species had been heavily

fished by the inshore fishery during the Mandate period. During

that interval 194O.'-7947 the catch ranged from 102 to 216 tons,

and averaged 158 tons. In the period 1950/1951 to 1953/1954,

despite inclusion of quantities of fish taken by trawl the highest

annual catch was 128 tons and the average catch for the period was

94 tons. Obviously these species have been urderfished in the past several years. Only in 1954/1955 have they been taken in quantities comparable to those in the Mandate period. Whether they will be available to the trawl fishery in future years or whether the year 1954/1955 was an unusual year, cannot be predicted. However, it is evident that the high 1954/1955 trawl catch was due largely to the unusually large catches of these two species of fish. The catch of the red bream, hake and mullets was not appreciably greater than in the previous two years.

The relative stability of the catch of red bream, hake and mullets in the past three years despite increased fishing 6

intensity would indicate that a marked increase in the catch of these

species is not probable on present fishing grounds. In a report

of the Israel Fisherman's Union tl-e average annualcatch-per-vessel

for 1953/1954 was given as 74 tons. It is likely that on present

fishing grounds this annual average catch-per-vessel will not be

exceeded greatly. If we assume that with the present fleet that

this annual average catch-per-vessel will hold, then the twenty­

seven vessels now in the Israeli trawler fleet could catch 2000

tons a year.

Actually, however, realization of this catch is

dependent not only on groundsimmediately adjacent to Israel but also to those outside the territorial waters of Turkey.

Difficulties with Turkey regarding the delineation of international waters would result in a considerable reduced annual catch. Opening up of the grounds outside of the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip and possible exploitation of distant grounds (Lampedusa, North Africa, the Red Sea), might further increase the catch but both political and economic considera­ tions must be taken into account and these grounds and their potential catches cannot be depended on now.

From observations of the activities of the Israeli otter trawl fleet during 1955 and 1956, it appears that it is too large to be supported by fishing grounds along the Israeli coast alone. To a large degree, it is dependent on summer grounds off Turkey and winter grcunds off the Gaza Strip. In Fig. 2. Cuttlefish, S2ia sp.

Fig. 3. Squid, Loligo s.

/ #' , ,,

Fig. 4. Octwvius, 5PLus. Fig. 5. Greeneye, Chloropthalmus agassizi

Fig. 6. Shrimp, Penaeus kerathurus

Fig. 7. Dogfish, Mustelus canis

w

Fig. 8. Sponge, Euspon~i officinalis view of the unsettled conditions in both of these areas and the

difficulties encountered by even the present fleet of boats, it

would not appear feasible to add additional otter trawlers to the

fleet.

In my opinion the immediate problem of the trawler fleet

is to increase its efficiency so as to procure the largest catch

with a minimum cost. A major item which will assist in reducing

production costs is the utilization of so-called waste products.

It is estimated that each year over 340 tons of fishery products

usable as food, an amount equivalent to twenty percent of the

record trawl catch of 1954/1955, is thrown away. Included are:

100 tons of three species of molluscs, the cuttlefish, Seia .,

(fig.2); the squid, Loligo ., (Fig.3) and the octopus, Octopus

sp., (fig.4). 100 tons of the greeneye, Chloropthalmus agassizi; (fig.5); 90 tons of shrimp, Penaeus a., Pgaaenaew.A., Aristeus s., an

Aristeomorpha s. (fig.6); and 50 tons of dogfish, Squalus acanthias and

Mustelus canis (fig.7). This matter will be discussed later in greater detail. TABLE 1 - Catches of Major Species of Fish Taken by Israel

Otter Trawlers 1950/51 - 1954/55

: Tons :Red and : Total of the :: Maigre :Barracuda :Yellow- : : Red : Three Species :: :% of total : :%-of Year :Stripped :Hake:Bream : % of total ::Tons:Trawl Catch:Tcm :Total :Mullets : Tons : Trawl Catch :: : :Trawl : :Catch

1950/51: 455 :100: 213: 768: 80 ::21: 2 -: ­

1951/52: 1434 :91: 230 :755: 83 ::6: 0.7 :-:­

1952/53 : 578 : 195: 168 : 941 : 75 :: 26 : 2 : 18 : 1

1953/54: 525 :174: 170: 869: 67 :: 60: 5 :14: 1

1954/55 : 586 : 266: 185 : 1037 : 63 ::166 : 10 :103 : 6

Pelagic Fishery - The pelagic fishery in Israel is primarily concerned with two species of sardines, Sardinella aurita and Sardinella.maderensis of which the fromer is the most important. Before 1929, most of the sardines were taken in Israel waters, as part of the catch of a miscellaneous assortment of shore fishes, by means of the Jarf, a type of shore seine. It is about 200 to 300 meters in length, usually without a bag but deeper in the bunt or central portion of the net than at the wings. The material is cotton and the medhof the bunt ranges from 20 to 25 mM. stretched. There is a gradual increase in the sixe of mesh from the bunt to the end portions of the wings. The mesh size of the wings may be as large as 65 mm stretched. About 18 men are commonly employed in working this net. Fishing with the Jarf net is only profitable from September through April. During this time, the Nile flood enriches the waters of the Nile delta. In turn, prevailing currents carry 9

this enriched water along the Israel coast and the resulting increase in

plankton which serves as food for the fish either directly or through a

food chain leads to their concentration along the Israeli shores.

In 1929, the Multash net was introduced from Egypt. This is

an anchored gill net 70 to 120 meters long and five to six meters deep.

It is set at night parallel to the shore in waters of from five to six

fathoms. The knot to knot mesh measuremenrt is 20 m. The Multash net

is used exclusively to catch sardines. Use of the Multash net greatly

increased the sardine catch alone the Israel coasu. Thus in the first

six months of 1928, the sardine catch by Jarf was 38 tons. In 1930 and

1933, after introduction of the Multash net, the catches were 167 and 172

tons respectively. In 1938/39 the Multash took 336 tons of sardines

during January to March 1939, or 68 per cent of the total annual catch.

In fishing the Multash net, it was customary for the Arab fishermen,

in late winter or early spring, to start their activities oithe caza

strip and Ashkalon areas and follow the fish, as they moved northward,

as far as Athlit. By early summer, sardines were no longer available and fishing was discontinued. In 1934, the lampara net was introduced by Syrian fishermen. This is a ringing seine for use in deeper waters.

In practice fish are attracted and concentrated by lights and then sur­ rounded by the net. In more recent years, the larger Italian ring seine, the chinchola net has been introduced. Fishing i'ith the lampara and chinchola nets takes about twelve men to a crew and the best months are from April to September. As a result of the introduction of the lampara 10 net, but more probably because of the more extensive use of the Multash net, the total catch of sardines continued to rise and in the period

1940-1947 reached an average annual catch of 680 tons.

Since the establishment of the State of Israel there has been a marked change in the nature of the sardine catch. From the period 1950/

1951 to 1954/55 the average annual catch has been 449 tons or 231 tons less than in the 1940-47 period of the Mandate Government. Most of this catch has been made by the lampara and chinchola nets in the vicinity of Haifa and a smaller part by these same gears in the vicinity of Jaffa. Thus of the averag( annual catch of 440 tons of sardines taken in 1950/51 " 1954/55, 398 tons were caught in Haifa and 51 tons in the Jaffa area. The catch of the Jarf was relatively small and of the Multash practically nil. Most of the catch was taken from April to September. If we look again at the sardine taken in

1940-47, when the average annual production was 680 tons, we find that most of this, 514 tons, was caught in the southern region, that is Jaffa-Tel Aviv and south to the Gaza Strip. This catch was largely made by the Multash nets and to a lesser extent by the Jarff in late winter and early spring at a time of the year when the sardines were in the shallow waters close to the shores.

From these data it is quite obvious that the sardine stocks are not being fished at the present time as intensively as during the Mandate

Period. Insofar as the lampara and chinchola fisheries are concerned, the quesion is whether these types of gear can produce more fish to compensate for the reduced catch resulting from discontinuance of the Multash fishery. 1)

One possible method of increasing the catch of sardines is through

exploration of the waters contiguous to the Israel coast to determine

seasonal concentration of fish other than in the Haifa and Jaffa areas.

Another method is through in increase in the efficiency of not only the

fishermen and fishing techniques , but also in the methods of handling

the fish after it is caught and landed.

Although the pelagic fishery is chiefly concerned with the

sardine, it should be mentioned here that other species are taken in

limited quantities incidentally while fishing for sardines. These are

the mackerel, Scomber japonicus;the little tuna, Euthynnus alleteratus;

the barracuda, Spyracna sp.; and the anchovy. Engraulis encrasicholus.

All but the last species are marketed. From observations at sea, it is

my opinion that the catch of the mackerel and little tuna as well as

the anchovy could 'e increased. Also it is likely that the a:-c-hovy could

be utilized. The possibility of increasing the catch of the pelogic

fishery will be discussed later in greater detail.

Inshore Fishery- The inshore fishery of Israel takes a miscellaneous assortment of fish of many species. Chief among these are: the grey mullets, Lugil s.; bluefish, Pomatcnis saltatrix; the maigre,

Johnius hololepidetus; the sea bream, Diplodus sargus; the sea bream,

Pagellus morvrus; the sea bream, Pagrus ehrenbcrgi; the grouper,

Epinephalus guaa, the goboos, Boops hoops; and the sardines, Sardinella aurita and Sardinella maderensis. 12

The grey mullets are caught chiefly by two types of gear,

the Tihweek net and the cast net. The Tihweek net is a combination

of seine net and trammel net, especially adopted to take grey mullet

when they appear in shoals close to the shore. These fish tend to

leap over an ordinary seine. Therefore, while the fish are being

surrounded by the seine, a second net, a trammel net is also enclosed

about the seine. The trammel net is of a special kind and consists of

an inner wall of small mesh netting and two outer walls of large mesh

netting. The fish push the small mesh netting into the meshes of the

large mesh netting and are cau7ht in the pockets thus formed. Unlike

conventional traxanel nets this cne has neither leads nor floats on

its margins but instead reed poles are attached at intervals perpend­

icular to the length of the net. The net floats horizontally in the

water and as the seine is enclosed, the grey mullet jump over the head­

lines and land on the platform formed by the horizontal trammel net

where they become trapped. They are then removed by the fishermen.

The Tihweek net is still being used by Israel's Arab fishermen and is

the most effective gear for catching grey mullet when they are concen­

trated in schools on clear bottoms near the shores.

Another effective method of capturing grey mullet, particularly where the ec'cent of bottom free of rocks and other obstructions are limit or the schools of fish are small, is by means of the cast net. As with the Tihweek net this type of gear is mainly used by the Arab fishermen. The bluefish and maigre were taken in the Mandate period

mainly by means of the Bashluleh net. This is a type of anchored gill

net, 200 meters long, from two to four fathoms deep with a mesh of 5

to 6 cm. stretched. It was set perpendicular to the shore with one end

directly on the shore and the other extending out to sea and hooked near its terminal portion. The net was shot at night and emptied as soon as

quantities of fish were seen gilled, or in the morning. It was very

effective gear on these two species of fish and was employed only when they appeared in shoals close to the shore which was mainly in the winter months. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the

Bashluleh net has been little used. As a result the catch of bluefish in the period 1950/51-1954/55 averaged only 17 tons compared to 56 tons in the period 1940-47. Similarly, the catch of maigre in the 1950/51­

1952/53 period ave-aged only 83 tons compared to 118 tons in the 19140-47 period. However, in 1953/54 and particularly in 1954/55 large quantities of the maigre comparable to catches taken by the Bashluleh net in the

Mandate period were caught by the otter trawlers. If the maigre continues to be available to the otter trawlers in future years as in these two years, then there is no need for the Bashluleh net to exploit this species

If, on the other hand, the availability of this species to the otter trawlers in these two years was accidental, then the stock of this species is being underfished. At ary-rate there appears to be no question but that the stock of bluefish is not being completely harvested. 14

Regarding the sea breams, Diplodus sargus, Pagellus mormyrus

and Pagrus ehrenbergi the former two are taken mainly by the Jarf (seine)

and M'battan (trammel nets) while the latter is mostly caught by hook an

line. In the period 1940-1947, the average catch of these three species

was 97 tons. During 1950/51-1954/55, it had fallen to 75 tons. The

decline in catch is largely due to underfishing in the Southern Region of

Israel, that is in the Jaffa - Tel Aviv area, south. In 1940-1947 the

average combined catch of the three species in this region was 64 tons

compared to 22 tons in 1950/51-1954/55.

The grouper, Epinephalus guaza is largely taken by hook and

line or long line. Pecause the catch of this species is combined with

that of the other species of grouper Eoinephalus aeneus which is mainly

taken by ottor trawl little can be said regarding the status of its

present catch compared to that in previous years. However, there is

every possibility that it too is underfished for during the Mandate

period there was an extensive long-line fishery along the 60 fathom

contour in the region west of Ashkalon. This fishery does not exist at present.

The goboos, is primarily caught by Jarf although some may be taken in the trammel nets. In the period 1940-1947 the average catch was 78 tons of which 55 tons were taken in the southern region. In the period 1950/51-1954/55 the average catch was 10 tons all of which were taken in the northern region, that is north of the Tel Aviv -

Jaffa area. The sardines have already been discussed in some detail in the previous section on the pelogic fishery. It was shown hat the

Multash net (anchored gill net) was in use extensively during the Mandate

period to capture sardines, and that a large percentage of the sardine

catch was made with this gear in the southern region during the late wint

and spring months. The Multash net is now little used and, as a result,

despite introduction of lanpara and chinchola nets in the sardine fishery

the average annual catch of sardines from 1950/51-1954/55 was only 449 to

compared to 680 tons in the period 1940-1947.

In summary it appears quite obvious that the inshore fishery

is under-exploited. The average annual catch of the three species of

sea breams, the bluefish and the goboos in the period 1940-47 was

231 tons compared +o 98 tons in the period, 1950/51-1954/55. In the

region north of Jaffa - Tel Aviv the catch was about 77 tons in both

periods. However, in Jaffa - Tel Aviv, south the catch fell from

154 tons to 21 tons or a loss of 133 tons. Similarly the average

annual catch of sardines was 680 tons in 1940-47 compared to 449

tons in 1950/51-1954/55. In the region north of Tel Aviv the catch

rose from 166 to 398 tons but in the southern region it fell from 514

to 51 tons. The average annual catch of sardines in the 1950/51­

1954/55 period is 231 tons lower than in the 1940-1947 period, despite

more than the doubling of the northern catch, because of the marked

reduction of the catch in the southern area. The loss to the fisheries

of 231 tons of sardines and 133 tons of the other five species of fish,

or 364 tons in all, is equivalent to about eleven per cent of the total

average annual catch of the sea fisheries for the year 1953/54, 16

the two best years in the history of the fisheries.

Sponge Fishery I/ In the Mediterranean waters off Israel at least

two kinds of extra-fine quality sponges are present. These are the

"silk" sponges, the Turkey cup or solid, Euspongia oIficinalis (Fig. 8)

and the honeycomb, Hippiospongia equina. Sporadic attempts at sponge

fishing were made during the Mandate period. in 1936, two sponge boats

from Cyprus comprising a crew and shore staff of forty-seven Mn fished the waters off Carmel Point to Atlit and off Ziv from May 17-28.

Sponges were most abundant in waters 25-35 fathoms deep, About 700 pieces were taken of which thirty-five percent were first quality and fifty-five percent second quality. The results were encouraging enough to warrent further exploitation of these fisheries and in

1939 a company in Haifa was given exclusive rights to exploit the beds. Since the establishment of the State of Israel little has been done to utilize the sponges off the Israel coast. Some fishing was carried out by local divers in the Ziv area under the direction of a

Cuban sponge dealer, reportedly with indifferent results.

Large numbers of two as yet unidentified species of sponges, have been found in relatively shallow waters along Israel's northern coast. There is a possibility that these could be utilized as a source of sterols for pharmaceutical purposes.

Sea Turtle Fishery - The green sea turtle Chelonia nydes, the edible turtle of commerce, is present in limited quanitities along the

_ See Appendix II for List of Commercially Important Invertebrates

and Plants. English, Hebrew and Latin name s are given when available. Fig. 9. Mactra corallina

Fig. 10. Dona trunculus

Fig. 1. Little Pearl Oyster, Meleagrina albina 17

Mediterranean coast of Israel. In the 1935 report of the Mandate

Government on the fisheries of Palestine it was stated by Hornell that "Until recently about two thousand of the Green or Edible

Turtle (Chelone Mdas) were caught annually on the Palestinian coast". The only market was Egypt but because of an increase in import duties by the Egyptians the market was cut off and the fishery suffered a decline. He stated further that "Large numbers of the Edible or Green Turtle (Chelone mydas) frequent the coast of the Northern District (North of Tel-Aviv - Haifa) during the hot season, when they come towards the shallows to feed upon seagrass.

A special large meshed seine of heavy twine was used to capture them".

Shellfish fishery - Two species of edible molluscs occur in abundance in the sands below the low tide-mark in the area between Acre and Haifa an are likely to be found in other localized areas along the coast.

These are Mactra corallina (Fig. 9.) and Donax trunculus (Fig. 10)

During the Mandate period large quantities were exported to Egypt but imposition of a high import duty by the Egyptians resulted in a cessation of this fishery. A third species of shellfish, Meleagrina albina the small pearl oyster, conmonly sets in Haifa harbor and the

Bay of Acre (Fig. 1-.) In Haifa harbor, under protected conditions this shellfish attains a diameter 75 mm. Elsewhere only small shells

20-25 nun in diameter, are found. The flesh is palatible, the shell is useable for mother-of-pearl and small pearls are produced by this animal. 18

Grey Mullet Fry Fishery The grey mullets, Mugilidae, are represented t in Israel s Mediterranean waters by six species. Of these, one species

Mugil cephalus, has been used successfully in the Far East ae a

supplemental fish in pond fish culture. Through introduction of the

Mugil cephalus fry into Israel's carp ponds together with the carp, it is possible to maintain the present carp production and still produce

an additional estimated minimiun grey mullet production of 500 tons.

Under optimum conditions it is likely that 1000 tons could be raised

each year. This species could also be introduced into the reservoirs

and perhaps into Lake Kinneret. However, the value of such introduction

is at present unknown. Another species of grey mullet, 2ugi caito

might also find use in reservoirs and Lake Kinnerot. Both species of

grey mullet are found abundantly in the fry stage at the mouths of

Israel's rivers and the outlets of the fish ponds. It is estimated that from two to three million fry of each species could be collected

each year (see Appendix III for a detailed report on the use of the

grey mullet as a supplemental fish in the Israeli carp ponds.

Miscellaneous Fisheries - Two excellent species of edible crab are available in limited quantities on the Israeli Mediterranean coast.

These are the Red Sea crab, Neptunus pelagicus (Fig. 12) and the

American blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (Fig. 13.) The former is most cozmmon in the open sea, particularly in the Acre Bay region while the latter is most abundant in the mouth of the rivers. During the

Mandate period crabs were caught in some numbers by the Arab fishermen. Fig. 12. Red Sea Crab, Neptunus Fig. 13. American Blue Crab pelagicus Callinectes sapidus

Fig. 14. Sea Urchin, Paracentrotus lividus

Fig. 15. Atherine, Lpetia pin 19

In the period 1940-1947 the annual average catch was twenty-two tons.

This resource is now barely exploited.

Numerous species of both red and brown algaes exist seasonally in appreciable quantities along Israel's shores. Four such kinds have been directly observed and identified: namely,

Castaguea, Cystoseira, Sargassum and Laurencia, and others are indicated. These algae are potential sources of algin, agar and related phycocolloids which are in common use in the pharmaceutical industry as well as many other industries.

Several species of sea urchins, chief of which is

Paracentrotus lividus exist along the rocky shore of the Israeli coast (Fig. 14.) Only the gonads of these animals are eaten but they are considered a delicacy in many of the Mediterranean countries.

Stepping for a moment from the sea to fresh water it should be mentioned that the edible frog Rana ridibunda is available in the fish ponds and the Hula region in quantity. The female of this animal is in demand for use in pregnancy tests while the legs of both sexes are considered a delicacy by people in many countries in

Europe. Also it is possible that in some of the more brackish carp ponds the American diamond back terrapin Malaclemnys sp. can be cultured.

This edible turtle has a ready market in New York City.

Eylath Fishery - The potentialities of the fisheries resources of the

Eylath fishery are as yet unknown. There has been a steady increase in the catch in that area in the past several years. In 1951-52, 6 tons were taken; in 1952-53, 36 tons; 1953-54, 30 tons and in

1954-55, 60 tons, During the first ten months of 1955-56, 120 tons of fish were landed. Thus in the past two years there has been first a doubling and then a quadrupling of the catch. Most of the fish taken belong to the tuna family. A large unexploited resource is the population of small atherinid fishes existing there (Fig. 15.) It is estimated that at least 50 tons of these fish could be caugh nnually.

The relatively shallow shelf adjacent to Eylath offers possibilities for oyster and sponge culture. This will be discussed in detail in a following section, A small potential industry exists for supplying world aquarists with exotic tropical marine fishes common in Eylath area. There is demand for these fish in Germany, England and the United Sta'es.

Development of the Eylath fishery has been hampered by lack of facilities for handling the fish. No adequate refrigeration exists and surplus fish is transported mostly by air to northern markets. Also, political considerations limit the activity of the Eylath fishery to waters immediately adjacent to the Israeli shore.

Improvement in diplomatic relations with the Arab countries would open up the Red Sea fishery to exploitation. It is believed that comparatively large quantities of pelagic species, particularly the herring and tuna like fishes could then be caught, Development of fisheries in distant grounds in the Red Sea, as for example in Eritrea, are possible even under present political coalitions, but their feasibility is largely a question of economics. 21

A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF

ISRAELIS SEA FISHERY RESOURCES.

In the previous section each present and possibly new fishery was discussed in an attempt to evaluate the potential of

Israel's aquatic resources, In this section methods will be sug­ gested for their development to attain maximum utilization.

Otter Trawl Fishery

Utilization of little used or discarded fishery products.

In my opinion the most immediate problem of the otter trawl fishery is utilization, for food, of products now used pri­ marily for fish mcal or discarded at sea. It is estimated that at least 400 tons of edible fishery products are being wasted. Chief among these, are the cuttlefish, squid and octopus, 100 tons; large shrimp, 50 tons; small shrimp, 40 tons; greeneye, 100 tons;

small red and yellow-stripped mullet, 50 tons. Also, there are

unknown quantities of smaller sized fish of miscellaneous species which cannot be sold under present methods of marketing. Utilization of these animals is chiefly a problem for

the food technologist and the nrrketing specialist. The cuttlefish,

squid and octupus are highly regarded as a food in Greece, Italy

and France, both in the fresh and frozen state. To dispose of

them, they must be quick frozen, packaged to meet the market

conditions required by the importing countries and sold there to 22

reliable distributors. The large shrimps are in constant demand,

both in Europe and the U.S.A. They are generally sold deheaded and frozen, and prices may range in the U.S.A. from $.40 per lb., for

shrimp averaging 31-35 to the lb., to $.75 per lb. for shrimp averaging 10-15 to the lb. The small shrimp, 170-180 to the lb.,

can be sold in Europe. As with the cuttlefish, squid and octopus freezing and packaging and the establishment of sales outlets is all that is needed to utilize these products.

Utilization of the greeneye offers another problem.

This species of fish is of good flavor and firm texture and suitable for local consumption. However, it is too small to sell in the fresh fish market but if offers possibilities for canning. A market for this species would be of material benefit to the otter trawl fleet, aside from the additional monetary value. The green­

eye is caught along the Israel coast in waters deeper than 180 fathoms.

These are taken together with limited quantities of larger, high­ priced fish. There are not usually enough of these larger fish to justify an otter trawler's fishing the deeper waters. However, if the greeneye is marketable, its added value may enable the trawlers to fish economically the deeper waters along the Israeli coast. Such a possibility is important in view of the uncertainty of continuous fishing operations off the Gaza strip and Turkey.

Utilization of miscellaneous species of small fish is largely a question of marketing. For example, small sea bream and red and yellow-stripped mullet could be scaled, headed and gutted, 23 and then frozen in inexpensive but attractive packages. This ready-to-cook product, properly advertised should find a good market.

Location of new fishing-grounds

The Israeli otter trawl fleet is at present limited in its activities mostly to waters less than 150 fathoms along the

Israeli coast, the Gaza strip and Turkey. This is a relatively limited trawling area and there is a need to explore the possi­ bilities of the deeper waters adjacent to the Israeli coast and the waters of more distant grounds. Experimental trawling should be carried on in waters over 150 fathoms at various seasons of the year to determine he suitability of the bottom for this type of fishing and the quantities and types of fish available. Further, distant grounds, particularly off Lampedusa, North Africa and the Red Sea must be explored and theeconomics of such ventures calculated.

Seasonal availability of fish

From statistical data on the activities of the Israeli otter trawl fleet, the catch, catch-per-tow, area fished, season, together with such information obtained by exploratory fishing on new grounds in deeper water, all correlated with hydrographic data such as temperatures and currents, it should be possible, over a period of time to determine several concentrations of various species offish. Such knowledge would assist the vessels in locating the best places to fish seasonally with a minimum of lost time. 24

Improvement of gear

The present otter trawl fishery, including gear and

methods, is patterned after the Italian system. The net is of

the Italian or Mediterranean type and is designed to fish close

to the bottom. It is handmade, complioatedin construction and

difficult to repair. The vertical opening of the mouth is small

and therefore, relatively few fish swimming off the bottom are

caught. Improvements in the net design could lead to greater

efficiency in the fishing operations. Other types of otter trawl

nets must be tried and their actions studied. At present Italian

hemp is used in construction of the trawl net. Substitution of new

synthetic fibers for the whole net or parts of the net might

prolong the life of the net, cut down on time lost in repairs,

and thus reduce operational expenses. Experiments with new

patented net floats and other trawl doors might lead to

developments which would increase the efficiency of fishing operations.

Almost all of the otter trawlers are equipped with echo-sourders.

At present, these are not being used properly to assist in locating

fish, largely because fish directly on the bottom do not show up on

the screen and those off the bottom cannot be caught by the Italian trawl. It is likely that fish swimming slightly off the bottom will be indicated on the screen of the echo-sounder. With development

of an otter trawl net whose vertical opening is higher than that of the present type Italian trawl net it is possible that these fish could be captured. 25

Improvement in handling methods

Present practice in handling the otter trawl catch is to sort the fish by species and sizes at sea, to pack them in unpainted wooden boxes, 75 cm. long by 45 cm. wide, and 10 cm. deep, cover them with ice, then with a sheet of water-resistant paper and top with ice. The boxes of fish are then placed in a refrigerated fish hold. Much can be done in this field to improve the quality of fish being brought into port. The boxes are used over and over again until broken beyond repair. The unpainted wood, which is quickly roughened by use, makes them difficult to clean and no adequate facilities are available to do the job. Applications of paints or plastics on the rough porous wood should be tried to determine whether a smoother, more easily cleaned surface could not be obtained. The possibilities of using non-rusting boxes of metal, plastic or other materials should be explored.

The quality of ice now being used appears to be unsatisfactory.

This snow-ice is very wet and tends to lump together and makes it difficult to evenly cover the fish. Use of a better texture ice of proper sized particles is needed.

Comming now to the actual sorting operation by species and size of fish at sea, the great variety and small size of the fish makes this an extremely difficult operation. While the catch-per-tow is relatively low in terms of weight, it is high in terms of numbers. Sorting the nany species into the various size categories is a slow, tedious task, performed on the open deck 26 under an intense sun. Anything that could be done to more easily sort the fish and protect them from the sun would result in a better quality fish. Also, if the fish could be sorted more quickly, the time savcd could be used by the fishermen in repairing nets and keeping up the other gear and equipment.

Pelagic Fishery

Better utilization of the present catch of sardines.

At the present time, the bulk of the sardine is taken by the lampara and chinchola nets by "light" fishing. The fish are caught at night only during the period of the dark of the moon and quantities taken from night to night are variable. If too large a quantity of sardines are taken, so that they cannot be handled by the canneries on the day caught, they begin ti deteriorate quickly and even if properly iced are of inferior quality by the following day. This is particularly true of the small sardines,

11-13 cm. in total length. As a result, when large quantities of these fish are available, the fishermen are instructed not to catch them, but to look for schools of larger sardines which are usually not present in as large quantities as the smaller fish.

Consequently, there is a reduction in the potential catch of sardines.

Better utilization of the sardines would be possible if the surplus fish were frozen. Gluts of fish kept in the frozen state would serve to keep the canneries going during the periods of light of the moon when the sardine fishery is inactive or when 27 the catch is poor during the active fishing period. However, certain conditions are necessary in order to be able te freeze the surplus fish for canning. Chief among these is the need for strictly fresh fish. A second need is the glazing of the frozen fish with a rpotective coating of ice if they are to be retained in cold storage over several weeks or more.

Regarding the condition of the fish, under present handling practices both on the boats and ashore, the recently caught fish are often in too poor condition, even on the day caught, to be frozen. On most of the boats the fish are heaped on the deck and are kept there without ice for several hours until upon arrival in port, they are packed in the standard wooden box described previously. The piling up of the fish without ice leads to overheating and rapid deterioration, particularly of the lower portion. At the port there is often considerable delay in bcving and icing the fish and deterioration continues. The possibility of carrying a small supply of arushed ice in an insulated box for use in mixing alternately with layers of the fish on the deck should be tried. Effort should be made to box and ice the fish as rapidly as possible after arrival in port. The boxed fish should be transferred immediately to the cold room. It would be advisable to encourage the fishermen to land their catches early enough in the morning so that the fish will be in the cold rooms before the heat of the day. 28

The possibility of slow freezing the boxes of sardines at about -120 to 18oC., the only practical freezing facilities now available in Haifa, should be tried. After the sardines are frozen

solid they must be dipped into water near freezing temperature to

form a glaze of ice to protect them from dehydration while in cold

storage.

Improvements in present fishing methods

While the present "light" fishing with the lampara and

paranzella nets is highly developed, there is considerable room for

possible improvements in the gear and fishing technique. Use of

synthetic fibers in place of the cotton now employed in construction

of the nets might result in: reduced deterioration of the nets and

therefore, lower replacement and repair cost for the year, more

efficient handling of the lighter gear. The synthetic fibers are

usually stronger than cotton anddo not absorb water. Therefore,

a thinner twine is possible in construction of the net and this,

together with the non-absorptiv- property of the synthetic fiber

leads to a lighter net.

At present, gasoline lanterns are used in pairs on small

boats to attract the sardines to the surface layers of the water

where they become concentrated and are available to the lampara

and paranzella nets. Much of the effect of the light is lost by

reflection from the sea particularly on a rough night. Also, if

the fish are deep, the effectiveness of the light is reduced. A

practical consideration is the necessity of,manan being present on 29 each small boat to pump air into the lantern at frequent intervals and to relight them, should they be extinguished. The possibility

of replacing the gasoline lanterns with underwater electric lights should be explored. Theoretically, such a light shculd be more

efficient since there would be no loss of light by reflection from

the surface of the water. Further, an underwater electric light

could be lowered to any reasonable depth and gradually raised,

drawing the fish with it. Also, it is likely that several sets of

lights could be operated by one man.

Under present methods of "light" fishing, location of

schools of fish is largely by chance. Fishing is done in places

which during previous "darks" or previous nights gave fair catches.

It may be that several hundred mters away larger concentrations of

sardines are present. Use of the echo-sounder to locate schools

of sardines should result in increased catches.

The possibility of using the newly invented hydraulic

blocks to assist in lifting the net should be tried. If successful,

such a device would reduce the number of men needed to haul the net and increase the efficiency of the fishing operation.

As has been mentioned previously, the pelagic fishing for sardines is mainly in the Haifa area and to a limited extent in Jaffa. There is every likelihood that a population of sardines exists in other areas along the Israeli coast, both south of Jaffa and between Jaffa and Haifa. Exploratory fishing is necessary in these areas using an echo-sounder to locate the fish and regular 30

"light" fishing gear to catch them. Such exploratory fishing might

discover large concentrations of sardines at seasons when they are

scarce at Haifa and Jaffa and enable the fleet to obtain a greater

catch than at present. Or discovery of concentrations in these

presently unfished areas may lead to the development of small

fisheries locally. There is also the likelihood that fisheries

for other types of fish may develop, particularly the anchovy,

and possibly the little tuna and the mackerel.

Inshore Fishery

Of all of the Israeli fisheries the inshore fishery

appears to be the most poorly developed. The Multash (anchored

gill net) should be tried to catch sardines in seasons when they appear near shore. Also, other anchored gill nets should be used

experimentally to attempt to capture the bluefish, maigre and barracuda. Drift gill nets should be tried. Experiments carried

on with this gear under the British Mandate Government were promising.

Nets constructed of synthetic fibers would be preferable as they have proven most efficient in gill net fishing in other countries. All

fishing should be done in conjunction with an echo-sounder or if possible

direct underwater observations should be made of schools of fish available, by means of an aqualung. Long line fishing, which is largely neglected in Israel should be developed particularly for catching the giant groupers, sharks and large sea bream, Pagellus ehrenbergi in the deeper waters of the continental slope. 31

Sponge Fishery

Development of Israells sponge resources can be divided into two separate projects. In the first project the coast must be explored to determine the species available and the extent of the beds. In waters up to 20 fathoms this can readily be done by means of the skin diver equipped with an aqualung or pulled along the bottom on a sea sled. In deeper waters special sponge dredges can be used. In the second project, the practicability of sponge culture must be tried both in the Mediterranean and at Eylath. Because of the lack of sheltered harbors and coves along 13rael's Mediterranean coast, the possibility of planting sponges on the bottom following the method employed in the Caribbean area is not feasible. However, employment of lines according to the Japanese method might be successful. In Eylath, conditions are such that both the Caribbean and Japanese method may be used. The chemical composition of non­ commerical sponges found in quantity should be determined to find out whether they are of economic value.

Sea Turtle Fishery

Little is known as to the habits of the sea turtles in Israel. The extent of their range, habitat and seasonal avail­ ability should be studied to find out the best methods of capturing them.

Shellfish Fishe

Little is known as to the extent of the beds of the two common species of molluscs,Donax trunculus and Mactra corallina. 32

Exploratory fishing with a small shellfish dredge should be done to delineate the range and determine the abundance. For commercial

exploitation a small hydraulic dredge, patterned after the type used

for the surf clam along the Atlantic coast of New York and New Jersey,

and modified to meet local conditions, should prove most successful.

The little pearl cyster appears to set regularly along the Israel

Mediterranean coast but finds few habitats suitable for growth to a

large size. Sources of natural set should be Tooked for and methods

tried to catch the set. Transplantation of the set to Eylath should

be attempted. If transplants are successful culturing of pearls

should be attempted.

Grey Mullet Fry Fishery

The possible use of grey mullet fry as supplemental fish

in the carp ponds is depende:.t on a knowledge of the species present

in Israeli waters, their rate of growth and ready availability of the

fry in quantity. A complete investigation is needed.

Miscellaneous Fisheries

Two species of crabs, the Red Sea and American blueclaw crab, are available in limited numbers in the mouths of the rivers and in

Haifa Bay. Crab traps and trot lines patterned after those used along

the middle-Atlantic coast of the United States should be tried to

capture these animals. A study should be made of the seasonal abundance and extent of distribution of red and brown algae which might furnish

sources of algin end aeroids. The most abundant forms should be

chemically analyzed to determine theiir possible commercial use. 33

Because of the clarity and warmness of the water much of this work

could be done by direct observation using an underwater mask and

snorkel or an aqualung, together with a sea sled. Similar apparatus

could be employed to locate concentration of sea urchins. The

local frog is very abundant seasonally in the Hula area and about

the fish ponds and steps should be made to capture it for sale. It

is possible that an electric shocking apparatus would be most

practical for the purpose. The possibility of culturing the

American diamond back terrapin, Maclenmmys sp. in some of the

brackish carp ponds should be explored.

Eylath Fisheries

At Eylath the fishery is still in its formative stages.

Traps and gill nets for the tuna-like fishes should be tried. A

method must be found to utilize the estimated 50 tons of Atherine

now discarded or made into fish meal. Mediterranean sponges should

be transferred here and culture attempted. Similarly, sets of young

little pearl oyster from the Mediterranean should be brought to Eylath

for culture experimerts. The Japanese literature should be examined

to find out what species of oyster of good quality and suitable for

freezing and canning are found under hydrographic conditions similar

to those prevailing in Fylath. Shipments of small quantities of oysters

should be made to Eylath and growth, survival and degree of spawning

noted. Aquarists in Europe and the United States of America should be

contacted to determinei the marketability of exotic marine fiEhes common at Eylath. Better refrigeration facilities nd a small, 34

inexpensive cannery could assist materially in the development of the

Eylath fisheries.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM

In the previous section a program for development of Israel's

sea fisheries resources was presented in general terms. Carrying it

out would necessitate the formulation of detailed working programs

for each individual problem. Such working programs are the job of

the fishery biologist directly concerned with the problem. In my

opinion, the Sea Fisheries Research Station at Haifa has the staff and

equipment needed to formulate these detailed work programs and bring

them to a satisfactory conclusion. Because of limitations in funds

and personnel and the necessity of maintaining the routine collection

of data needed for reconnending measures to conserve the fisheries,

the proposed program will be a challenge to the ingenuity and

industriousness of the scientist. In May 1956, responding to a

request from Mr. Moshe Shavit, Director of the Fisheries Division,

changes were reconmended in the program of the Sea Fisheries Research

Station at Haifa and a general outline prepared of a supplemental

research program similar to the one presented in the previous section.

These are reproduced below and are self-explanatory.

"Recommended Changes in the Program of the Sea

Fisheries Research Station at Haifa, Israel"

During my sixteen months stay in Israel, I have worked

closely with the Sea Fisheries Research Station at Haifa and have had the opportunity to observe the work of its individual members and the 35

program of the Station. The staff is highly competent with each member

well qualified to do a task assigned to him. The present program is

similar to that carried on by fisheries laboratories throughout the

world. Major emphasis is placed on the routine collection of hydro­

traphic and biological data and the statistics of the fishery as well

as limited life history studies, all for use in formulating regulations

to conserve the fishery. Such a program is of a long range nature

and immediate results can be expected to be limited.

In ray opinion this traditional program while suitable in

countries where the fisheries are well developed, does -iot meet the

present needs of Israel which is now just beginning to explore its

fishery resources. Major emphasis of the Station should be on:

1. Exploratory fishing to discover additional local and distant fishing grounds.

2. Determination of the seasonal availability of fish on known and new grounds.

3. Devising of new and improvement of old techniques for harvesting aquatic resources.

4. Determination of methods of best utilizing aquatic resources at present not fished ordisoarded or of low value.

5. Development of methods for better handling of the fishery products on the boats and in cooperation with other governmenta agencies devising ways of getting the fish to the consumer in the freshest condition. The present program should not be dropped but less time should be spent on it.

Such a recommended drastic shift in the Station's program from emphasis on long range studies to short range studies will result in difficulties for the individual investigator. Most of this work 36 has been limited in the past to a particular restricted field in which masses of data were handled in a routine manner. To carry out the proposed new program, the investigators will have to expand beyond their own specializations into other fields of fisheries and use all their talents and ingenuity to devise methods to obtain answers to the problems.

In the past months, I have attempted to influence the various investigators along the new lines of research and on February 9, 1956 prepared an outline for such a program which was submitted to the staff of the Station for their comment. In this report the outline has been revised to incorporate suggestions of the staff and a more detailed working program formulated. Successful carrying out of the program is dependent on the close cooperation and mutual assistance of the investigators and good coordination of the work. Brief monthly staff meetings and reports would be of material benefit.

Outline of Recommended Research Program to Procure

Maximum Utilization of Israel's Aquatic Resources

1. Exploratory fishing a. Local grounds 1. Deep water (i) Large otter trawlers (ii) Long line (iii) Trolling

2. Shallow water (a) Small combination vessel (i) Otter trawl-shrimp trawl (4i) Gill net (iii) Long line (iv) Shellfish dredge b. Distant grounds (Turkey, Libya, Egypt) 1. Deep and shallow waters (i) Otter trawl (ii) Long line (tii) Trolling 37

II. Determination of seasonal availability of fish a, Known grounds 1. Fishery statistics b. Unknown grounds 1. From exploratory fishing.

III. Devising of new and improvement of old techniques for harvesting aquatic resources. a, Improvement of otter trawl 1. Net (i)Shape (ii) Type of fiber 2. Doors 3. Miscellaneous b. Lampara fishing 1. Type of fiber 2. Lights 3. Hauling of net c. Multipurpose vessel (small) 1. Gill net 2. Otter-shrimp trawl 3. Long line 4. Shellfish dredge d. Traps 1. Mediterranean 2. Eylath e. Sponges 1. Extent of natural beds 2. Culture (i)Mediterranean and Eylath (a) Methods and technique Traditional Japanese f. Pearl oyster 1. Extent of natural set 2. Artificial catching of set 3. Culture (i) Mother of pearl (ii) Meat (iii) Pearls g . Gray mullet fry 1. For fish ponds

IV, Determination of methods of best utilizing aquatic resources at present not fished or discarded or of low value. a. Fish 1. Atherina 2. Greeneye 3. Pagellus erythrynus, P. mormyrus (small) 38

4. Boops boops (small) 5. Red mullet (small) 6. Sharks (small) 7. Scomber (small) 8. Anchovy 9. Other 10. Gray mullets b. Molluscs 1. Squid and octopus 2. Sepia 3. Mactra corallina 4. Donax trunculus 5. Meleagrinaelbina i Meat (ii) Shell (iii) Cultured pearls 6, Other c. Crustacea 1. Large shrimp (i) Canning and freezing

2. Small shrimp (i) Freezing d. Algae 1. Agar 2. Algin

V. Development of methods for better handling of fishery products a. Boats 1. Sorting machine 2. Boxes 3. Handling, washing, icing. b. Market (wholesale and retail) 1. Handling, icing 2. Preparation and packing: Canning Freezing Fresh fish 39

PROGRESS ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM

The developmental program as given in a previous section has been accepted as an integral part of the work being carried on by the Sea Fisheries Research Station and progress has been nade on various aspects as follows:

Otter Trawl Fishery

Utilization of little used or discarded fishery products

In cooperation with the Division of Commerce and Industry of the United States Operations Mission, a plate-type quick freeze cabinet was brought to Israel from the United States of Anerica, and installed at Haifa port where the bulk of the fish are landed. Such products as cuttlefish,squid, octopus and large and small shrimp are being packaged and frozen for export by the Fishermen's Union. They are being assisted temporarily by a food processor from Turkey who exports these items from that country. Further assistance if needed, can be obtained from the food technologists of the United States

Operations Mission. Correspondence with firms in France and Italy indicate a good market for the frozen cuttlefish, squid and octopus and firms in both the United States of Amrica and England will take the large shrimp. The species of shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus, most common of Turkey, is of large size, rated "jumbc" in the American market and is of the desired white color. Samples taken on April

24, 1955 and April 16, 1956 weighed 12 to 14 to a pound, headed. 330 -ish 30". 70o fAl.oM s

20 578 Ntaibi

I0"

To 0

Fig. 16. Size compoition of the greeneys, Choothlu asassiz. taken by otter trawl off the Israel Coast in February and June 1956. The headed shrimp were 61 percent of the total weight of the animal with the head on. The most common species taken off the Israeli cost Penaeus kerathurus and Penaeus trisulcatus average from 26 to 35 to the pound, headed. The small shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris is very common off the Israeli coast and has a possible market in

Germany. Headed animals averaged about 180 to the pound. Recovery was 58 per cent.

Small yellow-stripped mullet, have been experimentally

packaged and frozen. On May 17, 1956, a sample of 105 fish ranged

in size as follows:

Length in cm. Number of fish

8 1 9 30 10 49 1U 20 12 5

There were 83 fish in a kilo and after scaling, heading

and gutting, 616 gms. of usable fish were available or 62 per cent of

the total weight of the fish. It was found that at least four

kilogram of usable fish could be prepared by one person in an hour.

The greeneye reaches a size of 17 cm., but most commonly

ranges from 8 to 14 cm. in length, (Fig. 16). The larger fish have

been sold in small quantities on the fresh fish market during the

past year. However, most of the fish could not be sold in this manner.

The vnight of recovery after scaling, heading and gutting was 61

per cent. In cooperation with F.A.O., canning specialist, Mr. Tengberg-

Hansen, these fish were canned. The experimental pack appeared to be 41 quite satisfactory for the local market. The texture and flavor were good.

Location of new fishing grounds

A start has been made on exploratory otter trawling in the deeper waters off the Israeli coast. Partial results have been described by Oren, and Gottleib (1955), members of the Sea Fisheries

Research Station and further results will be given in future reports.

Exploratory trawling was recently undertaken on grounds off Lampedusa and North Africa. The results are now being compiled and will be published soon. Data on the seasonal availability of fish along the Israeli coast is being analysed by the scientists at the Research

Station and when completed will be reported to the fishermen.

Improvement of gear

A program for development and improvement of the otter

trawl gear is in progress. The standard Italian trawl has been

modified to increase its efficiency and reports on this subject have

been published by the crew of the T.M.V. "Tzofia" (1956), and Ben-Yami

(1956). By means of underwater observations with aqua-lungs a study

is being nade of the action of various types of trawl nets and their

related gear, doors, lines and floats to obtain the most efficient

trawl gear. Partial results have been reported by Fried and Assof (1956).

Netting of various synthetic fibers have been brought from the U.S.A.

to be used in the construction of whole trawl nets or parts of nets to

determine whether these are superior to the materials used in present

net construction. t o I 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 g 1i I' LIZARD FIH I.

20

20­

':,~ L" L'M

YELLOW­ 20) STRIPPED MULLET

X

10-

L REP BREAM

0"

5M L.

HAKE

22

Toaol(a L L ,,a

important species of fish in the FIg, 17. Relationship of maximum width to total length of categories for each species. V3 - very small; otter trawl fishery. Fishermen's sorting S - small 4 - imdium; L - large. 30i LIZARD F15HI

25

20­

RED MULLET 0

20-° I~I

____M LI

--<, '-E M L.

YELLOW- STRIPPED MULLET x

5 -

toI

REP BREAM

20.

HAKE

Io

i 5 H L

Tojal Lc,rgR

of important species of fish in the 17. Relationship of maxim width to total length Fig. for each species. VS - very small; otter trawl fishery. Fishermen's sorting categories S - sm115 X ­ dil L -large. 42

Improvement in handling methods

In cooperation with the bacteriologist recently assigned

to the Sea Fisheries Research Station, attempts are being made to procure better handling of the fish. Experiments on replacement or

improvement of the wooden boxes now in use have begun. Ice crushing machinery recommended by the marketing specialist of the U.S.O.M. for other food products will produce an ice more suitable for fish than that used at present. To assist the fishermen in more rapid sorting by species and sizes of the recently caught fish experiments were started on the possibilities of making a mechanical sorter which could be installed aboard ship. It was found that moving rollers set at fixed intervals might be suitable. The relationship of the lengths to maximum widths of the major species of fish was obtained to determine the size of the interval between the rollers. Results are summarized in Fig. 17. These results indicate that four sets of rollers izuld sort the catch mechanically into species and sizes as follows:

Roller Set 1 - space between rollers 27 mm.; Large lizard fish and large hake would be retained. Most others would pass through.

Roller Set 2 - space between rollers 19 mm.; Large red bream, large red and yellow-stripped mullet, lizard fish would be retained. Most others would pass through.

Roller Set 3 - space between roller 15 mm.; Medium red bream, medium hake, medium red and yellow­ stripped mullet, small lizard fish would be retained. Most others would pass through. 43 Roller Set 4 - space between rollers 11 mm.; Small red and yellow-stripped mullet, small red bream and non-marketable lizard fish would be retained. Most discarded fish and debris would pass through.

Although this mechanical device will not do a complete sorting

job, it will simplify end hasten'the process since each series of sorted

fish has fewer categories to work with. Also, all the species and size

categories are not always present in the catch at one time and some of

the fish may be almost completely sorted by species and size by the

machine. Further, the machine would standardize the arbitrary size

categories of small, medium ar large for each species of fish. As yet,

only a crude hand driven model with one series of rollers has been

constructed. A working model having the four sets of rollers must be built and tried to test its practicability.

Pelagic Fishery

Better utilization of present catch It has been mentioned in previous sections that too large a quantity of sardines landed in any one day cannot be readily handled by the canneries. Storage in a cold room even if only to the following day results in a poorer quality fish, while holding them for any longer period of time is not possible. Thus, on October 18-19, nine tons out of a total of forty tons of sardines had to be used for fish meal instead of being canned. Experiments were tried to see if surplus sardines could be frozen and stored for a limited time using existing slow-freezing facilities. A sample of fresh sardines was placed in a box 6 cm. deep and frozen at 12 0 C. Thirty hours later the fish were glazed with water by dipping them in a pan of water near freezing 44

temperature. Eleven days after they had been put into the freezer,

the fish were defrosted and examined. They were slightly softer than

when frozen, but were in far better condition than most of the sardines

going to the canneries after retention in the cold room for a day.

This experiment should be repeated on a pilot plant basis using the

regular fish boxes filled with fish, and these frozen fish later

defrosted and canned. The successful freezing and storage of surplus

sardines during active fishing in the dark period of the moon would

give the canneries a supply of fish in the periods of moonlight

when the fishery is inactive. It must be emphasized that only good

quality, fresh fish can be frozen. For this reason, the possibility

of Icing the fish at sea even if the time interval between catching

and landing is short, should be studied.

In addition to the regular catch of sardines of a size

suitable for canning, variable amounts of small sardines mostly less

than 11 cm. are caught and are used for fish meal. Included with

these small sized sardines are varying quantities of small mackerel

and anchovy. It is possible that an anchovy paste could be made of

this mixed product since the strong flavor Df the anchovy may be

imparted to the other fish. Some idea of the relative proportions

of each species contained in these fish that are utilized for fish meal and total quantities taken are indicated in a sample taken on

June 29, 1956 at Haifa, (Table 2). It is estimated that an average of 16 tons of these mixed small fish would be available for paste each year. 45

Improvements in present fishing methods

Work is actively going on in an attempt to improve present

fishing methods. Synthetic fibers have been imported from the United

States of America for construction of nets. A hydraulic block has been

purchased there for trial in hauling the nets. Exploratory fishing for

concentrationsof sardines using the echo-sounder has been begun in the

Haifa Bay area and will be extended along the coast. This fishing will

be expanded to include possible location of anchovy schools (Komarovsky, 1956)

Inshore Fishery

To better explore the possibilities of the inshore fishery

a small research vessel has been placed in operation. An echo sounder

has been installed and standing gill nets and drift gill nets are

being constructed from various synthetic fibers. A Danish net hauler

has been placed on board to facilitate handling of the nets and a

Danish line hauler has been purchased for use in long line fishing.

Preliminary long-line fishing in deep water with a mechanical hauler

aboard one of the smaller fishing boats out of Haifa has been

promising (Oren and Fried, 1956)

Sponge Fishery

Some exploratory fishing to determine the extent of the

beds was begun. A large concentration of sponges was found off Haifa

and a small bed off Asiv. Under license a group of three aqua-lung

divers fished the Haifa grounds on a part time basis and in a period

of approximately one year took 9 kilograms of sponges comprising

1100 pieces. 46

Table 2. Species and Size Composition of Fish Utilized for Fish

Meal, Pelagic Fishery l/

Length No. of Fish in cm. Sardine Sardine Mackerel Anchovy Sardinella Sardina Scomber Engraulis aurita pi chardus japonicus encrasicholus

6.0 3 i 2

7.0 41 17 - 28

8.0 77 122 21 84

9.0 648 153 4 80

10.0 225 43 25 2

11.0 18 1 10

12.0 - 3 13.0- 1 14.0 - - 2 - Total No. 1012 337 106 196 Total wgt. in gms. 6890 2040 770 4000

_j/ Sample box of small fish taken by lampara net, June 29, 1956

in Haifa Bay at 12-14 fathoms. Total catch of small fish was

69 boxes. 47

Sponge planting was tried, using the Japanese line method, in the area off Haifa. The techniques and results are summarized in

Tables 3 and 4. Indications are that sponge culture might be success­ ful in the open waters of Israel'- Mediterranean coast, although experience may prove the protected waters of Eylath more suitable.

In either place, development of a sponge culture industry is a long range project.

To find out whether sponges of common occurrence but no commercial value contain chemicals which could be used, particularly sterols, samples of two unidentified species, a black and a yellow sponge were sent to the Weitzman Institute at Rehovot for study. Results are not yet available. 48 Table 3. Sponge Plants 2/

Tech- Date No.of Size No. of Tech Date No.of Size No.spon nique strings wien sponges nique strings when ger per planted per planted string 3/ string 6/26/55 A R 42 5 7/20/55 F3 L 60 A2 i 45 E8 60 A3 41 C8 " _ 60 A4 40 5 7/21/55 D5 L 60 A5 40 E9 60 A6 40 D6 60 A7 40 E3 R 61

_A8 "40 D7 " 60 2 7/1/55 A9 R 40 F8 I 60 ',i0 i 40 C7 i 60 Bi 40 F6 60 B2 40 C3 60 B3 40 1 hole 60 B4 40 ,_ 2 holes L 60 ,, 40 5 io/2/55 H1-01 L 50 B7 40 H3-02 50 B8 " 40 H4-03 50 3 7/12/55 D2 R 66 H5-04 " 50 D9 "80 H6-05 " 50 Dl 78 H7-06 " 50 C9 71 H9-07 50 C5 56 G4-08 50 B5 it 55 G5-09 it 33 2 7/12/55 B1O R 50 6 10/27/55 G6-010 L 50 D8 I 50 G7-011 50 C4 50 G8-012 " 50 7/13/55 ClO 60 J4-013 " 49 ElO 60 J8-014 " 50 D1O 60 Kl-015 50 El 60 K2-016 " 50 E7 60 K3-017 " 50 E5 60 6 11/1/55 K5-018 L 59 C0 " 5' K6-019 58 E4 60 6 11/9/55 020-020 L 50 B9 t 60 021-021 50 C2 60 022-022 50 E2 60 023-023 "49 5 D/20/55R 60 02 2 F7 " 60 F2 " 60 F5 " 60 F4 " 60 E6 L 60 _ _ Fl " 60 49 l/ Sponges were taken from depths of 4 to 6 fathoms and planted in waters of 12 fathoms.

.g/ Technique 1: Sail needle used; No. 100 nylon; knots in nylon as stops; each line consists of five sections of nylon two meters in length, sponges stored overboard. Technique 2:

Sane as technique 1, but rounded, upholsterers needle used.

Technique 3: As in technique 2, but no needle used and stainless steel wire was substituted for the nylon. Technique 4: A No. 0 hypc,.)rmic needle used; No 60 nylon, five two meter lengths to a line, aluminum stops instead of knots in the nylon.

Sponges stored overboard. Technique 5: Same as technique 4, but plastic stops were used and sponges were held, in large containers aboard ship, immersed in frequently changed sea water.

Technique 6: Same as te-hnique 5, but lines were comprised of ten pieces of nylon each one met.er long.

/ R - Regular size, roughly 25 by 25 by 50 mm. in size.

L - Large size, roughly 50 by 50 x 30 mm. in size. Table 4. Survival of Sponge Plants l/ -O

Planted Recovered Technique No. of Date No. of Size when Date No, of 2/ string I sponges planted 3/ ponges

1 A7 6/26/55 40 R 10/20/55 20

2 B4 7/1/55 40 10/20/55 0

2 B7 7/l/55 1.0 10/5/55 1

2 B8 '7/1/55 40 10/5/55 0

4 El 7/13/55 60 10/20/55 23

4 C1 7/13/55 59 10/20/55 26

5 F3 7/20/55 60 L 10/20/55 54

5 D7 7/21/55 60 R 10/20/55 44

5 C7 7/21/55 60 10/5/55 36 5 2 holes 7/21/55 60 L 110/5/55 34 4 C2 7/13/55 60 R 5/16/56 12 4 Unknown 1 7/13/55 60 R 5/16/56 29

4 Unknown 2 7/13/55 I 60 R 5/16/56 20

4 Unknown 3 7/13/55 60 R 5/16/56 20 6 010 10/27/55 50 L 5/16/56 .30

1) Sponges taken fmm 4 to 6 fathoms and planted in water of 12 fathoms

2) See Trble 3, Footnote 2.

3) See Table 3, Footnote 3. 51

Sea Turtle Fishery

Little is known regarding the potentialities of this fishery. In July 1956, the Green Turtle was found laying its eggs on the beaches south of Natanya. In September 1956, turtles were seen feeding near shore in the vicinity of Haifa.

Shellfish Fishery

Extensive beds of the edible shellfish, Mactra corall.na and Doxax trunculus have been found in the area between the Naamon

River and Hof Hashemen. The size distribution of these two animals is indicated in Tables 5 and 6. The natural set of the little pearl oyster has been found in large quantities along the beaches between the Naamon River and Hof Hashemen indicating heavy setting somewhere nearby offshore. She was also caught on the sponge lines. Informatior obtained from the natural set and the sponge line set indicates setting from late summer to early winter (Fig. 18, Table 7). Depth of setting was variable as shown on the sponge liner, set having been deposited in 23 meters of water all along the line im the bottom to 10 meters off the bottom (Table 8).

Sponge line set appeared to grow faster than natural set. Five specimens taken from the sponge lines on October 20, 1955 ranged from 23-33 nmn. (anterior - posterior hinge length) compared to 119 specimens found on the beach on December 12, 1955, which ranged from

7 to 23 mm. It is interesting to note that natural oyster set obtained from a buoy mooring line near Haifa Bay on January 11, 1956, was almost as large as the sponge line set of October 20, 1955, but was I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I I I - il le ?ear( 09slor

16 - " pc~4~

oCI.,20, 9

4 88

- 8

/1 \\

00 ,0 ,

Fig. 18. Size composition of the little pearl oyster, eleagrina albina. I/ Recently killed material washed up by a storm on the beach halfway between Acre and Hof Hashenen. a/ Found on sponge plant lines. Lines were put in on July 13 - 21, 1955. )/ Recently killed material washed up by a storm on the beach halfway between Acre and Hof Hashemen. A/ Found on buoy line of oil company near Haifa Harbor, one meter from surface in 8-9 fathoms of water. / Found on sponge line C4, planted on July 13, 1955. 52 considerably larger than the natural set found in the same area on

January 19, 1956. (Fig. 18). It appears that the little pearl oyster grows faster on line,- than when attached to the bottom. Growth on the lines appears rapid. On one sponge line number C4 which was planted on July 13, 1955, set recovered on May 12, 1956 ranged in size from

15 to 46 m. (Fig, 18.)

Table 5. Length Frequency Distribution, Mactra corallina i/

Anterior-posterior Number Anterior-posterior Number length of hinge length of hinge (m) (mm). 35 1 44 6 36 - 45 4 37 46 3 38 1 47 2 39 1 48 ­

40 1 49 1 41 4 50 ­ 42 5 51 1

43 2 --

I/ Found on shore after a storm. Hinged shells filled with

meat, recently killed. Between Acre and Hof Hashemen

January 19, 1956. 53

Table 6. Length Frequency Distribution, Donax trunculus l/

Anterior-posterior Number Anterior-posterior Number length of hinge length of hinge

(rM. ) _ __(nun)._ _ 26 1 32 2.

27 2 33 3 28 3 34 3 29 8 35 2

30 9 36 ­

31 5 37 1 i/ Found half way between Naamon River and Hof Hashemsn in one

meter of water, 10-15 cm. belaor surface of sand. January

25, 1956

Table 7. Amount of Setting of 'he Little Pearl Oyster on the Sponge Plant Lines.

No. of Line Date Planted (Date Recovered No. of Qyster C7 Vl/21/55 X/5/55 0 B7 V1i/1/55 X/5/55 0 B8 V11/-/55 X/5/55 0 Two holes Vl1/21/55 X/5/55 0 A7 V1/26/55 X/20/55 1 D7 Vl/21/55 IX/20/55 7 F3 V1/20/55 X/20/55 1 El Vll/13/55 x/2o/ss 2 Cl V-1.3/55 X/2/55 1 B4 V1//55 X/2/55 0 Unknown 1 V11/13/55 V/16/56 0 Unknown 2 Vll/13/55 V/16/56 1 Unknown 3 V11/13/55 V/16,56 1 010 x/27/55 v/16/56 5 C2 VM/13/55 v/i6/56 64 54

Table 8. Depths of Setting of the Little Pearl Oyster on the Sponge Plant Lines

Depth from Plant L nes Line No. ,___,_ bottom F3 Cl El A7 D7 Unknown Unknown 02 010 (_) 2 3

900-999 1 3 800-899

700-799 1 33

600-699 13 500-599 5

400-499 4 1

300-399 1 1

200-299 1 1

100-199 1 1 3 8 1 0-99 3 1 l_On glass float

Grey Mullet Fry Fishery

Considerable progress has been made in this fishery and pilot plant experiments are now under way. A detailed report is reproduced in Appendix 3. Miscellaneous Fisheries

Little has been done on these fisheries. Collection of algae have been made and the species identified.

Eylath Fisheries

A gill net of synthetic fiber has been furnished the Eylath fishermen for trial use. The Atherine is a common fish in 55 the Eylath area in spring and ranges in size from 85 to 130 mnm. (Table 9.)

It is suitable for canning if the heavy scales can be removed economically.

Mr. Tengberg - Hansen, F.A.0. specialist has prepared an acceptable canned product and a new machine has been developed to mechanically scale the fish. In cooperation with Mr. Tengberg-Hansen and Mr. E. Bulkind, food technologist a program for construction of a small cannery and better refrigeration facilities at Eylath was presented to the government.

Table 9. Size Composition of the Aterine

Total length January 25, 1956. February 17, 1956 in rim. 85-89 3 3 90-94 32 14

95-99 45 25

100-104 49 22 105-109 21 3

110-114 4 -

115-119 Ii 8

120-124 15 9

125-129 lU 9

130-134 2 -

Total 193 93 56

BBL IOGRAPHY

Bograd, L. 1955 - Recognition of Grey Mullets of the Mediterranean

Shores of Israel.

Fishermen's Bulletin, No. 5, pp. 21-24.

Ben-Yami, M. 1956 - A New Trawl Net.

Fishermen's Bulletin, No. 8, pp. 30-33.

Ben-Yami, M. 1956 - Preliminary Report on Experimental Fishing with

a New Trawl Net. General Fisheries Council for

the Mediterranean, Technical Paper No. 35, 13 pages

Crew of the T.M.V. "Tzofia" 1956 - Preliminary Report on a New Type

of Trawl Net.

Fishelzn's Bulletin, No. 8, pp. 26-29

Fried, Z. & Y. Assof 1956 - Aqua-lung tests of the Italian Trawl Net.

Fishermen's Bulletin, No. 8, pp. 34-36

Gottlieb, E. 1955 - Shrimp Fishery and the Possibility for its

Development in Israel.

Fishermen's Bulletin, No. 3, pp.

Gottlieb, E. 1955 - The American Blue Crab on the Israeli Shore

Fishermen's Bulletin, No. 6, pp. 18-19.

Gottlieb, E. and 0. H. Oren 1956 - Savings Gear Experiments with Trawl

Nets in Israel Waters. General Fisheries Council fo:

the Mediterranean, Technical Paper No. 36. 9 pages

Komarovsky, B. .956 - Appearance of the Anchovy Larvae (Engraulis

encrasicholus L.) in the Plankton Samples off the Coast of Israel.

Fishermen's Bulletin, No. 7, pp.. 14-17.

Oren, 0. H. and E. Gottlieb 1955 - Trawling Experiments in Deep

water. Fishermens Bulletin, No. 5, p. 25.

Oren, 0, H. and Z. Fried 1956 - Experimental Long-Line Fishing in Deep,-,

Water.

Fishermen's Bulletin, No. 8, pp. 33-34.

Perlmutter, Alfred, Lyka Bograd and Joel Pruginin 1956 - Use of the

Estuarine and Sea Fish of the Family Mugilidae,

Grey Mullets, for Pond Culture in Israel.

General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean,

Technical Paper No. 37, 27 pages. 58 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Because so many people have helped me in carrying on the work it is difficult to credit them all individually. Mr, thanks are due to every member of the Sea Fisheries Research Station, the Station at Dor, the Fish Breeders Association, the Fishermenst

Union and the fishermen themselves and the kibbutzim Mayan Zvie and

Maagan Michael.

Special thanks are in order to Moshe Shavit, Director of the Fisheries Division and Otto Oren, in charge of the Sea

Fisheries Research Station who as active counterparts made much of the work possible.

I should also like to commend Zvie Fried, Yoel Pruginin and Lyka Bograd for their patience and zeal in attacking the many problems.

And last to my two direct assistants Mr. Jonathan

Chervinsky and Zvie Arielli apologies for working you so hard and sincere appreciation for your willingness to assist in any task regardless of personal discomfort, A P P E N D I C E S List of Commercially Important Fish

English Hebrew Arabic Latin

Anchovy - Engraulis encrasicholus

Atherine _ Hepsetia pinguis

Barracuda •D o Malita Sphyraena sp.

Bluefish T9 X Gounbar Pomatomus saltatrix

Dogfish .VIp D Kelb el Bahr Squalus acanthias

Dogfish wl"In Kelb el Bahr Mustelus canis

Goboos 0 121 Gobbos Boops -oops

Greeneye | P- _ Chloropthalmus agassizi

Grey mullet TD P Dahaban Mgil auratus

Grey mullet "'30 I1DP Tobara Mgil capito

Grey mullet WKi3-f 11 DP Kabban M cephalus

Grey mullet flvz'-002 1P Moukshal YJ chelo

Grey mallet Io W' 110P _ Mugil labeo

Grey mullet f 0 P Tobara Mugil saliens

Grouper n"I"On IP" Loukos Epinephelus aeneus

Grouper 1 IP," Irbi Epinephelus guaza

Hake Don aut Baccala Merluccius merluccius

Little tuna n ?n IID Balamida Euthynnus alleteratus

Lizard fish Dof 11 n _ Saurida grandisquamis

Maigre ' n D" " Mouskar Johnius hololepidotus

Mackerel Dx * 1P Skumbli Scomber japonicus

Red Bream n" 11 Jarbeeden Pagellus erythrinus 7-(2)

List of Commercially Important Fish (cont'd)

English Hebrew l/ Arabic Latin

Red Mullet .iim nq ID Sultan Ibrahim Mullus barbatus

Sardine npI n-10 Sardina rafia Sardinella aurita

Sardine U3 nVI Sardina arid Sardinella maderensis

Sea bream 0 12"o Saraghus Diplodus sarzus

Sea bream 1 1 D Farreeden Pagrus ehrenbergi

Sea bream fl'2W'0 f, Il Marmur Pagellus mon s

St. Peters Fish ' ?"?'I |130h Musht abiad Tilapia galilaea

St. Peters Fish 11MV 11KDR Musht lubbad Tilapia nilotica

St. Peters Fish VSD0 113D" Musht adadi Tilapia zillii

Yellow-stripped mullet 1101K - Upeneus moluccensis

_/ Names furnished by Dr. Adam Ben-Tuvia, Sea Fisheries Research Station, Haifa. List of Commercially Important Invertebrates and Plants

Latin English Hebrew Sponges

Euspongia officinalis Turkish cup or solid

Hippiospongia equina Honeycomb Zino

Molluscs

Donax trunculus Iw ni

Mactra corallina

Meleagrina albina Little Pearl Oyster OVIV39n MIS

Loigo s. Squid 1'F-

Octupus sp. Octopus

Sepia sp. Cuttlefish . ,1-1

Echinoderms Paracentrotus lividus Sea Urchin -

Crustaceans

Callinectes sapidus American Blue Crab 'Iz joi

Neptunus pelagicus Red Sea Crab

Parapenacus longirostris Shrimp IPI" 113n-.

Aristeomorpha foliacea Shrimp 1001M Aristeus antennatus Shrimp 141Abh1OVIN

Penaeus japonicus Shrimp , , |

Penaeus kerathurus Shrimp '3'-n '

Penaeus semiculcatus Shrimp ' 'n - ' 11-(2)

Amphibians

Rana ridibunda Frog

Reptiles

Chelone nrydas Green Turtle pi'Ifi Z,

Algae

Castaguea sp.

Cystoseira sp. -

Sargassum sp.

Laurencia s_. -N III-()

APPENDIX III

Use of the Estuarine and Sea Fish of the Family Mugilidae

Grey Mullets, for Pond Culture in Israel

by

Alfred Perlmutter /, Lyka Bograd 2/, and Joel Pruginin / Abstract:

The possibility was explored of using mmbers of the

family Mugilidae, the grey mullets, as supplemental fish in the

carp ponds in Israel. Six species of grey mullets are found along

the Mediteiranean coast of Israel namely:. Mugil cephalus, Mugil

capito, Mugil saliens, Mugil auratus, Mugil chelo, and Mugil labeo.

The latter species is comparatively rare and fish 6 to 7 cm. Qr

longer of the remaining five species are difficult to catch in

quantities sufficiently large for stocking fish ponds. however,

small fish, less than 5 cms. in total length, of each of the

five species can be caught in relatively pure schools of a single

species and in large numbers during certain seasons.

A key for the identification of these small.mullets and notes on their habitats and seasonal availability is included. Experiments on the suitability of the various species as a supplemental fish in the Israel carp ponds show M. cephalus to be the most satisfactory. Methods of handling and transporting and of using M. cephalus in the carp ponds are described.

Fisheries Specialist, United States Operations Mission to Israel (S.U.N.L) Fishery Biologist, Israel Sea Fisheries Research Station. General Advisor, Israel Fishery Division. III-(2)

At the present tine pond fish culture in Israel is limited to the raising of the carp, Cyrinus carpio. There is

a possibility of increasing the yield of fish from the carp ponds by introducing one or more supplementary species of fish if a supply of them are readily available. Also, such fish would add variety to the diet and encourage increased consumption of fish. The grey mullets which are common inhabitants of the rivers and shores of Israel appear to be suited for this purpose.

Species of grey mullet are being used successfully

together with various species of carps in pond culture in China

and other parts of the Far East particularly Hong Kong. (Lin,

1955). In Israel attempts were made to introduce the local

species of grey mullets into the carp ponds when ponds were first

built near the sea shore but with indifferent results. (Anonymous,

1948). Utilization of the grey mullets in Israel's pond fish

culture has been hampered by lack of fundamntal information

including differentiation of the species, their habitat, the

seasons. when they are available, the suitability of various

species for pondfish culture, and methods of capturing and trans­

porting them. This study was undertaken to obtain such information.

Preliminary observations indicated that the post-larval and fry

stages (fish less than 5 cm. in length) were the most suitable for

large scale pond fish culture. The larger sizes of grey mullets

congregate in relatively small schools which are fast swimming and

difficult to approach and catch. To take them in quantities would III-(3 usually be prohibitively expensive. The small fry, depending on the species, enter sheltered coves in the sea or the estuaries of the rivers in large concentrations and can be readily and inexpen­ sively caught. Consequently our attention was concentrated on these smaller fish.

Species of Grey Mullet - Two species of grey mullet have been reported from Eylatl, on the Red Sea and six species are found on the Mediterranean cost of Israel. Ben-Tuvia and Steinitz (1952) and Steinitz and Ben-Tuvia (1955) record Crenimugil labiosus and

Mug crenilabis as present at Eylath and the fishermen there have seen small schools of grey mullet in late spring and early sunmner.

On February 14, 1956 a single pelagic post-larvel grey mullet 30mm long and of undetermined species was collected by us while light fishing indicating that spawning of some species of grey mullet occurs about this time. As yet little is known as to the potentialities of the grey mullets at Eylath for use in pond fish culture and the investigation in that area is continuing. Our information on the six species of grey mullets in the Mediterranean is more complete. These species have been identified as Mugl cephalus, Z. capito, E. saliens, M. auratus, M. chelo and M. labeo.

A key for identification of fish 10 cm and larger has been published by Bograd (1955). This key cannot be used in identifying smaller fish. Following is a new key for the identification of the grey mullets below 10 cm. along Israel t s Mediterranean coast... III-(4

Key for the Identification of Grey Mullets less than 10 cm on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel:

la. Anal spines and rays 14

Mugi. labeo Plate 2

lb. Anal spines and rays less than 14, usually 12 ..... 2

2a. Pyloric caeca 2

Mugil cephalus Plate 3

2b. Pyloric caeca more than 2 ...... 3

3a. Pyloric caeca of equal lengths...... 4

3b. Pyloric caeca unequal in length...... 5

4a. Pyloric caeca usually 6, rarely 5 or 7. Fish

less than 35 mm in length with ventral surface

of the head heavily pigmented.

Mugil chelo Plate 4 4b. Pyloric caeca usually 7 or 8, rarely 6 or 9. Fish less

than 35 mm in length with ventral surface of the head

sparsely pigmented.

Mugil capito Plate 5

5a. Pyloric caeca in two groups the ventral 3 or 4 longer

than the remaining 4 or 5.

Mugil saliens Plate 6

5b. Pyloric caeca in one group gradually increasing in

length from the ventral to dorsal caeca,

Mugil auratus Plate 7 III-(5)

Habitat - From field observations we find that the fry of the various species of grey mullets tend to seek different habitats.

Those of Mugil labeo have been taken only in the sea among the rocks mostly in the outer tide pools where there is a strong surge of water. All of the other species occur in the sea but Kugil saliens, Yugil capit and Mui cephalus fry are found there far a short time only, before they enter the rivers and when in the sea are taken most commonly near the mouths of the rivers. M saliens fry are usually concentrated in the lower portion of the rivers. M capito and MujiL cc phalus_ fry initially are concen­ trated near the mouths of the rivers but gradually disperse along the entire length of the rivers ard eventually are found in abundance in the upper reaches. MuIJL auratus and Muil chelo fry are most numerous in the protected indentations along the coast and at the mouths of the rivers. Both move freely back and forth from the river to the sea but in addition Mugil chelo tends to wander further upstream and is common in the lower portion of the rivers.

Seasonal Availability - Field observations indicate that all of the species of grey mullets spawn in the sea and that the young return to the coast particularly to the vicinity of river mouths or the rivers themselves. On December 1, 1955 a ripe Mugil capit male,

22 cm in length was taken near the mouth of the Alexander river and a ripe female and male of the same species, 26 cm and 24 cm in length 111-(6)

respectively, at the mouth of the Hadera river. On the same date,

recently spent Mugil capito were observed in the catch of throw net

fishermen working in the sea north of the Faliq river and of the Hadera

river. In January 1956, young specimens of this species 15 to 20 m

in length were found entering the rivers in large schools. These fish

had the blue, metalic sheen along the dorsalportion of the body and the

white ventral surface characteristic of pelagic fish. On February 12,

1956, three specimens of Mugil capito were taken, in a serial horizontal

tow at various depths, by a half-meter plastic plankton net, one

millimeter mesh, off Natanya on the 25 fathom depth contour. They

ranged in size from 17.2 to 18.9 mm and exhibited the same coloration.

Larger Mugil capito 25 nn in length taken in the river upstream, and

presumably older, exhibited the silver-grey color characteristic of the

adult grey mullets. Ripe fish of the other species of grey mullets were not obtained. However, the young of all of them showed the same

coloration characteristic of pelagic life when they first entered the rivers. Mugil labeo which does not enter the rivers exhibited this coloration when it appeared for the first time in the season in the

outer tide pools (19.5 mm total length).

From periodic collections of the fry of the grey mullets in the sea and in the various rivers of Israel (Nalaman, Daliya,

Taninim, Hadera, Faliq, Rubin, (Plate 1), it was found that the fry of each species entered the harbors or protected indentations along the coast or the mouths of rivers at certain periods. At this time, it is possible to obtain schools of fish which are III-(7 homogeneous as to species and size. Thus in January and February

1955 large r-ans of M auratus 15 to 35 nn in length could be caught in the sea, in Haifa harbor, at Acre and in the mouth of the Kishon river. In February and March 1955, M capito

10 to 35 mn in total length could be taken in abundance in the river mouths. From October 1955 through January 1956, Mu41 cephalus, 15 to 25 m in total length were available in large schools near the river mouths and at the outlets of the carp ponds.

In certain periods and for certain species it is often possible to state with close to one hundred percent accurao7 that fish beneath a certain size are all one species. For example, in the Daliya river, it was found that from November 1955 through January 1956, cll fish less than 45 nm in tctal length were Mgil ceplaalus. (Plate 7)

A similar phenomenon was noted in the other rivers. These fish were very abundant at the tim and their ready availability and identification would make this the perfect period for their collection by the fish breeders for use in the carp pords.

More detailed information will be presented in a future report by Miss Eograd, on the biology of the grey mullets in the estuaries of Israel, now in preparation.

Methods of Capture: The best method of capturing grey mullet fry varies according to the species to be taken and the area fished.

Mugl labeo can be eliminated from consideration im'n:diately.

Its habitat in the outer tide pools of the sea makes it difficult 111-(8) to catch and it is a relatively scarce fish. Mugil chelo and Mugil

auratus fry are most easily caught by a small seine of mosquito netting near the mouths of rivers or in sheltered coves in the sea.

The same gear is useful to catch Mugil saJ .r-lift net can be used to advantage in deeper water.

From 400 to 2000 Mua~l cephalus fry have been taken by us in two hours of fishing with a small seine net at the beginning of the run of this spc.cies. During the peak of the run, Kibbutz

Magan Michael caught normally from 3,000 to 10,000 fish per day, but one day's catch was estimated at 40,000 fish. Actually the fishing day for Maagan Michael ranged from two to eight hours.

On an experimental basis, Maagan Michael used a small seine in the

Taninim river during the 1955 season and took 100,000 Mugil cephalus fry and 100,000 Mugl capito fry from the mouth of the n-(9) river and at tb'd outlets of their ponds. Kibbutz Mayan Zvie used a lift net in The upper part of the Daliya river near the outlets of their ponds and caught over 125,000 Mugil cehhalus fry.

Considerably more fish can be taken in these rivers as the fisher­ men become more familiar with the operation. Also the Nalaman,

Alexander, Hadera, Faliq and Rubin rivers have as yet bee.i. unexploited ard the possibilities of the Yaikon and Kishon rivers not explored. It must be mentioned here that the Hadera river is undependable as a source of grey mullets fry because of the cyclic dumping of industrial pollutants which drive the fish back into the sea. The Alexander can be made more effective as a source of supply of grey mullet fry by keeping the mouth open to the sea from July until the winter months when storms keep it open naturally.

Suitability of the Various Species in Ponds - As has been stated previously, the scarcity of Mugi-l labeo elinLinates its possible use for pond fish culture. The remaining five species are available in quantity. To test their relative adaptability to pond conditions 1,215 grey mullet of mixed species were taken from the Na'aman river on May 12, 1955 and placed in experimental ponds at Sde Nachum as follows: Pond :2,4 dunams i/ 551 fish;

Pond 5, 3 dunams, 664 fish. Each of these ponds contained in addition 300 carp per dunam averaging 70 grin. each. The estimated number of each species was determined by dipping two

I/ Cte dunam equal 1,000 square meters. III-(lO)

random samples of 50 fish each from the total number of 1215 fish.

The species composition of the samples was then analysed at the

laboratory and the breakdown by species obtained here applied to

the total catch. It was found that two species of the five were not present in the catch; namely, Muil cephalus and Mugil auratus.

Therefore, a second experiment was made on May 19, 1956 in vhich

1465 grey mullets of mixed species were taken from ,he Daliya river

and transferred to experimental ponds at Sde Nachum as follows:

Pond 1, 4 dunams, 525 fish; Pond 4, 3 dunams, 640 fish; Pond 8.

21 dunams, 300 fish. Carp were present in the same concentration

and were of the same size as in the other ponds. Species

composition was determined as in the first experiment, exoept.tha# three samples of 100 fish each was used. All five species of grey mullets were represented in the fish taken from the Daliya river. On November 18 and 19, 1956, six mnnths after planting the ponds were drained and the grey mullets separated by species and measured and weighed.

Data from both experiments have been tabulated in

Tables 1 and 2, It is at once apparent that the most marked result is the relatively rapid growth of Mugil c ephalus and its high percentage of ,U,-rival. Mugj cephalus fry were 6 cm long when introduced into the experimental ponds and averaged

3 grins. in weight. In six months they had reached 35 cm and an average weight of 402 grins. showing an average daily growth of

2.2. grms. Survival was one hundred percent. Mugil capito the next best growing fish reached only 27 to 29 percent of the weight of Mugil cephalus in the same period and only 18 to 20 percent survived. 4ugil chelo reached a weight of 20 to 22 percent of

Mugil cephalus and 10 to 16 percent survived. Mugil auratus was

17 percent of the weight of Mugil cephalus and 5 percent survived.

Mugil saliens was 11 to 14 percent of the weight of Mugi-l cephalus and 24 tu 51 percent survived.

From these experiments it appears that M cephalus is by far the best species of grey mullet to use as a supplemental fish in the Israel carp ponds. However, there are possibilities that some of the other species can be employed for other purposes,

.-periments should be tried on the use of M capito in tibe reservoirs and Lake Kinneret. Transplanting of this species into inland bodies of water has been economically successful in Egypt (Wimpenny 1932). Mugil auratus and Mugil chelo despite the poor growth and survival in our experiments which were carried on in the relatively fresh waters of carp ponds, may give better results in more saline waters. Both arc. primarily salt water species and in am experimental salt water pond at Eylath were able to adapt to a salinity of water three times that of the sea. 111-(12)

TABLE I Survival and Growth of Grey Mullets from the Nalaman River in Experimental Ponds at Sde Nachum _/

Estimated ' AverageLength (cm) 'Average Species t Number 'Percentage tIntroduction Removal 'Weight at 'Introduced 2/ I Survivil I / / 'Removal (in' I I It

M. cephalus - I - I - -_ ­

M.saliens r 389 1 51 ' 6 1 17 ' 44 I I, I

M. capito I 483 ' 18 4 ' 24 1 116 I I If

M., chelo t 343 1 16 1 3 1 19 1 81 If I I

M auratus _- _ I - _ I - II I I l/ Combined results from two ponds - pond 2, 4, dunars, pond 5, 3 dunams

Fish distribution per pond was: Pond 2,551; Pond 5, 664. Each pond also

contained 300 carp por dunam averaging 70 grms apiece.

_/ Estimated niunber of each species uitroduced was determined by

dipping two random samples of 100 fish each from the total catch

of 1215 fish. // May 12, 1955.

/ November 19, 1955 111-(3..3)

TABTE 2. Survival dnd Growth of Grey Mullets from the Daliya River in Experimental Ponds at Sde Nachum _/

Species Estimated Average Length (cm)'Average We Number 'Percentage 'Introduction Removal 'at Removal Introduced 2 Survival ' 2/ 1 Al (grins.)

M.cephalus 44 ' 100 6 ' 35 ' 402

M. saliens 264 24 ' 6 ' 18 ' 55

M. capito 190 20 3 ' 23 110

M. chelo 402 10 3 1 20 89 M, auratus 564 5 5 20 70

_/ Combined results from three ponds - Pond 1, 4 dunams; Pond 4, 3 dunams; Pond 8, 21 dunams (One dunam equals 1000 sq. meters).

Fish distribution per pond was: Pond 1, 525; Pond 4, 640; Pond 8, 300. Each pond also contained 300 carp per dunam averaging

70 grms. apiece.

2_/ Estimnted number of each species inLroduced was determined by

dipping three random samples of 100 fish each from the total

catch of 1465 fish.

2/ May 19, 1955 / November 18, 1955

Methods of Handling and Transporting - The grey mullets are more difficult to handle and transport than carp and the fish culturist must treat them more gently. They should not be touched with the hands since this removes the protective mucous coat and scales and opens the way for various bacterial and furgi infections which III-(14)

increases the mortality several days after they are caught. A small

dipper made of mosquito netting should be used instead. It is advisable to catch the fish with a small seine of mosquito netting

not more thAn three meters in length and to concentrate the fish in

the center of the net before removing it from the water. They

should then be immediately carefully dumped into a carrying pail

and removed to the waiting storage tank. The small three meter

net prevents the catching of too many fish in one haul and insures

their being in good condition. Larger nets take more fish but

many are injured and there will be a higher mortality. The hauls

should be short. Several short hauls catching 200-400 fish each

time are better than one long haul catching several thousand fish.

Qxygen or air must be supplied to the water in the carrying tank and

should be well dispersed throughout the tank.

The fish should not be overcrowded in either the carrying pail or storage tank. For fry of M. cephalus 25 to 30 mm in length

the concentration in te storage tank should not be greater than

2000 fish per 250 liters. The carrying pails must be emptied

frequently, after each haul if possible. It is desirable that a box-like bag of mosqulto netting hung on a frame is made to fit

inside the storage tank so that in transferring the fish from the

storage tank to the pond, it may be done all at once by lifting the whole bag of fish, instead of dipping them out of the tank with a net. In transferring the fish from the tank to the pond attention III-(15)

must be paid to the temperature of the water in both places. If there

is a difference, the tenperature in the holding tank must be slowly

equalized to that in the pond. Preliminary obeervations indicate that

survival will be better if the fry are placed in a holding pond which

has a rich culture of algae growing along the bottom and in the water

using the above technique in handling and transporting the fish.

Method of Using Mugil caphalus in the Carp Ponds - In Israel, produc­

tion of the ncw carp crop starts in mid-March. Under one system, the

same water is retained in the ponds from this time until November or

December. Under a second system the ponds are emptied in mid-July or

early August and again in November or December. A marketable carp,

about 50 rms., is produced in from 1CO to 120 days while at least twice

that tir. needed to produce a Mugil cephalus of the same weight.

In ponds w1i-hch retain the same water throughout the year there is no

problem is using Mugil ceohalus as a supplexental fish with the carp.

Mugil cephalus fry can be introduced in March and kept until winter without further handling. The carp can be removed with nets of suitable mesh size which will select the deeper bodied carp and allow the more

slender mullet to escape.

In ponds which are completely drained in summer, Mugil cephalus can not be introduced in March since they are difficult to handle and may suffer a high mortality if they are transferred to other ponds.

However, if the ponds are only partly drained and a selective seine used to remove the carp and leave the mullet behind, the mullet fry can be introduced in March. With this method care must be taken that the mullet 111-(16) are not too crowded in the residue water or they will die of suffocation.

Another alternative for ponds which are drained and re-filled in summer woul be the introduction of Mugil cephalus fry from the holding ponds at this time rather than in March. The relative merits of both methods of using the mullet fry in ponds which do not retain the water throughout the year is being tested at Kibbutz Maagan Michael and results will be given in a future report. The optimum density of plants of Mugil cephalus fry with carp is as yet unknown. Experiment.. are now underway on this subject.

Whatever the system used, it is necessary that the fry of Mugil cephalus be retained from the period they are caught, September through December of one year, to March or July of the following year. The question arises as to their survival in holding ponds. Preliminary experiments are encouraging. An estimated 2000, tj4Jl cephalts fry

22-30 mm in length, were taken from the Taninim river and placed in a

400 sq. meter pond at Dor. On February 27, 1956, 1400 fish averaging

70 mm in length and 3 grns in weight were recovered. Survival was

70 percent. From November 1955 through March 1956, Kibbutz Maagan

Michael caught an estimated 100,000 Mugil caphalus fry and 100,000

Mugi capito fry and stored them in a ten dunam pond. In March, 1956, they drained the pond and counted 192,000 fish indicating a high degree of survival. It should be mentioned that these fish were collected near the outlet of the ponds of Maagan Michael and placed in a holding pond only a few meters from the collecting point. In another experiment, 850 Mugil cephalus, 25-30 mm in length and an average weight of 1 gm. were transported about 100 kilometers from the Taninim river to i1-(17)

Kibbutz Alumot on October 19, 1955 and placed in a 30 dunam pond

containing 9000, 250 gms. carp and 10,000, 10 gms. carp. They were removed on April 11, 1956. The large carp had reached 350 gms. with­ out losses. The Mugil cephalus weighed 35 to 38 gns. and 440 were recovered or 52 percent survived. The small carp had reached 80 gms. and only 2000 remained or 20 percent survived. Survival of the small M cephalus was 2j times that of the small carp under the same enviromental conditions. It has been reported that in Israel, carp

5 to 15 gins. kept in winter storage show only 40% survival (Pick 1956).

Our results to date indicate a better percentage of survival in winter storage of Mugil cephalus fry than carp fry.

It should be mentioned here that despite the unfamiliarity of the fish breeders at Kibbutz Maagan Michael with the habits and methods of collecting the fry of Mugil cephalus that the price of fry ready for introduction into the ponds in mid-March has been calculated by them to b- the same or less than carp fry in the same season.

Conservation Measures - The present conservation law prohibits the taking of grey mullets less than 16 cm in length from the rivers

(Gideon 1953). It would be advisable to retain this law but allow the taking of the young Mugil cephalus under permit during the run.

The escapement during the remainder of the run should insure an adequate supply of potential spawning fish to maintain the stock. In 1955 the run of mullet fry of this species was from mid-September through

December. However, it may be that both the start and end of the run will vary by several weeks in other years. Therefore a set open season II-(s18) for mullet fry of the species Mugil cephalus is not possible. Rather it would be advisable for the Fishery Department each year after examination of the conditions in the stream to set the date for the opening and closing of the collecting season.

Artificial Spa:rning - Work is being carried on at the Fishery Research

Station at Dor under the direction of Professor K. Reich and Dr. A. Yashuv on the possibility of artificial spawning of Mugil cephalus. Should the

experiments be successful the need for naturally spawned fry will be limited. However, in the meantime, naturally spawned fry are available and the techniques are being worked out for utilizing them to the fullest as supplemental fish in the carp ponds.

Acknowledgments - Thanks are due to the members of the Fishery

Research Station at Dor, the Fishbreeders' Association and the Sea Fisheries

Research Station at Haifa, particularly Mr. J. Chervinsky and the fish breeders at the kibbutzim Maagan Michael and Mayan Zvie for their assistance in our study. III-(19)

Literature Cited

Anonymous 1948. Experiments on the growth of the grey mullet in the country. Israel Fish Culturists Bulletin, No.17 pp 8-9 (In Hebrew.

Ben-Tuvia, A. and Steinitz, H. 1952. Report on a collection of fishes from Eylath (Gulf of Aquaba), Red Sea. Sea Fisheries Research Station, Bulletin No.2, pp 1-12.

Bograd, Lyka 1955. Identification of the grey mu>L ts on the Israel Mediterranean coast. Commercial 7isheries Bulletin No.5, pp. 22-24 (InHebrew).

Gideon, Robert (Editor) 1953. Laws of the State of Israel. No.11, pp. 807-817, published by the editor, Tel Aviv.

Lin, S.Y. 1955. Chinese systems of pond stocking. Proceedings of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council, Section 2, pp. 113-125

Pick, G. 1956. Decreasing the loss of stored fish in the Galilee Regio Baxiddgeh, Bulletin of Fish Culture in Israel, Vol.8, No., 2, pp. 25-27 (T Hebrw).

Steinitz, H. and Ben-Tuvia,A. 1955. Fishes from Eylath (Gulf of Aquaba), Red Sea, Second Report. Sea Fisheries Research Station Bulletin No.11, pp. 1-15.

Wimpenny, R.S. 1932. Observations on the size and growth of two Egyptian mullets, M cephalus (Linn.), the "Bouri" and M. capito,Cuv., the "Tobar". Government Press, Cairo, pp. 1-53. Flat* I

• a

MA...TSNN KIM IN

1 *kIf

a,\

T LAVIV

JERUSALE NUi

a),,

-DEA. " Plate 2 _H._. .

- ' !t, : ! '.: i." .: : 'i -::,..' :;. .. f,,...­ | k,=,'.

, A:.•: -- .....-. ; •./,......

AB"C

' b''I.'."

/... l' E I11-(20) PLATE 2 Mugil labeo

Fig. A - Side view of fish (38.4 mm. total length). Body deep.

Head deep. Snout blunt and short. Fish most similar in super­

ficial appearance to M. cephalus. Snouts of the remaining four species more elongated.

Fig. B - Side view of snout (fish 49.0 mm. in total length). Blunt snout. Upper lip thick anteriorly. Teeth present on both jaws

particularly prominent on premaxillary. Posterior tip of pre­

maxillary fitting into a deep notch in the preorbital bone. Maxillary exposed posteriorly, lying in a deep long groove extending obliquely posterio-ventrally.

Fig. C - Pyloric caeca (fish 212 mm. in total length). Caeca un­

equal, gradually decreasing in size from ventral to dorsal side. Usually 6 in number, rarely 5 or 7. ( p- pyloric caeca, s- stomach)

Fig. D - Ventral view of head (fish 19.5 mm. in total length).

More heavily pigmented in ventro-opercular, sub-orbital and

gular regions than in the other species except M. chelo.

Most similar in pigmentation to M. chelo of the same size.

Easily differentiated from M. chelo of the same size by the

smaller number of melanophores in the mandibular region and

more tapered appearance of the lower jaw.

Fig. E - Ventral view of the head (fish 28.2 mm. in total length). More heavily pigmented than the other species with the exception

of M. chelo. Most similar in appearance of pigmentation to Plat.. 3 ~. CODh&1U5

A

aS

'I B C

.9' 4

S

.~ . .~ * a 4. -~ ) U .' 4' S 7 U, , I * 5 * , '*5 *. U * . . S * I * .: .1 S I ~

J 4.,

~ U U '0... *1.1 I.. * g*~.. .4;. .. 9, .~ '. * '5~ S

.eg . . 'I D * E F III-(21)

M. ohelo of the same size but readily differentiated by the

relatively sparse pigmentation on the mandibular region compared

to that in M. chelo.

PLATE 3

Mugil cephalus

Fig. A - Side view of fish (39.9 mm. total length). Deep body.

Deep head. Blunt snout. Fish most similar in superficial appear­

ance to M. labeo. Snouts of the remaining four species more

elongated.

Fig. B - Side view of snout (fish 36 mm. in total length). Blunt

snout. Upper lip thin. A series of very small teeth present on

premaxillary and mandible. Inferior margin of preorbital

slightly bowed.

Fig. C - Prloric caeca (fish 164 mm. in total length). Two present,

one large and one small. (p-pyloric caeca, s-stomach)

Fig. D - Ventral view of head (fish 22.0 mm. in total length).

Sparse pigmentation in ventro-opercular, sub-orbital and gular

regions compared to that in M. labeo and M. chelo. Absent on

mandibular region. Fish readily differentiated from other species

by the inverted "V" shaped lower lip and the visibility of the

lateral margins of the premaxillary bones.

Fig. E - Ventral view of the head (fish 27.0 mm. in total length).

Less pigmentation than in the previous stage. Ventro-opercular

region with few melahophores, concentrated mainly in the gular regior Plate 4 M. chelo

A

I. ,'

DI/ I1-(22)

Shape of lower lip and visibility of external margin of

premaxillary as in smaller fish.

PLATE 4

Mugil chelo

Fig. A - Side view of fish (38.2 mm. total length). Body deep.

Head slender and tapered. Snout elongated, slightly upturned.

When fresh, marked horizontal stripes usually visible along sides.

Fig. B - Side view of snout (fish 37.9 mm. total length). Tapered

snout slightly upturned. Inferior margin of the preorbital

slightly bowed. Teeth on premaxillary small and fine. Anterior

part of snout heavily pigmented, especially on upper lip.

Fig. C - Pyloric caeca (fish 217 mm. in total length). Caeca

equal in length. Usually 6, rarely 5 or 7.

( p - pyloric caeca, s - stomach)

Fig. D - Ventral view of head (fish 17.4 mm. in total length).

More heavily pigmented in the ventro-opercular, sub-orbital,

gular and mandibular regions than other species except

M. labeo. Most similar in appearance to M. labeo of the same

size, but differs in being more heavily pigmented in the

mandibular region.

Fig. E - Ventral view of head (fish 20.5 mm. in total length).

Heavily pigmented on the various parts of the under surface

of the head as in smaller sizes. Plate 5 H.camito

A

B C

I,,, - i 'I

too *E

DEF I1-(23)

Fig. F - Ventral view of head (fish 25.0 mm. in total length).

Heavily pigmented on the various parts of the head as in smaller

sizes. Mandibular regions very heavily pigmented compared to all

other species of the same size. Pigment spots in the mandibular

region usually small and evenly distributed.

PLATE 5

Mugil capito

Fig. A - Side view of fish (38.3 mm. total length). Body deep.

May be confused with M. cephalus, but the head is more slender

and tapered. Snout elongated.

Fig. B - Side view of snout (fish 38.0 mm. in total length).

Tapered snout. Upper lip moderately thick. Inferior margin of

preorbital hone slightly bowed. Teeth minute.

Fig. C - Pyloric caeca (fish 150 mm. in total length). Mostly

equal in size. Usually 7 or 8 in number. Rarely 6 or 9.

( p - pyloric caeca, s - stomach)

Fig. D - Ventral view of head (fish 19.1 mm. in total length).

Sparse pigmentation on mandibular, gular and sub-orbital

regions, readily differentiating it from the more heavily

pigmented M. chelo and M. labeo. Differs from M. saliens

of the same size by more sparse pigmentation in the ventr­

opercular region. Differs from M. auratus of the same size

by the sparse pigmentation in the mandibular region. Plate 6 1.salier.

*%" - _. , %.. V

A

•.'-.S.....- ;

~'*~. S Ift de L4 I1-(24)

Fig. E - Ventral view of head (fish 23.0 mm. on total length).

Sparse pigmentation in the ventro-opercular region readily

differentiates this species from M. chelo and M. labeo of

the same size. Sparse pigmentation on mandibular region

differentiates the species ffrom M. saliens and M. auratus

of the same size.

Fig. F - Ventral view of head (fish 32.7 mm. in total length).

Differences similar to those for 23.0 mm. fish.

PLATE 6

Mugil saliens

Fig. A - Side view of fish (38.9 mm. total length). Body slender, head slender and less tapered than in M. capito or M. chelo.

Fig. B - Side view of snout (fish 49.0 mm. in total length). Upper lip moderately thick. Preorbital slightly bowed.

Teeth small.

Fig. C - Pyloric caeca (fish 168 mn. in total length). In two

groups of unequal sizes, the ventral 3 or 4 longer than the

remaining 4 or 5. (p-pyloric caeca, s - stomach)

Fig. D - Ventral view of head (fish 17.7 mm. in total length).

Little pigmentation in ventro-opercular and sub-orbital regions.

Readily distinguished from all other species at this size by

the small amount of pigment in these regions.

Fig. E - Ventral view of head (fish 22.1 mm. in total length). Ventro-opercular region free of pigmentation. Easily separated Plate 7 14. auratus

A

BS ' C

!: it" III-(25)

from M. labeo and M. chelo which are heavily pigmented in

this region. Mandibular and gular regions heavily pigmented

compared to lightly pigmented mandibular and gular regions in

M. auratus and M. capito of the same size. Sub-orbital region

lightly pigmented compared to more heavily pigmented suborbital

region in M. auratus and M. capito.

Fig. F - Ventral view of head (fish 25.4 mm. in total length).

Pigmentation almost lacking in ventro-opercular, sub-orbital

and gular regions. Differs from M. chelo and M. labeo which

are heavily pigmented in these regions. Differs from M. auratus

which is moderately pigmented in the ventro-opercular and

sub-orbital regions and M. capito which is slightly pigmented

in the ventro-opercular and sub-orbital regions and moderately

pigmented in the gular regions.

PLATE 7

Mugil auratus

Fig. A - Side view of fish (38.6 mm. in total length). Body slender,

head slender, less tapered than M. capito or M. chelo.

Fig. B - Side view of snout (41.4 nn. total length). Upper lip

moderately thick. Premaxillary teeth comparatively large,

prominent and curved. Inferior margin of preorbital straight.

Superior part of premaxillary heavily pigmented fading to an

almost white band on the inferior margin. iii-(26)

Fig. C - Pyloric caeca (fish 134 mm. in total length). Caeca

unequal, gradually increasing in size from ventral to dorsal.

Usually 8 or 9 in number.

Fig. D.- Ventral view of head (fish 23.7 in total length). -Pigmented ovel

the entire ventral surface of the head but fewer meclanophores than in M. chelo and M. labeo of the same size. More melanophores

in the ventro-operculum region than M. saliens and in the

mandibular region than M. capito.

Fig. E - Ventral view of head (fish 27.6 mm. in total length). Pigmentation as in smaller fish. Fewer melanophores than in

M. chelo and M. labeo of the same size. Differs from M. saliens by the greater concentration of melanophores in the sub-orbital

region and the smaller concentration of melanophores in the

gular and mandibular regions.

Fig. F - Ventral view of head (fish 32.7 mm. in total length). Pigmentation as in smaller fish. Fewer melanophores than in

M. chelo and M. labeo. Differs from M. saliens and M. capito

at the same size by the comparatively large concentration of melanophores in the sub-orbital region. PLATE 8 III-(27)

.cephalus August 195 I M. capito I M. saliens I.auratus xxku mXXXLCNXX M. chelo x x xx ____ Novlmber-955 M. cephalus xDDo axxxP= M. capito M. salien ixx M. auratus M. chelo , I ...... M. cephalus I COxxxx xxxii' DecImber T955

M. capito M. saliens iM.!M.auratuschelo 1. . J14 chloJanuary 1956 1 M. cephalus xxxxoz XX i M. capito OO M. saiiens M. aaratus IM.chelo i 4 - I IFebruary 956 i HM. cephalus K L M. capito M. saliens M. auratus

M. cheoI i IApril 1956 - M. chelo_ _ M. cephalus Aprxx 19 I

M. capito co4xx r saliens M. auratus x i i ...... M.chelo _ My956_ i___ 1M. cephalus a I M. capito M4.M. auratussaliens MOWO 1 i

L4. chelo ______

2 ol o,: o o o ,-, 0 0 01 0 0, 00 ~ -_7_* 0,, C Seasonal occurence and variation in the size composition of grey mullets of various species taken in the Daliya river near its mouth.