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Effects of Net Length and Set Time on Fish Catches in Gill Nets
Author(s) -
Minns Charles K.,
Hurley Donal A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1988)008<0216:eonlas>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - stizostedion , perch , catch per unit effort , fishery , minnow , bay , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , geography , archaeology
The effects of varying net length and set time on fish catches in gill nets were studied at two sites in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. A latin square design was used (four locations per site over four nights); either net length was varied, from 25 to 200 yd over 12 h, or set time was varied, from 1.5 to 12 h with 50 yd of net. Treatment, location, and date effects on catches from each site were analyzed by a multiple regression model. Net length effects on catch per unit of effort (CPUE) were negligible for total and some fish species catches; CPUE for walleyes Stizostedion vitreum decreased with increasing net length. Set‐time effects on total CPUE were significant; the CPUE of white perch Morone americana increased with set time, but CPUEs for yellow perch Perca flavescens , alewives Alosa pseudoharengus , and walleyes decreased. The results were attributable to specific differences in activity patterns and net‐saturation effects. We concluded that use of gill‐net catches as indices offish abundance must be validated species by species.