Reports of exploratory otter-trawling between Nova Scotia and Virginia 367 



Standpoint of the food-fish fishery the most promising region is in area A between 

 200 and 400 fathoms where Sebastes was dominant, and for the so called Irash-fish 

 fishery areas A to D in this same depth zone, together with areas C-D in 100-200 

 fathoms and area A in 400-730 fathoms. 



So few records are available pertaining to the yield of fish per acre on the ocean 

 bottom that it is of interest to note here data obtained during 1936 for a small area in 

 the Gulf of Maine to the westward of Jeff"rey's Ledge where, in 80-100 fathoms, 

 using an 82 foot shrimp trawl calculated to fish a breadth of 52 ft., the catch of fish 

 per acre worked out to about 47 pounds.* 



There follows a further discussion of certain of the species listed in Table II (p. 362) 

 arranged by groups. 



ELASMOBRANCHS AND CHIMAEROIDS 

 The species comprising this group, caught deeper than 200 fathoms, have been 

 discussed by Bigelow and Schroeder (1954). Only the black dog-fish (Centro- 

 scyllium fabricii) was taken in relatively large numbers, chiefly in 300-550 fathoms 

 within area A. 



EELS 



Of the several species of Apodes caught, the long-nosed eel Synaphohranchus 

 pinnatus was the most plentiful, chiefly in area A between 450 and 500 fathoms, 

 where the best 4 hauls averaged about 150 of this species. In areas B, C, and D, 

 where it was found to be much less plentiful, the best catches likewise were made in 

 the 450-500 fathom zone. The shoalest capture was in 220 fathoms, beyond which 

 it was taken at all depths down to our deepest haul at 730 fathoms. 



CODS AND HAKES 



Both in numbers and poundage this group proved dominant in depths beyond 200 

 fathoms. Most plentiful is the long-finned hake Urophycis chesteri, taken in small 

 numbers as shoal as 125 fathoms and as deep as 730 fathoms, with the best catches 

 between 200 and 450 fathoms. For example, in area A 2 hauls averaged 676 hake in 

 200-250 fathoms, and 8 hauls averaged 360 hake in 250-300 fathoms; in area B 

 the average of 3 hauls was 267 in 250-300 fathoms, in area C 6 hauls averaged 125 

 in 200-250 fathoms, and the best hauls in area D were 2 averaging 254 hake in 250- 

 300 fathoms. The general run of fish ran \-\\ pounds. 



Moderate numbers of blue hake, Antimora rostrata, were taken in area A between 

 300-700 fathoms, the average catch per haul ranging from 14 to 29 individuals, 

 while in areas B, C and D a scattering few were caught between 400-730 fathoms. 

 In size the general run ranged from 10 to 14 inches, the extremes from 6 to 2n inches. 



The red hake, Urophycis chuss, important chiefly in the inshore trash-fish fishery, 

 and the white hake, U. tenuis, considered of more value as a food fish, were taken 

 in scattering numbers throughout areas A to D, the former down to 200 fathoms and 



the latter to 550 fathoms. 



An account of the first western Atlantic records of the blue whiting Gadus {Mwro- 

 mesistius) poutassou is given by Bigelow and Schroeder (1955). One specimen was 



* See BIGELOW and Schroeder (1939) p. 322 where the ff^f "//•^^^Tt^r'ac^ ''''" "" " 

 pounds per acre, of which the fish comprised about 85 per cent, or 47 pounds per acre. 



