THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080224
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Several hundred dead menhaden washed ashore along the northern reaches of the resort strip Wednesday, but officials say there's no cause for alarm.
It is believed that the fish, of the herring family, somehow spilled out of fishing nets or off a commercial menhaden boat.
``Menhaden are not real tough fish,'' said W. Mark Swingle, coordinator of the Virginia Marine Science Museum's stranding team. ``They don't live very long in a net like other fish. They're real sensitive.''
In recent weeks, menhaden fishing boats have been spotted working close to shore around Cape Henry and off shore from the resort area. Their presence leads experts to believe there had been a small spill.
Menhaden have been so plentiful here lately that they've attracted several humpback whales to our waters, Swingle said. Menhaden are a large part of the whales' diet.
By weight, menhaden is the largest fishing crop in the state.
Spotter planes locate the huge schools of the fish and direct boats to their location. The boats drop menhaden nets, or purse seines, into the water, encircle the entire school and lift them on deck.
Menhaden are distinguished by their large heads and large toothless mouths. They are bluish and silvery, with one large and several small black spots. They feed on minute organisms, plankton, by straining them through their gills.
Menhaden have little value as human food because they are so oily and bony, still they have great economic importance.
Oil is extracted from the fish to produce high grade industrial lubricating oils. The solid parts are ground up for food meal for poultry and for fertilizer. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by
CHARLIE MEADS
Hundreds of dead menhaden were a gruesome curiosity for beachcombers
and an unexpected buffet for birds at 36th Street on Wednesday.
Menhaden are distinguished by their large heads and large toothless
mouths. Bluish and silvery, they are used to produce industrial
lubricating oils.
KEYWORDS: FISH KILL by CNB