. Commercial fisheries review. Fisheries; Fish trade. Fig. S - The tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps. Tilefish were taken in all Gulf areas. A total of 285 tilefish weighing 1,695 pounds were caught at 48 stations. The fish ranged from 1 to 27 pounds and averaged 6 pounds. Tilefish were caught on 28 of 39 longline sets in depths of 150 to 200 fathoms, the depth range of greatest abundance. Total depth range was 90 to 225 fathoms. Tilefish were takenover a temperature range of 50° to 63 F., but they were most abundant in a narrow range of 55° to 57° F. They were caught only once in depths
. Commercial fisheries review. Fisheries; Fish trade. Fig. S - The tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps. Tilefish were taken in all Gulf areas. A total of 285 tilefish weighing 1,695 pounds were caught at 48 stations. The fish ranged from 1 to 27 pounds and averaged 6 pounds. Tilefish were caught on 28 of 39 longline sets in depths of 150 to 200 fathoms, the depth range of greatest abundance. Total depth range was 90 to 225 fathoms. Tilefish were takenover a temperature range of 50° to 63 F., but they were most abundant in a narrow range of 55° to 57° F. They were caught only once in depths greater than 2 00 fathoms, even though several deeper stations had tempera- tures in the optimum range; they were caught only twice at depths less than 125 fathoms, although numerous shallower sets were made in waters of less than 63° F. The distribu- tion of tilefish appears, therefore, to be af- fected by both depth and temperature. Small tilefish were taken occasionally on several consecutive hooks. This indicated they may exhibit schooling behavior. Large individuals, however, were widely separated on the line. No large concentrations of fish were indi- cated on depth recorder tracings in areas where tilefish were taken. Individual fish picked up on an oscilloscope proved to be small sharks when sets were made. No in- dication was found that tilefish occur in dense concentrations as do some other bottom species. Tilefish appeared to be more abundant on rough bottom or on moderate to steep slopes than on broad expanses of smooth bottom. This phenomenon might be due to either habi- tat preference or food availability. Because information was gathered only in October and January, nothing is known of the distribution and abundance of tilefish during other months. However, the environment should be fairly stable at depths of 150 to 200 fathoms and any major seasonal changes would be unexpected. Highest catches of tilefish were made off the Texas coast. The largest catch of
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