Relationship between the Catch of Squid, Todarodes pacificus STEENSTRUP, According to the Jigging Depth of Hooks and Underwater Illumination in Squid Jigging Boat

Abstract

The relationship between the catch of squid, Todarodes pacificus, according to the jigging depth and underwater illumination by fishing lamps was investigated during nighttime operations off-Tusima Islands in November 1994 and off-Oki Islands in November 1995. We used echo sounder to observe the distribution of squid. Echo images on the echo sounder showed the distribution of squid at the water layer of 50 meter depth at the beginning of jigging operation. After the time elapsed, a continuous dense image had moved to the layer of 60-80 meters jigging depth. A larger number of squid were caught by jigging machines set at a lowest depth of 90 meters, when it compared with machines set at a 60 meters. However, Catch increased around 60 meters jigging depth, when fishing lamps output were switched to 24 kW halogen lights:.The underwater illumination, under the each light power of fishing lamps of squid jigging boat was continuously measured with an underwater illuminometer. Values of the underwater illumination, when schools were distributed from 60 to 80 meters, ranged from in average at kW fishing lamps output of squid jigging boat.