NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-81

The 1996 Pacific West Coast

Upper Continental Slope Trawl Survey of

Groundfish Resources off

Washington and Oregon: Estimates of

Distribution, Abundance, and Length

Composition

by

R. R. Lauth

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

September 1997
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center uses

the NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and

technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing

are not appropriate or feasible. Documents within this series reflect sound

professional work and may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical

literature.

The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Alaska Fisheries

Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the

Northwest Fisheries Center. The new NMFS-NWFSC series will be used by

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

This document should be cited as follows:

Lauth, R. R. 1997. The 1996 Pacific West Coast upper continental

slope trawl survey of groundfish resources off Washington and Oregon:

Estimates of distribution, abundance, and length composition. U.S.

Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-81, 156 p.

Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by

the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-81

The 1996 Pacific West Coast

Upper Continental Slope Trawl Survey of

Groundfish Resources off

Washington and Oregon: Estimates of

Distribution, Abundance, and Length

Composition

by

R. R. Lauth

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

7600 Sand Point Way N.E., BIN C-15700

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

William M. Daley, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

D. James Baker, Under Secretary and Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

Rolland A. Schmitten, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

September 1997
This document is available to the public through:

National Technical Information Service

U.S. Department of Commerce

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161
Notice to Users of this Document 

This document is being made available in .PDF format for the convenience of users; however, the 

accuracy and correctness of the document can only be certified as was presented in the original hard 

copy format. 

iii

ABSTRACT

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducted a

groundfish bottom trawl survey of the West Coast upper

continental slope (WCUCS) off Washington and Oregon in 1996. The

survey area stretched from the U.S. -Canada border (near Nitinat

Canyon) to lat. 43°OO' N (near Cape Blanco) in waters from 183 to

1,280 m deep. This was the ninth survey in an ongoing series to

monitor long-term trends in the distribution and abundance of

WCUCS groundfish populations. This year the survey period was

increased from 1 month to 6 weeks so that a larger area could be

surveyed, and it is the second survey using the modified trawl

gear and sampling protocols established in 1995. Sampling was

conducted aboard the NOAA ship Miller Freeman. We successfully

sampled 203 of the 225 stations that we had established. Catches

included 119 different species of fishes and 106 different

species of invertebrates.

The survey design and the methods used are described, the

data collected are summarized, and the results of analyses of

distribution, abundance, and biological parameters are presented.

Data on water temperature, catch composition, relative abundance,

and geographic distribution are reported. Estimates of biomass,

population abundance, and length composition are also presented.

Appendices include position and catch listings for each haul,

catch rates of fish and invertebrates, and population size

compositions.
V

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ........................

SURVEY METHODS .......................

Survey Period and Sampling Area ............

Vessels and Sampling Gear ...............

Trawl Station Allocation ................

Trawling Procedures ..................

Catch Sampling Procedures and Biological Data Collection

Oceanographic-Data Collection . . .

Data Analysis . . . . . . . . . . .

RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Haul, Catch, and Biological Data . .

Temperature Data . . . . . . . . . .

Relative Density and Distribution of

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Biomass and Population Estimates

Species .

Size and Age Composition . .

Length-Weight Relationships

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .

TABLES . . . . .

FIGURES . . . . .

CITATIONS . . . .

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Haul and Catch Information .

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Relative Abundance . . . . .

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INTRODUCTION

Fishery-independent data obtained from the Alaska Fisheries

Science Center's (AFSC) West Coast upper continental slope

(WCUCS) groundfish trawl surveys are used by fishery managers to

assess stock condition and to establish annual harvest guidelines

for several commercially valuable WCUCS fish species including

sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), shortspine thornyhead

(Sebastolobus alascanus), longspine thornyhead (S. altivelis),

and Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus). The Resource Assessment

and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division of the AFSC

conducted its first groundfish assessment survey of the WCUCS in

1984 and has done so annually since 1988. The WCUCS covers

habitat 183-1,280 m deep from the U.S.-Canada border to lat.

32°30'N and is divided into five International North Pacific

Fisheries Commission (INPFC) statistical areas including the U.S.

Vancouver, Columbia, Eureka, Monterey, and Conception areas

(Fig. 1). Due to limited vessel time each year, surveying all

West Coast INPFC areas within the same year has not been

possible, so groundfish trawl surveys to date have covered

different contiguous sections of the WCUCS. The U.S. Vancouver

area was surveyed in 1993 and various sections of the Columbia

area were surveyed in 1984, 1988, 1989, 1992, and 1993 (Raymore

et al. 1990, Parks et al. 1993, Lauth et al. 1997). The Eureka

area was surveyed in 1990 (Lauth et al. 1997) and again in 1995

(Lauth 1997), and the northern section of the Monterey area (lat.

38°20'N to 40°30N) was surveyed in 1991 (Lauth et al. 1997).
2

Two other groundfish bottom trawl surveys covering parts of the

Conception area between lat. 34°30' N and lat. 36°30' N were

conducted by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) in

1987 and 1988 (Butler et al. 1989)

During the 1993 AFSC survey, concerns were raised about the

poor performance of the slope survey trawl and, consequently, the

validity of slope survey data. Following that survey, letters

from the fishing industry to the Pacific Fishery Management

Council, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and other

government officials prompted an external review of the slope

survey' by a panel of fishery scientists in July 1995. The panel

criticized the lack of synopticity in survey coverage and the

performance of survey gear (Parma et al. 1995). Survey gear

performance was investigated during an experimental gear cruise

aboard the NOAA ship Miller Freeman in 1994. During that cruise

we experimented with ways to stabilize the sampling trawl,

learned more about how to evaluate trawl performance, and

investigated alternative methods of surveying groundfish

resources using a video camera sled. Regular survey work resumed

in 1995 after several changes were made to the sampling trawl and

to towing protocol. The changes stabilized the slope trawl and

resulted in more consistent trawl performance (Lauth, Unpub.

manuscr.).

This year the survey period was increased from 1 month to

6 weeks so that the entire U.S. Vancouver and Columbia INPFC

areas could be surveyed. It is the largest section of WCUCS to
3

be surveyed by NMFS within a single year since the inception of

the WCUCS groundfish bottom trawl surveys.

The objective of this report is to document the survey

design and field procedures, summarize the survey data, and

present the results of the standard RACE analyses for the 1996

WCUCS survey of the INPFC U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas.

Included are summaries of catches,' distribution, abundance, and

size composition for major components of the community, as well

as analyses of age-length and length-weight relationships of

selected species.
4

SURVEY METHODS

Survey Period and Sampling Area

The INPFC U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas (U.S.-Canada

border to to 43°00'N lat.) were surveyed between 15 October and

26 November. Survey sampling began near Nitinat Canyon (48°05'N

lat.) and progressed southward to Cape Blanco (Fig. 2). Water

depth at survey stations ranged between 183 and 1,280 m (l00-

700 fm).

Vessels and Sampling Gear

The NOAA Ship Miller Freeman is a 65.5 m stern trawler

powered by a 2,300 continuous horsepower engine. The ship is

equipped with dual net reels, a Rapp-Hydema warp tensioning

system, Wesmar Fish Eye net sonar system, Furuno netsonde, EQ-50

depth sounder, and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational

aids. The trawl net and accessories were the same as those used

for the 1995 WCUCS survey. A high-opening Nor'eastern trawl

(Fig. 3) constructed of polyethylene mesh and equipped with

mudsweep roller gear (Fig. 4) was used to collect all samples.

This trawl, built and rigged to RACE Division gear standards, has

a 27.2 m headrope and a 37.4 m footrope. The body is constructed

of 127 mm stretched-mesh polyethylene netting, 89 mm stretchedmesh web in the codend, and a 32 mm stretched-mesh codend liner.

Three 55 m dandylines made of 16 mm galvanized steel cable lead

from each wing to a pair of 1.8 x 2.7 m steel V-doors weighing
5

1,000 kg each. Each door has a 4-point bridle on its backside

made with 13 mm long link chain having 33 links forward and 22

links aft in both the top and bottom. Instruments attached to

the trawl gear to monitor gear performance included the SCANMAR

equipment for measuring net dimensions, a Furuno wireless

netsonde for real-time monitoring of the headrope height, and two

bottom contact sensors on the footrope. A Wesmar net sonar was

attached to the net headrope and used to assure that the trawl

gear was performing to engineering specifications during the wire

marking procedure and during the initial gear calibration. A

Richard Brancker XL-200 submersible data logger was attached to

the trawl and used in conjunction with a Trimble Global

Positioning System (GPS) unit to record data on the time, depth,

water temperature, and geodetic position during each trawl.

These data were combined with fishing dimensions of the net,

producing a comprehensive set of haul data describing gear

performance in space and time.

Trawl Station Allocation

The stations targeted for this year's survey were the same

as those sampled during the 1988-1993 WCUCS bottom trawl surveys

of the U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas (Lauth et al. 1997,

Parks et al. 1993). There were 225 stations along 34 east-west

tracklines spaced 16.7 km apart between the U.S.-Canada border

and lat. 43°00'N near Cape Blanco. A combined systematic and

random design was used for selecting the stations for the 1988-
6

1993 WCUCS bottom trawl surveys. Sampling was conducted between

183 and 1,280 m in six strata of 183 m (100 fm) depth intervals

(183-365 m, 366-547 m, 548-730 m, 731-913 m, 914-1,095 m, and

1,096-1,280 m). The number of sampling stations within each

depth stratum were allocated proportional to the trackline length

across each depth interval at the rate of one station per 13.0 km

of linear trackline length (e.g., 3 stations would be allocated

to a stratum with a trackline length of 30 km). Tracklines were

16.7 km apart and positioned roughly perpendicular to the

coastline. To assure even depth coverage within a stratum, the

depth range of each stratum was divided into a number of bins

equal to the number of stations scheduled to be surveyed that

year. Nominally, a bin was identified by its midpoint target

depth. Stations were then randomly assigned to tracklines by

picking target depths without replacement.

Trawling Procedures

Sampling was done on a 24-hour basis. Stations were located

by GPS and echosounder and then surveyed prior to towing. If the

terrain was determined to be too rough or too steep to allow the

successful completion of a tow, we searched for an alternate site

within a 10 km radius of the original. If no favorable ground

was located the station was declared untrawlable and abandoned.

If the gear was damaged during the tow severely enough to affect

catch composition, or if the gear performance was in any way

judged to be unacceptable (e.g., mud, large trap entangled in the
7

net), the haul was considered unsatisfactory and the station was

either repeated or abandoned. Unsuccessful tows were not used in

later analyses.

Catch Sampling Procedures and Biological Data Collection

Standard PACE catch sampling procedures were followed as

described by Smith and Bakkala (1982). Catches less than

1 metric ton (t) were dumped directly onto a sorting table for

processing. Catches larger than 1 t were weighed by an

electronic load cell and then dumped onto the deck, into the fish

bin, onto the sorting table, or any combination of the three. In

all cases, the entire catch was processed. Large catches were

made more manageable for processing by weighing and measuring a

random subsample of the dominant fish species (e.g., Pacific hake

or spiny dogfish) and discarding the remainder of that species

overboard. The non-subsample catch weight for that species was

the difference between the sum of the subsample weight for that

species and the catch weights for all other species and the total

catch weight measured by the electronic load cell. Fishes and

invertebrates were identified to species as time and expertise

permitted. After the catches were sorted by species, weighed,

and enumerated, biological data and specimens were collected.

Samples of all fish species were measured to characterize how

their size composition varies with depth. Sex determination and

fork length measurements were done for up to 200 specimens of

each of the primary target species, rockfishes, and flatfishes
8

from each haul. The same was done for grenadiers except they

were measured from the tip of their snout to the base of the

first anal fin ray. Other non-target species were measured as

unsexed and all skates and rays were measured from wingtip-towingtip. Otoliths, used for age determination, were collected

from sablefish, Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes

stomias) , shortspine thornyhead, and longspine thornyhead. To

assure that sampling effort was spread evenly over the range of

the survey, six biological sampling strata were assigned. There

were three depth strata (183-549 m, 550-914 m, and 915-1,280 m)

established in a northern and southern area separated by lat.

45°25'N. Otoliths were collected from stratified samples of

5 fish per sex/centimeter interval per biological sampling

stratum.

Additional biological collections were made in cooperation

with staff and colleagues from NMFS and other institutions or

agencies. These collections were taken for studies involving age

and growth, genetics, and other fish life history parameters.

Oceanographic Data Collection

Sea surface temperatures were taken at all stations using a

bucket thermometer. Bottom temperatures were measured using a

Richard Brancker XL-200 data logger mounted to the trawl.

headrope. Additional information on temperature profiles from

these cruises is available on request from the authors.
9

Data Analysis

Several analyses are performed routinely on RACE survey

data. These include:

1) estimation of relative abundance,

2) estimation of population biomass,

3) estimation of population numbers, and

4) estimation of the population's size composition.

We used the area-swept method as described by Gunderson and

Sample (1980) to estimate population biomass and numbers.

Briefly, this method entails standardizing samples from each

station into catch per unit of effort (CPUE) in terms of either

kilograms or numbers per hectare (kg/ha, no./ha) and calculating

the arithmetic mean for each sampling stratum. Length-frequency

data were weighted by CPUE (no./ha) and expanded to the total

estimated population abundance to estimate the population size

composition for each species. Selected size composition

estimates were applied to age-length keys to obtain estimated age

compositions. Unless otherwise noted, all analyses were computed

for the INPFC U.S. Vancouver and Columbia statistical areas by

depth stratum and by all depth strata combined.
10

RESULTS

Haul, Catch, and Biological Data

Two-hundred-fifty tows were attempted during the survey.

Out of 225 possible stations, 203 stations were sampled

successfully (Fig. 2). Twenty-two stations were abandoned

because the bottom was too rough or too steep. One additional

qualitative deep tow was done at 1,450 m to collect biological

specimens. The remainder of the attempted tows were unsuccessful

due to hang-ups, rips, bad bottom, excessive mud in the tows,

crossing into the wrong stratum, large catches of dogfish, or

gear problems. SCANMAR net mensuration data were obtained from

207 tows, submersible bathythermograph and bottom contact sensor

data from 243 tows, bottom contact sensor data from 227 tows, and

GPS course and position data from 249 tows.

Mean net widths were calculated for each trawl haul. The

relationship between mean net width and depth, and mean net width

and wire length was constant. An overall mean path width of

17.6 m was calculated for the entire survey using 170 of the

207 tows with good performance. The range of average net widths

for these 170 tows was 15.8 m to 19.6 m and the standard

deviation was 0.7 m. The overall mean path width was used in

area-swept calculations for hauls where actual horizontal

measurements were unavailable.

Table 1 summarizes the biological data collected from fish

species. Specimen ages from collected otoliths were determined
11

by researchers from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries

Commission. We also collected data and specimens for several.

special studies requested by colleagues in other agencies or

institutions, who will report the results of their studies

elsewhere.

A total of 119 fish species representing 50 fish families

were identified over the course of the survey. Table 2 lists the

frequencies of occurrence, depth range, and the latitudinal range

for all fishes identified in trawl samples. Similarly, Table 3

shows ranges and frequencies of occurrence for invertebrates

representing 9 phyla and 18 classes. Of the 190 invertebrates

listed, 106 were identified to species. Appendix A presents

detailed station information for each haul and catch weights of

the major fish and invertebrate species caught in each haul. The

number of individual fish length observations of each fish

species are reported in Tables 4 and 5 by depth stratum for the

U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas, respectively.

Temperature Data

Sea surface and bottom temperatures were collected during

the survey. Sea surface temperatures ranged from 9.5° to 14.5°C,

and bottom temperatures ranged from 3.2° to 8.4°C (Fig. 5). Mean

sea surface temperature was 12.3°C, and mean bottom temperature

was 5.1°C. Sea surface temperatures generally increased and were

more variable with increasing latitude. Bottom temperatures

generally decreased with increasing depth within the survey area.
12

Relative Density and Distribution of Species

The 20 most abundant groundfish and selected crab species

are presented by area and stratum in Tables 6-8. Pacific hake

(Merluccius productus), spiny dogfish (Sgualus acanthias), Dover

sole,- longspine thornyhead, and sablefish had the five highest

mean catch rates in both the U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas

for all depth strata combined. Spiny dogfish, Pacific hake, and

Dover sole were the dominant species in Strata 1 and 2 for both

areas. Longspine thornyhead was the most abundant in the deepest

four strata for both areas, except for Stratum 3 in the U.S.

Vancouver area where Dover sole mean CPUE was highest. The

complete listings of relative abundance of all fish and

invertebrate species ranked by mean CPUE, depth stratum, and area

are presented in Appendix B.

Maps of the geographical distribution and relative catch

rates of arrowtooth flounder, darkblotched rockfish (Sebastes

crameri), Dover sole, giant grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis),

longspine thornyhead, Pacific grenadier (Coryphaenoides

acrolepis), Pacific hake, Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus),

sablefish, shortspine thornyhead, spiny dogfish, splitnose

rockfish (Sebastes diploproa), and true Tanner crab (Chionoecetes

tanneri) are presented in Figures 6-18 in alphabetical order.

These maps show the locations of hauls with positive catches of

the species. Catch rates were categorized as: 1) greater than

zero and less than or equal to the mean; 2) greater than the mean
13

and less than or equal to one standard deviation from the mean;

3) between one and two standard deviations greater than the mean;

and 4) over two standard deviations greater than the mean.

Biomass and Population Estimates

Abundance estimates of biomass (t) and associated

coefficients of variation (CV) are presented for various taxa by

stratum and area in Tables 9 and 10. Similarly, estimates of

population numbers with associated CVs are presented for

important species groups in Tables 11 and 12. The total number

of hauls and hauls with catch weight, catch number, and length

data by stratum and area for the various taxa are represented in

Tables 13 and 14. Biomass estimates for the four commercially

important species varied by species and by stratum. Spiny

dogfish, Pacific hake, and Dover sole dominated the shallower

depth strata while longspine thornyheads were more abundant in

the deeper strata.

Readers should be aware that the biomass and population

estimates presented here are not absolute estimates since herding

by doors and bridles and escapement underneath the trawl's roller

gear, around the net's opening, and through the net's meshes can

affect the bottom trawl catches (Gunderson 1993). For lack of

data on species-by-species catchability, abundance calculations

are based on the assumption that all fish in front of the trawl

and between the wingtips are captured. The degree of bias

introduced by this assumption will vary among species. For
14

instance, the ability of a fish to avoid the net will depend on

the fish's shape, size, speed, and its reaction to the part of

the net encountered. Furthermore, the survey covers limited

portions of the depth and geographic range of some of these

species. As mentioned previously, this survey targets many

species and provides general information where it lacks in

specific information. These surveys are the only fisheryindependent source of information on the abundance, distribution,

and length and age-composition for many of these species. Stock

assessment scientists utilize our survey results, along with

commercial catch data, in order to set the most appropriate catch

levels.

Size and Age Composition

Estimated population length compositions for several

groundfish species are presented in Figures 19-32 by species and

-by depth stratum. For more detail, Appendix C contains listings

of estimated length compositions for major species by sex and by

stratum.

At the time this report was prepared, the only age data

available for analyses were Dover sole. Population estimates by

age group and mean length at age are presented in Tables 15-16

for the U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas using an age-length key

for all depths, sexes, and areas combined. Lengths at age were

different between the sexes and were more variable at greater

depths for Dover sole so further analyses were done using three
15

depth-specific and sex-specific age-length keys. The depth

strata used for the age-length keys were the same as the

biological sampling strata except the north and south geographic

areas were combined to increase the sample size. Results from

these analyses are presented in graphical format in Figures 33

and 34.

Dover sole age data and results of growth rate, population

age composition, and biomass-at-age analyses can be obtained upon

request from the authors in either printed or electronic form.

Age data and results from other species can be obtained as it

becomes available.

Length-Weight Relationships

From the individual fish weight samples, we determined

length-weight relationships for arrowtooth flounder, Dover sole,

sablefish, shortspine thornyhead, and longspine thornyhead using

a non-linear least squares regression model. Table 17 summarizes

the length-weight relationships by sex and for all sexes combined

(including unsexed fish).
16

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank all the cruise participants for their

hard work during the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope

groundfish survey. Participants included (in alphabetical order)

Bruce Pederson, Roger Clark, Yvonne Dereynier, Jeff Drazen, Bill

Flerx, Robin Harrison, Allen Harvison, Dan Kamikawa, Dave King,

Coalter Lathrop, Mike MacEwan, Marion Mann, Michael Martin, Joe

O’Malley, Tom Morrison, Danny Parker, Jay Orr, Jim Smart, Kelly

Smotherman, Jim Stark, and Mark Zimmermann. I would also like to

express my appreciation to the officers, the survey department,

the electronics department, and the rest of the crew of the NOAA

ship Miller Freeman for their valuable assistance during the 1996

West Coast continental slope groundfish trawl survey. Thanks

especially to Commander John Clary who was motivated,

cooperative, and conscientious while completing the ambitious

survey work. Thanks also to Gary Mundell for data editing and

Dave Roetcisoender for help with the gear mensuration equipment.

Special thanks to Dave King and his net shed crew for all their

help supplying and maintaining the trawl nets and accessories

that we used for this survey.
17

TABLES
18

Table 1. --Biological data collected during the 1996 West Coast upper continental

slope bottom trawl survey of the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas.
19

Table 2 .--Frequency of occurrence, depth, and latitude ranges

caught during the 1996 West Coast upper continental

survey of the International North Pacific Fisheries

Vancouver and Columbia areas.

for fish species

slope bottom trawl

Commission U.S.
20
21


24

Table 3 .--Continued.
2 5

Table 3 .--Continued.
26
27
2 8
2 9

Table 6 .--Mean CPUE (kg/ha) of the 20 most abundant groundfish and

selected crab species caught in the International North

Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver and Columbia

areas during the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope

groundfish survey for all strata combined.

U.S. Vancouver Columbia

All Strata All Strata

Species 183-1,280 q Species 183-1,280 m

Pacific hake 24.96 Pacific hake 61.81

Spiny dogfish 23.30 Spiny dogfish 52.28

Longspine thornyhead 13.26 Dover sole 15.08

Dover sole 11.81 Longspine thornyhead 14.92

Sablefish 7.37 Sablefish 9.64

Pacific ocean perch 5.73 True Tanner crab 7.80

True Tanner crab 4.11 Giant grenadier 5.83

Shortspine thornyhead 4.04 Shortspine thornyhead 5.32

Giant grenadier 3.64 Pacific grenadier 3.68

Slender sole 3.15 Rex sole 3.57

Pacific grenadier 2.16 Longnose skate 1.77

Greenstriped rockfish 2.13 Jack mackerel 1.46

Spotted ratfish 1.84 Arrowtooth flounder 1.26

Arrowtooth flounder 1.48 Slender sole 1.25

Rex sole 1.46 Splitnose rockfish 0.92

Longnose skate 1.28 Black skate 0.92

Deepsea sole 0.99 Pacific ocean perch 0.91

Pacific halibut 0.94 Bering skate 0.84

Twoline eelpout 0.86 Darkblotched rockfish 0.79

Bering skate 0.80 Deepsea sole 0.73

Number of hauls 26 Number of hauls 177
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
Table 17 .--The length-weight relationships for the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope survey using nonlinear regression fit for the equation:

Fish weight (g) = a l fork length (cm)~

Species Sex Number Length-Weight Coefficients Predicted Weight at Length

Sampled a b (9)

40 cm 60 m 80 cm

Arrowtooth 566.9 1997.0 4879.6

flounder

M 117 0.006000 3.105600

F 223 0.002100 3.419200

T 340 0.001800 3.440300

630.9 2523.9 6749.4

602.1 2437.1 6572.0

20 cm 40 cm 60 an

63.2 623.0 2376.3

65.8 633.6 2302.7

64.3 627.5 2379.2

40 cm 60 cm 80 cm s

Dover sole M 512 0.003200 3.301600

F 689 0.003700 3.266800

T 1201 0.003400 3.287100

Sablefish M 602 0.003200 3.285800

F 861 0.002500 3.354000

T 1468 0.002600 3.337900

587.8 2227.4 5732.2

590.5 2300.7 6038.1

578.7 2240.1 5951.9

20 cm 40 an 60 cm

Shortspine

thornyhead

M

F

U

T

670 0.005100 3.241700

791 0.004400 3.282400

4 6 0.913300 2.613600

1507 0.005100 3.242800

84.2 796.1 2963.5

02.0 799.1 3020.3

2296.1

84.4 799.3 2976.9

1 0 c m 2 0 a n 3 0 c m

Longspine 8.9 88.0 335.1

thornyhead

M 403 0.004500 3.298300

F 382 0.004600 3.287200

U 179 0.021400 2.680500

T 964 0.007100 3.146100

0.9 87.0 329.9

10.3 65.7

9.9 88.0 315.1
41

FIGURES
42

44
45

Figure 4. --The groundgear used during the 1996 West Coast

upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
4 6

Figure 5.--Observed bottom and sea surface temperatures during

the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom

trawl survey of the International North Pacific

Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver and Columbia areas.
Figure 6. --Arrowtooth flounder distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 7.-- Darkblotched rockfish distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
49

Figure 8. --Dover sole distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast

upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 9. --Giant grenadier distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast

upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 10. --Longspine thornyhead distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 11.--Pacific grenadier distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 12. --Pacific hake distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast

upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 13.--Pacific ocean perch distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.

Figure 15.--Shortspine thornyhead distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 16. --Spiny dogfish distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast

upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 17. --Splitnose rockfish distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 18.-- True Tanner crab distribution and relative

abundance (kg/ha) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 19. --Estimated population size composition and mean lengths (cm) of arrowtooth flounder by stratum

and by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver area for all

depths sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 20. --Estimated population size composition and mean lengths (cm) of arrowtooth flounder by stratum

and by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission Columbia area for all depths

sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 21. --Estimated population size composition and mean lengths (cm) of Dover sole by stratum and by

sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver area for all depths

sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 22. --Estimated population size composition and mean lengths (cm) of Dover sole by stratum and by

sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission Columbia area for all depths

sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.


Figure 25.--Estimated population size composition and mean lengths (an) of longspine thornyhead by stratum

and by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver area for all

depths sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 26. --Estimated population size composition and mean lengths (cm) of longspine thornyhead by stratum

and by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission Columbia area for all depths

sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 27.--Estimated population size composition (snout-to-anal fin ) and mean lengths (cm) of Pacific

grenadier by stratum and by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission

U.S. Vancouver area for all depths sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper

continental slope bottom trawl survey.
Figure 28.--Estimated population size composition (snout-to-anal fin) and mean lengths (cm) of pacific

grenadier by stratum and by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission

Columbia area for all depths sampled (183-1,280 m) from the 1996 West Coast upper continental

slope bottom trawl survey.




Figure 33.-- Estimated population age composition for Dover sole by stratum and

by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S.

Vancouver area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope

bottom trawl survey.
Figure 34. --Estimated population age composition for Dover sole by stratum and

by sex for the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission

Columbia area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope

bottom trawl survey.
76

CITATIONS

Butler, J.L., C.A. Kimbrell, W.C. Flerx, and R.D. Methot. 1989.

The 1987-88 demersal fish surveys off central California

(34°30'N to 36°30'N). U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo.

NMFS-SWFC-133, 44 p.

Gunderson, D.R. 1993. Surveys of fisheries resources. John

Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY, 248 p.

Gunderson, D.R., and T.M. Sample. 1980. Distribution and

abundance of rockfish off Washington, Oregon, and California

during 1977. Mar. Fish. Rev. 42(3-4):2-16.

Hughes, S.E. 1976. System for sampling large trawl catches of

research vessels. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 33:833-839.

Lauth, R.R., M.E. Wilkins, and P.R. Raymore Jr. 1997. Results of

trawl surveys of groundfish resources of the West Coast

upper continental slope. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech.

Memo. NMFS-AFSC-79, 342 p.
77

Lauth, R.R. 1997. The 1995 Pacific West Coast upper continental

slope trawl survey of groundfish resources off southern

Oregon and northern California: Estimates of distribution,

abundance, and length composition. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA

Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-80, 110 p.

Lauth, R.R., S. Syrjala, and S. McEntire. Unpub. manuscr.

Effects of trawl modifications on trawl performance and

catch using the West Coast upper continental slope survey

trawl.

Nelson, J.S. 1984. Fishes of the world, 2nd edition. John

Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 523 p.

Parks, N.B., F.R. Shaw, and R.L. Henry. 1993. Results of a 1988

trawl survey of groundfish resources of the upper

continental slope off Oregon. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech.

Memo. NMFS-AFSC-23, 164 p.

Parma, A., R. O'Boyle, J. Maguire, D. Amos, A. Smith. 1995.

West Coast groundfish assessments review. Supplemental

Attachment F.4. Pacific Fishery Management Council,

Portland, Oregon. 35 p.
78

Raymore, P.A., Jr., and K.L. Weinberg. -1990. 1984 spring and

autumn surveys of Pacific West Coast upper continental slope

groundfish resources. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo.

NMFS F/NWC-179, 196 p.

Robins, C.R. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from

the United States and Canada, Fifth Edition, Am. Fish. Soc.,

Special Publ. 20, 183 p.

Smith, G.B., and R.G. Bakkala. 1982. Demersal fish resources of

the eastern Bering Sea: Spring 1976. U.S. Dep. Commer.,

NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS-SSRF-754, 129 p.
79

APPENDIX A

Haul and Catch Information

Appendix A contains listings of station data and catch data

for all hauls from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope

bottom trawl survey of the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission (INPFC) U.S. Vancouver and Columbia statistical areas.

The depths are reported in meters, the distances fished in

kilometers, and catches are in kilograms. Only catches with a

performance value less than or equal to 4 were used for further

data analysis.

A-l. Station and catch data for the NOAA ship Miller Freeman

during the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom

trawl survey..............................................80
Table Al.--Station and catch data for the NOAA ship Miller Freeman during the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.

Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.

w

w
Table Al.--Continued.
Table Al.--Continued.


105

APPENDIX B

Relative Abundance

Appendix B contains listings of all fish and invertebrate

species encountered during the 1996 West Coast upper continental

slope bottom trawl survey, ranked in order of relative abundance

by catch per unit effort (kg/ha). Ranked lists are presented for

each depth stratum and for all depth strata combined by

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission (INPFC)

statistical area.

B-l. Rank order of relative abundance (kg/ha) of fish and

selected crab species by depth stratum for the International

North Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver area from

the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl

survey...................................................lO6

B-2. Rank order of relative abundance (kg/ha) of fish and

selected crab species by depth stratum for the

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission Columbia

area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom

trawl survey.............................................ll7

107
108

Table B-l.--Continued.
109
110

Table B-l.--Continued.
111

Table B-l.--Continued.

113

Table B-l.--Continued.
114

Table B-l.--Continued.
115

Table B-l.--Continued.
116

Table B-l.--Continued.


119

Table B-P.--Continued
120

Table B-P.--Continued.


123


126


129






137

APPENDIX C

Population Numbers by Sex and Size Group

Appendix C contains listings of population numbers by sex

and size group (cm) for selected species from the 1996 West Coast

upper continental slope bottom trawl survey. For each species,

estimates are presented for the International North Pacific

Fisheries Commission (INPFC) U.S. Vancouver and Columbia

statistical areas for all depth strata combined.

C-l to C-2.

C-3 to C-4.

C-5 to C-6.

C-7 to C-8.

C-9 to C-10.

Arrowtooth flounder population estimates for all

depth strata combined by sex and centimeter

interval.......................................l39

Dover sole population estimates for all depth

strata combined by sex and centimeter

interval.......................................l42

Giant grenadier population estimates for all depth

strata combined by sex and centimeter interval

(snout-to anal fin)............................144

Longspine thornyhead population estimates for all

depth strata combined by sex and centimeter

interval.......................................l46

Pacific grenadier population estimates for all

depth strata combined by sex and centimeter

interval (snout-to anal fin)...................148
138

C-11 to C-12. Sablefish population estimates for all depth

strata combined by sex and centimeter

interval.......................................l50

C-13 to c-14. Shortspine thornyhead population estimates for all

depth strata combined by sex and centimeter

interval.......................................l53
139

Table C-l .--Arrowtooth flounder population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter interval for the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission U.S. Vancouver area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental

slope bottom trawl survey.

Length Cumulative

(em) Males Females Unsexed Total Proportion Proportion

27 17,074 0 0 17,074 0.01575 0.01575

28 39,896 8,537 0 48,433 0.04467 0.06042

29 59,758 17,074 0 76,832 0.07086 0.13128

30 56,291 42,684 0 98,976 0.09129 0.22256

31 128,053 131,013 0 259,066 0.23894 0.46150

32 52,413 76,832 0 129,244 0.11920 0.58070

33 22,511 108,191 0 130,702 0.12055 0.70125

34 0 14,061 0 14,061 0.01297 0.71422

35 0 8,537 0 8,537 0.00787 0.72209

36 2,990 0 0 2,990 0.00276 0.72485

37 2,990 0 0 2,990 0.00276 0.72761

38 7,648 0 0 7,648 0.00705 0.73466

40 0 4,658 0 4,658 0.00430 0.73896

41 0 4,658 0 4,658 0.00430 0.74326

42 5,749 5,524 0 11,273 0.01040 0.75365

43 11,527 0 0 11,527 0.01063 0.76428

44 0 16,361 0 16,361 0.01509 0.77937

45 5,088 0 0 5,088 0.00469 0.78407

46 2,990 5,749 0 8,739 0.00806 0.79213

47 10,176 8,537 0 18,713 0.01726 0.80939

49 0 14,841 0 14,841 0.01369 0.82307

50 0 15,931 0 15,931 0.01469 0.83777

51 0 24,244 0 24,244 0.02236 0.86013

52 0 8,537 0 8,537 0.00787 0.86800

53 0 13,195 0 13,195 0.01217 0.88017

54 0 5,749 0 5,749 0.00530 0.88547

55 0 5,088 0 5,088 0.00469 0.89017

57 0 18,697 0 18,697 0.01724 0.90741

59 0 13,195 0 13,195 0.01217 0.91958

60 0 5,749 0 5,749 0.00530 0.92488

61 0 36,620 0 36,620 0.03377 0.95866

62 0 5,524 0 5,524 0.00510 0.96375

65 0 5,088 0 5,088 0.00469 0.96844

66 0 9,316 0 9,316 0.00859 0.97704

67 0 5,749 0 5,749 0.00530 0.98234

69 0 5,524 0 5,524 0.00510 0.98743

71 0 8,537 0 8,537 0.00787 0.99531

72 0 5,088 0 5,088 0.00469 1.00000

TOTAL 425,154 659,088 0 1,084,242 1.00000 1.00000
140

Table C-2 .--Arrowtooth flounder population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter interval for the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission Columbia area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope

bottom trawl survey.

Length

(cm) Males Females Unsexed

Cumulative

Total Proportion Proportion

23 2,989 0 0 2,989 0.00125 0.00125

27 2,989 0 0 2,989 0.00125 0.00250

28 8,980 2,989 0 11,969 0.00500 0.00750

29 16,687 10,800 0 27,487 0.01149 0.01899

30 47,611 15,957 0 63,567 0.02656 0.04555

31 36,377 14,094 0 50,471 0.02109 0.06664

32 18,828 11,115 0 29,943 0.01251 0.07915

33 18,825 2,665 0 21,490 0.00898 0.08813

34 32,430 5,654 0 38,084 0.01591 0.10405

35 66,992 13,112 0 80,104 0.03347 0.13752

36 82,211 2,665 0 84,875 0.03547 0.17299

37 117,769 5,447 0 123,217 0.05149 0.22448

38 103,944 6,124 0 110,067 0.04600 0.27047

39 80,030 0 0 80,030 0.03344 0.30392

40 71,048 2,931 0 73,979 0.03091 0.33483

41 35,623 8,065 0 43,687 0.01826 0.35309

42 29,850 5,895 0 35,745 0.01494 0.36803

43 9,380 80,522 0 89,903 0.03757 0.40559

44 8,707 112,773 0 121,480 0.05076 0.45636

45 18,745 114,113 0 132,858 0.05552 0.51188

46 8,760 109,088 0 117,848 0.04925 0.56112

47 3,004 165,318 0 168,322 0.07034 0.63146

48 13,159 173,512 0 186,671 0.07801 0.70947

49 2,908 121,071 0 123,979 0.05181 0.76128

50 0 96,786 0 96,786 0.04045 0.80172

51 0 94,536 0 94,536 0.03950 0.84123

52 0 90,961 0 90,961 0.03801 0.87924

53 0 54,325 0 54,325 0.02270 0.90194

54 0 16,372 0 16,372 0.00684 0.90878

55 0 23,268 0 23,268 0.00972 0.91850

56 0 11,792 0 11,792 0.00493 0.92343

57 0 32,492 0 32,492 0.01358 0.93701

58 0 31,548 0 31,548 0.01318 0.95019

59 0 11,656 0 11,656 0.00487 0.95506

60 0 2,839 0 2,839 0.00119 0.95625

61 0 6,143 0 6,143 0.00257 0.95882

62 0 15,476 0 15,476 0.00647 0.96528

63 0 11,503 0 11,503 0.00481 0.97009

64 0 2,807 0 2,807 0.00117 0.97126

65 0 6,571 0 6,571 0.00275 0.97401
Table C-2 .--Continued.

141

Length

(cm) Males Females Unsexed

Cumulative

Total Proportion Proportion

66 0 5,703 0 5,703

67 0 8,917 0 8,917

68 0 17,480 0 17,480

69 0 4,575 0 4,575

7l 0 2,465 0 2,465

72 0 2,465 0 2,465

73 0 9,278 0 9,278

74 0 2,570 0 2,570

76 0 3,049 0 3,049

77 0 2,465 0 2,465

80 0 3,230 0 3,230

TOTAL 837,847 1,555,177 0 2,393,024

0.00238

0.00373

0.00730

0.00191

0.00103

0.00103

0.00388

0.00107

0.00127

0.00103

0.00135

1.00000

0.97639

0.98012

0.98742

0.98934

0.99037

0.99140

0.99527

0.99635

0.99762

0.99865

1.00000

1.00000
142

Table C-3 .--Dover sole population estimates for all depth strata combined by sex

and centimeter interval for the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission U.S. Vancouver area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental

slope bottom trawl survey.

Length

(cm) Males Females Unsexed

Cumulative

Total Proportion Proportion

21 0 8,617 0 8,617 0.00081 0.00081

22 0 8,617 0 8,617 0.00081 0.00163

23 8,617 0 0 8,617 0.00081 0.00244

24 14,366 2,690 0 17,056 0.00161 0.00405

25 20,115 0 0 20,115 0.00190 0.00595

26 31,152 9,444 0 40,596 0.00383 0.00978

27 107,468 14,366 0 121,834 0.01150 0.02128

28 366,066 23,957 0 390,023 0.03682 0.05810

.29 575,704 97,862 0 673,565 0.06358 0.12168

30 739,402 55,968 0 795,370 0.07508 0.19676

31 1,016,394 137,197 0 1,153,591 0.10889 0.30565

32 882,588 174,294 0 1,056,881 0.09976 0.40541

33 941,281 249,448 0 1,190,729 0.11240 0.51781

34 690,651 333,121 0 1,023,771 0.09664 0.61445

35 627,666 257,473 0 885,139 0.08355 0.69800

36 319,505 257,947 0 577,453 0.05451 0.75251

37 289,284 339,879 0 629,163 0.05939 0.81190

38 127,790 296,099 0 423,889 0.04001 0.85191

39 128,468 200,047 0 328,515 0.03101 0.88292

40 100,687 125,064 0 225,751 0.02131 0.90423

41 29,449 162,316 0 191,765 0.01810 0.92233

42 83,856 76,187 0 160,043 0.01511 0.93744

43 42,576 72,140 0 114,716 0.01083 0.94827

44 34,130 49,049 0 83,178 0.00785 0.956'12

45 35,051 14,231 0 49,282 0.00465 0.96077 yb

46 19,782 50,916 0 70,699 0.00'667 0.96744

47 9,972 33,311 0 43,284 0.00409 0.97153

48 17,228 55,940 0 73,168 0.00691 0.97844

49 6,722 13,434 0 20,156 0.00190 0.98034

50 0 59,132 0 59,132 0.00558 0.98592

51 0 42,120 0 42,120 0.00398 0.98990

52 0 30,940 0 30,940 0.00292 0.99282

53 0 9,411 0 9,411 0.00089 0.99370

54 0 7,735 0 7,735 0.00073 0.99443

55 0 41,895 0 41,895 0.00395 0.99839

56 0 7,735 0 7,735 0.00073 0.99912

57 0 6,640 0 6,640 0.00063 0.99975

62 2,690 0 0 2,690 0.00025 1.00000

TOTAL 7,268,660 3,325,222 0 10,593,882 1.00000 1.00000




147

Table C-8. --Longspine thornyhead population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter interval for the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission Columbia area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope

bottom trawl survey.
148

Table C-9 .--Pacific grenadier population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter (cm) interval (snout-to-anal fin) for the

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver area

from the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
149

Table C-10 .--Pacific grenadier population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter (cm) interval (snout-to-anal fin) for the

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission Columbia area from

the 1996 West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
150

Table C-11 .--Sablefish population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter interval for the International North

Pacific Fisheries Commission U.S. Vancouver area from the 1996

West Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
151

Table C-12 .--Sablefish population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter interval for the International North

Pacific Fisheries Commission Columbia area from the 1996 West

Coast upper continental slope bottom trawl survey.
152

Table C-12 .--Continued.
153

Table C-13. --Shortspine thornyhead population estimates for all depth strata combined

by sex and centimeter interval for the International North Pacific Fisheries

Commission U.S. Vancouver area from the 1996 West Coast upper continental

slope bottom trawl survey.
154

Table C-13.--Continued.


RECENT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUMS

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LAUTH, R. R. 1997. The 1985 Pacific West Coast upper continental slope trawl survey of groundfish

resources off southern Oregon and northern California: Estimates of distribution, abundance, and length

composition, 110 p. NTIS number pending.

LAUTH, R. R., M. E. WILKINS, and P. A. RAYMORE JR. 1997. Results of trawl surveys of groundfish

resources of the West Coast upper continental slope from 1989 to 1993, 342 p. NTIS number pending.

HILL, P. S., D. P. DEMASTER, and R. J. SMALL. 1997. Alaska marine mammal stock assessments,

1996, 150 p. NTIS number pending.

CHUMBLEY, K., J. SEASE, M. STRICK, and R. TOWELL. 1997. Field studies of Steller sea lions

(EumetoDias jubatus) at Marmot Island, Alaska, 1979 through 1994, 99 p. NTIS number pending.

OSMEK, S., J. CALAMBOKIDIS, J. LAAKE, P. GEARIN, R. DELONG, J. SCORDINO, S. JEFFRIES, and

R. BROWN. 1997. Assessment of the status of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in Oregon and

Washington waters, 46 p. NTIS No. PB97-198436.

WING, B. L., C. W. DERRAH, and V. M. O’CONNELL. 1997. Ichthyoplankton in the eastern Gulf of

Alaska, May 1990,42 p. NTIS No. PB97-174379.

WILSON, C. D., and M. A. GUTTORMSEN. 1997. Echo integration-trawl survey of Pacific whiting,

Merluccius DrOdUCtUS, off the west coasts of the United States and Canada during July-September 1995,

70 p. NTIS No. PB97-174387.

CELEWYCZ, A. G., and A. C. WERTHEIMER. 1997. Suitability of Dry Bay, southeastern Alaska, as

rearing habitat for juvenile salmon, 19 p. NTIS No. PB97-161343.

KINOSHITA, R. K., A. GREIG, D. COLPO, and J.M. TERRY. 1997. Economic status of the groundfish

fisheries off Alaska, 1995, 91 p. NTIS No. PB97-161269.

STRICK, J. M., L. W. FRITZ, and J. P. LEWIS. 1997. Aerial and ship-based surveys of Steller sea lions

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55 p. NTIS No. PB97-144026.

EBBERTS, B. D., and B. L. WING. 1997. Diversity and abundance of neustonic zooplankton in the north

Pacific subarctic frontal zone, 34 p. NTIS No. PB97-138218.

SINCLAIR, E.H. (editor). 1996. Fur seal investigations, 1994, 144 p. NTIS No. PB97-129456.

MERRICK, R. L., T. R. LOUGHLIN, and D. G. CALKINS. 1996. Hot branding: A technique for long-term

marking of pinnipeds, 21 p. NTIS No. PB97-124226.

LANG, G M., and P. A. LIVINGSTON. 1996. Food habits of key groundfish species in the eastern Bering

Sea slope region, 111 p. NTIS No. PB97-124010.

KINOSHITA, R. K., and J. M. TERRY. 1996. Oregon, Washington, and Alaska exports of edible fishery

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