FRV Explorer 1A/69
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Explorer (74EX) |
| Cruise identifier | 1A/69 |
| Cruise period | 1969-04-02 — 1969-04-16 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Stornoway, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | 1) Plankton and Trawl survey of Rockall Bank to search for concentrations of Blue Whiting eggs
2) The maturities of Blue Whiting were re-examined 3) Ovaries from species in hauls were taken for fecundity estimation 4) Artificial fertilization was carried out on Blue Whiting eggs 5) An egg and larval survey was used to plot the distribution of spawing products 6) A trawling survey to investigate the distribution of lobsters and other large crustaceans at Rockfall was done 7) An Echo-sounder survey was undertaken to identify bottom and mid-water traces 8) Chimaera montrosa was collected for later toxic property investigation 9) A number of less common species were collected to for the investigation of sound-producing musculature No work was possible till the 04/04/1969 due to rough weather. Gale force winds forced temporary stoppages. |
| Chief scientist | Roger S Bailey (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise report |  (0.38 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Specific | Rockfall Bank, Rockall Channel, |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Bathythermograph | Quantity: number of profiles = 52 Description: mechanical |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Eggs and larvae | Quantity: number of specimens = 150 Description: Planktonic eggs. 100-150 per haul were collected |
| Pelagic fish | Quantity: number of hauls = 21 Description: on Rockfall Bank for Blue Whiting. Most trawling was carried out in daylight, and repeated in some to compare day and night catches. |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Description: Catches and trawls included Blue Whiting, Gadiculus, Sliver Smelt species, Haddock |
