|
 Spotter
planes are used to locate concentrations of menhaden. These
aircraft are usually single-engine and land-based with a single,
overhead wing. They are fully equipped with electronic navigation
and communication systems and are capable of flying for extended
periods of time without refueling. The pilots are highly skilled
and experienced in identification and general behavior of menhaden
schools as well as fishing procedures; pilots can closely estimate
the quantity and size of the fish in a school (based on
comparisons of pilots’ estimates with actual landings data).
Planes are either owned by or under contract to the fishing
company and are based near the plants. The pilots are usually
employed by the fishing company and are compensated by a salary
plus bonuses based on the amount of fish landed.
 During
the fishing season, actual fishing operations are conducted in
daylight hours during weekdays. In general, spotter pilots make
reconnaissance flights on Sunday to determine the general
location, movement, and size of menhaden schools. Spotter planes
communicate this information to fleet captains and rendezvous at
dawn with the fishing vessels for which they are spotting. The
spotter pilot makes radio contact with the steamer vessels and
maintains visual contact with the school or schools of menhaden.
When the steamer arrives in the fishing area, the spotter
pilot directs it to the best available school and directs the
purse boats in the setting of the purse seine. One spotter
aircraft usually serves several steamers.
|
