Radio and Fishing Industry

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 20, 27 November 1931, Page 5

Radio and Fishing Industry

Successful Norwegian Experiments \ (DURING the early months of this year an extremely interesting experiment was made by the Norwegian fishery authorities. For the first time, Wireless and aeronautics combined were employed as a reconnaissance service for the fishing fleet during the great spring herring fishing off the Western coast. : A few weeks prior to the usual time of arrival of the herring schools, two naval seaplanes were dispatched to Aalesund, the centre of operations. Here the fishing fleet was already foregathered, 15,000. fishermen and some 2000 motor-vessels. The two ’planes were equipped with radio, and, as observers, fishermen practised in the ways of the herring were chosen. The plan of operations was simple but effective. Each plane was given a certain segment of the coast to cruise over, and any sign of the herring schools was to be signalled back to the wireless station of the fishery authorities at Aale. sund, from which it would be immediately relayed to the fishing fleet. It was found that this method of fish-reconnaissance is the most effective that has ever been used. Hours are saved by the fishing fleet in getting to the fish with their nets, and schools which might otherwise have been overlooked are spotted by the planes and signalled to the fishermen. Radio-aero-nautical assistance in the fisheries has effectively proved its worth, and the method will be used in all the important seasonal fisheries of Norway.