MUSICK: SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF SIBLING HAKES 



Figure 9. — Distribution and abundance of immature Urophy- 

 cis chuss during the summer. Abundance in each sampling 

 stratum is indicated on a log scale. 



The fall distribution pattern off southern New 

 England (Figure 10) suggests a movement inshore 

 which is further substantiated by an increase of 

 U. chuss in the inshore industrial fisheries land- 

 ings in October and November (Edwards and Lux, 

 1958; Edwards, 1958a, 1958b; Edwards and Law- 

 day, 1960). Edwards (pers. comm.) has noted that 

 this fall fishery off southern New England landed 

 mostly small hake. Also reports by Smith (1898) 

 for Woods Hole; Latham (1917) for Orient, Long 

 Island; Breder (1922) for Sandy Hook Bay; and 

 Hildebrand and Schroeder (1928) for the New 

 Jersey coast and New York Bay document an 

 immigration of U. chuss in these inshore areas 

 in the fall with an emigration in the winter. 



In the Gulf of Maine, immature U. chuss were 

 moderately abundant in the fall around the entire 

 perimeter in strata shoaler than 60 fm. 



The winter distribution of immature U. chuss 

 was essentially limited to those strata deeper than 

 30 fm off Long Island, 60 fm off Nantucket, and 

 100 fm along the southern edge of Georges Bank 

 (Figure 11). In the Gulf of Maine immature U. 

 chuss were moderately abundant in strata deeper 

 than 60 fm. Concentrations occurred between 

 60 and 100 fm along the northern edge of Georges 

 Bank and off Massachusetts Bay and Jeffries 

 Ledge (Stratum 27). The only strata shoaler than 

 60 fm with moderate values of abundance were 

 26 and 40, located in the southwestern part of the 

 Gulf where temperatures were warmer than to the 

 north and east. 



Immature U. chuss were taken during three 

 seasons within the entire temperature range 

 with the exception of the highest intervals (15° to 

 16°C), which were inadequately sampled (Figure 

 12). Most immature fish were taken between 5° 

 and 13°C. As with the juveniles, immature U. 

 chuss were absent from the shallow parts of 

 Georges Bank during the winter and they may 

 avoid water colder than 4°C. Edwards (1965) 

 noted that in the late fall most U. chuss had 

 migrated from the inshore industrial fishing 

 grounds when the water temperature dropped 

 to 5°C. 



Adult U. chuss migrate inshore in the spring 

 of the year. Smith (1898) reported U. chuss to be 

 abundant at Woods Hole in May or June but rare 



FALL 

 15-28 cm. Total length 



Figure 10. — Distribution and abundance of immature Urophy- 

 cis chuss during the fall. Abundance in each sampling 

 stratum is indicated on a log scale. 



^r 



WINTER 

 15-28 cm Totol length 



Figure 11. — Distribution and abundance of immature Uro- 

 phychis chuss during the winter. Abundance in each sampling 

 stratum is indicated on a log scale. 



487 



