Fishing Survey

a series of activities that include searching for, observing, and assessing the commercial value of aggregations of marine organisms (fish, mollusks, crustaceans).

Fishing survey is usually broken down into search operations and the survey proper. The search includes preliminary determination of the distribution of the target organisms, identification of regions favorable for the formation of aggregations, and the actual search for the aggregations. The survey involves determining the size and value of the aggregations, making short-term forecasts of the stability and movement of the aggregations, and guiding the fishing fleet to the marine animals.

Fishing survey involves both exploratory and operational work. The first includes the search for new fishing regions and commercial targets. The formation of commercial aggregations and their paths of migration are studied, as is the behavior of marine organisms in different periods of the year. Aggregations

Table 1. Fineness of metals and alloys in the USSR
Metric system	Zolotnik system	Carat system	Alloy color	Hardener	Basic use
1 Large quantities used during the Great Patriotic War (1941-45)2 Most widely used alloy in USSR3 Most widely used alloy in Western Europe 4 Of no practical significance in the USSR 5 Range of 10 fine
				Gold alloys
958	92	23	Yellow	Copper	Wedding rings
750	72	18	Red	Copper, silver	Jewelry
			Yellow		Filigree work
			Yellow
			White		Diamond jewelry
			White
583	56	14	Red		Jewelry
			Yellow
			Green	Silver, copper	Individual parts injewelry
500	—	—	Red1	Copper, silver	Jewelry
			Pale yellow1	Silver	Filigree work
375	—	—	Red1	Copper, silver	Jewelry and watchcases
			Pink	Silver, palladium, copper	Wedding rings
				Silver alloys
960	—	—	White	Copper	Delicate filigree work
925	—	—	White	Copper	Tableware
916	88	22	White	Copper	Filigree work, enameled articles
875	84	21	White2	Copper	Jewelry and domestic items
800	—	—	White3	Copper	Jewelry and domestic items
750	—	—	White with slight yellowish lint	Copper	Jewelry, fashion accessories
				Platinum alloys
950	—	—	White	Copper	Diamond jewelry
				Palladium alloys
850	—	—	White	Silver, nickel	Wedding rings, in combination with gold 583 fine
500	—	—	White4	Silver, nickel	Jewelry
				Gold leaf
1,000	—	—	Yellow		Gilding of bas-reliefs on buildings, monuments, church domes
990-91 O5	—	—	Yellow
750	—	—	Green
				Silver leaf
1,000	—	—	White		Silvering of bas-reliefs on buildings, monuments, church domes
990-9105	—	—	White

are evaluated, and the economic viability of exploiting them is determined. Operational work involves guiding fishing vessels to schools of fish, making recommendations concerning the deployment of the fleet, and observing hydometeorological and other working conditions.

Fishing survey employs direct and indirect methods. Among the direct methods are sample fish catches and the use of such detecting devices as sonar fish-finders. Indirect methods include the determination of the position of aggregations on the basis of environmental conditions. The indirect approach is the primary one, with direct survey used mainly to confirm results obtained indirectly. Fishing survey is based on the study of those environmental factors (for example, water temperature) that determine the range of fish distribution. It also takes into account seasonal physiological changes undergone by the animals.

Fishing survey employs the experiences of many sciences, including ichthyology, oceanography, hydrochemistry, and hydroacoustics. It is conducted through the use of fish-finding equipment mounted on ships, airplanes, and helicopters. In the USSR, specialized organizations of the fishing industry are involved in fishing survey.