Seasonal and Tidal Fluctuations in the Trawl Catches from the Sierra Leone River Estuary

Abstract

IN March 1958, a series of fish-marking experiments was initiated for the first time in Sierra Leone territorial waters. Only the demersal species of commercial importance were marked, and the area chosen for the first year's liberations was the trawling ground off Robene Point, some 13 miles from the mouth of the Sierra Leone River estuary. The fish for marking were caught with a 28 ft. or 42 ft. otter trawl towed by a 28 ft. diesel-powered launch. A total of 439 hauls, each of 39 min. duration, was made during the course of the marking experiments.